June 2007 by Texas Salwater Fishing Magazine

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

contents 10 An uncommon perspective

Mike McBride

16 The Most Important Factor

Kevin Cochran

22 ‘Tis the Windy Season

Martin Strarup

26 The Sargassum Sea

Billy Sandifer

28 Unused water yields plenty of fish

Chuck Uzzle

30 Gill Net Surveys

Everett Johnson

27 Coastal Birding 34 Let’s Ask The Pro 38 Fly Fishing

Billy Sandifer

Jay Watkins

42 Tournament Trails

Casey Smartt

Brandon Jenewein

46 Offshore

Bobby Byrd/John Cochrane

50 Conservation

CCA-Texas

54 Science and the Sea

UT-Marine Science Institute

56 TPWD Field Notes

Mark Lingo

60 Kayak Fishing

Scott Null

64 According To Scott

Scott Sommerlatte

68 Youth Fishing

Aaron Cisneros

72 The Lore and Legend

Jim Dailey/Everett Johnson

74 Conservation

CCA-Texas

76 Dune Seeding

Tom Brown

80 Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scenet

Dickie Colburn

82 Mickey on Galveston

Mickey Eastman

84 Capt. Bill’s Fish Talk

Bill Pustejovsky

86 Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays

Gary Gray

88 Catching up with Cliff

Cliff Webb

90 Capt. Tricia’s Port Mansfield Report

Capt. Tricia

92 South Padre Fishing Scene

Ernest Cisneros

Editorial

Letters to the Editor

Printed in the USA.

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

103 Index of Advertisers

This month’s cover angler is four year old Tanner Johnson, grandson of editor Everett Johnson. Tanner hooked and landed his career best redfish all by himself. He was fishing with his dad and Mee-ma Pam. Tanner is hoping to catch another big red on Father’s Day weekend.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 19359586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at Victoria, TX 77901. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983.

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June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June is a glorious month. June marks the official start of summer, the end of the school year, pleasant weather, great fishing; and most especially, June brings us Father’s Day. Being a proud father and grandfather means that I’ll be one of the lucky dads come Father’s Day weekend and I hope to spend a good part of it on the water. Pam and I will load both boats with food and soft drinks Saturday morning and then the fun begins as the kids and grandkids pile in with the special rod and reel they got for their birthday or, more than likely, the one they just pilfered from Peepaw’s boat shed. The big kids will be giving orders and the little ones will be ignoring them. We’ll probably haul a Lab or two because they like to celebrate too, and getting out of the harbor is never complete without one of them jumping in for a swim and then shaking on everybody when we drag them back into the boat. We’ll start out semi-serious, as serious as you can get with protesting dogs tied in the boat, but that part of the trip never lasts long. After an hour or two, when a 10-year-old’s attention span gives out, Vickie (oldest grandchild) will want to show me how she can swim while casting and reeling a Mansfield Mauler. Soon, I too will be swimming and we’ll re-anchor one of the boats out a little deeper so we can do cannonballs off the bow. We’ll head to Sunday Beach to look for sand dollars and even though the lunch will probably get soggy it’s going to be a blast. Hot afternoon sun will bring us back to the shade of the porch and we’ll light the pit. A washer tossing championship will get underway and somebody will fall off a bicycle and there will be skinned knees and elbows to doctor. Robert Earl Keene and Cory Morrow will be belting out our favorite anthems and before you know it we’ll be sitting down to a feast of beer can chicken, potato salad and baked beans. Nobody will lose weight. When the sun goes down Tanner will drag out the box of fireworks we stashed last New Year asking Peepaw if it’s dark enough yet. The kid will come out in me and everybody will settle in for the show with “Oohs and Aahs” and cries of “Can I light one?” The little ones will run out of gas and crawlAvvAvh up on a couch. The big ones will be shuffling dominoes and arguing over whose turn it is to ice another twelve pack. We’ll make big plans about getting up early and hitting the surf, but the dominoes will likely win that battle. Come morning we’ll roll out around the crack of eight and make omelets and pancakes. We’ll celebrate a little more by riding Peepaw’s tractor and taking the dogs down to the lake to chase bumpers, and of course we’ll all end up going for another swim. Pam and the girls will rustle up what’s left of the chicken and trimmings and then everybody will start packing up. Nobody will be anxious to leave and we won’t want them to; but there is a real world. Pam and I will walk around picking up what’s left of the skyrockets and then go in and clean the kitchen. We’ll talk of maybe making an evening wade to scare up a couple trout along Dewberry shoreline, but we’ll need a movie first. We’ll sheepishly agree the wading can wait and continue couching. Sound like a plan? All you have to do is grab your dad and kids and do it. During the merriment, don’t forget to give thanks for the time the Good Lord has given you to celebrate with your father. And before I forget, please also offer a prayer of thanks for all the military dads over there in the Iraq desert preserving our freedom to enjoy such a wonderful weekend here at home! God Bless, Good Fishing, and Happy Father’s Day!

Texas Saltwater Fishing

May 2007

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Dear Good Folks at TSF Mag, I’ve been saltwater fishing since I was in my Mama’s arms, that’s 36 years minus 6 years as a medic in the U.S. Army with one tour during Desert Storm in 1991. My wife has been going with me since we met 11 years ago. We’ve been taking Reina (my daughter in the photo) since she was 2 years old. She caught her first fish, a flounder at 3 years, her first trout at 5 years old and now her first keeper red at 7 years old. We got our boat a couple of years ago right before Marina, Reina’s little 16 month old little sister was conceived. We all go together every time we get a chance. I started reading and soon after subscribed to GCC – TSF Mag before I got the boat and I’ve been a devout reader ever since. I have always enjoyed the strong showing of lady guides/anglers and photos/covers represented, that the ladies in my life get to see and recognize that it’s cool and more than acceptable for everyone to enjoy this wonderful sport. Keep up the great work and I’ll continue to do my part as well. Thanks much, Edward Balboa and Family Photo Info: Reina Balboa, age 7, with first keeper redfish 21 ½” caught all on her own. Dear Edward, Congrats on getting your family wrapped up in fishing. Serving loyal readers like you is what putting this publication together is all about. Keep those photos coming and good fishing to you. Editor Dear TSFM, April 18, 2007 My name is Jason Parish, I am currently deployed to Iraq, I am just finishing up my two week leave at home. I love your magazine and would love to receive it in Iraq. Here’s my info and some pics from my fishing trips in Matagorda while on leave. SPC Jason Parish

Dear Editor, Enclosed is a check for a one year subscription. I live in central Texas, found your great magazine at a local H-E-B can not find anywhere else locally. I have been enjoying every issue, it is absolutely the best, most interesting and informative fishing magazine I have ever read. I went through Seadrift last weekend on the way to Port O’Connor. Planning to try Seadrift next time. Looking forward to receiving the magazine monthly. Thanks, Dave Foster Elm Mott, TX. Dear Dave, Thanks for becoming a subscriber. We are striving to increase our circulation every way we can and the grocery chains serviced by magazine distributors have been a big help. H-E-B, Kroger and Randall’s as well as several hundred convenience stores in central Texas have been doing a good job for us. Give us a call next time you are in Seadrift; we always enjoy swapping fishing tales with readers. Editor

Dear Tracey, April 22, 2007 It is my understanding GCC has run a picture of Frank Moore in Iraq in its March 2007 issue. We sure do thank you. I have not seen the magazine yet because I have been gone since it arrived in the mail. My wife described it to me and I think it is the one where he sitting in one of Saddam’s pools smoking a cigar. Frank is home on leave right now and probably is not aware of it. I will call him later today. Frank himself has told me how much he and his fellow soldiers appreciate your complimentary magazines. Your support of the troops means a lot to those soldiers. I myself get disgusted when I see on the politicians on TV who do not support the effort over there and our troops. Thanks again for your support, Jack Moore, Pleasanton, TX.

Dear Jason, You bet we’ll send your magazine to Iraq… and when you get there, send us the names of any other servicemen and women in your outfit who might also like to receive a copy. May God bless you and keep you safe. Editor P.S. - Sorry we could not use your pics… the files were too small… maybe next time.

Dear Jack, Yes indeed we ran the photo; glad to hear how much the guys are enjoying the magazine. We’ll be happy to send some extra copies as mementos. Please tell Frank everybody here is praying for his success over there and safe return! Editor

Dear Editor, Enclosed please find my check enclosed for a one year subscription renewal. Great magazine! It has the most usable information than all of the other publications. Very yours truly, Ed Bailey

Dear Ed, Thanks for renewing and the kind words about the magazine. We are truly blessed to have so many fine friends and contributors; we couldn’t do it without them. Editor

Send your letters to: TSFMag, P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

this fish is awesome. Sheldon you have to see this. It’s

staggering eleven pounds. The water was shin to knee-deep over a mud and sand bottom with patchy grass. Their

beauuutiful, eh?” The “eh” gave away these guys

presence had become predictable… the daily

origin. They were from somewhere deep in the

contest boiled down to figuring out what to catch

grizzled backwoods of Canada.

them with, when, and how fast they might move

We had been enjoying a great run of fishing

down a shoreline or ride a wind-swept color

and these tundra heads flew right into some of it.

change. Typical of early spring there was a lot of

We’d taken other groups into these fish, and for a

pint-sized forage which can make things difficult

simple human interest story (or perhaps ‘angling’

for lure guys.

interest story), it became entertaining to see the

there with them.

Small shrimp and nickel-sized crabs seemed

In the early

varying reactions to what most would consider a

to be the main diet. By switching back and forth

Troutmaster years

productive day.

between the bone Spook Jr, Brown Lure’s devils

I was forced to

and mullets, and sometimes Bass Assassin’s

learn that going

fish for several weeks. By good, I mean doing

new Slurp; we would sooner or later figure out the

through large

daily battle with bruiser-class redfish in the

code for the day and the thumping would begin.

concentrations of reds could pay hefty dividends

twenty-five to thirty-three inch range. These were

It was not uncommon to see sixty to eighty feral

on heavyweight trout. In a three and a half week

angry, overstuffed redfish. We had one twenty-

hog class redfish landed for a four or five man

period we saw four trout among these reds hit

seven-incher that pulled the Boga scale to a

crew. And that’s not all; there were some trout in

the nine-pound mark and several more in the

To set the stage; we had been on some good

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

seven to mid-eight range. When the timing was

very well, winning more money than anything we

right these elusive trophies became vulnerable,

see on the Texas coast. Killing fish for food was

especially during big moon. These big trout were

foreign to them.

there because they wanted to be; the only ones

“Our double digit walleye are at least fifteen

that left accepted invitations to the taxidermist.

years old so we don’t kill them,” Ray says matter

Back to our Canadian friends’ great adventure;

of factly. “If we did there wouldn’t be any left.

Ray (father side of the team), upon hooking his

They’re smart too, eh? They’ve seen it all; we

first redfish, yelled at son Sheldon in a most

could never fish like this.”

eureka-type fashion. “Woohoo—The little buggers are strong, this makes the whole trip worth it, eh?

Fish like this… what is that supposed to mean? “Well,” he continued, “Look there, your lead is

Sheldon, you have to see this!” OK—Here’s a guy who just traveled

showing for one thing, and so is your barb. And

thousands of miles and spent no telling how

look at that fat line you are using, eh?” (It was ten

much money to fish in Texas; and his first fish

pound Suffix.) “We do what we call stealth fishing

made the whole trip worth it; and an undersized

where everything is hidden.”

redfish at that? He hadn’t even landed it yet for

I began to feel like my zipper was down, but

Heaven’s sake. Ding!-ding!-ding! The tourist bell

Tricia was pumping on another big red and Eddie

goes off in my head and I’m thinking this is going

(third in this group) had just stuck a seven pound

to be a short day. As we later found, they were

trout on a weedless gold spoon. I had to push

tourists all right… the kind who travel the world,

water to get there with the camera before he

chasing fishing adventures. The day wore on

released it. Were we as primitive as I was being

and we became more interested in their foreign

made to feel?

perspective, especially as it compared to others

Here on our coast we have the unofficial 30inch trout fraternity. It has been deemed the bay

we take fishing. These were actually Capt. Tricia’s people;

fisherman’s highest honor by many. Although

mine cancelled. Knowing what was in store for

some are caught with a beer in one hand,

this group and hating idleness, I stowed away in

(and seem to hold the same prestige in some

her boat with a beat up camera and a pumped up

circles), others are caught by some really

attitude. As Tricia landed another brute in front

anal types who base their whole existence

of our guests, and then reached down to pull a

on trying to best their biggest trout to date.

rope through its distorted lips, Ray shouted “Hey…

These guys in Canada have a trout fraternity

whattaya doin’ there, eh? You mean we can kill

too. It’s called the Ten & Two Club, of which perhaps only fifteen or so have made it. To

these fish?” Capt. Tricia

qualify, you have to catch a trout over ten

paused for a

pounds on two pound line through the ice, and

moment, and

on a hand line at that. Sporting? Skill based? I

then silently jerked the stringer down with a slight but obviously predatory type of smile. “Well, how old is that fish? How fast do they grow? So there are a lot of them, eh? Well OK then, eh?” Come to find out, among other things, these guys were tournament walleye men who had done

would think so. Never mind the life threatening elements they fish in, and things like grizzly bears. The bottom line of all of this is that out of all of the people we had excellent trips with on this group of fish; their viewpoint was distinctly different from those of more local persuasion. Some other comments or responses we perceived, even after near world-class arm pulling sessions with big redfish, were; “Yeah that was fun, but we didn’t get a limit of trout.” A

Top: These were overstuffed and angry fish. Bottom: Dan Morgan with a 29 3/4 - 9 lb.

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

We could never fish like this, eh? Look, your lead is showing, and so is your barb. And look at that fat line you’re using, eh?

happen. What our Canadian fishermen told us is that with their limits, everybody can go out and have a chance at catching some great fish. Isn’t that what it is all about? “So…whattaya think, eh?”

Eddie Stedts with a nice seven pounder.

matter-of-fact way of saying, “Isn’t this how it’s

Here’s what I think I saw. These guys may

then there was the, “Yeah—I caught a seven and

represent some of our distant future, like it or not.

a half pound trout but, I wanted a ten.” Others

For them, through cultural evolvement, the act of

were certainly appreciative, but no one displayed

fishing is much more about sportsmanship than

the shear joy and appreciation that these folks

about gathering seafood.

from another country did. I think sometimes we forget how fortunate

By now everybody should know that TP&W is busting the lower Laguna to a five trout limit next

we are here in Texas. Few other places allow

September. I don’t do much political stuff, but

anglers to take what we do out of the water.

can we live with just killing five trout? I think so,

In more northern regions they have gone to

(especially when we have no choice) but if these

barbless hooks, and when you catch two fish,

Canadians can live with their extreme limitations,

your rods go holstered and you are to leave

I suppose we can too. Especially if we love the

the water immediately. No catch and release

mere act of fishing as much these guys do. Have

allowed. There are many places where live bait

we become so entitled that we can’t appreciate

is illegal, and even other places where wet flies

the pull from an undersized redfish?

are outlawed. Florida has a four trout daily limit with only one allowed over twenty-inches, and a 12

two month closed season on top of that.

supposed to be when you fish with a guide?” And

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe, but the reality of change is that it will always June 2007

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

igging methods, presentation techniques, lure

The most important factor in catching fish

and landing fish vary among

is locating the fish. No angler can catch a fish

trophy trout experts. The old

that swims beyond the scope of his efforts. It’s

way to skin a cat”. Many aspects of the fish-

the reason, for instance, that most trophy trout seekers who fish exclusively on the upper coast

catching equation fall mostly into the realm of

will not break the thirty inch and nine pound

personal preference.

marks. “If you want to find a dinosaur, you have to

Frequently, it’s possible to fool the same fish with various lures and techniques, and if

go to Jurassic Park!” Many transient guides leave their home areas

the hooks dig deep on the strike, any method of

and venture south of the Kennedy Causeway into

playing and landing those fish will work. In other

the big lagoon and its satellites in late-winter;

words, the best anglers are able to dictate how

they are adept fish locators and know they can’t

they catch their fish some percentage of the time.

catch as many trout over six pounds elsewhere

Of course, at other times, tougher bite conditions

in the state. These guys accept the paramount

limit what will work, elevating the effectiveness of

importance of fish location and want to get in on

some styles while diminishing others. On windy days, the drifting angler slinging

Texas Saltwater Fishing

or calm the conditions.

choices and ways of fighting

adage tells it right: “there is more than one

tough the fishing, no matter how hot, cold, windy

the catching, so they go where more big fish live. But simply coming to south Texas and setting

a stinky worm hung under a noisy cork might

up camp is only a first step in the fish location

have his way; on calm ones, the stealthy stalker

equation. The game is more complicated than that.

carefully stripping a fly past the nose of a fish on a

Just ask any of the novice anglers who fish here

shin-deep flat might outperform the drifter. But one

on their own, only to leave puzzled as to what all

thing remains the same, no matter how easy or

the fuss is about. Some are downright skeptical

June 2007

about the place after they catch lots of small fish

tide levels and water conditions to

or not many fish at all.

narrow the search further.

The fish, especially the big trout, aren’t

Once a spot to be tried has been

everywhere, equally distributed throughout the

selected, and the angler actually arrives

region. During the warm period, particularly when

on the scene, the more difficult parts

all the water is in its naturally clear state, the fish

of the equation become elevated in

can spread out over vast, shallow areas. In colder

importance. The angler must decide if

weather, they often become concentrated in

the decisions made back on land were

relatively small spaces. Consistently, they prefer

sound ones or not. If rafted mullet are

some specific spots time and time again. Knowing

being hustled and harassed visibly and

where the sweet spots are plays a big part in

blowups come easily, no adjustments

consistent fish location, but it‘s still not enough.

are needed. In a situation where the bites

have been biting best a little later every day, and

come quickly, any angler knows what it means.

might decide appropriately to wait. Conversely,

One year, fish pile up on a stretch of shoreline

one might see that far less bait is present than on

and prefer a given set of potholes over most of

But what happens when no fish indicating

the others in the area; the next year, the same

signs are seen and no bites are coaxed after

previous occasions and decide to make a short

shoreline is virtually void of fish, though conditions

an hour or more of fishing? Then the search

move to a similar spot to see if the majority of the

seem the same. When such a thing happens,

most likely must begin again, and the searcher

school has relocated.

anglers with acute “on the water senses” will

must decide whether to make a small or large-

react quickly and appropriately and find fish.

scale adjustment.

Others will stand and wait, casting at empty water,

Perhaps the most difficult situation of all is

Before such a decision is made, expert fish finders are likely to experiment with several things while on a spot where some fish have indicated

reminiscing about last year’s action and scratching

the one in which some signs of fish may be

their presence. They will probably dabble with

their heads for days.

perceived and a few bites are felt. This can

lure choice, changing color, style, presentation

become a confusing, teasing set of signals.

technique and/or direction of cast. They’ll make a

who successfully complete all the steps in the

Obviously, the presence of bait, perhaps a slick

mental assessment of the layout of the spot and

fish location equation. When deciding which bay

or two and a few blowups or telltale thumps mean

attempt to determine whether the majority of fish

or general area to target, they take into account

that some fish are present, but how many? In

have relocated to some sub-region within reach.

the biology of the fish and how it’s affected by the

cases like these, experience is most helpful. If

Anglers who find fish most often are those

Sometimes, fish that were on top of a bar

season. Often, they factor in reliable reports from

the spot has been visited regularly on past trips,

move to potholes on its edge or off the structure

other anglers and/or logs from past trips. With an

points of reference exist.

entirely. Other times, fish that have been holed

eye on the weather, they consider recent winds,

One might realize, for instance, that the fish

June 2007

up in the depths crowd onto a shallow shoreline

Texas Saltwater Fishing

in response to warming weather after a cold

They are intensely focused on the water

front. The most adept fish locators consistently

around them, looking for all keys to solve the

predict fish movements and relocate fish, relying

fish-finding riddle. Calculating and methodical,

on their instincts about such movements, but also

they probe the water in proven ways with lures

by making good judgments as to what lures and

they know will work given the “feel” of the hour.

retrieves best match the conditions of the moment.

