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about the Cover Jay Watkins, longtime contributor to TSFMag is our cover angler, showing off a beautiful Lower Laguna speckled trout that Jay says “nudged” the eleven pound mark. What a prize! March will be another great month for heavyweight specks. Be careful navigating in the wind.
March 2016 VOL 25 NO 11
Contents
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
10 Popular Spots – Fishing the Cycles 16 A Useful Plan for Coping with Desperation 22 Douglas Sellers is Going Fishing! 26 Us v Them 30 Sun Management
36 Let’s Ask The Pro 42 Shallow Water Fishing 46 TPWD Field Notes 50 Fly Fishing 56 Kayak Fishing Chronicles 60 TSFMag Conservation News 64 Fishy Facts 68 Inshore | Nearshore | Jetties | Passes 72 Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks... 104 Science & the Sea 106 Boat Maintenance Tips
Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard
Jay Watkins Scott Null Julie Hagen Scott Sommerlatte Dave Roberts CCA Texas Stephanie Boyd Curtiss Cash Eric Ozolins UT Marine Science Institute Chris Mapp
26
WHAT OUR GUIDES
HAVE TO SAy
78 80 82 84 86 88 90
Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scene The Buzz on Galveston Bay The View from Matagorda Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays Hooked up with Rowsey Capt. Tricia’s Port Mansfield Report South Padre Fishing Scene
Dickie Colburn Caleb Harp Bink Grimes Shellie Gray David Rowsey Capt. Tricia Ernest Cisneros
REGULARS 08 Editorial 76 New Tackle & Gear 92 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 100 Catch of the Month 102 Gulf Coast Kitchen
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Editor and Publisher Everett Johnson Everett@tsfmag.com VICE PRESIDENT PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Pam Johnson Pam@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918 National sales representative Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net regional sales representative Patti Elkins Patti@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-649-2265 PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Donna Boyd Donna@tsfmag.com Circulation Subscription – product sales Linda Curry Store@tsfmag.com Design & Layout Stephanie Boyd Artwork@tsfmag.com Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine is published monthly. Subscription Rates: One Year (Free Emag with Hard Copy) Subscription $25.00 E-MAG (electronic version) is available for $12.00 per year. Order on-line: www.tsfmag.com Make checks payable to: Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 * Subscribers are responsible for submitting all address changes and renewals by the 10th of the prior month’s issue. Email store@tsfmag.com for all address changes or please call 361-785-3420 from 8am - 4:30pm. The U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee magazines will be forwarded. how to contact tsfmag: Phone: 361-785-3420 fax: 361-785-2844 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 Physical Address: 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, TX 77983 Web: www.TSFMAG.com photo gallery: photos@tsfmag.com Printed in the USA. Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Periodical class permit (USPS# 024353) paid at Victoria, TX 77901 and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983.
EDITORIAL
March
is
Of all coastal fishing months, March can be one of the most challenging. We will have lots of wind but wind can also be our friend. Everybody has surely heard of windward shoreline fishing strategies. We also need to know when to leave for the leeward side. Ditto fishing the color changes. When the whole bay turns the color of mud… I doubt we will face many slick-calm situations, begging for breeze to ripple the surface and encourage feeding, that’ll come later. Be extra careful crossing open water, a longer and more protected route is often wisest, no matter how big a hurry you’re in. March can be a tough month for locating feeding fish. It reminds me of September in this regard. The weather is highly changeable, some days you’d swear spring has sprung and then a big front comes through. September has the dubious reputation of being half summer and autumn-like from one day to the next. Fish and fishermen alike can’t seem to make up their mind. But we fish hard, try to learn as much as we can, and become better anglers for the experience. A March bonus is speckled trout weights and, for serious trophy seekers, this is what it’s all about. February gets more glory but mature fish will tip the scale deeper this month. They’re already winter-fat and feeding recklessly as water temperatures rise. Some theorize that this is in preparation for spawning but I’m not sure they are capable of such complex thought. One thing’s certain though, a fat fish full of
8 | March 2016
Here…Batten
the
Hatches!