Persistent when they need to be, they are also

And that’s the most important part of this equation in the end; finding specific fish and getting bites comes back around to versatility in

unafraid to leave a previously productive area when things change. Most importantly, they are supremely capable

lure choice and presentation. Anglers who hook

of catching the fish within their reach. This is

and land the most fish (and the most big fish) are

what eventually makes their judgments as to the

those who are best able to offer the fish what they

presence of fish more accurate. They know in their

are willing to try and eat.

hearts they will catch ‘em if they find ‘em. They

First, they understand where to go in general. Then they know how to narrow their search. When

also honor the power of one obvious and final truth etched permanently on the other side of the coin.

they are out there on the water among others

We are universally governed by this reality.

who have made similar basic decisions, they

With a wry smile on his face, the Phantom rightly

are able to sort out the details of the day better

states, “One fact remains inexorable; a lure cast

than the rest. They see what is there to be seen,

into water where there is no fish will not produce

processing each relevant sign, no matter how

a strike.”

subtle or seemingly insignificant.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Order today at www.tsfmag.com

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

or at least they are every time that I’ve tried to go fishing this past month. Some days during the week it’s calm and a tad bit overcast, but let the weekend come around and Mother Nature seems to feel the need to clear her lungs. It’s not all bad though. The tides have the bays full and the water temperature has finally reached a level where a person can wet wade without feeling the need to scream when they first get in the water. For me, the winds that keep me off the water allow me to go over the gear that I’ll be using steadily for the next 7 or 8 months and it gives me time to order parts that I might need or to replace things that are near the end of their usefulness. So not in any particular order, here are just a “few” things that I’ve been doing that you might want to take care of at your house as well: 1. Check the batteries in your boat and replace if need be. If you find a battery that has lost its charge over the winter months don’t try to charge it, get rid of it and get a new one. Even if you’ve been using your boat during the winter months, check the dates and if need be swap out the old for something new. 2. Change the lower unit oil in your outboard. When you remove the drain plug look at the magnet that is on the plug and take note of the metal filings. If they’re large or if there are too many take it to an outboard mechanic and see what he thinks. If the oil looks milky when it first drains out then you have some water in the lower unit and you need to have the seals checked. Again, take it to an outboard mechanic and get it fixed right. 3. Change the fuel filter or fuel/water separator in your boat. 4. Replace the spark plugs in your outboard and clean up the power head by wiping it down with a clean rag and a silicone-based cleanerlubricant. Check the hoses and wires under the cowling while you’re in there and note any cracks or frays. If you find them, have them replaced. Also if you have a stern light mounted on top of your cowling, check it and make sure it works while you have the cover off. 5. Check the fluid level in your hydraulic steering if you have it and add to it if necessary. Check for leaks and hoses that might need to be replaced. 6. Check the fluid level for your hydraulic jack plate and add to it if necessary. Check it for leaks and hoses that might need to be replaced. 7. While you’re checking things at the stern, take a look at the drain plugs and bilge pumps if you have them. If the rubber on the plugs is cracking or has worn smooth, replace them. If the pump won’t turn on, replace it. 8. Move up to the center console and check the electrical panel. Look for any corroded wires or contacts and clean or replace as needed. Make sure that all of the switches work when turned on and off. 9. Check your bow lights. 10. Test your power trim and tilt, jack plate and steering. 22

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

11. Make sure your required safety items are onboard and that they are in working order and have not exceeded any expiration date they may have. If any of your PFD’s have tears or are in bad shape, replace them. 12. Check your boat and drift anchors. Does the chain or rope need to be replaced on the boat anchor? How’s the knot holding up? Is the drift anchor still in good shape and the rope not damaged? 13. Test the electronics. Your radio, GPS, compass…do they all work? What? You got rid of your compass when you got a GPS? You might want to rethink that one. The compass will work without batteries and without satellite communication and when Mr. Murphy comes to pay a visit that compass will get you home. 14. Don’t forget to check and make sure that the TP&W sticker is current and that you have the required paperwork on board. Also make sure that if you have vinyl TX numbers that they’re all there and that they are legible. 15. Check the eyebolt on the bow that your winch hooks to. Make sure that it is tight that the nuts that hold it in place are in good shape. 16. Check your winch cable, line or strap and make sure that it’s good for another summer. 17. If you haven’t replaced your trailer bearings in two years or so now would be a good time to do so. I make it a point to replace mine every other year, but then we keep them greased via the Bearing Buddies both before a trip, during a trip and after a trip. If the Bearing Buddies need replacing then by all means replace them. 18. Check the springs, hangers and axles on your trailer as well as the lug nuts on the wheels. Replace things that have rusted to the point of no return and make sure that you will be able to get a lug wrench onto the lug nuts if you have to. If they’re rusted too badly the wrench won’t grab and you’ll find a trip delayed while you sit on the side of the road and watch others drive by. 19. Check the trailer lights and trace the wires that lead from the front to the rear down the trailer frame. Make sure that none of the wires have rubbed through during those many trips down the highway. Check for rust behind the lenses on the lights themselves and replace the lights if need be. 20. Check the trailer tires for cracks or uneven wear and replace any that need replacing. Make sure the spare is in good shape and that if it is locked on a mounting bracket that you have the key to remove it. Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you so get it done before school is out and you find yourself short on time. You’ll be glad you did. Take Care.

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

oesn’t take long for a surf fisher to realize that the two major enemies faced each day are the wind and sargassum. The sargassum makes fishing difficult regardless of other conditions, but when you add a 25-knot wind to the equation and the current it generates, fishing becomes totally impossible. Were the current very light, one might hope to find an area clear of weed, but the windgenerated current will move massive amounts of weed along the entire shoreline at a rapid pace. This has been the status of the Padre Island surf for two solid months now. The Sargassum Sea (also known as Sargasso) lies within the famed Bermuda Triangle in the south-central portion of the North Atlantic Ocean and is the historic home of the seaweed we know as sargassum. Spring currents bring it into the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan channel and it pushes northward along the shoreline of the western gulf. Most of my life we could figure on one or maybe two invasions of the weed every year with each episode lasting for a couple of weeks; then we were clear of it. Starting around the year 2000 all of this changed and surf fishers have been overwhelmed by massive amounts of the hydroid repeatedly impacting the shoreline into the month of June and sometimes even during July. Starting in the 1950s, marine biologists began observing a “left over” population of sargassum living in the offshore Gulf of Mexico. Then in the 1990s our winters became atypically warm. Normally, the sargassum goes dormant and does

Texas Saltwater Fishing

not reproduce during the winter months due to the surface temperature of the Gulf of Mexico being too cold. Now with several unusually warm winters in succession, it is reproducing throughout the year and its impact on the surf zone has been on a steady increase. My bet is that we might as well get used to it. Currently, driving is extremely tedious and bumpy along the entire beachfront of PINS and sargassum is stacked from the water’s edge to the dune line. I have hopes that the amount of weed will diminish during May, BUT even if it does we’ll be in for some very dangerous driving conditions I need to warn you about. At present you can drive the beach and find many places where sargassum is stacked three feet deep along the water’s edge. As sargassum ceases to wash ashore, this weed will become buried beneath incoming sand and disappear— BUT it is still there and it is decaying. As it decays it will form a deep layer of decomposing organic matter hidden beneath the innocent appearing sand. This makes one of the most effective booby traps that a beach driver can encounter. You can be driving along the water’s edge and every thing appears firm but without warning the vehicle will sink to the frame in this natural, bottomless sinkhole. The only defense I know is to stay in 4-wheel high while driving the shoreline and if you feel the vehicle sinking, put the gas pedal on the floor and stay that way until you have cleared the trap. Never reduce your speed if you feel your vehicle sinking. When these conditions are present I never drive along the water’s edge around a point on the beach. Vast amounts of sargassum are buried there. It is the sargassum which is buried there that has raised the elevation of the beach and created the point. I steer landward of all such points. There are ways to work minimal and moderate

June 2007

conditions when sargassum is present. I have gone to Mustad Ultra Point Big Gun and Hoodlum 4X strong live bait hooks on many of my artificials. I add a second split ring while changing hooks. So often in the surf heavy trout straighten out the treble hooks that come on most of our lures and countless times we lose tarpon and other larger species that strike a presentation intended for trout and reds due to the treble hooks being a weak link that is too weak in our tackle system. Doesn’t seem to hurt the action of the lure, increases the potential of a solid hook up with less hooks to attempt to set, is more fish friendly and greatly decreases the numbers of casts lost to snagged grass. One can also greatly decrease the amount of grass hooked when using soft plastics on leadhead jigs or bucktailed jigs by running a small rubber band from over the top of the eye to the barb of the hook. The fish knocks it off with no problem when they strike and only the very tip of the point can catch grass. Last week, in horrible conditions, my customers had two sharks on while we were casting baits from the beach. Walk up-current at a 45% angle in the surf and then cast out. Tighten the drag with the line facing into the wind and current in the rod holder. Grass will ride up the line rather than put a big bow in it and break your sinker free. Incoming grass can be shaken off of removed by hand as it comes up the line. Tough way to do it but it is doable in all but the thickest of grass.

The first nesting Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was found on April 23 this year and as of May 1, nineteen more had been discovered. Eleven of these were found on PINS beaches. PINS is one of the two most important nesting locations in the world for this most endangered of marine creatures. The biologists are not only getting data; they are removing the eggs and incubating then in a secure and controlled environment. Interestingly, the turtle biologists have discovered that they can control the sexes of the babies to be born by keeping the eggs at certain temperatures. As more females to lay eggs are the goal, the temperatures are controlled to produce 70% females. How cool is that? The Turtle Recovery Program has purchased several UTVs to replace the older ATVs and they look both functional and safer to me. Please watch for nesting turtles and if one is seen call 361-9498173 ext. 226 or 1-866-TURTLE-5 and report it ASAP. If possible, mark and guard nest sites

CAPT. BILLY SANDIFER

until a Turtle Patroller can reach the location. Do not intrude too close or do any thing that might interfere with her nesting. Since I was already receiving inquiries, I asked for and have been given a firm date for next year’s Big Shell Cleanup. We are officially scheduled for the second Saturday, March 08 2008. Hopefully, by scheduling it this far in advance it will be possible for more volunteers to arrange to participate. CCA has plans to play a bigger role in future cleanups and they are certainly and wholeheartedly welcome. It’s all about stewardship of a wondrous national treasure and any and all conservation-minded individuals and groups are most welcome. Be Careful, Be Courteous, Be Kind.

Billy operates Padre Island Safaris. His specialties are fishing for sharks to specks in the Padre Island surf and bayfishing for trout and redfish from a poled skiff. Contact Billy Sandifer Telephone 361-937-8446 Website www.billysandifer.com

There are 27 species of gulls native to North America, but only the Laughing Gull breeds in Texas and is present year round. The laughing gull is widespread and present from Canada to Peru and Brazil. It breeds from late March through late July on coastal islands and is present throughout bays, Gulf of Mexico, estuaries, lakes and agricultural areas as well as local landfills. The laughing gull is a scavenger and a robber and is often seen chasing other water birds to steal food and will perch on top of a pelican in the surf in an attempt to steal its catch. Juveniles are dusky brownish and it takes two full years for them to reach adult plumage. During the period when it wears breeding plumage its head is strikingly black and the bill deep red. Non-breeding plumage differs; the bill is black and the head is white with mottled black on rear and sometimes sides of head. Many bird species change colors from winter to summer plumage. We often see the same species exhibiting different color plumage combinations within a flock. It is not uncommon to see three and even four plumage patterns within any given flock of gulls. The laughing gull is the most dependable ally of the inshore fisher due to the fact that it prefers to steal rather than work. When a flock is actively feeding over open water it is usually indicative of large amounts of forage species being driven to the surface by actively feeding gamefish. Our ally, the laughing gull, helpfully points the way to exciting fishing opportunities. June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Take advantage of your equipment and turn your back on the bank for a shot at water less crowded.

ake a minute and think

The combination of oil from the baitfish and the

to when you were a

stomach of the predator fish produces a sheen on the water that is visible to the eye as well

in the world that mattered

as being easily detected by smell. Anglers who

was going fishing. For most

venture out into the open expanses of the bay

of us we don’t have to think

are often rewarded with finding these slicks and

back too far because we still

actively feeding fish while the masses continue

feel like fishing is just that

to foam the shoreline with prop wash.

important, but for argument’s sake; let’s think back. The biggest thing for me as a young fisherman was how far I could cast,

Another great reason to get out away from the bank comes in the form of large rafts of baitfish that tend to congregate away from traffic. On those dead calm days in June and July it looks like you can walk across the water on top

there was a whole new

of the huge schools of fish like menhaden, mullet

world on the other

and shad. Usually when you find these large

side of the pond or

concentrations of baitfish you can also find other

canal that had to be

players like trout and redfish in good numbers.

better than where I

On Sabine we find plenty of redfish like this

was fishing and I did my level best to reach these

during the summer, they will blow holes in the water when it’s time to eat and more often than

spots. Remember those days, grass always

not you rarely have to share these schools of fish

greener on the other side? Well let’s fast forward

because people are too glued to the bank to go

to today and see if that old saying rings true, you

check these places out. Another fish we find in good numbers around

may be surprised. That same young fisherman who did

these large groups of baitfish is sand trout, not

everything in his power to get away from the

just dinks either; these fish are solid. A good

bank has grown up, bought himself a $30K boat,

school of shad usually yields some sand trout,

and fishes as close as possible to the same bank

and the last time I checked those sandies were

he despised as a child! You figure it out.

pretty darned good to eat as well. A popping

Look at any map of any major bay system

cork works wonders in these situations; for years

and you can safely scratch off at least 50% of

we made a living with a Mansfield Mauler and a

the bay because all the traffic is concentrated

glo-colored Cocahoe Minnow during the summer

1-mile or less from shore. I can’t tell you how

because it just produced fish and was so easy to

many times I watch folks run up and down the

work. Here recently I have tried the new rattling

shorelines with their back to the main part of the

corks by Betts Tackle along with their Halo

bay totally ignoring what’s going on out there,

Shrimp and I really like the combination. The

it’s crazy. The typical summer patterns on the

Halo Shrimp is ultra-realistic and has some scent

upper coast where the overall water depths tend

built in so you get the best of both worlds.

to be deeper than our neighbors to south hinge

Now that we have generated some interest

on open water strategies. Probably the most

in getting away from the bank and out into the

common pattern has to be fishing slicks; these

big water, we need a plan of attack. In case

visual signs are usually dead giveaways that

you haven’t noticed, prices at the

fish are present.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

when they eat shad, mullet, and other finfish.

back for a moment kid and the only thing

Feeding trout and redfish will as well as the ever-present gafftop catfish will produce slicks

June 2007

Rattling corks fished near big rafts of shad will produce good fish during the summer months.

gas pump are going out of sight. Higher fuel prices will certainly limit many anglers’ willingness to run in search of fish. You can bet most folks will be putting in at the launch closest to their favorite fishing spot. More often than not, anglers will be less inclined to “make a round” or “go take look.” This will make out of the way locales that much more exclusive to those who dare to roam. I look for a ton of people to start fishing closer to the dock, especially in deeper water like ship channels or rivers where they can get bit and not have to travel as much. For those of you do decide to make a big run, start by looking over some maps or satellite images of the water you intend to fish. Companies like Navionics supply some outstanding mapping software and this will make your discovery process so much simpler. Underwater reefs and other structures are marked well on these new maps and satellite images so it’s much easier to find quality fishing areas. Now by using all your senses and available information, anglers can get away

Capt. Johnny Cormier with a nice Sabine trout taken while fishing slicks on the North end of the lake.

from the crowds who choose to live near the bank. The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks when you choose to leave the crowds behind. The next time you discover that huge school of fish out in the great wide-open that makes a memory you are not likely to forget anytime soon, I am sure you will gain a new perspective. Take the chance, make the run, and remember it’s all worth it because you made yourself a better angler by finding fish instead of crowds.

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

y first-ever glimpse of a gill net came

contacted Norman Boyd. Norman is TPWD’s

managing a coastal fishery could be likened to

Eco-System Leader for San Antonio Bay. Norman

managing a giant warehouse retail store, except

when a friend found one stashed

and his crew at Port O’Connor welcomed my

with almost none of the ordinary tools. Let’s take a

in the tall grass on Matagorda

visits and questions and soon became friends

look at what the managers are up against:

Island and called the game warden. My next

and eager helpers in my quest for knowledge.

encounter came when I hung one with a topwater

The gill nets I would learn, though potentially very

square miles huge, and it has literally thousands of

during a night wade. We never heard who hid the

destructive, have a legitimate place in modern-

doors through which customers can enter.

net in the grass, but there was no mistaking who

day fisheries management.

placed the net I snagged with my Super Spook, it

n Your warehouse is huge, several thousand

n Like warehouse outlets, customers are

I accompanied Norman’s crew to put out

members; at least in the sense that they have a

was festooned with TPW-Coastal Fisheries logo

two nets and returned for the pickups early

license to shop there. And if membership brings

stickers. Hooking that net got me to thinking about

the following morning; that was in May 2003.

privilege and expectation, having a license can

a couple things… First, I expected the net to hold

Listening to a field technician explaining gill net

bring more.

the reason for the lack of fish on my stringer. But

sampling is one thing, seeing brings greater

alas, save for some hardheads, a mullet, and a

understanding. I wrote a piece for this magazine’s

of tough to count what you can’t see. None-the-

rat red, the end of the net I could see was empty.

June ’03 issue entitled “Keeping Track of a

less, customers have the notion that you can make

Second, what was it doing there? Everything I’d

Fishery” in the effort to dispel what I perceived

a quick tour every so often and somehow know

ever heard was negative; gill nets nearly wiped out

to be a gross misconception of the program

what you have in stock.

our fish before they were outlawed. So what was

by the general angling public. Four years later,

the deal here?

after reading many internet message boards,

have nearly 1-million customers and they give

discussions with fishermen, and reading an

no warning as to when they might show up.

article in another magazine, I can see that the

To complicate matters, your customer base is

misconception is still alive.

growing at a rate of about 2,000 each month.

Partial explanation came during one of the Spotted Seatrout Work Group sessions. A large Desiring to know more, and at invitation from

So here we go again. But before we go too

then Coastal Fisheries Director Hal Osburn, I

far, I would like to draw an analogy. In my opinion,

Texas Saltwater Fishing

n Your warehouse is open 24/7/365. You

n Some customers will refuse to check out

part of the data presented was gill net-based.

n Imagine taking inventory blindfolded; it’s kind

June 2007

even if you ask politely to see what they are taking. n Events you cannot control can seriously

reduce your stock. n Many of your customers are self-proclaimed

used, and no matter who performed the survey. In short, what is needed

experts and nearly all of them think they could do

is “fisheries independent” data, data

a better job of running the store.

collected in a consistent and unbiased manner

Unlike a commercial fisherman who seeks to catch

rather than from anglers or commercial fishers.

all he can, the biologist places nets randomly to

limits or maybe close during certain seasons to

Data that can be skewed by the variations in

obtain samples of whatever fish are present in

insure there will always be stock on the shelves?

each person’s ability to find and catch fish is

that area. The net crews make records of water

What will the customers say about that?

termed “fishery dependent” and is of less value in

temperature, salinity, turbidity as well as any other

measuring fish population statistics such as trends

local conditions and weather phenomena that

in abundance and size.

might be pertinent.

n And what about the future… should you set

So my analogy is a little far-fetched you say; but is it really? Let’s go back to the beginning, back to a time when there was almost no

Gill nets are a fishery independent sampling

The Texas coast is divided into eight major

management as we now know it, back when

method. Early gill net sampling was conducted

management regions; Sabine, Galveston,

nobody had an accurate inventory of what was out

with a variety of gear styles and set locations

Matagorda, San Antonio, Aransas, Corpus Christi,

there. Here’s how it got started.

were not always selected in a statistically sound

Upper Laguna Madre and Lower Laguna Madre.

manner, so even these data would not stand

Gill net sampling is conducted in each region over

were managed more from a commercial aspect

a good test. Finally, in about 1975, the gill net

a 10-week period in spring and fall, with 45 net

than for recreational purposes. Recreational

sampling program underwent rigid formalization.

sets made in each season. There are also 20 net

fishermen enjoyed the same bounty that provided

First the net was standardized. A survey net is

sets made in East Matagorda Bay in spring and

the commercial fishermen a paycheck, but the

made of 150 feet of four mesh sizes (3”, 4”, 5” and

fall. Nets are set in the last daylight hour before

catch soon dwindled and nobody was making

6”) strung into a 600 foot tool. The net measures

sundown and pick up begins at sunrise.

a haul. Something had to be done, but what?

four feet from top to bottom and is fitted with floats

The hue and cry from the recreational sector

at the top and weights at the bottom to keep them

said, “Stop the commercial harvest!” However,

standing, provided the water is deep enough. This

is very critical in the calculation of CPUE, which

the managers had no basis. They needed stock

is the standard gill net used by TPWD staff in all

stands for, “catch per unit of effort.” The total

assessment data to change the program and the

Texas bays and estuaries.

number of each species captured is divided by

In the early 1970’s, Texas’ coastal fisheries

data would be put to the legal test by commercial

To set the net, the three inch mesh is anchored

The time a net actually spends in the water

the hours the net spent fishing. TPWD says the

fishing lobbies. Early methods to obtain such data

on the bank and it is joined by four inch, then

five year coastwide average CPUE for spotted

were borrowed from inland fisheries, but ponds

five inch and last comes six inch mesh that gets

seatrout is slightly less than 1.0, meaning the nets

and lakes are a world away from the coast.

anchored 600 feet offshore. The net is always set

catch less than one trout per hour on average. The

perpendicular to the shoreline.