developing roe will weigh more than one in the middle of winter, or one that has already spawned. Last Sunday Pam and I waded into a soft-bottomed cove that was chock-full of flounder. I was surprised at their number and also the size of these fish. From what I’ve been led to believe they should still be in the gulf or just beginning to make their way back through the passes. So much for fishing lore. As good as flounder fishing was last fall I am excited at March’s prospects for flatties. One of the greatest days I ever experienced with redfish occurred in March. We were wading the south shoreline of San Antonio Bay just below Ayres Point. School after school were making their way north through the guts in uncommonly clear, knee-deep water. We had an absolute ball. Everybody lost count but nobody cared, except for their aching arms. March is also the month that schools close for spring break. What a great opportunity for family fishing trips. I write often the importance of getting youngsters involved in the outdoors during their formative years. Springtime has an uncanny way of piquing the senses, and after being cooped up in classrooms, there’s no better time to get them hooked on fishing. Pack a big lunch and never mind if it might be chilly or windy. Bundle them up and find a school of willing redfish or black drum. All it takes is some shrimp and a few crabs to produce smiles and memories they’ll cherish the rest of their lives.
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STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN
T
hese days, a big trout isn’t just “big”…they’re “slobs.” They could also be called “bigs” or “toads.” If they’re just healthy three or four pounders, in today’s vernacular, they’re “solids.” My, oh my, how things have changed! My little girl just turned fourteen. She makes fun of the clothes I wear and some of the things I say. I’m not exactly stuck in the 80s, but damn those really were some good years. What she doesn’t realize is that the Sperry Topsiders she’s wearing were first popular in the 80s. Back then they were “rad” or “gnarly.” Now they’re “sick” or “swag.” The same can be said for the pair of Chuck Taylor Converses she loves. Regardless of the slang used to describe how radical they are or their level of sickness, they’re popular again after 30 years. The cyclical nature of clothing styles is nothing new. It seems everything runs in cycles. Every bay system has popular fishing spots. Some produce good results year after year. Others, however, are productive for a year or two and then, for various reasons, go cold and are no longer popular. Such areas tend to fade from the memory banks of anglers as everyone tends to follow fishing reports to the latest and greatest hot spots. Much like styles, trends, fads or whatever you want to call them, “hot spots” follow a cycle. Back in the late 90s there was a stretch of reefs that I absolutely loved to fish during late-winter and early-spring. We enjoyed many stellar wades along that stretch until others caught on and it became too crowded. I found other
Keith Stringer with personalbest 27-incher (CPR); caught in a well-known area before others thought to check on it!
areas in different parts of the bay that were just as productive, all the while hearing stories of confrontations and the like until one day that area was no longer producing respectable results. It could’ve Shane Henneke caught been the fishing pressure or some other reason, but anglers and released this eventually looked elsewhere for their speckled pot of gold. 26-incher in a “long A year passed and as the conditions favored this area I forgotten” hot spot! decided to check on it. I knew from experience which tide, water temperature and wind was optimum for me to get a good representative sample of what was there. My results were poor with just a handful of small specks after hours of wading. A few other fishermen did the same. Their results were similar and eventually their information network led them to where the main show was taking place. This area became a distant memory for them. The following year I paid a little visit to the spot. Conditions weren’t perfect, but they were apparently good enough as we had one of the best big trout days I’ve ever experienced on Galveston Bay. We didn’t wear out the area but we spent quite a bit of Nathan Boone got to time there without another boat in sight. I concluded that enjoy an epic foggy this particular area was at its best near the end of a cold and weekday morning wet winter leading into early-spring. It never produced the without another boat in sight. MirrOlure same results during mild winters. My theory is that the nearby Catch2000s deep water holds concentrations of trout during extended