CPUE for red drum is almost the same. Spring nets often produce more trout while fall numbers

In the beginning it was hoped that trammel nets could do the job, but in application they

Set locations are selected randomly. The bay

are higher for redfish.

are highly dependent on human effort. Electro-

is divided into checkerboard grids, 1.0 nautical

shock techniques do not work in saltwater and

mile per side. Grids that contain shoreline are

poisoning portions of the bays to obtain data, as

candidates for net sampling. Channels, passes

possible as many of the fish are still alive and may

was common then in some inland fisheries work,

and other navigable waterways that enter the

be healthy enough to survive the whole ordeal.

was seen quickly as inappropriate for the task at

bay are excluded as survey locations. This is

The way a gill net works, a fish enters the web

hand. TPWD needed a method of making stock

important because the net can become a hazard

but cannot make it through. When it tries to back

assessments that would produce unbiased data

to navigation and passes, as we all know, can

out its gill plates or another body part becomes

every time it was used, no matter where it was

concentrate fish traffic which could skew the data.

ensnared in the webbing. Naturally, some fish die

June 2007

The catch is handled carefully and quickly as

Texas Saltwater Fishing

in the net. Survival rates in the early part of the

scope of his present job,

spring season and the late part of the fall season

“quality control,” as he

are actually higher than you might imagine.

termed it, still is. His

Some days as many as half the trout and reds

performance on

get released alive. How long a fish can live in the

deck told of many

net is strongly related to water temperature and

days as a field

dissolved oxygen content and varies between

biologist. While

species. The net’s design with the three inch

he and Norman

placed at the bank and the six inch offshore

were busy with

actually contributes toward the selectivity of what

their “picking

is caught as well as the survival prospects of the

and grinning”—

catch, even if it does come at the price of some

slang for getting

fish getting through or around the net. The key

fish out of the

is that the same net design, used in the same

net—I had a

manner over the years will produce a CPUE which

chance to listen,

can be compared from year to year. This allows

ask questions, and

biologists to detect changes in fish abundance

learn about fisheries

and size with a certain statistical reliability.

management.

When the catch is coming in, the technicians

Our first net was a

are meticulous in their attention to detail. The first

surprise; from having fished that

nineteen fish of each species from each mesh

location many times I would have bet it was full of

size is measured. Weighing was once part of data

trout. It held only a six. The big surprise was the

collection but since the formulation of today’s

Spanish mackerel and jack crevalle; I would have

highly accurate length/weight charts, weighing is

never guessed it. But as Norman says, “the net

no longer considered necessary. After 19 of any

only catches what is there.”

species is measured within a given mesh size the rest are only counted. Survivors are released,

Our second net held a lot of fish, all kinds of

dead but edible fish are saved for donation to

fish. Trout, reds, black drum, mackerel, catfish,

charitable organizations, fish that are dead and

jacks, a few reds, and even a stingray and a

deemed inedible are discarded back into the

blacktipped shark had found the webbing. This

eco-system. Some of the specimens are retained

one took a while. The fish here were in better

for otolith sampling where the “ear stones” are

shape, meaning they were probably caught later

removed for aging in the laboratory. The age

than in the first net. The tide that was sweeping

of fish compared to their length is one of the

this shoreline had only been running for a short

attributes managers must consider as they make

time. By comparison, our first net was in a cove

their stock assessments.

where the current had less effect. Many were counted and measured and released. Some

After watching a crew work a net that held

went into the floating retaining net, being given a

mostly hardheads, gafftop and mullet; I had tons

chance to recover if they could. I did not get the

of questions. What was wrong with the net? Was

actual count but I would say something close to

this a bad set? Why didn’t it catch more trout?

half of the trout and reds made it through. The

Does this mean there are no trout here? Why are

mackerel seemed to fair the worst of all.

you counting all those hardheads? Eventually I

TPWD has been conducting gill net surveys

could sense the crew’s patience wearing thin and

and compiling data for over 30 years. Their

I shut up. They were up to their elbows in catfish

data base is huge, the largest ever amassed

and all I wanted to know was why we hadn’t

by any agency. Outside peer review from the

caught more trout. I was learning that the business

American Fisheries Society declares it the best

end of fisheries management is hardly glamorous.

in the country and a model other states should emulate. This data, tied together with other

My latest gill net endeavor took place

Texas Saltwater Fishing

fishery independent sampling such as bag seine

last month. Norman’s crew had placed two

sampling for juvenile fish and trawl samples, and

nets and the pickup crew included Norman,

also fishery dependent sampling (dockside creel

Theresa Krenek and Dr. Larry McKinney.

surveys) enables TPWD to accurately assess

Larry is the Director of Coastal Fisheries and

relative abundance and size trends of all the

while picking up nets is not within the normal

recreationally and commercially important species.

June 2007

Dr. McKinney commented about the

net sets in your favorite bay each year. The gill

here is honest fact, obtained firsthand in the field

importance of accurate data collection. “It’s all

net CPUE is slightly less than one trout per hour

working with the biologists; nobody is trying to pull

about credibility; credibility to our constituents,

on average. We can therefore calculate that since

the wool over anybody’s eyes.

our commissioners, our governor and our peers in

the average time any given net spends fishing is

other agencies. Texas has built the best program

12 hours; your bay receives approximately 1080

When I accompany Norman’s team on a

in the country based on the best data available.

hours of net sampling effort each year. This adds

pickup and see a nice trout hanging dead in the

This data base has stood the test of scientific

up to roughly 1080 trout being caught in the nets.

net I cannot help but wish it didn’t have to happen.

review and legal challenges. This is what we base

Some of the trout survive, 25% survival rate is

I rationalize those dead fish, though, as part of the

our management decisions on, and this why we

probably close enough for what we’re doing here,

cost of good management. Some will no doubt

must strive to maintain the integrity of our data

so in reality what we have is about 800 trout

say that it would be better if they died on hooks

collection procedures.”

and maybe slightly fewer redfish being killed in

rather than tangled in nylon webbing, but I’m not

the nets. Is this too expensive? Is this too high a

sure either death is more noble or useful than the

price? How does this compare with the number

other. I will leave you to form your own opinion. All

understanding of all that’s involved in managing

we harvest recreationally? How often do you see

I ask is that you will be fair in your judgement and

our fisheries. The greatest part of what they

three anglers bringing 15 or 20 trout and a couple

remember that the fisheries we enjoy today are the

know is what they have been told or read and

of reds to the cleaning table? Doesn’t take long to

product of a lot of hard work.

unfortunately much of that is flawed. “Those

realize that the number killed in TPWD’s gill nets is

gill net surveys waste too many fish; that needs

but a tiny fraction of what we take, now does it?

Most recreational anglers have little

to be stopped. They’ll write me a ticket for one undersized fish and then turn around and kill

And for that we can thank the dedicated field staffers in yellow slicker pants, picking and grinning, and loving these bays as much as we do.

In reality, the nets can indeed be destructive,

thousands with their nets.” I cannot tell you how

but we all knew or suspected that in the

many times I have heard arguments like this,

beginning. My purpose here has been to inform

and I too used to wonder if the method was too

our readers that despite its deadly effectiveness

TPWD Eco-System Leader for San Antonio

destructive, too expensive in the number of fish

in the hands of a skilled commercial fisherman,

Bay. Norman has been a great help to me over

that it killed. Let’s take a minute here and look at

nylon monofilament webbing can still be a highly

the years. Thanks for all your help and your

some numbers.

specialized and useful research tool the way

dedication to the fisheries. – Everett Johnson

Let’s say TPWD’s gill net program places 90

Special recognition is due Norman Boyd,

TPWD puts it to work. Everything I’ve written June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Now what I’ve got to say here

casting distance is critical. Longer casts let you

hunting you can see the slight changes in water

is based solely on my personal experiences and

search more water; longer casts also allow you

color that indicate slightly deeper depths. By

my records. I doubt there is much data available

to get your bait out there away from boat noise.

casting to these areas, and using aggressive

from TPWD on the staging of reds and trout in

presentations, you can see the fish make their

the deeper depths. Most of their work is based on shoreline survey net results. There are some

effective in deep water… THIS IS MOST

Many times the fish pull up short of the

deep-water sets in their data base but not as

DEFINETLY NOT TRUE! Remember, all

offering but still show themselves. Sometimes

many, I am told.

predators, fish included, like to reduce and

we see what we call a “belly roll.” This is what

crowd the strike zone. By chasing bait to the

reds and trout do when they climb to the surface

deep. Deep for me is 5 to 8 feet. My deep-water

surface, they can do just that. Noisy topwaters

and then flip, almost upside down at times,

catching experiences are based on not being

are great fish-finding tools!

showing their belly to us. Another clue that the

Before we get too far into this; let me clarify

able to find fish on shallow shorelines or nearby

Another technique I use during power

move towards the lure.

area is holding fish can be found in the reaction

swags. Two issues back I wrote about the

drifting is switching on the bottom recorder

swags —my name for the slightly deeper zone

on my Lowrance GPS unit. By watching the

between the shallow and deep. In that article,

recorder I can make mental notes of the contour

the lure and in the process of doing so, spooks

we talked about the obvious signs we normally

under me and map the location of my drift.

bait we would not have otherwise seen. This

see that lead us to the swag. This article looks

Once bites are encountered, I mark the area

bait suddenly explodes to the surface; and even

at areas that are even deeper, areas that

with a fish icon. Sometimes I use the dinner fork

though we might not have received a strike or

typically offer almost no sign of the fish that

icon if I am feeling cocky.

hooked a fish, seeing the bait scatter behind the

might be holding there. My opinion only—I think the mother lode of

By mapping and marking your drifts, you can repeat them if you want. While scouting, I prefer

of baitfish. What happens here is, a gamefish charges

plug feels almost as good as the double thump on the end of the line when we are scouting.

trout and redfish stays deep most of the time.

to move left or right of the previous drifts simply

On occasion we see them surfacing or cruising

to see how far the bottom contour extends in

fish you cannot see… A boat runs out in front

the shorelines on calm, clear days. I think I

each direction and how large an area the fish

of you about 100 yards and bait begins ‘short

have always had a deeper mindset than most,

are holding in. This technique will enable you

hopping’ in front of the boat. Did the boat scare

especially when it comes to big redfish. I simply

to quickly discover EXACTLY what you need

the bait or was it a school of big fish moving

catch bigger and heavier reds out deep where

to know about fish you cannot see and bottom

away from the disturbance that spooked them

most people do not look for them. My deep water

contours you could otherwise only guess at.

to the surface? I go with the big school of fish

success has played a key role in the formulation of my ‘mother lode stays deep’ theory. One of the first things I do when searching

I have used this tactic from Baffin Bay to

areas that have easy access to good ‘anytime

pattern, and I’m here to tell you

feeding grounds’. ‘Anytime feeding grounds’

that California Hole is no different

are those areas that seem to attract and hold

than Yarborough Pass, the north

concentrations of baitfish on a frequent or near

end of Trinity Bay, the deeper

constant basis.

lakes of Chalmette, Louisiana, or the deeper flats near Pine

long drifts and cover lots of water. My term for

Island in Punta Gorda, Florida.

this is ‘power drifting’ and it helps us focus on

Well, the Pine Island area ran true

the parts of this deep water zone that might

during our pre-fishing but not on

be holding the most fish. Big noisy topwaters,

tournament day. I like to stand on the console

gold and silver spoons are deployed in long

and watch as I am drifting and

casts. Remember, we’re working blind here, so

fishing. If you’re really focused and

Texas Saltwater Fishing

moving the bait 9 times out of 10, and

great success. I measure my success by the trueness of the

crankbaits, spinner baits and the old standby

Here is an even better clue that you’re on

the Florida Panhandle with

for fish holding in deep water is to locate

Once I have located such an area, I set up

Some will claim that topwaters and other baits worked on or near the surface are not

June 2007

Jay Watkins with oversized red caught deep in what seemed like the middle of nothing.

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

out in the middle of nowhere and

aggressive presentation

nothingness. My old EAGLE

grabs the fish’s attention

depth recorder, paper plotter model back then, would show

the offering makes them

me the deeper reefs and give

eat it.

me an idea of what the bottom

deploy your drift chute and be ready with the

to work.

Power Pole. I use the biggest drift chute I can

you want to throw. This might shock a lot of you but I very seldom throw plastic in this situation. I want to cover water and attract fish to my lure and plastics are on the subtle side for this. The Mirrolure She Dog is a great choice. Bone/chrome, chartreuse/chrome and black/

find and I like to ‘Power Pole down’ as soon as we hit a fish. This makes landing the fish much easier as you will fight only the fish, not the combination of fish and drift. Secondly, by stopping, you do not burn up productive water while fighting a fish. Many times we have multiple hook-ups using this strategy. The next time you find yourself along a

am usually right about 9 times out of 10. I

gold/orange are a few of my favorites. The

shoreline and nothing is happening, you might

always prefer seeing the cup as half-full, not

bone Super Spook can be a nasty thing in the

think about looking where there seems to be

half-empty.

deep stuff.

nothing. You’re liable to find the mother lode and

Commitment is the key ingredient to

Bass Assassin spinner baits with the 1/16th

success in your deep-water adventures. Those

oz. jigs are also great tools in the deeper water.

that know me know that in my guide work I

I like to use chartreuse, electric chicken, roach,

have historically preferred to wade, drifting

morning glory, and purple canary 4” Sea Shads

very little. However, on the redfish tournament

on these spinners. Ripping them up off the

trail, the majority of the tournaments do not

bottom and then allowing them to spin back

allow wading. Therefore, I have found myself

down is a killer presentation.

developing drift-fishing skills and naturally some

In the crankbait department I like the Mann’s

it has found its way into my guide business.

1-Minus anytime the fish are hitting short on

Sometimes it makes me feel like I’m going back

top. Also in the crankbait department are any

to my roots.

number of deeper diving versions made by a

I recall a day in St. Charles Bay more than 10 years ago. Roger Sherman and I were

Finally, once you have located the fish,

contour was and then we’d go Now let’s talk about the lures

General selection of lures needed for finding fish by this application.

and the convenience of

host of lure companies. Then there is the spoon. Fish love the flash,

working birds in the deepest part of the bay.

vibration, and the action of a spoon when it

The schools of redfish and trout, much larger

hits the water on a long cast and flutters down

fish back then, would push mullet and shad

before you crank it back up on plane. Silver,

when they moved. Over a period of a few years,

gold or black, I love them all. I got away from

I defined a triangle in which I would search for

throwing spoons for years, don’t really know

these schools when the birds were not up and

why, just did.

working, but the time of year was right. Time

You need to be aggressive with all of

after time, we caught them, seemingly right

these bait when working deeper water. The

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

you will probably have them all to yourself when you do. Remember: What looks like nothing will remain nothing, if you do nothing with it.

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Stripping baskets are box-

one. Fly casting on jetties and flats, in the surf

wind out and allows more freedom

and on piers is improved with a basket. So why

of movement for your hands. Either

don’t you see folks using them? I have a hunch

the Rubbermaid or Sterlite tubs will

around your waist and store loose fly line

it is due to two things—stripping baskets look

work. White is a good color choice because

between casts while you walk or wade. Line

silly and they feel funny.

it reflects light at night and makes fumbling

shaped tubs that strap

tenders (small pegs or inverted cones) in the

The best way to solve the problem of how

with your tackle a bit easier. You’ll also need

bottom of the basket prevent wind and water

a stripping basket feels is to make yourself use

some cable ties to make the line tenders. Get

from tangling the stored line and also prevent

one. Position the basket at different angles and

a small pack of the 7” UV ties (you’ll only need

tangles from forming when the line is shot from

heights until you find the spot that feels natural.

9 of them). You’ll be cutting them down, but

the basket at high speeds. When correctly

Keep practicing until you develop confidence

the thickness of these ties provides the right

designed and used, stripping baskets enable a

in stripping line into the basket and shooting

amount of flex to smoothly feed the fly line when

fly angler to better manage loose line and make

line from it. After a bit of practice with a basket

you shoot it.

smoother longer casts.

you will realize its benefits and the basket will

The first stripping baskets were made from Rubbermaid dish tubs lashed around the

The belt for your stripping basket will be

become your best friend.

made from a bungee cord. I like the flat cords

As far as looks go… yeah a dish tub

with the smooth plastic hooks. You can find

angler’s waist by a bungee cord. These baskets

strapped around your waist looks ridiculous. But

these in the auto parts section of department

were used primarily by striper anglers who

you can ease the pain by doing what I did. Just

stores. The good thing about bungee cords

fished the rocky shorelines and jetties of the

strap a stripping basket around a pair of breath-

is that they are self tensioning and allow the

East Coast. The dish tubs kept their fly lines off

squashing Underarmor tights and model it

basket to be quickly moved to nearly any

the rocks and out of the currents and made it

around the house for a while. Believe me; after

position regardless of what you are wearing.

possible to shoot long casts. They were also a

you endure your spouse’s horrified reaction at

Bungees creep and slide less than a webbed

good fit for the hand-over-hand retrieving style

that outfit you’ll no longer have reservations

belt and the hooks on a bungee cord can be

needed for stripers and bonito. The dish tubs

about wearing a basket over your loose-fitting

quickly grabbed and released in the event you

were goofy looking but they worked extremely

fishing clothes in the surf!

need to make an emergency bail-out from

With that said, lets get down to making a

well, and they still do.

the basket.

In Texas, the stripping basket, oddly, has

stripping basket. The parts are cheap, and the

never really caught on. It’s too bad because

level of skill required is minimal. It takes only a

will need a ½ inch drill bit and a 3/16 inch bit.

almost any fly casting scenario (other than

few dollars and a few minutes to make a basket

Make sure the bits are sharp or you will tear or

fishing from a kayak) is made easier by using

that will work great for a long time. The dish tub

crack the dish tub when you try to drill it.

The last 2 items you need are drill bits. You

style of stripping basket works as well (or better) Baskets are especially useful when night fishing.

evenly spaced across the bottom of the tub. The

glued or sewn and all materials are waterproof

distance between the edges of the two holes

and corrosion resistant.

in each pair should be about ½ inch. Once you

First, you’ll need a dish tub. Department

Texas Saltwater Fishing

have drilled these holes, string a single cable tie

stores usually carry a shallow tub and a deep

through each pair. The cable should be strung

one. Get the deep one. The deep tub keeps the

so that both the tip and the clasp are on the

This cable tie has been strung through the bottom of the tub and is ready to be cinched down tight.

Bungee hook connection on top edge of tub.

Begin by making 9 pairs of 3/16 inch holes,

than any other type I have tried. No parts are

June 2007

Completed stripping basket.

Line tenders prevent fly line from tangling.

inside surface of the bottom of the tub. Thread the tip of the cable tie through the clasp and cinch it down tightly. The flat side of the clasp should seat firmly on bottom of the tub and the tapered end of the tie should be pointing straight up from the bottom of the tub. After all nine cable ties are strung, snip each tie approximately 2 inches above the bottom of the tub. Smooth any sharp edges on the snipped ties with heat from a lighter, but be sure not to melt a “bulb” into the end of the cables. The tips of the ties should be smooth. Next, drill two ½ holes through the top inside edge of the tub—one on either corner. Each hole should be approximately 1 inch in from the corners of the tub and slightly below the flared lip. These holes will accommodate the hooks on

…Cont’d on page 40

Chico Fernandez has devoted most of his life to fly fishing, fly tying, teaching, and writing. His fly patterns have been used to trick wary saltwater species across the globe. Although he is truly a worldwide angler, Chico is best known for his masterful pursuit of bonefish. In his book Fly-Fishing for Bonefish, Chico shares what he has learned in 40 years of fly fishing for bones. The first thing you will notice about Fly-Fishing for Bonefish is that it is a beautiful book. The binding is good quality and the gloss paper brings the subtle colors of the flats to life. The photographs are rendered in vivid detail and they practically beg you to grab your tackle bag and head to the tropics. The second thing you will notice is that Fly-Fishing for Bonefish is thorough—nearly encyclopedic. No corners were cut in either the editing or production of this book. Fly-Fishing for Bonefish is divided into three sections. The first section examines the bonefish’s “world” and covers bonefish life history, bonefish biology and diet, and the effect of tides on bonefish behavior. Section two covers tackle and equipment. Rods, reels, lines, rigging, and leaders are discussed in this section. Section three describes angling strategies- how to find, approach, hook, and land bonefish. Fly-Fishing for Bonefish also contains a full bibliography and index. I have never understood why so many fishing books lack a full index, and I was happy to see one included in this book. If you have ever had the opportunity to fish the tropical flats, I think you will enjoy Chico Fernandez’ Fly-Fishing for Bonefish. And if you have not yet had a chance to go after bones, Fly-Fishing for Bonefish will inspire you to go. Fly-Fishing for Bonefish By Chico Fernandez 192 pp. Stackpole Books $49.95 ISBN: 978-0-8117-0095-5 June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

The history behind Jim McVay’s Gotcha fly is almost a cliché. Years ago, McVay snipped some tan carpet fibers from an Andros Island taxi cab and used them to tie a small shrimp pattern for bonefish. The bonefish loved the fly, and each time McVay hooked a bone, his guide would

Hook: Mustad 34007 or equivalent #4 to #8 Thread: Hot Pink monocord

say, “Gotcha.” The McVay Gotcha was born. Unlike

Tail: Several strands of flash

some other patterns that share a colorful history, but

Body: Braided flash

lack real fish-catching ability, the Gotcha has become

Eyes: Bead chain or barbell

a legendary bonefish fly. Not only that, it’s a great

Back: Tan/blonde craft fur

redfish fly too.

Back Flash: Krystal Flash

The shape and action of the Gotcha are subtle enough to trick fish in bright clear water, yet bold enough to be seen in cloudy water. Like the Clouser and the nearly-identical Crazy Charlie, the Gotcha

1. Attach several strands of flash

incorporates bead chain or dumbbell eyes so it casts

material at bend of hook. 2. Attach a

well in the wind and rides with the hook in the upright

short strand of braided flash material

weedless position.

at bend. Wrap tying thread forward.

The Gotcha is a great fly for the flats and will

3. Attach bead chain eyes slightly

often trick redfish that get stuck in a picky mode.

behind hook eye. 4. Rotate hook in

There is something about those fluid sparkling blonde

vise and palmer (wind) the braided

fibers redfish find irresistible. By far the most popular

strand forward. Tie off beneath

color is tan with pink thread, but the Gotcha can also

eyes. 5. Tie a small clump of craft

be tied in browns and oranges for off-color water.

fur between eye of hook and bead

The standard Gotcha pattern is tied with nickel eyes.

chain eyes. Craft fur should extend

I used black eyes on the pattern shown here to better

slightly beyond bend of hook. 6. Tie

provide the shrimp illusion. In reality, black eyes

in several strands of Krystal Flash

may not provide any measurable improvement to the

material over craft fur. Tie off thread

pattern, I just like the way they look.

and coat head with cement. Done.

5 6

…Cont’d from page 39 either end of the bungee cord belt. Finally, drill four

½ inch drain holes in the bottom of the tub along the front edge. These holes will allow accumulated water to drain from the tub away from your body. Stick your favorite bumper sticker on the front of the tub and your done! Now that you know how to make a stripping basket, give it a try. If you stick with it, I’ll wager you will eliminate your tangled lines, add distance to your cast, and improve your success on the water. 40

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Not being a full time professional

fisherman, we all have to periodically make one of the toughest choices of all, when to and when not to go fishing. Deciding to forego a Saturday on the bay to catch up on chores around the house that have been neglected is something all of us must face. Part of the morning ritual before tackling the lawn is a quick glance at ESPN to catch last night’s scores. Everyone in the house is sleeping, so you might as well watch ESPN and not awaken them with the mower. Your fingers quickly surf to ESPN2 during a commercial and you are suddenly watching professional bass fishing. Four hours later, it hits you, “I have been watching fishing all morning. These guys actually do this for a living. What a life.” Suddenly you are on the phone with your boss telling him off and quitting your job. With the growth of all the new saltwater tournaments, you will be in on the ground floor, touring the coast in search of the biggest redfish or kingfish. Well not to burst your bubble, but lets look at some of the facts surrounding saltwater tournaments and look at how they compare to bass tournaments. Can saltwater tournaments ever grow to the level of professional bass fishing? The first thing to understand about the difference between freshwater bass fishing and saltwater fishing is the number of participants. There are almost 28 million freshwater anglers

in the United States and freshwater angling takes place in all 50 states. Those 28 million anglers spend Big boats and long runs make kingfishing over 440 million days fishing a difficult sport for a spectator to view. in freshwater each year. Of particular note is that there consists of 6 tournaments with $4000 entry are over 10.4 million anglers fees. There are 200 pros and 200 co-anglers that fish specifically for largemouth and competing. The payout is $10,000 for 50th place smallmouth bass. and $100,000 for 1st place. FLW Outdoors Compare the freshwater angling numbers also has the FLW Series, the Stren Series, to saltwater fishing which has just over 9 million the Bass Fishing League and 3 other tours. anglers fishing just over 90 million days per Bassmasters has 3 tournament series including year. Of the 9 million saltwater anglers, 1.7 the Bassmaster Elite series consisting of 11 million are targeting redfish and 1.5 million tournaments with a $100,000 first prize and target speckled trout. So right off the bat, $5,000 entry fees. freshwater fishing has a huge advantage on A quick look at the bass tournament results the size of the audience with which it can shows full fields for almost all the tournaments. connect. There are more people that can relate Saltwater tournaments have maximum payouts to freshwater bass fishing than can relate to of $50,000 for redfish tournaments and saltwater fishing just due to the proximity of $100,000 for kingfish tournaments. Saltwater freshwater to most of the nation’s population. tournament payouts normally are split between Right now there are 2 major redfish the team members that are fishing versus bass tours, the FLW Redfish Tour and the Redfish fishing where a single angler takes home all of Cup. There are 4 major kingfish tours, the his winnings. Southern Kingfish Association (SKA) Mercury Saltwater tournaments are growing, but Tournament Trail, the SKA Yamaha Pro Tour, there are signs that there may be too much the FLW KingfishTour and the FLW Kingfish to fast. Last year, the Redfish Cup raised Series. Compare the pro saltwater tournaments their entry fee to $1000, but the number of to the pro largemouth bass fishing tournaments. tournament participants dropped. The idea of a FLW outdoors has 7 different tours dedicated national tournament trail with higher entry fees to largemouth bass fishing. The FLW Tour and payouts is good for professional anglers,

Fans of bass pros flock to weigh-ins and promotional events to get their favorite anglers autographs.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Fan draw in professional bass fishing tourneys is incredible.

June 2007

The 2007 Gulf Coast Troutmaster Association Tournament Series is off to a promising start. The first stop of this series was in Victoria, Texas on April 28, 2007. Over 80 anglers signed up to fish the waters from East and West Matagorda Bay to JFK Causeway. With support and sponsorship from Academy this year, GCTMA has moved the location of the weigh-in sites to the local Academy for each tournament city. In addition to this new

format GCTMA donated all of the processed fish from this tournament to the Boys and Girls Club of Victoria for an upcoming fundraising fish fry.

where GCTMA paid out over $25,000 in cash and prizes! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget that this years angler of the year will win a 22â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Triton LTS, good luck anglers!

GCTMA looks forward to seeing everyone at the next tournament in League City, Texas on June 16, 2007. For this tournament anglers will be able to fish the entire Galveston Bay system. Listed below are the winners for the Victoria tournament

VICTORIA, TX 2007 OVERALL WINNERS Forrest Vollentine Vince Augustine Bruce Baugh

11.1 8.8 8.77

BIG TROUT Forrest Vollentine Tom Perriloux David Rowsey

6.6 5.7 5.6

HEAVIEST LIVE STRINGER Bruce Baugh 8.8 David Williams 8.4 Carl Stringer 8

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Imagine several spectator boats watching and cheering you on your favorite flat.

Capturing every aspect of the event is part of the TV production; a helicopter crew films the anglers leaving the harbor.

but there are very few redfish teams that can fish full time and afford the cost of fishing from Texas to Florida. There needs to be a symbiotic relationship between sponsors, anglers and tournaments. The involvement of each needs to grow together and if one lags or grows to fast, the sport will suffer. The Redfish cup went back to an east divisionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;west division format this year and so far, it seems to have helped increase the numbers of anglers entering tournaments. Meanwhile the IFA Redfish Tour and Texas Redfish Series have made small changes and both seem to be growing. It will take a while and growing pains will occur as saltwater tournaments try to grow to the match the marketing effectiveness and size of professional bass fishing. In dealing with sponsors, again the freshwater tournament fisherman has the advantage. Due to the large number of freshwater anglers, sponsors see more potential recognition for their products. Spectator turnout at tournament weigh-ins, television coverage, media coverage and people interested in bass fishing is large and established. The Bassmasters Classic is 44

Texas Saltwater Fishing

televised live on ESPN and the weigh-in is held in at a large stadium in front of thousands of cheering fans. Bass fishing is truly a small example of how NASCAR marketing works, building fan loyalty to specific anglers. During bass tournaments, fans follow their favorite anglers around the lake to watch how and where they catch fish. Bass anglers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind and in fact talk to and play up to their spectators. Those spectators will purchase the products they represent. What would redfish anglers think if three boats of cheering fans anchored on the flat they were getting ready to fish? The structure and water depth that redfish frequent does not lend itself to spectators following the anglers. Many of the places people fish for redfish will only take one boat. Shallow water, redfish and multiple boats adds up to spooky fish. How many weekend spectators are going to run 60 miles offshore to watch a team drifting for kingfish? Again, offshore angling does not lend itself to spectator viewing. For professional saltwater tournament growth to occur, sponsors must continue to join and support the tournaments and the anglers. A sponsor is looking for one thing, return on investment. Sponsors are not giving product and cash to anglers because they think that angler is a good guy or even a good fisherman. Sponsors give product and cash to anglers expecting increased sales. Due to the size of the freshwater and saltwater angling populations, which do you think has more potential for sales, the freshwater audience or the saltwater audience? As a sponsor, I know that $5000 spent on a freshwater angler will receive many more June 2007

impressions that if I spent that money on a saltwater angler. So can saltwater tournaments reach the same level of popularity as freshwater bass fishing and support the number of full time professional anglers that bass tournaments do? No. I do not think they can. The numbers do not support it, there are just too many freshwater anglers compared to saltwater anglers. Does that mean professional redfishing or kingfishing can not be a viable sport in which anglers can compete full time? No. The saltwater tournament scene can continue to grow and is growing. The tournaments and more importantly the television coverage must be interesting enough for non-saltwater anglers to be interested. How fast and when will saltwater tournaments be to the point of full fields of professional teams? I can not answer that question. BASS had its first tournament in 1967 with 106 anglers and now 40 years later has over 600,000 members. Certainly saltwater tournament growth will peak in a shorter period than 40 years. I would say that we should check back in 5 years to see how tournament turnouts are going and how sponsorship is infusing the sport. In other words, you may want to call your boss back about that job you just quit.

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

The sun glimmering on the ocean surface has a mesmerizing effect on

Outriggers in action.

the human mind… as you watch your lures popping and smoking behind the boat, there is a certain harmony that develops that’s not easy to explain. But this afternoon something’s not right. After several hours of consistent watching, you detect an unusual splash. Was that a fin? Maybe the sun is playing tricks with you. Staying up most of the night before fishing probably wasn’t a good idea and you’re just getting a little tired. No… there’s something going on. Suddenly, behind one of the new lures that the guy at the tackle shop told you to buy; you realize there is a dark shadow. “Right Rigger… There he is!” your buddy yells. The shadow gets darker and bigger and a large dorsal fin is now behind your lure. A bill the size of a baseball bat starts whacking on your new lure as the fish grabs it out of the outrigger. The afternoon calm has just been shattered into what is probably best described as organized chaos. Everybody on board is running around, reeling stuff in and putting it away as the angler

grabs the rod and gets his harness on. Just

basically serve the same purpose. First of all

as the last lure comes in; the ocean explodes

they help prevent tangles. By spreading your

with 500-pounds of mad, mean, magnificent

baits apart, outriggers make it easier to pull

blue marlin—greyhounding across the water,

multiple lines. Staggering the distance you pull

changing directions, shaking her head—doing

the baits behind the boat will also help keep

everything she can to ruin your day. After a

them from tangling, especially in a turn. Another

moment you realize that it feels pretty good

way to avoid a tangle is to always put your

being hooked up, on your own boat, with line

farthest or “long” bait out first; then the close

Blue marlin exploding out of the water.

smokin’ off the 80

or “short” baits. Do the opposite when you pull

wide… life is good!

them in, short ones first. This may seem like

It looks like another

we’re being overly paranoid, but it’s easy to get

great day of big game

lines crossed and tangles weaken the line, burn

fishing in the Gulf

up valuable fishing time, and keep you from

of Mexico.

being productive. Getting a bite while tangled is pretty self-explanatory and can ruin your day.

Outriggers play an

Always watch for tangles and crossed lines.

important roll in big

Texas Saltwater Fishing

game fishing and are

As your boat moves through the water,

standard equipment

the turbulence creates an area of low visibility

for bluewater trolling.

underwater due to the trail of bubbles. It can be

They come in many

difficult for a fish to see your bait if it is in this

shapes and sizes, but

prop wash and outriggers help to get the baits

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

excess drop-back.

don’t step on it or smoke

On a small boat,

around it. Don’t cram

start with a 6’- 8’

your snap swivels into the tip of your rod. This

tag line and see

scratches the tip and it can chafe the line.

how your hook-ups

Check the first 50 yards of your line and your

go. On a larger

terminal knots at the end of every day of fishing.

boat you may want a 12’to 20’ tag

Adjustable outrigger clip.

line, depending

if you want to talk about fishing or rigging your

on how long your

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

outriggers are.

to go fishing! Remember, Byrd & Cochrane is

Vary the length to

an authorized broker for Fox Yacht Sales, the

get the best results

Texas dealer for Cabo and Riviera Yachts.

for your boat.

Come by the Fox Yacht Sales office at TopsN-Towers and check out the line up of Cabo

Bad swivel choice.

To explain everything about

Yachts as well as Riviera Yachts, made in Australia. Fox has an extensive inventory of

away from this area. Outriggers also add height

rigging and fishing with outriggers would

brokerage boats as well and will be glad to help

to your line which makes a dead bait skip and

take many more pages than we have in this

you find a boat or sell yours. We specialize in

helps a lure run better. An added bonus is that

article, but we have tried to cover the basic

sportfishing boats and motor yachts. Come

it also keeps most of the leader out of the water

concepts. Whether you have 18’ poles on your

by and get a great deal on your next boat. For

for a better presentation to wary fish.

outboard or triple spreader riggers on your big

more information call our office at 281-291-

sportfisherman, the theory is the same. Larger

0656 or check out our website at www.byrd-

poles can handle more weight and thus large

cochrane.com or www.foxyachtsales.com

The final benefit of the outrigger is to provide some “drop-back” or slack in the line

and multiple lures.

when a fish bites. This gives the fish time to turn its head before the line comes tight,

A center rigger is also a nice added

resulting in a better hook-up. If you can’t put all

addition that enables you to put a bait way

your lines in the outriggers and must pull one

back in the “shotgun” position. This is a great

off the rod tip, put the line in an outrigger clip

way to catch a tuna, wahoo or dolphin and

mounted on the transom or other location to

plenty of billfish. Normally a smaller lure or

give it some drop-back. Your hook-up ratio will

a small ballyhoo with a skirt is fished in this

improve dramatically.

position. There are many different types of rigger clips to choose from. One of the most

Finding the right drop-back on your boat

popular is a Black’s Clip. Aftco also makes

takes a little time, especially with lures. Live

some great clips, so take a look at theirs also.

and dead bait are pretty easy, let the fish eat

Your local tackle shop should have a good

and set the hook. However, lures can be a lot

selection and can explain how each works.

different. You are fooling the fish into eating a piece plastic and rubber. When a fish grabs the

Here are a few other tips. Don’t try to pull

lure he will soon realize it’s not real and drop it,

more lines on your boat than you can handle

at least most of the time. So, on a lure strike you

comfortably. It doesn’t do you any good to get

want to give the fish some drop-back, but not

800 yards of line out on a fish while you are

too much. This is where a “tag line” comes in.

trying to reel everything else in. A good rule of thumb is one rod more than the number of

Instead of attaching your line to an outrigger

people on board. By doing this you be able to

clip, you attach the tag line to the rigger and

clear lines and start fighting a fish more quickly,

attach your line to it, usually with a rubber

it’s better for you and the fish.

band. Your line goes from the tip of your rod,

For more information about outriggers or

One of the most important rules to

out to the end of the tag line, and then to the

remember when big game fishing, is to always

lure. This is a short cut to the lure and removes

protect your line. Always be careful handling it,

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

When the founders of CCA first got together in 1976 to start the “Save the Redfish” campaign, they knew it was going to take a lot of sacrifice to get something done for the health and longevity of coastal bays. It was likely going to impinge on their personal time, their work, their money, and even though commercial fishermen were the overwhelming problem in the fishery, it would almost certainly involve imposing bag and size limits on themselves. As the movement began to take shape, the concept of recreational bag and size limits for trout and redfish was embraced by many in the recreational fishing arena. There was also a smaller but very vocal group of anglers who thought their sport would not survive with bag and size limitations of any kind. It was their “right” to catch and keep as many fish as the ocean provided. Remember, in the late 1970s recreational bag limits for saltwater species were largely considered laughable. The ocean’s resources were still thought by some to be inexhaustible. Even with extremely liberal limit proposals (as much as two and three times current bag limits), there were those who cried that the trout and redfish recreational fishing industry along the coast would dry up. “Who is going to travel to the bay just to catch 20 trout and 10 redfish?” The defiance of this greedy recreational faction seems so shortsighted when compared to the modern voice of marine conservation, but if you listen, you can still hear those same calls when the management decisions get personal. RESOURCE FIRST VS. FISHERMAN FIRST The “resource first” ethic that drove the early saltwater conservation movement is slowly being corrupted by a doctrine of “fisherman first.” It is hard to imagine that we have come so far in marine conservation and this thinking is still such a seductive part of the fishing ethic of some recreational anglers. It has often been said that commercial fishermen want to catch the last fish. But are we recreational anglers trying to stop them simply because we want to catch the last fish? The corruption of this ethic ironically may have emerged from a rather noble fight. At the start of the 21st century, there was an almost overwhelming push from a number of influential environmental interests and federal politicians 50

Texas Saltwater Fishing

to create vast no-fishing zones throughout the nation’s oceans. Despite the fact that overfishing was largely related to commercial fishing practices, no-fishing zones were going to preclude all fishing activities, including recreational fishing, and were heralded as the solution to all fishery management problems. Recreational anglers united to stop this draconian and largely misguided approach for managing the nation’s fishery resources. Oddly, recreational anglers even found themselves arguing against

THE LAST FISH Some of the very people who helped push the “resource first” ethic are now arguing for greater poundage and more liberal limits, even in the face of troubling stock assessments. They cry that it will limit anglers’ interest and may damage the industry, but won’t killing the last fish not decisively kill the industry? Fisheries management is not an easy activity. Among many of the seemingly theoretical scientific, political and managerial complexities,

some environmentalists who would normally be our allies on most issues. It was a divisive period that drove an unfortunate wedge between many in the environmental community and most in the recreational angling community. Clearly, vast no-fishing zones along our nation’s coast would have been a horrible outcome of that fight. As the dust has settled over this issue, the guidelines for a transparent and scientifically supportable system for such closures, as well as for their implementation and management, continue to be hammered out. But strangely, it has also revived a division among recreational anglers that seems to be growing. It appears that in this fight for a fair, inclusive, science-based management system, a selfish seed was planted, and as it has grown, it is beginning to choke the discussions in several prominent recreational fisheries. The freedom to fish fight was never about putting recreational anglers first. It was about stopping a misguided fisheries management scheme that threatened to destroy the traditional fisheries management system and manage by rote exclusion. Clearly, the value of the recreational fishery is immense, and much has been written and spoken about the dangers of managing recreational anglers out of the fishery. Even beyond the economic ramifications, the inherent danger that exists in excluding recreational anglers is a loss of their unique conservation ethic as a part of the management landscape. But, without this strong conservation ethic, recreational anglers are merely another part of the problem and not of the solution. As outrageous as it is to arbitrarily exclude recreational anglers from fisheries, it is no less offensive to exclude them from proper management to the detriment of the resource.

there are many parts of modern day fisheries management that involve making decisions on the economic livelihood of real people. Real jobs and real paychecks can hang in the balance. But if the resource is not put first, the outcome will always be wrong. No matter how politically and emotionally appealing it is to assume the “fisherman first” ethic in a tough fisheries decision, the problem invariably comes back, and when it does, it usually has bigger horns and sharper teeth. Almost any good conservation movement (and clearly any successful one) is grounded in principle and ethic. For a conservation movement to be effective, it has to be founded in an unshakable tenet of putting the resource first. Then if the movement is successful, there will be a greater abundance of the resource for the angling public. I do not think we have an ethical crisis in recreational fishing. There are many more examples of good conservation ethic over a

June 2007

destructive consumption ethic, but we have to remember that the unselfish spirit that started this conservation movement is one of the keys to its success. If the founders of CCA had stood up against rampant commercial fishing but had been unyielding on sacrifices for their own fishing interests, it is hard to imagine that they would have accomplished a fraction of what has been done for the resource. Marine conservation today is even more complicated than 30 years ago, but many of the core questions are as relevant as ever. We have to realize we are faced with the same defining moment today as in 1976. Do we want the last fish for ourselves or do we want to conserve it to make a future for generations to come?