produced most of cold periods and the adjacent shallow reef is one of the our trout that day. closest areas providing the food and structure trout require as temperatures begin to rise. Time it Right I can give many examples of areas or spots that become less popular with a waning bite then become forgotten for months or even years. More often than not, such areas will rebound when you least expect it. The key is for YOU to be the one to expect it. Being the first one there when it triggers can make for a pretty special day. It’s inevitable though that someone will eventually notice you, the more time you spend there. In an effort to avoid the coming of the masses it’s a good idea to plan your visits carefully. Foggy or rainy weekdays typically have less boat traffic. Also, this time of year the bite can be more aggressive later into the day and even at dusk. Most boats are off the water by then. Spending too much time in the manner I am describing is a not a good plan. Two things will happen; A few good baits to give trout a folks will take notice and the area will become too “different” look, congested to fish it the right way. In addition, if you fish especially the two at it hard enough you will wear it out and the trout will the top right, Cordell move elsewhere. Red Fin Broken Back and MirrOlure Catch In today’s social media-crazed world the worst case 2000, customized scenario is that the wrong fisherman catches fish by yours truly using there and then posts away until his heart (and pride) state-of-the-art is content and then the area becomes a parking lot. technology—a.k.a. Sharpie pen. There’s nothing wrong with posting a few pictures and reports, but you have to be smart about it. Common sense would say to wait a few days or weeks to post and don’t include background that could give it away. Don’t fret if other boats eventually crowd the area because by then it’s usually about the time another area could be turning on. It’s somewhat of a cat and mouse game but works out perfectly if you’re paying attention to seasonal changes, trout migrations, salinity, water temperatures, etc. An astute fisherman should be able to stay at least 12 | March 2016
A Different Look As crowded as our bays are nowadays, trout have likely seen almost every lure hanging from the pegs of local sporting goods stores. Try throwing something different. There’s a lot of fishing pressure and I believe trout get used to seeing the same lures over and over again, and I believe I validated this theory on one of my recent trips. My clients and I were casting along a drop-off that went from 2.5 to 5 feet. Plenty of mullet were present and we were picking off an occasional trout but it wasn’t great. There were definitely more fish along that ledge than what we were catching. I decided to tie on a hot pink 51
www.power-pole.com
14 | March 2016
series MirrOlure (51MRHP) just to show them something different and see if it would make a difference. Needless to say, it’s too bad I didn’t have more 51MRHPs in the boat that day. MirrOlure Catch2000s, Corkys and Cotton Cordell’s Broken Back are other excellent choices for providing trout with a different look, especially when using one that’s customized. I will wrap this up by saying that we have all likely come to the realization that there just aren’t many truly secret spots these days. However, by staying a few steps ahead of the crowds and following the cycles, fishing some of the more popular areas can be just as productive as fishing a so-called “secret” one. As a matter of fact it can be downright “sick!” “Stay tight dawg,” and I’ll look forward to seeing pics of the “slobs” and “solids” you post on Facebook. Please just do us all a favor and wait a while before posting.
Steve Hillman
Contact
one to two weeks ahead of the crowds. There are plenty of popular areas in every bay system of which most anglers are privy. The key is timing. I hear other fishermen talk about when this reef or that grass flat should turn on while even citing specific dates. “That area turns on around Easter.” Really? Will I get to sit on the Easter Bunny’s lap while I’m there? Can we hunt Easter eggs in the marsh until the trout show up? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—trout care about available food, habitat, water temperature and salinity. These variables all relate to one another and are responsible for the timing of a trout’s arrival to a specific location. By paying attention to what you know about an area and the influencing factors, you can be the first (and sometimes only) boat there. It does involve the risk of not catching anything, however. If this occurs, just leave the area and find something else while keeping in the back of your mind that the area is due to turn on any day.
Steve Hillman is a full-time fishing guide on his home waters of Galveston Bay. Steve fishes the entire Galveston Bay Complex, wading and drifting for trout, redfish, and flounder using artificial lures. Phone 409-256-7937 Email captsteve@hillmanguideservice.com Web www.hillmanguideservice.com
STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN
N
ormally, when making important decisions on a charter, I mostly consider my own results, instead of those of the people with whom I’m fishing. Of course, if someone in the group catches a big trout before I do, I certainly won’t ignore the significance of the event. Similarly, if someone discovers a particular lure, presentation or location which produces a desired result, I will take note and adjust our strategy accordingly. These events cause me to stay in a place longer, even if my own results don’t match what I expect. I constantly rely on five primary factors when deciding how long to stay in a spot before moving to a new location. Two of these relate to the place’s history of production, the other three to present observations. I always think of long-term track record, recent trackrecord, observations indicating the presence of fish, the number of bites and the type and size of fish caught. Obviously, the customers with me on a given occasion don’t directly influence the two historical factors. But they can play a role in the other three, most often in the last two. But unless I know the clients have highly polished fish-catching skills, I rely strongly on my own ability to elicit strikes and catch fish when making the decision about staying or going. Right or wrong, I generally have more confidence in my ability to produce fish as compared to the anglers who pay me to take them fishing. My heightened self-confidence springs from experience. I spend more time on the water fishing with lures than most of the anglers who come aboard my boat. Thousands of quality repetitions generally enhance one’s presentation skills. Additionally, I have greater experience in drawing conclusions about which lures best match the
moment and also what level of expectations we should have with regard to the ease of getting bites. Maintaining a reasonable expectation about the ease of catching plays a critical role in angling consistency. Several variables affect this expectation, primarily the season, time of day, weather, type of spot chosen and type of fish targeted. These variables create a kind of “umbrella”, or paradigm, which essentially envelopes the other five stated factors, molding them to meet the situation. Specifically, the observations indicating the presence of fish and expected number and frequency of bites gained will vary greatly, depending on the season and environmental variables in play. So, if I go to a place with low expectations related to the ease of getting bites, I don’t worry too much if and when it takes me a while to get one, and I don’t worry at all if the customers struggle to get one. If the spot has a sterling long-term track record and has produced trophy trout recently for me, I won’t need to get a bite quickly in order to remain confident, especially if I’m seeing plenty of evidence around me to indicate the presence of fish, like bait, mud stirs, swirls and wakes, anything which leads me to believe the fish I’ve caught recently likely remain within reach. Sometimes, though, nature plays nasty tricks, rendering normal operating procedures obsolete. In these cases, observations don’t match the situation, or expected outcomes don’t match with observations. Either the indicators of the presence of fish don’t appear as they should, or the number of bites elicited doesn’t stack up, given the observed indicators. In the first case, a relatively short time usually elapses before I perceive the need to make a move. If all the bait and signs disappear from a recently productive spot, I won’t waste much time and effort trying to squeeze lime juice out of a pine cone. The TSFMAG.com | 17
other situation proves more frustrating. When signs of life remain good, more time will elapse without bites before I decide to move. Eventually though, I will likely make a move. At first, the need to move does not, in and of itself, create desperation, because it happens on a daily basis. When making a first move, I either look for a similar area close by, if conditions remain like those in which I’ve caught fish recently, or I try an entirely different
type of spot, if conditions recently changed, rendering a pattern or place (or both) obsolete. Regardless of the type of move I make at first, desperate urgency plays no role in either. But if the move to a second spot produces the same result as the original spot, meaning either the new place seems void of life, or the bites won’t come despite ample evidence of fish, I begin to feel a higher sense of desperation when making the next move. I have recently developed a specific way of coping with this phenomenon, one which involves using all members of the group systematically, in attempt to gain the maximum amount of relevant information as quickly as possible. The elements of this strategy, of course, relate specifically to wading and targeting trophy speckled trout. The plan serves as an attempt to avoid the worst-case scenario which can develop in such a situation, one in which the captain panics and runs around “like a chicken with its head cut off,” searching frantically for signs of life, stopping briefly in random places, fishing without focused intensity and winding up smelling like a skunk. Anyone who’s spent thousands of days on the water has done these things, whether they admit it or not. Some tend to do them more than others. A person who generally has low patience for a spot shows a higher tendency to fall into the trap. Others tend to stand still and “crash and burn” instead of running around willy-nilly. Neither the headless chicken nor the smoldering snail can hope to compete with a focused, creative captain who deploys a specific scheme to cope with unexpectedly poor results. Such a skipper proceeds in a positive manner, following an effective design, one which stands a higher chance of working, because it facilitates the rapid collection of as much relevant data as possible. Because the strategy involves data collection, it works best when larger groups of anglers with better skills deploy it. The plan’s first critical component While expecting to have a tough time relates to the kinds of spots chosen for getting strikes in clear water, Jason deployment. A useful place will have King used a soft plastic to catch this multiple types of terrain on the bay’s twenty-nine inch specimen. bottom, and various depths of water within close range of each other. The site might The captain expects bites to come early and often when fishing just have rocks, grass, flats and drop-offs in a before dawn or after dusk. They bay like Baffin, whereas in a riverine estuary did on the occasion when he it might feature a reef lying between an caught this 8.5 pound trout on a open basin and a muddy cove. strawberry/black FatBoy. In any case, the captain should choose an area with multiple types of cover and structure and send anglers to various parts of the spot with different instructions. Some should target shallower structures using lures best suited to those parts of the area, while others should probe deeper parts with appropriate plugs and presentations. The more different patterns the group can try quickly, the better the chances one or more members will discover something productive. While trying to locate biting fish, the captain should monitor the activity of all anglers as closely as possible, so they must be close enough to see and/or hear. Once a productive pattern, depth, lure and/ or presentation reveals itself, the captain can then attempt to get all members of the group to fish in the same manner. In some cases, doing so simply means making sure everyone becomes aware of the efficacy of a specific lure or presentation. Some scenarios involve pointing out where folks should move on foot and how to proceed in a new part of the area, while others dictate ferrying them around in the boat.