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Field Notes

The Arroyo Colorado has been

of the Arroyo Colorado include areas of rich farm

other wildlife, and specific pollutants and their

used by generations of anglers, boaters, and

and citrus land and the municipalities of Mission,

possible sources.

swimmers and remains a popular destination

McAllen, Weslaco, and Harlingen. The lower

for visitors to the area. As one of only two

Arroyo Colorado courses through an area of

freshwater inputs (the other being the North

farms, coastal playas, and the Laguna Atascosa

a measurable effect on species composition and

Floodway), it is a vital part of the lower Laguna

National Wildlife Refuge.

distribution in the Arroyo Colorado, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s Coastal Fisheries

Madre (LLM) ecosystem and serves as nursery and habitat for many recreationally important

The original stream bed meandered from

Division conducted an ecological survey of the

species. Depending on the season, anglers can

just above Mission, Texas to the lower Laguna

Arroyo Colorado watershed from the Port of

be found fishing for spotted seatrout, redfish,

Madre just north of the current discharge point.

Harlingen to its confluence with the lower Laguna

flounder, snook, or tarpon. However, despite

Then, in the late 1940’s, the Corps of Engineers

Madre from 2001 through 2003.

its high use, most people give little thought to

dredged and channelized the lower 41 km

its history or health. Given its importance to

segment of the Arroyo Colorado from the Port

the overall productivity of the lower Laguna

of Harlingen to the lower Laguna Madre for

vertebrates and nearly 16,000 invertebrates from

Madre, we should learn all we can about it and

commercial barge traffic. It is this section of the

105 species were collected using bag seines and

strive to heighten the public’s awareness of its

Arroyo Colorado that sees the most recreational

otter trawls. The dominant species collected was

contribution to the ecosystem.

use, but also includes a section designated

white shrimp (25%), followed by gulf menhaden

as impaired by the Texas Commission on

(13%), spot (10%), Atlantic croaker (7%); pinfish

Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The TCEQ

(7%), and brown shrimp (5%), and the ten

the Arroyo Colorado serves as drainage for crop

monitors the status of the state’s surface

most prevalent species comprised 84% of the

irrigation, municipal wastewater returns and as a

waters and annually publishes a report on its

organisms collected. The number of organisms

floodway during periods of heavy precipitation in

findings. It specifically lists concerns for public

present, and species richness (number of

the lower Rio Grande Valley. The upper reaches

health, fitness for use by aquatic species and

species present), depended on where along

As an ancient distributary of the Rio Grande,

Arroyo Colorado

E S

Lower Laguna Madre

Grudy Area

Arroyo City

Rio Hondo

Port of Harlingen

In an effort to determine if water quality had

Texas Saltwater Fishing

10 Kilometers

June 2007

During the course of the study over 23,000

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

The dominant species collected was white shrimp (25%), followed by gulf menhaden (13%), spot (10%), Atlantic croaker (7%); pinfish (7%), and brown shrimp (5%), and the ten most prevalent species comprised 84% of the organisms collected. the Arroyo Colorado the measurements were

(diurnal) cycle and temperature plays a big role

disposed of into the river from a specific site

taken and were highest in the lower 10 km of

in this. As water temperature increases water

(point source pollution).

the Arroyo Colorado (the segment furthest down

is not able to hold as much oxygen,. However,

stream). Seasonal changes in species richness

during daylight hours, surface waters holds

were noted with the highest number of species

higher levels of DO from the surface mixing

Watershed Partnership has been working to

occurring in the winter. It is important to note that

of water and air and from the production of

improve water quality in the Arroyo. Its members

relatively few numbers of organisms were found

oxygen from photosynthesis. Once night falls,

have developed a watershed protection plan

in the upper end of the study area. What this

photosynthesis stops and plants (algal blooms)

that went into effect in January 2007 that

means is that while the overall number of species

consume oxygen, decreasing DO levels at

describes the state of the watershed, presents

found in the Arroyo Colorado indicates a healthy

the surface. Depressed oxygen level leads to

a strategic plan to improve environmental

estuary, water quality may be an issue in the

biological stress in aquatic organisms including

conditions and proposes a monitoring plan to

upper portion of the study area.

fish and has been identified as a major factor in

document improvements during, and following

fish kills in the Arroyo Colorado.

implementation of the Plan. The partnership is composed of local business owners, concerned

Analysis of water quality data showed a

citizens, and other â&#x20AC;&#x153;stakeholdersâ&#x20AC;? who are

clear difference in the measurements between

Most freshwater systems require some

the surface to the bottom, and from the mouth

level of phosphorus in the water to enable

interested in improving the overall water quality

of the Arroyo Colorado up to Port of Harlingen.

plants, including algae, to grow. However, major

of the Arroyo Colorado watershed.

Most notable was the seasonal lack of dissolved

increases in the amount of phosphorus entering

oxygen on the bottom along the length of the

a watershed can cause rapid increases in algal

Arroyo Colorado above the 10 km point. This was

growth rates that can lead to the formation of

the lower Laguna Madre, the important thing

further aggravated in the summer months when

an algal bloom. Phosphorus is contained in

to remember is that the Arroyo Colorado is an

intense algal blooms in the section of the Arroyo

many products such as fertilisers, detergents,

integral part of the lower Laguna Madre and

Colorado between the Rio Hondo Bridge and the

and effluent, so the Arroyo Colorado is

its world class fishery. So by taking care of the

Port of Harlingen depleted the DO throughout the

vulnerable to high phosphorus levels. These

habitat, we are taking care of the fish we love

water column during the night.

high-phosporus compounds enter the Arroyo

to catch.

water through stormwater and irrigation returns DO levels typically vary greatly during a daily 58

For several years, the Arroyo Colorado

Texas Saltwater Fishing

(non-point source pollution), or are directly June 2007

As for those of us who enjoy fishing around

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

We fishermen are always looking

for the latest greatest tools to give us the edge in our outdoor adventures. Sometimes it’s the newest reel on the market matched to the perfect lightweight rod. Other times we find some new high-tech electronic gadget guaranteed to help us locate the mother lode of bronze-backed reds. And of course, we kayak fishermen are always looking to upgrade our kayaks or maybe find that perfect paddle. According to my wife, the common denominator in my wants and needs seems to be the price tag…too much. The debate will go on forever as to the true value assigned to most of these things, but I recently found a very valuable tool that would be a bargain at twice the price. It’s the latest offering from Ray Crawford, a book by the name of “Wade & Kayak Fishing on the Coastal Bend of Texas”. Ray’s previous books covering the upper coast have been around for quite a while and have developed a cult following among the

Texas Saltwater Fishing

kayak fishing crowd. Now he’s outdone himself with an offering that details the ins and outs of the middle coast. There are over 300 photos, maps, and satellite images included in the book covering everything from Hopper’s Landing on San Antonio Bay to the Upper Laguna Madre at Laguna Shores. Three years of hard work and many miles traveled really paid off. This section of the Texas coast is considered by many to be the Mecca for kayak fishermen in our state due to the easy public access, vast grass flats, and numerous shallow backwaters. It is the perfect venue to get started kayak fishing and an even better place for the veteran kayaker to stretch their horizons and explore new water. The very reason for its popularity often causes folks new to the area to become a bit intimidated. The choices and options can seem daunting at times. There are so many quality locations to choose from that you sometimes find yourself second-guessing where to go. And if you don’t know the area it can be quite easy to just settle into going for the easiest and most obvious places. I know I’m guilty of getting comfortable with a given area and then ignoring some of the other nearby possibilities. I’ve been fishing and exploring this part of the coast for quite a few years now and thought I

June 2007

had done a pretty thorough job of ferreting out the potential launches. Going through the new book I was reminded of some places I’d been meaning to try, but hadn’t taken the time to do so. However, the most surprising thing was finding a large number of places I’d never even considered. Ray really did his homework and obviously spent countless hours driving around investigating potential public access points. I can’t imagine how many hours he spent behind the wheel bouncing down some unnamed dirt road following up on a hand-drawn napkin map from a local expert. You know the kind. Turn left at the chicken coup, right at the old rusted blue barrel, then through two ditches…and be careful of the second ditch, it can get you stuck. A guide book of written directions coupled with maps to the launch points is a valuable resource in itself. I’ve bought and used several books with that format in other parts of the country. These are certainly better than nothing, but leave a lot of unknowns that require considerable time and effort to figure out. If you’re on a tight schedule you can find yourself spending more time exploring than actually fishing. Ray has gone far beyond the basic guide book format. Along with the written driving directions, this book includes photographs as seen from the driver’s perspective. How cool is that? A map, directions, and photos to insure you are headed in the right direction. It may seem like overkill to the locals, but imagine how helpful a photo of the entrance to an unmarked dirt road would be if you’ve never been there. But it doesn’t stop there. He’s added detailed driving instructions regarding the condition of the inevitable dirt roads that lead to the best places

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

INTRODUCTION By Ray Crawford Taken from Wade & Kayak Fishing on the Coastal Bend of Texas

If you are finding that your regular fishing spot is getting crowded or if you just want to find new places to fish, then this book is for you. It is mainly a compilation of legal access sites that I have found around the Rockport/Corpus Christi area for fishermen/women who want to launch a small boat such as a kayak or who need a place where they can drive to and wade. Whenever possible, I have included a description of what one would encounter if launching for the first time in the area, plus satellite and aerial photos. Most of my life I spent fishing in and around Galveston Bay, and I did not see the need of expanding my horizons until making a trip to Port Aransas visiting a friend. It was as if the proverbial fog had been lifted, and I saw paradise for the first time. I could not believe how clear and blue the Lydia Ann Channel and Aransas Boat Channel were during my visit. In fact, during all the times I have been to the coastal bend region, I have never seen this area with a brown/green Galveston Bay color. According to Capt. Dean “Slowride” Thomas, a local guide, the channels are blue the year round. While I was originally drawn to the Lighthouse Lakes/Brown and Root Flats area because of the proximity to the blue water channels, I soon realized that there was a whole new world of fishing opportunities that needed to be explored. I was amazed to find the wide variety of underwater structures along such a short section of the Texas coast. Beginning with the wild-looking area around Dagger Point in the Aransas Wildlife Refuge to the open expanses of Corpus Christi Bay, there are so many different types of bottom compositions and structures, that almost everyone can find a place where they enjoy fishing. In addition, I have discovered that the further south one travels the better the water and conditions become and the smaller the crowds. Often I see someone posting on a fishing board that they had terrible luck on their first trip to the Rockport and Aransas Pass region. Looking back on the first time I fished the Lighthouse Lakes, I can honestly say I had a lot in common with these fishermen. The Lakes are, for the most part, very shallow with a grass bottom, and I had to learn that the lures I used in Galveston could not be used under those conditions and with that bottom structure. I will be the first to admit that I still have a lot to learn about fishing the places mentioned in this book. The location of cuts, reefs, sand bars, and other features is a never ending learning process. 62

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

and suggestions about how to navigate these often sketchy paths. There are also photos and tips as to the best points to enter the water and the possible hazards you may encounter at the various locations. Having launched at hundreds of places from Port Isabel to Key West, I can tell you that this information could’ve saved me from a good many risky situations. Ray really needs to get busy with the rest of the entire Gulf Coast. Now that you’ve gotten safely to the launch and into the water you’re on your own to go exploring and hunt for the fishing holes. Nope. Read on. There are photos depicting the view you’ll see from the launch including landmarks such as exposed reefs, gas wells, piers, and any number of other structures to assist you in navigating through unfamiliar waters. These on-site photos coupled with aerial photo-maps of each area should be more than enough to provide you with the confidence to get out and explore the hundreds of square miles of water available to you. Ray is also an experienced fisherman so there are plenty of tips and strategies to help you along with getting started finding fish. At the various access points there are directions on where to find reefs, guts, and other fish holding structures. Of course tides, winds, and other weather conditions will vary greatly so it would be impossible to provide any surefire tactics that would guarantee your success. It’ll still be up to you to figure out what areas will be best under the given conditions. But this book will certainly help to straighten out the learning curve. In this day and time of private property issues and loss of access to the water, we all owe Ray a pat on the back for putting this information together in a concise and informative package. My copy is already getting dog eared and marked up with intended destinations and I can see that I’ve got plenty of exploration ahead of me this summer. To get your own copy you can visit Ray’s website (www. texascoastal fishingbooks. com) for a list of retailers who carry the book.

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Over the years, I have spent many days on my poling platform scanning the water and the horizon, wondering—what were the barrier islands like so many years ago when, even before the European explorers stepped foot on our Texas beaches, the Karankawa Indians hunted and fished in our bays. More often than not my thoughts turn to—if I was one of the members of the now extinct and forgotten cultures living today, what would I think of what has become of my hallowed hunting grounds? Chances are I would just laugh knowing that I will be asleep in my wigwam while the guy who I saw earlier that day slinging a fifty foot roostertail of mud and grass behind his boat was stuck out in the bay because the batteries went dead on his GPS. In all reality, I would probably just hang my head in despair. The simple fact is that we as anglers are a pathetic, lazy bunch. Unlike the Karankawas who built and powered their own boats by hand and navigated by following the tide, we head across the bay in our fiberglass motorized boats 64

Texas Saltwater Fishing

using detailed charts and hi-tech GPS and sonar to find places to fish. I mean think about it—in today’s world, it requires very little knowledge to navigate from spot to spot or even catch fish upon arriving at one of those spots. Don’t know where the fish are? No big deal, just log onto the internet and some big mouth is ready to reveal or, in some cases, mislead you to latest spot that the fish are biting in. Did not find the information that you were after there? Try the newspaper where some idiot guide is reporting that you should run a boat around the marsh and lakes until you spook a bunch of fish then jump out and wade until you catch one. Okay, I know there is a big difference between now and then. The biggest, most obvious, difference is that the Indians had to be successful because their lives depended on June 2007

it. Oh, wait a minute, I forgot something—their family’s lives depended on their success. They either picked a good spot to fish or hunt or did not eat that day. If we picked a bad spot today— no big deal, right? Heck we are out on the bay to get away from the city and enjoy the peace and quiet, besides we will not starve, we have H.E.B. or Chili’s to fall back on. Nope, not the case at all—pick a bad spot, jump up on the console of the boat and run circles until the fish are so spooked that they reveal themselves. You would think more of us would be interested in putting our knowledge and skills to the test, to see if we were truly worthy of capturing one of God’s creatures. Last time I checked, that is what being a sportsman was all about. Instead, we constantly place mechanical and technological advantage over knowledge

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

and ability. Why? Because there are so many anglers out there who are so caught up in the rat race they cannot relax enough to enjoy what is there without catching fish. So what do they do—they jump in the boat and run to the next spot and then to the next one. And, come the weekend, you have hundreds of boats running to the next spot and the fish rarely have the chance to settle down. Okay, I am guessing you are ready for me to move on, but before I do… For those of you who did not catch it—I said ‘we’ meaning, despite my shoulders telling me that I have poled my skiff further than I ever dreamed about running a motor, the 1300 hours on the last little Mercury outboard that I retired tells me differently. And, I do not know if any of you have ever compared a 21’ Graphite Stiffy push-pole to a 16’ piece of bamboo stout enough to push a boat… Well I have and, I promise you, I will take the 3 lbs Stiffy over the 15 lbs bamboo any day of the week and twice on Sunday… In other words—I am just as guilty of embracing technology as the next guy. The difference is; I do not rely on it. I will always place knowledge over technology. This philosophy has served me well over the years. I do not have to run around until I spook fish to find them because I know where to look based on knowledge. This knowledge that I speak of does not come from yesterday or even last week—it comes from years of observing and collecting information from not only the spots that I have caught fish, but also from the spots that I did not. And, over the years, I can assure you that two facets of fishing have not changed. The first being—history repeats itself. What I mean by this is—if you found trout on a drop-off in a certain location last year on a certain date, chances are very good that you will find fish in that same location (barring any major metrological differences) the following year give or take a week. In my experience, this has been true four out of every five years. Those are some pretty good odds if you ask me. The second thing that has not changed is that boat traffic in shallow water spooks fish. In some cases the fish will remain in the area and sulk until the next feeding cycle and in other cases, they will just outright leave and not come back. Whenever I choose a spot to fish I already have two pieces of information at hand. I know what the history of the spot is and I know, because I took the time to learn it, what the bottom contour and makeup is. The next two things I take into account are water level and temp. When combined, these are the four pieces of information I use to find fish every day. Of course each day is different and the pieces of the puzzle fit together a little differently. As for how they fit together, well that is something that I encourage you all to do. Anyway, the point that I am trying to make is—you will not starve if you do not catch a fish so slow down. You might be surprised at what you will learn when you do.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

I remember my mom and dad recounting some of the things they did while they were in high school. Back in the late 70’s and early 80’s the “in thing” to do was to attend the midnight shows at the local theater. My dad shared with me stories of his 1966 Ford Mustang and how he used it to cruise the streets of the town on a Saturday night and wait for the midnight show to start. When 12:00 a.m. rolled around many of the high school kids would head down to the theater to watch the show. It all sounds like a fun thing to do, but first of all my parents would not let me stay out that late, and second movies are not high on my list. Now here we are in 2007, I also have the desire just like my parents to attend a midnight show. Although I have no ‘66 Mustang, I do own a 50Mg and a Laguna rod along with a wading belt, stringer, headlamp, and a pair of stingray boots. My idea of a midnight show is quite different than that of my parents. My midnight show is getting out on the water and wading under a full moon. Being in the front row of a good midnight topwater bite is my plan of having fun. Just recently we planned a night wade fishing trip to some of our favorite big trout holes. Joining us on the night trip was a couple

of friends who were as excited as we were. Everyone onboard came prepared with a pair of stingray protectors, a bright head lamp, plenty of topwaters and plastics in all sorts of colors and designs. We left the dock by late afternoon to have sufficient time to fish a couple of spots during the last daylight hours. On one of those stops we caught some nice-sized reds and a few keeper trout. However, the real fun started as the sun sneaked behind the horizon. Darkness set in all around us, and the anticipation of the unexpected finally arrived. Everyone adorned their head lamps, made sure the stingray boots were strapped on tight, and grabbed their gear ready to view the feature midnight show. Yet, before jumping out of the boat in thigh deep water, we discussed a game plan and made sure to mention precautionary safety measures we needed to take. As we slipped into the water we all took our positions, spreading about twenty-five yards apart. Some of us tied on topwaters, and some stuck to plastics. The start of the night was cloudy, but as the night grew older the moon began to shine in between the sparse clouds. It seemed the bait didn’t know that night had fallen; they were as active as in the day. Plastic imitation baits drew

Rafael tricked this trout into a midnight snack.

the first couple of fish, but soon after topwaters began to do their stuff in attracting fish out of the moonlit waters. As I shone my light on the water’s surface, I could see schools of mullet milling around me. I guess I was their refuge from the big trout we were after. The water would light up with luminescent creatures of the dark which was pretty cool to watch. As we waded further and further from the boat, the lantern that was set on the boat’s console was getting smaller and smaller. From a distance I could hear tackle boxes being pried open, trying to find the magic lure that could perhaps draw that trophy trout out from the dark. We all managed to catch fish, but on this night the only big stars that showed up for the

Tools of a night time wade.