18 | March 2016
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Ideally, one deployment of the type described above will result in the illumination of a productive pattern, but if not, time should not be wasted. The captain should round up the crew and move to another area with multiple types of cover and structure and depths and deploy the anglers again. It makes sense to change things up on a second move of this type, in terms of which anglers stay around shallow structures and which ones probe depths and edges. That way, the
captain can optimize use of the strengths of all involved, as well as the potentially productive parts of all areas in the most thorough manner. This need for a rapid-fire, broad-brushed attack on particular kinds of places arises most often in situations where signs seem conducive to catching, but the bites just don’t come as easily as expected. This plan usually works best when navigating conditions allow for quickly moving around, and when lots of parts of the general area seem “fishable.” In my experience, these scenarios occur in March on a regular basis. Late-winter/early-spring weather proves Scott Shillings showed highly fickle, tending to confound the ease of catching patience and persistence fish. Successfully coping with this devious aspect of the around mullet jumping near fishing gods’ whims dictates a thoughtful, creative and a mat of rotting grass to land his personal best trout on a disciplined approach, one which ideally involves the silver/chartreuse FatBoy. efficient use of all hands on deck.
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Kevin Cochran
Kevin Cochran is a full-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has created several books and dvds on the subject. Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut.
Trout Tracker Guide Service Phone Email Web
361-688-3714 kevxlr8@mygrande.net www.FishBaffinBay.com www.captainkevblogs.com
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20 | March 2016
STORY BY MARTIN STRARUP
B
odie eased the hammer back on the antique Winchester. The click-click as it reached full-cock sounded loud inside the tiny elevated deer blind and he prayed the buck wouldn’t notice. With the rifle’s fore-end stock across his muscled forearm on the window sill, he put the gold bead of the front sight directly behind the shoulder of the whitetail buck that was one hundred and fifty yards in front of him. Making sure the front bead was centered in the receiver peep and still on the buck’s vital zone, he began a slow trigger squeeze. The rifle jumped while Bodie noticed the tell-tale high kick of its hind legs. Three leaps and it crumpled stone-dead, a perfect heart shot. Knowing a second shot would not be needed, Bodie didn’t bother to lever another round into the chamber. He leaned the prized rifle carefully in the corner of the blind and gathered his gear. Climbing down he marveled at the hand-cut diamonds of the checkering glistening in the early morning sun. “Never would have been able to afford a rifle like this,” he muttered. Arriving at his truck Bodie put his gear on the front seat and wiped the Winchester before sliding it into the case. With that done he climbed into the cab and drove down the sendero to pick up his buck. It was a beautiful cold, crisp morning and Bodie felt a little homesick as he drove along the mesquite, huisache, blackbrush and guajillo-lined sendero. “The brush country of South Texas is a whole different world,” he reflected. Bodie pulled up next to the downed buck that had fallen at the base of a big Texas ebony tree. The branches covered with half-inch thorns brought back the painful memory of having climbed one as a small frightened boy to escape a pack of javelinas. The image of his mother doctoring hundreds of nasty scrapes and cuts and removing imbedded thorns with tweezers and needle came back vividly— and the second-guessing of whether standing his ground might have been better. Bodie dropped the tailgate and reached down to grab the front legs and antlers of the buck. It took all the strength he could muster to get one side of the antlers secured between the truck body and
TSFMAG.com | 23
24 | March 2016