Author casting and hoping the big star will show up.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

This night time red was wide awake.

show were the ones in the sky. The stars we were hoping for were the ones with multi-spotted outfits, but they were no shows on this night. That was okay because being out on the water and experiencing something different and exciting as a midnight wade was fun in itself. Wading during the night takes team work. For example, when someone would hook up with a fish, the fisherman next to that angler would shine his light in their direction until the fish was either released or strung. We do tend to play out the fish more so at night because the risk of getting a hook imbedded in your flesh runs higher in the dark. Despite all the risk that comes with night wading, I still look forward to it. The tranquility that a night on the water brings is unmatched when you compare it to fishing during the day. The serene sound of nature without the resonance of outboard motors and the expectancy of a big fish at the end of my line draws my attention to the king of the midnight shows. That show takes place on the shallow flats of the Lower Laguna Madre. If you attend the show, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect the popcorn machines to pop, instead hope the trout are popping. There are plenty of front row seats on the Laguna Madre, and the showing can sometimes be great. Standing room (wading) only is not required; fishing off the boat or from a pier at night can be as rewarding. I can say fishing at night is not for everyone, but at sometime or another most fishermen have experienced the excitement of the unexpected that night time brings whether it was from a pier, a beach, a flat or a boat. One thing is for sure; night time fishing requires that safety is always at hand. Never fish alone, but always partner off with someone that is experienced. I will most likely never own a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;66 Mustang nor wait for the midnight show to start on a Saturday night at the local cinema. But, one day I wish to own my own boat and cruise the waters of the Laguna Madre and wait for the real Midnight Show to start. 70

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

jim dailey

“A look back at the way it was,” in the words of the fishermen who were there! Jim Dailey was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital – Houston, Texas in 1938. Jim’s father was a thoracic surgeon and served in the US Armed Forces during WWII. His father moved them to California during the war and they returned to Houston in 1946. Being devout Catholics, Jim was educated in parochial schools and then began his college education at Notre Dame. Jim says, “As a youngster all I cared about was hunting and fishing, that’s what led me to my career in fisheries biology.” Leaving Notre Dame, Jim also attended University of Texas and the University of Houston before serving in the United States Navy. After the Navy, Jim attended Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in wildlife science and fisheries in 1968. “I had a job before I got out of school,” Jim told me. “When I left A&M I moved to Palacios and worked for Texas Parks and Wildlife as a biologist for 30 years. I retired in 1998 and I guess I’m right back where I started, all I do now is hunt and fish.” Jim Dailey’s contribution to Texas coastal fishing is considerable. Jim joined the TPW team when modern fisheries management was in its infancy and helped forge many of the strategies and procedures that are the backbone of today’s management programs. Thanks to Jim Dailey and others like him, we enjoy some of the best fishing to be found anywhere on the gulf coast. Come along and let’s listen to some of his tales of the way it was in Part II.

PA RT IIea rly days at pa l acios There were almost no fishing guides when I came to the Matagorda Bays and to be honest there were only a few recreational fishermen by today’s standard. We had some commercial fishermen, mostly trammel netters, and the ones 72

Texas Saltwater Fishing

I got to know were all pretty good people. They were hard workers those guys were; and they really understood the movements of the trout and redfish. Most of them came from families who had been at it for many years so they knew what they were doing. We were all new to net fishing and without their help we’d have had a rockier start than we did. I was accustomed to doing all of my fishing up shallow back when I came here. Today we are chasing them all over the place and catching most of our trout out much deeper. I think the pressure runs them off the shorelines. You could hit the bay side of Matagorda Peninsula anywhere from the Cullen House all the way down to Tom and Jerry’s, anywhere you decided to stop you could catch fish. You might have to move around and work up into those old washover cuts that were left from old tropical storms. The trout loved to hang in what was left of those old channels and guts and we had very good fishing. Even though the trammel netters took a lot of trout and reds it could never compare to the pressure that is on our fisheries today. I believe we are taking even more. The gill netting that came later was harder on the fish than trammel netting, but I don’t believe even that pressure could equal what we see today. My work in that early period was very different than the work Coastal Fisheries does today and we were more or less inventing some of our methods as we went. We were not yet set up to concentrate on the trout and reds near as much as they do today. Our work was oriented toward research and management of the commercial fisheries and was project related. We had a variety of projects for oysters, crabs, shrimp and finfish. In September 1967 Hurricane Beulah hit between the Rio Grande and Brownsville and then turned and came straight up the coast. It hammered the coast for quite a ways north and made a bunch of new cuts into the Laguna. More important from a fisheries biology viewpoint was the way the June 2007

storm stalled as it moved slowly inland. Beulah dumped just tons of rain and the runoff to the bays was remarkable. South Texas in those days was just cotton field after cotton field. For years the farmers down there had been pouring tons of DDT and DDE on those fields to fight the boll weevil and other insects and improve their yields and it just built up in the soil and in the watershed. The Arroyo Colorado is the natural waterway to the bay and of course all that rain came rushing through and into the Lower Laguna Madre and it carried all those pesticides with it. Joe Brewer was the biologist down there in the lower Laguna and he saw it first; we were losing our juvenile seatrout and brown pelicans. When you see a dramatic change in a short time you have to act, so that’s when they started the pesticide project to study the effect those chemicals were having and the whole coast was included and I worked extensively in it. By Joe Brewer’s calculation he was missing three or four years of recruitment in the Lower Laguna on spotted seatrout, there just were no little ones to be found. And then they started to see a big decline in the brown pelicans and then the osprey. We began collecting trout all over the coast and examining ovaries and that’s when they started to put the whole thing together. Ray Childers was the head biologist for San Antonio Bay at that time and his office was at Swan Point over there by Seadrift. Ray was named the head of the whole project. We would take all the trout we could get from trammel nets and remove the ovaries and send them to Ray. Ray then sent them to the federal wildlife and fisheries people and they ran them through their laboratory. We also did a lot of sampling of the oysters and shrimp and other fish to see what effect it was having on them. It was very sad to witness the die-off of the brown pelicans. Prior to that huge pesticide

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

load coming into bays we had lots of them. The DDT and DDE were beginning to move up the food chain. It took the ospreys too. It took several years for the pesticide load to diminish because that stuff has an incredible half-life, it doesn’t disappear overnight, but eventually we did start to see the recovery beginning to occur. At the same time we were working on the pesticide project we also had what they called our finfish project. The work we did in the finfish project was the beginning of the programs used today to keep track of the trout and redfish populations but our methods were crude, very crude in fact, nothing like today. Our target species were the trout, redfish, sheepshead and drum and our main sampling gear was the trammel nets. We would go out and set our 1200 foot nets and then come back and tell them how many sets we had made and how many fish we caught. We didn’t know the acreage we were sampling or fish per hectare or anything like that, we just picked what we thought was a good area for a net and got after it; we caught all we could and counted them. We also had our shrimp project. Shrimping was a big piece of the coastal economy back then and so naturally it got a lot of attention. None of the field stations were equipped the way we are today and each office used whatever boats they had available at the time to do the work. We used little 10 foot trawl nets and at our station there in Palacios we pulled it with a 27’ inboard; that was our big boat. We also used smaller outboard powered boats with 18 to 25-horsepower engines on them. The department was set up very different in those days. Bob Calura and I were at Palacios and they called us Level-II biologists at the time. There were Level-III biologists above us and they were all project leaders. The Level-III’s were spread out up and down the coast. They were in Brownsville, Corpus, a couple were in Rockport and two or three were up in Seabrook. The coast was divided into two main districts back then. Rockport and Seabrook were the headquarters; Rockport for the lower coast and Seabrook for the upper coast. At that point in time we were not sampling Sabine Lake. The sampling work was all done in the Galveston, Matagorda, Espiritu Santo, San Antonio, Aransas, Corpus, and Laguna Madre bay systems. We had biologist teams on each of those bay systems. We had the pesticide, shrimp, crab, oyster, salinity and finfish projects to gather data on and each team gathered data from their system and sent it in to the various projects leaders located up and down the coast. Even though some of the methods were crude by today’s standards, we had a sampling scheme we followed. We had to set so many trammel nets and we had to pull so many bag seines at set stations and we took so many hydrographic samples at other set stations. Hydrographic samples are measures of salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and temperature of the water at the test station. The stations were all pre-determined and we always took our readings at the same location. Those hydrographic data turned out to be very valuable down through the years and a lot of that data was used to form the basis for the work that continues out there to this time.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

The Importance of Numbers and Growth in CCA

In today’s world of politics, numbers are often

if not always as important as dollars. When numbers speak, volumes are spoken. Because of a strong and vocal membership, Coastal Conservation Association has been a very successful conservation organization and continues to be in the current politics and policies of fisheries management not only in Texas but the entire United States. Walter Fondren, Coastal Conservation Association National Chairman, said it best in a position paper entitled, “Stand Up and Be Counted,” when he wrote “There is strength in numbers, but only if someone is counting.” “Without a recreational license, the community of saltwater anglers (in the United States) and the millions of dollars they spend each year cannot be accurately established, and don’t think our opponents in the commercial sector don’t use that against us.” With the recent passing of the latest version of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, all recreational fishermen will be required to have a fishing license and if the states do not enact a state license by 2010, a federal permit will be required. CCA backs this move for obvious reasons as stated by Mr. Fondren. Without numbers of recreational anglers to count, there is no strength in numbers. The same is true for CCA. CCA’s strength in numbers recently grew on a national level with the addition of the Pacific-Northwest. The creation of CCA Washington and CCA Oregon in the Pacific Northwest will bring CCA’s extensive experience in grassroots networks, lobbying and fisheries management to the region’s contentious salmon issues, long a source of frustration for Pacific Northwest anglers. With a proven and strong membership base in place already, the addition of the Pacific Northwest only strengthens the nation’s largest marine resource conservation group. This bodes well not only for CCA National but for CCA Texas as the organization continues to fight for the conservation of our coastal resources. The strength of CCA continues to be its grassroots membership. Without this strong membership and commitment from these members the organization can not continue to be successful. CCA Texas will continue to seek areas of growth throughout the state of Texas and it will continue to be the premier marine resource conservation group in the state and the nation. If you are interested in getting involved with a local chapter or perhaps starting a new chapter, be sure to contact CCA Texas at 800-626-4222 and ask for the assistant director in your area. For more information about CCA Texas, be sure to visit www.ccatexas.org and to visit www.joincca.org for issues on a national level.

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

What did you do with your old Christmas tree this year? Throw it out by the curb to become part of a landfill? Donate it to become mulch for landscaping? Well, some hearty fishermen and women along the upper Gulf Coast got together for their fourth annual dune seeding project on a stretch of beach in Brazoria County. Members of Coalition of Confused Coastal Fisherman (CCCF), 2coolfishing and Texas Open Beach Advocates (TOBA) spent their Saturday on January 6th staking out nearly 400 Christmas trees to seed sand dunes. These folks didn’t just jump in the car and drive down the street to their beach to drop off their old trees and then spend a warm, sunny morning on the beach. Most drove well over 30 miles in heavy fog to get to their favorite beach. One member drove all the way down from Nacogdoches the night before. Foggy morning breakfast chili helped warm up the workers. How often have you read in the papers and periodicals, or heard on the radio or TV, the need to protect our beaches and sand dunes from erosion? Most times there is a corresponding call for more federal money to fund beach and dune restoration projects. The State of Texas has lagged behind most other coastal states in getting its share of the

available, and dwindling, federal funding for these projects. Well, one thing that has traditionally been done along the coast is to place brush and tree trimmings along the dunes to help trap the wind blown sand causing new dunes to start “growing”. The use of organic material to seed sand dunes is actually a method recommended by the Texas General Land Office over other methods of dune stabilization such as the installation of geotextile tubes. And the use of old Christmas trees is actually recommended in the Texas Natural Resources Code. For over 20 years, Brazoria County has been taking old Christmas trees and using them to seed sand dunes. The Christmas trees trap the sand much like sand fences, but also biodegrade and become part of the dunes themselves. Brazoria County usually concentrates all of its efforts to the beaches that front the City of Surfside and Quintana Beach. But that leaves a good 12 miles or so of beach that are left to suffer the effects of high tides, storms and pounding surf. The folks from CCCF, 2coolfishing and TOBA focus their “dead tree planting” between Access Points 5 and 6 along the Bluewater Highway on Follett’s Island. They call this section of beach Sam’s Beach in memory of Sam Lucas, a founding member of CCCF and TOBA who loved to fish there. Today, there are signs that these efforts are having at least a small affect on the beach. Small dunes are starting to

develop where trees have been planted during previous projects. Although that may not sound like much, it is a significant accomplishment along a stretch of beach that has lost up to 7 feet a year to erosion. Overall, Brazoria County staked out about 8,500 Christmas trees this year with hundreds of volunteers taking part. The guys and gals from CCCF, 2coolfishing and TOBA have staked out about 1,200 trees in the four years they have been planting the dead trees. Next year, they hope to match what they have accomplished in the first four years. Think about that next year when you are getting ready to stick that old dead Christmas tree out by the curb. There just may be a group in your area that could use it for a worthwhile project like the dune seeding along the Brazoria County beaches. And you folks along the upper coast, remember the folks at CCCF, 2coolfishing and TOBA could use your trees when the time comes. The websites for these groups are: www. coastalfishing.org; www.2coolfishing.com and www.texasopenbeaches.org. The contact information for Brazoria County is: Denise Grier, Supervisor, Special Events; www.brazoriacountyparks.com, deniseg@ brazoria-county.com.

Tom Brown President, Texas Open Beach Advocates

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Snowbee XS Saltwater Fly Lines New to the Texas inshore coastal scene, the SX Saltwater Fly Lines from Snowbee will prove perfect for redfish, specks, flounder, cobia, snook and tarpon. The longer belly of the XS gives the line more weight for quick loading, while the shorter, steeper tapers turn over the larger flies even at maximum distance.

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Snowbee’s exclusive ultra-low friction coating shoots the fly effortlessly and will not go soft in the extreme summer heat. The Snowbee XS Saltwater Fly Lines are available in Floating (white) from WF8 WF12, and Slow Sink (clear; 2 – 2 ½ iPs) from WF7 – WF10.

Fishing Tackle Unlimited - All Pro Series Rod

www.fishingtackleunlimited.com 281-481-6838

Some rod companies are claiming to offer titanium rods. What they’re selling are titanium coated components or maybe a few stands of titanium in the butt of the rod. We wanted a rod that was lighter and tougher in both the blank and the guides and also the best actions that a true fisherman wants. “And sometimes when you want something done right you have to do it

New Norton Shrimp

www.nortonlures.com

2007 marks the 20th anniversary of Norton Lures and the introduction of the New Norton Shrimp. This Norton Shrimp is a culmination of several improved design features, and is made of the same Super Tough plastic as all Norton Lures since 1987. • The Legs have it! The action of the legs keeps the Norton Shrimp running true (like a keel) no matter how hard you fish it.

• 40 unique colors for Norton Shrimp. With state-of-the- art advances in plastics manufacturing, we can now make the body from pumpkin, the legs from glo, and the tail can be chartreuse! • New Shrimp Lazer Lock Heads have been custom designed to perfectly match up with the New Shrimp, these are available in the 1/16 oz., 1/8 oz., and 1/4 oz.

Panga Marine

www.pangamarine.com

For charter captains and veteran anglers outside the US, the legendary Panga boats are arguably the most popular fishing boats in the world. That’s because of their high performance, durability, seaworthiness and low fuel consumption. Panga Marine Corporation’s newly designed 28’ Aventura has taken this proven design to an entirely new level. Like many deep-V hulls, it has 22º deadrise, but doesn’t carry this angle 78

Texas Saltwater Fishing

yourself.” That is why we put over 60 years of fishing experience to work to design and manufacture the All Pro Series Rod. Features: •Solid Titanium Guides •Double “AA” Cork Handle •Hi-Modulus IM10 Graphite Blank •Graphite Reel seat/Blank Thru Touch •Lighter, Stronger and more Reliable!

June 2007

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all the way to the keel. Instead, it features a concave running surface. This provides the ride of a deep-V without the need for excessive horsepower and rocking when not underway. The Aventura has a range in excess of 500 miles. The cockpit contains a casting platform, a large, insulated fish box, lighted livewells, a bait center, transom stowage lockers with sliding containers, and many storage lockers.

Ocean Kayak’s “Prowler Big Game” Every detail of the Ocean Kayak - Prowler Big GameTM is geared toward theserious kayak fisherman. It accommodates anglers of any size with all the necessary fishing gear, including fish finders, GPS, transducer, rod holders, tackle boxes, and even live bait wells - all of which can be smartly mounted or stowed on and around the boat. The 12’ 9”, 69lb Prowler Big GameTM is

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equipped with a wide seat well, comfortable seat back and stern stringers. Drainage system provides for a drier ride; the flat foot-well area is great for standing or kneeling to spot fish. The molded-in keel provides smooth tracking and reduced hull slap

Sebile’s World of Innovative Fishing

360-366-4003 when paddling. SRP: $999 (standard), $1,369 with rudder, large center square hatch and bow.

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Fisherman around the world are quickly catching wind of Sebile’s Innovative designs and reaping benefits with great catches using Sebile’s Possessed series of lures. The fluid filled design has three key properties: 1) Natural mass transfer for longer, straighter casts. 2) Ultra-low frequency sound for natural attraction. 3) Glitter

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suspended in the fluid creates extremely lifelike appearance, visually imitating scales falling from a wounded baitfish. All Sebile lures are made using the highest quality components and premium Owner Brand hooks. Take your game to a higher level with Sebile….. Innovative Fishing!

Navionics Announces Gold+ Marine Charts’ New XL9 Chart Size www.navionics.com 800-848-5896 Navionics popular Gold+ marine cartography is now available in huge XL9 chart sizes. Providing over three times the coverage of previous charts, Gold+ XL9 is ideal for anglers who travel a long way from home to chase fish. XL9 charts offer the same renowned level of detail and accuracy of all Navionics charts and provide additional features such as enhanced

port services, coastal roads to help locate amenities near port; and an extensive wreck database for diving and fishing enthusiasts. In addition, customers who purchase select Gold+ Charts are eligible to receive Navionics new Fish’N Chip, high-definition fishing detail for serious fishing. Gold+ XL9 charts are available for $199.

Live Eyewear introduces Polarè Copper

www.liveeyewear.com

Live Eyewear, manufacturer of the world famous Cocoons® brand of OveRx sunwear, has announced the addition of polarized copper to its available Polaré lens options in all Cocoons models. Polaré lenses block 100% of harmful UV, while delivering 100% polarization. Unlike competitive lenses, Polaré lenses are extremely durable with 3x more scratch resistance than competitors. Polaré lenses June 2007

800-834-2563

are optically correct, critical in any lens worn over prescription eyewear. VP of Marketing, Dave Dean, says “Polaré copper is a unique tint that allows the wearer to easily recognize underwater structure in varying light conditions and also protects from eyestrain.” Cocoons come in six sizes, four polarized tints, and three frame colors. MSRP ($39.95) Texas Saltwater Fishing

SABINE

Dickie Colburn

“Getting a little desperate working terns aren’t we?” asked the youngest of my Dickie Colburn is a full three clients as we eased into time guide out of Orange, casting range of a handful of birds Texas. Dickie has 35 years hovering just above the white caps. experience guiding on Sabine “Those are not terns,” I replied, “those and Calcasieu Lakes. are gulls that haven’t eaten in a month and a half due to gale force Contact Colburn’s Sabine winds everyday!” Connection Unfortunately, that was not much Telephone of an exaggeration. Sabine Lake 281-383-2032 had been upside down and badly Website www.sabineconnection.com off-colored most of March and April. The trout were there and the bite was good on those rare occasions when a good tide change took place in less than twenty mile per hour winds. On the best of days, a foot of visibility was considered great water clarity, but the wind was the major culprit. Every year I split my fishing time in the early spring between Calcasieu and Sabine for two reasons. We are usually fighting the fresh water runoff

Dr. Danny English with his personal best speckled trout, fishing with Capt. Dickie Colburn.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

from both Rayburn and Toledo Bend on Sabine and the magnum trout are a little easier to locate on Calcasieu. We caught some big trout on Calcasieu this spring, but more importantly, there were places to hide from the wind that produced fish. The last week of April, Mother Nature inhaled for three or four days, the water cleared up, and the “catching” absolutely exploded on Sabine. We were able to fish parts of the lake that we had only bounced across on the way to the Louisiana shoreline day after day and both the fish and the bait were there. We can only hope that the winds will continue to subside this month allowing us to enjoy the entire lake. By the end of month, you can look for both redfish and trout corralling shad and shrimp in the middle of the lake. I know that “middle of the lake” is a little generic, but we are talking about that stretch of water between the fishing piers on the north revetment wall and Garrison’s Ridge. While they will segregate to forage as the water continues to warm, the reds and trout will hunt together through early June. If there are no gulls ratting out the schooling fish, key on rafts of shad or the occasional shrimp skipping across the surface. As a rule, we do much better on these fish by sticking around well after the surface activity ceases and the birds have left. We invariably catch our largest trout out of these schools on topwaters like the She Dog, Skitterwalks, or Spooks, but the most reliable choice is a plastic tail rigged on a quarter ounce jig head. I prefer the smaller Assassin Sea Shad as long as the fish are chasing shrimp and juvenile shad. Bone diamond, glow-chartreuse, red shad, and morning glory are great colors, but my confidence color year-round on Sabine is pumpkin chartreuse. The GULP shrimp and Assassin’s new SLURP shrimp rigged on jig heads and fished under a clacking popping cork are equally deadly on these same fish. They are wonderful tools for hunting these fish while drifting open water. The one drawback for me is that the gafftop cannot leave either scented offering alone! Our largest trout will fall victim to the early morning and late evening waders well into July. Over the years, the flats on the north end of the lake have been much more productive than the Louisiana shoreline as we move into summer and this year should be no different. The close proximity to the deeper and cooler waters of the Intracoastal keeps the fish in the neighborhood. The same topwater lures as well as Catch V’s, Catch 2000’s, and the smaller Crazy Croaker will produce the bragging size trout. Incoming tides and active mullet in 1-3 feet of water are the keys to locating these fish. Plan on leaving the dock early as many of the largest fish are taken well before sunrise! I appreciate Everett affording me this opportunity to provide a more extensive report on Sabine each month and hope that it will make your outings on Sabine more productive. “Catching” is the reason for getting up at 3:00 in the morning on a day off. “Releasing” is the reason you can do it again tomorrow!

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

I am glad it’s May and June because April was a disaster. The weather patterns just killed us; the weather was just horrible. We had only a few good days for the most part. The boat fishermen did not have as much luck as the wade fishermen. Wade fishing was definitely the ticket for all the high winds. We are still fighting winds. When the wind is down the boat fishermen are doing good over deep shell. That is where the bulk of our fish are right now. They are over the mid bay reefs and the ship channel. Trinity Bay has received a ton of fresh water. The rivers are up and they just opened the flood gates in Livingston yesterday. All twelve of them are open and it is not looking good

Texas Saltwater Fishing

for Trinity Bay, probably for the rest of the summer. We have a ton of fresh water over here now and this will just add to the dilemma. San Jacinto is running upstream so this report is going to be along the coast only and no northern bays. It looks like for May and June that all the hot stuff is going to be along the Houston Ship Channel, down towards Galveston. You can work your favorite reefs along that. You will need to work that mid bay shell and stuff with soft plastics. The lower Galveston Bay, over by Dollar and Dickinson are going to produce real well this summer. What this fresh water does is that it pretty much eliminates Trinity Bay and everything. The fish that do leave this area all end up in East Bay and down the lower channel and in the jetties, West Bay and the lower Galveston Bay. It is going to make fishing better for everybody. However it will concentrate everybody too. It is going to get pretty crowded in places. This bay is one of the biggest around but it will get pretty small in places when things like this happen. As of now wading the south shore line in East Bay has been the hottest ticket. Getting out of these winds is the main objective and luckily there are some fish there. The winds have been pumping 25-30 mph for weeks. It has been crazy. We are getting through it but it takes effort. If you don’t wade you are going to have trouble right now. As soon as the winds diminish and the water greens up over the mid bay shell, that is where the hot action will be. We have been seeing signs of big trout hitting the shorelines and pulling back out so it is going to be a fiasco when these winds lay down! Red fishing is really off right now. Trout are the bonus and a few flounder along the shore lines. Over at Mesquite Island down in the corner by the Texas City Dike, over by Dollar Flats, that has been producing some good specks also. In West Bay behind the pass, once the winds settle down and get that green tide coming through the pass that will produce some real good hot wade fishing. The action is always best fishing behind the bars and guts. The jetty fishing has been rough but the fish are there and I have a sneaking suspicion that is where the bulk of our red fish are. I’ve seen it before when they hole up in that deep water; not fanned out through the rest of the system. A few words on lure selection; anything dark has been working in this off color water. Plum, Strawberry, anything red, black or purple has been producing better especially on your bigger fish. Topwaters are still iffy, one day you will just crush them and the next day they are just slapping around. Just put on your old trust Trout Killer or Assassin, whatever you like to throw and then boom bam boom, you are back in. Things are looking real favorable, all we need is for Mother Nature to work with us, we have lots of fish. She needs to just let the wind quit blowing and let us get out there and get on some fish. Trinity Bay is out of the picture for early summer but East Bay and West should do well. Pray for the heavy rains in the northern part of the state to let up for a while.

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Anticipating June’s

but don’t forget

arrival is summed up in two words,

there are holes

hookups and blowups. Taking a

out there and a

glance at the past month can make

possibility that

your head spin with the roller coaster

a stingray might

of fishing activity. East Matagorda

just be inside one.

Bay’s dirty water forced us to use

My suggestion

that stink bait under a loud cork to

is to wear your

have any chance of catching a fish.

protection. Be

When the wind did give us a reprieve

safe not sorry

and the water cleared a bit we were

because the pain

able to catch a few fish drifting or

is unbearable. This

wading. Some days saw a retreat to

is one guy who

West Matagorda Bay just to look up

will be wearing his

some good water. Even running all

ForEverLast Ray

the way to Airport Flats was not out

Guard boots so

of the equation.

that he can wade

Recently we’ve had some catching on Bass Assassins and a few tops early with plenty of glass

Morris Plagens — 28” 8 lb trout — caught while fishing with Capt. Bill in East Matagorda Bay with east wind blowing 15-20 mph.

another day. As I mentioned, we’re looking for hook-ups and blow-ups coming

minnows and mullet around, especially on an incoming tide. Pulled out of

June. East Matagorda Bay should have settled winds by then and a

our waders on May 3rd and started wading wet; boy did that feel good.

good fishing pattern. Tactics are to wade the shorelines and reefs early,

It seems like our bigger fish for the past month came early in the day

perhaps until mid-morning, then retreating and work the deeper shell.

working knee-deep to thigh-deep while throwing small bone top waters

You might even see a little bird activity and slicks popping in the middle of

or the 4-inch Sea Shad in roach or bone. Some of the guides ran evening

the bay. Mullet and shrimp have already set up camp and we’ll see those

trips and fished until dark with a lot of limits on trout and reds coming on

shad appearing sometime around mid-June.

that late bite. Check out the shark activity over in West Matagorda Bay before

Baits to toss for soft plastics are the Assassin Slurp in Drunk Monkey or Good Penny on a ¼-1/8 oz lead head. I have done really well on

heading out and if that’s not enough of a hindrance, we’ve got those

the 5 inch shad in 10W40, Opening Night, Pumpkinseed, and Roach. I

hateful stingrays that just keep popping up. Numerous fishermen have

recommend these baits under a rattlin’ cork if the water is off-colored. I

met up with these angry guys and believe me it is no party. The fishermen

will also be throwing a variety of topwaters. June is a good month for this

that have taken the beating from these stingrays have not for the most

because the fish are off the mud and bait movement will be good. A lot of

part been wearing protection. We always remind folks to slide their feet

times you will see bait being knocked up out of the water or trout jumping out of the water chasing bait. When you see this you will have a lot of fun fishing topwaters. Another thing is when extracting those big treble hooks from the old yellow mouth be extremely careful. All it takes is one wrong shake and you can get a hook in your hand in a blink of an eye. It should be happening over in West Matagorda Bay as well. Fish the incoming tide, work the sandbars, guts, and grass beds while checking out baitfish, mainly mullet. I believe your bigger fish will fall to topwaters. Reds should be close to the shorelines or on the sandbars on a low tide and in the guts. Look for the wells to produce some trout. Don’t forget about Oyster Lake, Crab Lake, and the reefs around Mad Island Cut. These areas should pay off on reds and a few trout especially around the reefs at Mad Island Cut. Just hope our weather stabilizes and I’m sure it will. Have a great time fishing and be very careful out there.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

The fishing in May was good for the Rat Pack and patterns seem to be right on schedule with previous years, except for the wind. We have had more 20+ mph winds during late April and the month of May than I care to remember. The bad thing about the hard southeast winds is the pounding the north shorelines have been taking. The majority of my fishing has been on the north shorelines of Espiritu Santo Bay. Casting soft plastics rigged on a 1/16 oz Assassin jigheads into the southeast winds made for some very sore shoulders on myself and my customers. The high winds made it tough to feel the slightest bites so we really had to set the hook anytime we felt any amount of pressure. This made for quite a few hits and misses with some of my clients who did not have the experience of fishing on these extremely windy days. Over the past few months one lure that has became a favorite of mine for catching redfish has now risen to the top of my artificial arsenal for my speckled friends as well. The 4-inch Swim Shiner made by Bass Assassin has proven itself in every locale that I have tried it, bait against bait, while wading with friends and customers. Within an David Clark hour of my many wades knows how to even my most skeptical land the reds. clients are requesting a few to try so I have to make sure I have a good supply of these lures on hand to share. In our normal trout green water I have been throwing the pearl/ chartreuse but when the water has been beaten into chocolate milk by the strong winds I usually switch to the darker colors or the bright chartreuse. Since this bait has such great tail action it probably is not necessary to change 86

Texas Saltwater Fishing

colors as the fish should have no problem honing in on the “thump-thump” vibration made by the larger paddle tail on this big bodied lure. You can actually see the rod tip on my American Rodsmiths H3 vibrating due to the severe wiggle caused by the big tail. In June, weather permitting; my first choice location will be the surf. The wind should start to calm down this month and we will get our first taste of the tide runners. Last summer my best Kathy Jones tricked this action came off of topwaters. I redfish with a topwater. can remember on more then one occasion when we were catching more trout wading with topwaters then my friends who were fishing from the boat using croaker. Not only did we get more action we were also more comfortable in the cooler water. When fishing the surf I like to start out wading the first gut that runs parallel to the beach ‘til the sun breaks the horizon. After the sun starts to rise you will notice the baitfish starting to move away to the second gut and then I follow as well. The third gut may hold fish but it is usually the bigger species with more teeth so you will hardly ever find me straying to that area. When I am not in the surf, my other targeted areas will not change much from May to June. I will still be fishing shorelines for the majority of the time when I have wade fishermen. Hard sand and grass will still be holding good numbers of fish. We will start out fishing in calf to knee deep water early in the morning and as the sun grows we will slowly make our way through the deeper guts till we finally end up chest deep at the major drop offs by mid-day. The same techniques will hold true as well when fishing the shell reefs in San Antonio Bay. Early in the morning start off fishing up shallow around the crown of the reef then slowly work your way to the deeper drop offs between the reefs or cuts in the reefs. You will find me using the same lures whether I am fishing the shorelines or mid bay reefs. I, along with many of my customers, love the blow ups and explosions you get by an angry redfish or trout when it attacks our topwaters, but I found out long ago I can’t make a living using topwaters. It is hard to fillet a blow up when I have customers who expect to take some home for the grill. My topwater of choice will be the She Dog in chartreuse/pearl/ chartreuse and chrome/black back. For plastics I will be slinging the lure I mentioned above, the Assassin Swimming Shiner, in pearl/chartreuse June 2007

mostly. As back up I will have on hand the tried and true Texas Assassins in pumpkinseed/ chartreuse and bone diamond. I rig these lures on 1/16 oz Assassin jigheads with 3/0 hooks. In May the sharks and stingrays made a strong showing all along the shorelines of Espiritu Santo, San Antonio, and West Sarah Clark with a nice trout she caught Matagorda bays so wading over mud and grass. make sure to wear your ForEverlast stingray guards and boots. If you plan on keeping some fillets for dinner you might consider rigging up a shark proof bucket on some type of float to keep your catch out of reach of those toothy critters. A landing net is another safety precaution I have transferred over from the surf to the bays because you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be reaching for your catch at the same time as Mr. Shark. Fish hard, fish smart!

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

The fishing in the Upper

package, unopened. It

Laguna Madre has been very

felt like a real treasure.

good. The trout and reds are

We were talking about

every where, from the Kennedy

the many spring seasons

Causeway down to Baffin Bay.

past that we had fished in

We’re catching several trout in the

Baffin Bay, trolling around

eighteen to twenty-nine inch range.

the rocks casting these

With the price of gas so high, it’s

lures.

good that there are more fish on

on top of the rocks and

The water clarity is beautiful even

the trout would just kill

though the southeast winds have

it. Believe me they still

been relentless. We are not fishing

work, but I don’t want

the areas we want to, only the

to use them because

areas that we are able to.

they don’t make them

The Land Cut is due but hasn’t

have are priceless to me.

Back then these baits were made for bass fishing in fresh water. The first

with Texas Parks and Wildlife to see what

thing we had to do was change the split rings and hooks. Now we have a

he thought about the lower numbers

large selection of lures made for saltwater fishing, including the scented

down south. He said that they are just

plastics, such as the “Slurp” by Bass Assassin. When Doug and I started out the only soft plastic was a shrimp

preliminary results are good, with one trout

imitation called the Tout Tail. Later, we discovered how effective the

over twenty inches per hour. He said that

freshwater Bass Assassins were and we were able to catch much bigger

the run could be late due to the colder

fish on them. They are continually improving. It’s great to use these

water temperatures that continued longer

artificial baits with so many

and that there have been more cloudy

different choices. My brother-in-law, Bill

trout will still follow the brown shrimp that

Anderson, came down

will travel through the Cut on the way to

to fish one day. He’s a

the gulf.

bass fisherman from Lake

Also, I asked Art what effect Packery

Palestine in East Texas. We

Channel has had on our system. He said,

went out late in the morning

“It has had less effect than I thought it

on one of those really windy

would. The water flow is only affected a few miles from the channel. The

days when no one else

inland flats channel has changed from grass beds to all sandy bottoms.

wanted to go. We used the

We’re seeing more sharks and jackfish in the sample nets but, only within

Saltwater Assassin in five

a few miles from the entrance.” There are more numbers of snook than

inch shad, plum/chartreuse

they thought possible and there have already been some caught this year.

tail. We drift fished in a

They won’t know the real effect of Packery for a few more years when the

water depth of three feet

biologist study the shrimp and bait movement. I’m hoping it will bring in

and the waves were about

more bait and fish, especially flounder.

two feet high. We caught

I was talking with longtime friend and fellow guide, Doug Bird, the

a few small trout then he

other day. He brought over one of the old lures that we used to use, the

hooked a big one.

Bomber Long “A” minnow, in orange with a gold belly. It was still in the

I didn’t have a dip net so,

Texas Saltwater Fishing

C.R. Webb caught and released this 30” trout on a Bass Assassin.

previous spring runs. I talked to Art Morris

days keeping it cooler, too. He thinks the

any more and the ones I

really produced much yet, as it has in

now starting their net samples and the

C. R. with nice trout and a happy customer.

You could throw it

this north end of the Laguna Madre.

June 2007

This is Bill Anderson, 29” trout caught and released.

Texas Trout Redfish Series – Team of the Year. Jay Ray Watkins and C.R. Webb.

as he brought her up to the boat, I clipped her on the Boga Grip and handed her to Bill, then I took the picture and she was released. She was twenty-nine inches long, an excellent catch. He’s got a good picture to show his bass fishing buddies. My son had a great fishing day with his good friends, Freddy Vela and Dusty Doyle. I have known Dusty since he was born. Our

Dusty Doyle, a soldier with a great trout.

families spent many fishing/surfing vacations together, traveling in Mexico. Dusty joined the Army after high school and he hasn’t had much time to fish, I’m glad that they had the opportunity to go. The fishing was great. They caught trout after trout, enough for a fish fry afterwards with family and friends. Dusty is in the Eighty Second Airborne, he is scheduled to go to Iraq next month. Our prayers are with him and all those who serve our country. Congratulations to Jay Ray Watkins and C. R. Webb for first place finish, winning the 2007 Team of the Year in the Texas Trout Series sponsored by Cabela’s. It was a close finish and their hard work paid off. During the past two months they fished Port O’Connor, Laguna Madre, Matagorda and the final event was in Port Aransas. Each event consisted of three trout, live weigh-in tournament. The points were added up from the results of each event. I was impressed with the care given to insure the live catches and successful releases. The tournament should air in October on Fox Sports Southwest. You can read more about it on my website under News/Articles. Also, on my website, “Cliffs Notes” is up and running. It has details of locations, conditions and advice, guaranteed to save you time and fuel when fishing. The winds should eventually die down allowing us to have free roam of the bay system. Start out wade fishing early in the morning then out deeper to the drop off’s later in the day. As the weather gets hotter, work the deeper drop offs, they should hold more fish. With the good reports from Texas Parks and Wildlife we should be catching lots of big fish in June and July.