whistling at its beauty. “It’s a Model 71 Winchester, Jake. It shoots the .348 Winchester cartridge and pretty much kills whatever you can hit with it.” “Never heard of that caliber before, Bodie, must be pretty old,” Jake remarked. “Go to my truck and look in the bag on my front seat. Bring me a box of those shells over here and I’ll show you,” Bodie instructed. “Let’s see; .22-250, .44 Mag, .270 Winchester, .257 Weatherby, .22 Long Rifle, .357 Magnum, .348 Winchester…My God! You carry all these guns every time you go hunting?” Jake asked. “Nah, but I carry that bag to be sure that I’ll have plenty ammo for whatever rifle or pistol I take with me,” Bodie replied. Jake brought the box of .348s to the table and pulled one out. “Man that’s a big old shell right there,” he exclaimed. “It sure is and that ammo is about as easy to find as hen’s teeth,” Bodie informed him. “I just like taking this rifle out and shooting it every now and then but it’s so rare and valuable that I seldom do.” “How much did you have to give for it?” Jake asked. “You know Jake, I didn’t buy it. An acquaintance gave me this rifle as a gift for helping his daughter out of a tight spot.” “Well you’re sure lucky to have such an acquaintance, Bodie. Do you guys fish together or something?” Bodie pondered the question. “Well Jake, as a matter of fact we do not. Fact is, Mr. Sellers is a very busy man. Has several businesses and evidently makes a lot of money. Flies all around the world doing business deals, hardly ever home. I guess that’s the reason I never asked him to go,” Bodie sighed. “Well, maybe you should call him, Bodie, he just might take you up on the offer. That’s a mighty fine looking piece of wood and iron right there, and you’re lucky to own it.” After Bodie had packed the rifle and the rest of his gear in the back seat, he asked Jake to give him a hand loading the cooler into the bed of the truck. “Did you keep a backstrap, Jake?” “I sure did and I appreciate it. I’ll put it to good use,” Jake winked. “When do you think you’ll be back down?” “I have to bring some folks hunting but I’m probably going to wait for the new moon,” Bodie replied. “Let me know if you need anything, and see if you can’t put a dent in the coyote population until then.” Turning through the ranch gate onto the blacktop, Bodie made a mental note… Call Douglas Sellers as soon as you get home. It’s high time you take the man fishing!”
Martin Strarup
Contact
the tailgate cables so that he could lift the rest of the deer up. “I need to get me one of those fancy electric winches if I’m going to do any more hunting down here,” he exclaimed to himself. “That buck gotta weigh 175 pounds!” With the deer loaded, Bodie started the five mile drive back to the ranch house Mr. Connor had built on the property and the cleaning rack to skin and quarter it. Rounding a sharp curve in the two-track, Bodie hit the brakes and grabbed his rifle case. Hurriedly unzipping and getting the Winchester out the window, he levered a fresh round into the chamber and levelled the sights on one of five coyotes milling about a momma cow. The rifle roared once, then instantly again, as the three yet healthy predators stole for the brush. Bodie drove up to where the dead ones lay, put his rifle up and got out to check on the cow. She had just dropped a calf and the ‘yotes hadn’t been long in finding it. Walking to the edge of the sendero he lifted the calf in his arms. With the wild-eyed momma watching, he climbed into the truck with the calf in his lap to continue the drive to camp. Momma trotting along behind. Bodie called ahead to Jake the ranch foreman and told him that he had a calf and momma cow to be put up for a while—and to sharpen his skinning knife. “No problem, boss. Just leave some backstrap in a cooler for me when you head home,” Jake replied. The drive took a while, what with Bodie idling along so the cow could keep up. Jake had the gate open so Bodie pulled close, stepped out with the calf and walked into the pen as the momma cow followed. He placed the new calf on the straw Jake had scattered and the cow was already licking it as he latched the gate. “Jake, come give me a hand with this buck, if you would…it’s a might more deer than one fellow can handle.” Bodie and Jake unloaded the buck onto the concrete slab and, pulling a well-worn pocket knife from the leather scabbard on his belt, Bodie made a slit in each hind leg between bone and tendon for the gambrel hooks. Jake started cranking the winch after Bodie had the gambrel set and hoisted the buck toward the top of the cleaning rack. “Sure is a big old deer. I’d bet it was a chore to load by yourself.” “Yeah…and my old back is sure fussing about it right now,” Bodie chuckled. Between them they made short work of the skinning and while Jake was quartering the animal Bodie made busy sawing the skull and antlers for placement on