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Late spring was a fairly typical one this year along the lower reaches of the Laguna Madre. Overall, fishing rated good and sometimes even bordered upon excellent. Of course, along with those exceptional catches came a few days where results were marginal at best. There is always the good and the bad. That’s just fishing though; one great thing about the Laguna Madre, even when fishing is bad it’s never going to be ugly. As far as the good days went, when our fish fed they did so aggressively and virtually anybody could catch them. The shallow flats worked alive with baitfish, the pelicans and One great thing about the Laguna Madre, seagulls stayed even when the fishing’s bad it’s never ugly. busy, and life on both sides of the bank was out and active. Redfish podded up in small wolf packs and a trained eye could easily see them wake as they swirled to compete for food. Redfish are awesome in that respect. When they group together it can be a serious display of brute competition and no lure in the water is safe. Topwaters worked well Lower morning during these aggressive winds usually periods and the strikes were called for often as ambitious as the smaller, juniorsized plugs. fishermen. Lower morning winds usually called for smaller, junior-sized plugs. The louder, She Dog types were mostly reserved for whitecap conditions, but there was other times when they were also hit with a vengeance even during calm conditions. There’s not much more exciting than to see one of these “bottom grubbers” crash a topwater in shin deep 90

Texas Saltwater Fishing

water. As a rule though, soft plastics were still the most consistent. Again, being observant and casting to disturbed water gave the highest rewards. While blind casting works, the most successful angler always tries to find something interesting to cast to. We mostly found our best redfish feeding in offcolored water about shin to knee-deep. The presence of Felo Guerra with an active baitfish was over-sized spring red. Photo by Sam Caldwell. important, but not the most important factor as we have often been taught to think. We can’t see the little pinfish, crabs and small shrimp they are eating from the surface. Productive areas can be wind-blown shorelines, slightly deeper troughs over color changes and along current rips caused by the wind whether we see much bait or not. Finding areas not molested by boat traffic will become even more important during the next few months. Unfortunately, those areas are becoming smaller, so it often pays to work small, out of the way places. In addition to some great redfish action, we often found some very good trout feeding alongside them. In support of the TP&W data, many of the trout were small, few were in the mid-range, but we did enjoy several trophy catches of twenty-eight and over specimens. The same baits applied and we even had one seven-pounder caught on a gold spoon. The easy days are always what they are and are always appreciated, but the real fisherman in us has to come out during those periods of lesser activity. When conditions get tough, as they often do during spring, it can take some creativity to pull things off. Full summer patterns are soon to be upon us. Each season offers its own set of challenges, and here in South Texas we basically have three: cold, windy, and hot. Summertime fishing can be as hot as the weather, especially early and shallow, and then again late and deep. As far as early goes, some of the most exciting fishing the Laguna has to offer is sightcasting to redfish in clear shallow water for the first few hours of the day. Indeed, that is what has traditionally made the lower Texas grass flats a world-class destination. The grass line next to the sand traditionally will June 2007

Redfish action was hot this past month and we saw some very nice trout too.

Ross Hammond with a 7.5lb trout that came out of a school of big reds.

hold fish willing to hit good presentations early in the mornings, and we can often follow the fish off the flats as the day wears on. Deeper breaks and drops will hold quality trout for those wiling to get their shirt pockets wet. Drifting can apply, but in my opinion, there is little as exciting as getting in there with them. Quarter ounce tails worked near the bottom will catch good trout throughout the day, especially if we have the right equipment and the tenacity to fish hard for whatever the day has to offer. Another bait which has given us an advantage is Bass Assassinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Slurp. During down times, its scent can and will make a difference. While paddle tails will always have a high place in our tackle box, the straight-tailed offerings will cast farther. There are a lot of opinions out there about how to get a fish to eat; angle of presentation, types of lures, etc. However, just casting well beyond a fish you can see, and then reeling it up slowly to its path, will usually get it done. Go when you can, and dance with the fish like nobody is looking. I know I will. June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

The spring winds blew just about every day. They were nonstop throughout the months of April and May, most times making it very difficult to find decent water clarity. Many of our usual spring locales would already be blown out upon our morning arrival. These windy months sure brought out the creativity in us and made us step out of our normal routine to find a good bite. There were many days where only long grinding wades produced a decent bite, and on other days long, drawn-out drifts were the ticket to catching a few fish. Working overtime and waiting for the bite to turn on paid off on some occasions. Looking back at my 2006 logbook, April and May provided much better results than we experienced this year. But now we’re headed into June, the beginning of summer. Hopefully June will bring our traditional calmer days and warmer waters. In June and July our tides will begin to recede on average. During the full and new moon periods especially, our bays will begin to reveal their secret fish bowls, depressions, drop-offs, and fishy guts that were not visible before due to the high water levels associated with spring. During the summer, as water levels fall, the fish will concentrate in these slightly deeper holes. If you did your homework during this past winter’s extreme low tides when these structures are easy to spot, you may have come across an important key that could lead to some successful and fun fishing trips this summer. On night’s when tides drop extremely low, the fish will congregate and hold in these deeper areas. Baitfish too will be there. The key is getting there before the rising tide begins Rex Richards to scatter the really wanted a fish. Paying close snook, but who can say no to a attention to the big trout? direction the bait is moving is critical when trying to stay on fish. As you wade through the mud and sand, look at the movement of stirred up sediments you are creating. The movement of sediment will give you an indication 92

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Back she goes!

Redfish will bite topwaters, even in 30 mph winds.

of which direction the current is running. The fish will generally run with these same currents. When you figure it correctly, you will not only be on them at daylight, but you’ll be able to stay on them late into the day. I have used this strategy many times and I can recall making three to four hundred yard wades and finally working our way off the fish. Hopping on the boat to pick everyone up and announcing that we would be repeating the same wade drew puzzled stares from my clients who did not understand it. Fact of the matter is, not all the fish leave those deep zones at the same time, and we surely never caught them all on our first wade through the area. In most cases those unbelieving looks soon turned into smiles as their drags began to scream. I mentioned earlier that on some recent trips overtime was required. Now overtime is usually a dirty word and I certainly never enjoyed it in any prior occupation. Fishing though is different; I welcome the overtime as an excuse not to have to leave the water. What makes it even sweeter is when your persistence pays off in the end. On a recent ‘overtime’ trip with good friend and client Jeff Hellekson, we experienced an impressive bite, but only after having spent nine hours on the water. It was 3:30pm and two trout were our reward for an all-day grind that covered many miles of fishy-looking water. Slightly after 4:00pm we pulled into a cove that had nervous bait skipping on the surface. Jeff and I tied on Super Spook Jr’s and began throwing those plugs like we were never going to have sore shoulders the next day. I drew the first vicious strike of what was to become a remarkable evening bite. She hit my topwater so hard that the surrounding bait scrambled out of the water. She weighed eight-plus-pounds and was released after a few photos. About my third cast after landing the first one, another sow decides she’s ready to eat. She also bulldozed my bait and June 2007

Jeff was all smiles after this one came into his hands.

An 8-pound trout and a 13-pound redfish on the same day can keep you smiling for a long time to come.

put on a good fight; she too was released back into her home waters. By this time Jeff is looking mighty despondent and sees his chances of catching a big trout dwindle. I sent him over where I was and ten minutes later he is on with our third eight-pound trout of the evening. Not long after that one, another trophy is at the end of Jeff’s line. Before the evening was over, we landed numerous trout in the five to six-pound class including two that were over eight pounds. After the trout action came to a halt, the redfish moved in. They were bruisers that put a hurt to our topwaters. This incredible action continued until we called it quits around 7:30 p.m. If we would have called it a day around 3:00pm and used the fishing jargon I have heard so many times before, “Maybe next time,” or perhaps, “They just didn’t eat today,” or everybody’s age-old favorite, “That’s why they call it fishing,” we would have never experienced this unforgettable big fish day. It doesn’t always happen this way, but it did on this day. Boy, were we glad we stuck it out! This summer, learn to use the low tides to your advantage. Find those fishy bowls and you could be in for an awesome day. The winds are certain to subside in June so the days where two drift socks are required will be gone. June is a good month for redfish, and they can be easily enticed with a gold spoon. However, if you’re like me, it’s hard to put that topwater away. Also, those small four inch Brown Lure devils in pink and white are a good bait to have in your box when the fish desire tails. School is out, but the homework is never ending. Go find some flats that empty all their water overnight and hit deeper holes early in the morning. Who knows; you could score beyond expectations and graduate to the next level. June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June is an excellent month for fishing Calcasieu Lake, at the close rigs in the Gulf and along the many miles of beaches Louisiana has to offer. The wind is often calm, the water clear, and the fish are biting everywhere. The big sow trout are still here, and they love to take the topwaters early and late in the day. Before sunrise, start your day on the south end at the old jetties throwing topwaters along the rocks. Midday action can be found over the various oyster reefs on the south end of the lake, tightlining, using H & H Baby Bull Minnows, Sand Eels, grubs & split tail beetles. The Cameron jetties, the beach and the close rigs will all be holding schools of fish. The redfish will be plentiful, with schools of bulls at the jetties and along the beach area and smaller keepers in the lake proper. If it’s offshore action you want, be on the lookout for tripletail and ling. They will be hanging out under crabtrap buoys and debris in the gulf and at the close rigs. June offers probably the widest variety of angling options of any month.

High winds and runoff from the Brazos River have made for marginal water conditions and some tough days of fishing lately in the San Luis Pass area. “Weather’s getting better and the fishing is turning the corner,” Randall says. “We’ve got lots of trout in the bay right now, mostly small keepers. Birds are working. We are catching our best numbers on dark Norton Sand Eels, particularly the black/ chartreuse and the purple/chartreuse. The fish are eating white shrimp, but they like a purple worm best, go figure!” When the birds aren’t showing the way, he’s been targeting areas with scattered mud and shell. “When it gets real windy, we target redfish and even soak bait if we have to. Fishing is usually good for the old “saltwater armadillo” when the weather gets nasty.” The surf should go off any time now, he predicts. “Saw a giant tripletail today, but couldn’t make it bite. Once the winds gets more east in it and dies down some, the surf will green up. Then we’ll be heading up the beach with our chrome topwaters tied on.”

“We finally got some good weather and the fishing is on right now,” James says. “I’ve been seeing birds working in all the bays except Trinity, it’s still fresh. Everywhere else is shaping up nice. There are some good trout coming off the south shore of East Bay, lots of two to five pounders and of course some schoolies under the birds around the reefs in the middle over there. The Pass area is also holding some decent trout up to about five pounds. We’ve been catching most of our fish on Bass Assassins, a few on topwaters. June should be good; we should see some fish slicking on the channel, out in the middle of both East and West Bays, and in the surf.” Speaking of the gulf, James is ready to start the hunt for the silver kings too. “We always head out looking for tarpon around Memorial Day. Last year, we found some huge schools early in June. If it’s calm this year, I expect to find the same. There were times when it slicked off and I could see silver in the water for miles it seemed. I can’t wait to get after ‘em.”

With lighter winds and the return of green water, the fishing is picking up around Matagorda, reports Tommy. “We finally got a little relief from the breeze, and the water’s clearing and dropping back to a normal tide level, so we’re starting to find fish where they usually are this time of year. In West Bay, we are catching them over the grass beds under rafts of mullet. In East Bay, the mid-bay reefs are holding fish. We’ve been throwing a lot of small topwaters, like the She Pup and the junior Spooks and Skitterwalks. I love that blue/orange baby trout Skitterwalk Jr.. When the fish are less aggressive on those, we switch to Norton soft plastics. I’ve been throwing the shrimptails in dark colors.” “In June, when winds are light, we’ll be wading out in the middle in East Bay, or drifting scattered shell, and also working the coves in West Bay,” he predicts. “We’ll start targeting tripletail too, and any time the surf clears, we’ll head out there with our topwaters to take advantage of the run that starts out there.”

“It’s on around here lately when the weather’s good,” Jim Says. “We’ve been catching fish by wading the shorelines and out in the middle too. The trout in the middle have been running a little bigger, on average. Lots of three and four pounders, with an occasional big fish thrown in. I had two over seven pounds in the last week or so. Some of the fish are coming on topwaters, especially when wading, and the Bass Assassins have been working out on the reefs. I’m sticking with an eighth ounce head. Using bright colors like limetreuse and white in the morning and switching to dark colors like plum, red shad and strawberry when it’s bright.” He says there are birds working daily in East Bay. “Some of the flocks are over real small fish, but some are over schools of solid keepers. During the week, when you can hit several flocks, it’s possible to get limits from under them.” He expects the patterns to hold through June. “We need high tides to catch fish when it’s windy. If the tide’s low and they’re out in the middle, we need calmer weather.”

Fishing has been outstanding for redfish and trout the last couple of weeks. The influx of bait into the bays has the fish on a feeding frenzy. Redfish have been schooled up on area shorelines gorging themselves on schools of finger mullet and small hatches of fry. The old rubberlips have been exploding on She Dogs in chrome/chartreuse and pearl Skitterwalks. The reds have all been in water less than two feet deep and have mostly been concentrated on sand and grass shorelines. The trout bite has turned on at the rigs and gas wells out front in Tres Palacios Bay. Hot lures for the trout have been Berkley Gulp shrimp in pearl and root beer. The lures rigged on quarter ounce lead heads jigged off the shell around structure have accounted for good stringers of trout up to four pounds. June should be a great month. Trout should be easily accessible at the rigs and on other deep structures, tripletail should appear in full force around the markers and buoys, and redfish should be cruising all over the flats.

Texas Saltwater Fishing

June 2007

The latter part of April and early May proved to be great for both speckled trout and redfish. The water clarity is very good in most of the Laguna Madre, including Baffin Bay. The water level has risen and has flooded the shallow flats and shorelines, which in turn has provided good areas for the trout to spawn. All the bruises around the belly areas of female trout show that the spawn is in full swing. My clients have been catching good numbers of speckled trout between 25 and 29 inches with a few reaching 30 inches. The action with topwater baits has been exciting as we have been seeing both trout and redfish coming up hitting MirroLure She Dogs in chrome and bone colors! In areas with much floating grass, the Bass Assassin Slurp and Exude RT Slugs are doing the job better. The Exude RT Slugs that have been working are plum/chartreuse, bone diamond and pearl/chartreuse and the Bass Assassin Slurp colors are good penny and pearl. The fish have been holding in grasslines and potholes less than three feet deep and should continue to. “We’ll be fishing some shallow flats around Pass Cavallo for our trout next month, and keeping our eye toward the surf too. We have some nice trout that have moved into that area recently, along with a good crop of glass minnows. We’ll continue to target the schools of minnows to locate the trout and look for rafted mullet too. Best lures will be topwaters, especially blue/chrome Spooks and Spook Juniors and Top Dogs in chrome patterns. We’ll also use our Corkies, Catch Vs and 2000s when the fish pull off onto deep grass beds. In the surf, it’s hard to beat the topwaters. Usually, when conditions are right for the beach, the water’s calm enough for the topwaters to work well, sometimes all day.” He’ll also be on the bay shorelines too, looking for redfish over there. “Our reds are usually around the rafts of mullet on shallow grassy, sandy shorelines in June. You can catch some on topwaters when they are most aggressive, but you’ll need the worms and spoons when they are not in a good feeding mood.”

“The clear water around here has made for some excellent sightcasting lately,” Joe reports. “There are trout and redfish up and down the intracoastal spoils, on the King Ranch shoreline and in Baffin. Large rafts of mullet are keying us in on the location of the schools of fish, and once the sun gets up, we have been able to see them on lots of occasions. There are some bruiser redfish in the Lagoon right now, up to thirty five inches and more. We’ve also seen and caught some big trout, up to around thirty inches. I’ve been using my old standby Exude RT Slugs; color doesn’t seem to matter much. There has also been ample opportunity to catch fish on the flies with the light winds we’ve had on some days. If June is not too windy, these patterns should hold out. Lots of shallow trout and reds busting bait early, then the fish will be moving to the edges of the grass flats when it gets hotter. Even though they move a little deeper during the day, it’s still possible to seem the schools, especially the reds; that’s how clear the water is.”

“We’ve got a lot of trout in Aransas Bay right now,” Blake says. “I’ve been catching them on sandy, grassy shorelines and mid-bay reefs. When the wind lays, the reefs light up for a couple of days. Of course, when it’s windier, protected shorelines, or even windward shorelines are often better than the reefs. Our topwater bite has been okay lately, but not as good as when it was cooler. We’ll get lots of blow ups early, but it tends to shut down pretty quick. As we move into June, we’ll probably be using our Norton Sand Eels even more, in pumpkin/chartreuse, purple/chartreuse and pearl/chartreuse.” He, like others, mentions that he is ready to head to the surf when conditions allow. “I usually wait for ice cream conditions before I head to the beach front, so I can safely park the boat and get out and wade. Sometimes, I’ll run to Cedar Bayou and walk in. When it’s right out there, it can be the best place along the beach. But if it’s calm enough, it’s often better to run through the jetties and up the beach so you can stay mobile and move around in the boat if you need to.”

“We’re still catching a few big trout lately, like the 28 1/2 inch eight plus we had a week ago Friday, but most of our long fish are getting skinny, almost like summer fish. As the weather gets even hotter, we’ll see the trout move off the edge onto the deep grass beds. Then it will be tough to catch enough keepers during the day to justify the effort,” Bruce says. “To cope, we’ll shift to more night wading, especially around the full moons. During the day, we’ll spend more time targeting redfish. If the tide levels drop a little, we should see them stack up on the first drop off out from shore. Then it will be easy to catch a bunch. Topwaters will be the most fun way, of course, but soft plastics will get their play too. Also, we’ll be trying to get offshore as much as we can in June. We will try to work on the nearshore schools of snapper up the beach. Also, we’ll be targeting the king mackerel and other pelagic species with topwaters. It’s a real hoot to see them skyrocket through a Super Spook when you’re reeling it about as fast as you can.”

June is the beginning of quality conditions and fishing on PINS. Every fish species ever present in the surf is there in June. Speckled trout enthusiasts will find willing takers on topwaters, silver spoons, soft plastics, rattletraps and of course live bait. Some redfish will be present. Lots of Spanish mackerel and ladyfish can be expected. Wire leader is recommended for both of these toothy species. Tarpon will be present as will some jack crevalle, king mackerel, ling, Atlantic bluefish, mangrove snapper and palometa. Snook will be available at the Port Mansfield jetties and also at the Packery Channel jetties if the past couple of years are any indication. Little tunny are possible. Large numbers of whiting will be available on fresh, peeled, dead shrimp and Fishbites. Various shark species will be available on both cast and kayaked baits, primarily fresh caught and cut skipjacks. Once they arrive in good numbers, the sharks seem to prefer those sporty and acrobatic fish over whiting.

The west side is now officially air boat hell! It’s a challenge to find fish before the daily onslaught of noisy survey boats. The east side still has its share of chaos, although there are some spots where the water is clearing after the detonations. The problem is figuring out any type of pattern. We’re bringing in reds, throwing half ounce gold or silver weedless spoons (ask Rip at Hook, Line & Sinker) early, switching to Maulers with Gulp shrimp in new penny or molting colors when they start getting finicky. Freddy says, “One day we’ll limit on the first drift, the next day, it’s a battle to get the fish we’re seeing to eat anything, but once you stick one, you’re in for a ride, because heavy winds are churning energizing oxygen into the water, making fish fight like crazy.” We’ve had some awesome trout days, nailing 17 to 24 inch specks on the drop offs using Cajun Thunder corks rigged with Gulps on quarter ounce jigheads. Tarpon sightings are getting us pumped, but no hook-ups yet!

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

Katie Jackson shows off her red for the day.

Benjamin Luce of Kemah landed this 39” jack cravalle on a Catch 2000 while fishing the north jetties in Galveston.

Kelly Aldis of Lavernia boated this 25” trout while fishing in POC. It was her first trout on artificial, way to go!

Jeff Bare landed this 38” bull red while fishing the Port Aransas Jetties.

Carmen and Zavala fishing out on Lane Road, Happy Father’s Day!

Bob Hayden tackled this 32” red while out fishing ICW.

Chris Sessions caught and released this nice red while fishing P.I.N.S.

Wayne Morales proudly displays his amber jack caught while fishing offshore. 96

Texas Saltwater Fishing

John and Seth Stephenson show off Seth’s first lady fish. June 2007

Karen Clock of Deer Park landed her first flounder in artificial while fishing East Bay in Galveston.

Tracy Schad caught and released her first big shark while fishing the surf.

Carbe and Chuck Seaman landed this 44” bull red while out fishing in POC.

Melanie Moczygemba of Poth landed this 37” bull red while out fishing in Corpus Christi Bay.

Jake McCollough of Sargent snagged this uniquely spotted red while fishing in East Bay. Rudy San Migues of Beeville caught and released this 33” red while fishing Cedar Bayou.

Jennifer Moritz tricked her biggest trout while out fishing in Espiritu Santo Bay.

Pablo Benavides and Jerry Rios show off Pablo’s 34” red, which was released after the photo.

Michael Power hooked this sheepshead while out fishing the intercoastal waters.

June 2007

Texas Saltwater Fishing

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Boats, Kayaks, Outboards

For more information about these advertisers visit: http://www.texassaltwaterfishingmagazine.com/contact_advertisers_product.html Boats, Kayaks, Outboards Anchor Marine............................................................. 75 210-599-1415

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June 2007