the “antler board.” It had been Jake’s idea to put up a wall between the north wind and the cleaning rack and it was Bodie who decided that’s where they’d nail antlers that were not headed to the taxidermist. With the antlers on the board, Bodie stood to admire them a few seconds and then walked to his truck for his rifle case and gun cleaning kit. The table on the front porch of the house would made a fine work bench. Levering out the remaining live rounds to avoid blowing his own head off, he dipped a bronze brush in Hoppes bore solvent and ran it down the barrel. He repeated this several times and then switched to a cloth patch. Another patch soaked with oil and a final dry patch completed the bore cleaning. Bodie was carefully rubbing the action and receiver with an oiled patch as Jake came closer to admire the Winchester. “I saw a rifle like that in a museum a long time ago in San Antone,” he announced;
Martin Strarup is a lifelong saltwater enthusiast and outdoorsman. Martin is also a collector and dealer of vintage fishing tackle and lures, especially those made in Texas. Email
Trouthunter@swbell.net
STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE
I
f asked to name a good old-fashioned rivalry it probably wouldn’t take but a few seconds to rattle off several famous ones. In the category of family rivalries, none can top the legendary and bloody Hatfield-McCoy feud. These families held epic grudges and hatred towards one another like no other in American history. Sports rivalries also come quickly to mind. Right here in Texas, few are as longstanding and tradition-rich as the Longhorns and Aggies. The outdoor world is filled with great rivalries as well. In deer hunting, rifle hunters and archery enthusiasts debate endlessly to prove which requires greater skill and offers the greatest sport and overall outdoor experience. Fishermen who prefer live bait seem forever at odds with their lure-slinging counterparts and viceversa. Legend holds that when fanned white hot, this difference of opinion has been known to erupt into bait camp and launch ramp brawls. Differences of opinion between boat fishermen and anglers who prefer to wade sometimes get out of control, each with its own boisterous fan base that are not afraid to speak their mind, literally and figuratively. Here on Sabine Lake we have the Texas versus Louisiana thing that always ruffles feathers, especially when bag limits and licenses are part of the discussion. Another great divide amongst sportsmen that often runs deep but not quite as volatile is the rift
Who cares the tackle type or method when you have a school of reds in your sights?
between conventional-tackle anglers and fly-fishermen. Each side, for whatever reason, harbors preconceived and stereotypical notions of what the other side represents, and I live right in the middle. I was recently invited to speak at one of the monthly meetings of The Texas Flyfishers of Houston and I brought up the legendary “Us v Them” scenario to see where that topic might lead. Most if not all in attendance agreed that in order to promote the sport of fly-fishing it is a must for all fly anglers to endeavor to do a better job of recruiting conventional anglers to the sport. The only way the sport grows is to bring in more people who enjoy the same outdoor pursuits, even if they use different methods. The common denominator between the flyfisherman and the conventional angler is that each one wants to put a bend in their rod with a fish on the other end. Period. I personally take great satisfaction in introducing new anglers to the sport of fly-fishing and I have been successful in accomplishing this for many years. The initial fishing experience is critically important because, like the saying goes; “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” With that thought in mind I usually wait until I have the best set of circumstances and conditions before I even attempt the introduction. There are a couple of prime times to introduce a new angler to the sport of fly-fishing and few are better than late summer and fall when the fish gang up in big schools and eat just about anything that hits the water. The constant bites are just what the doctor ordered so that a new angler can get a real feel for exactly what happens on the strike. I liken it to
The common denominator teaching someone to hit a baseball and putting them between fly-fishermen and in a batting cage—it’s no big deal if you miss one conventional-tackle anglers is when there is another coming right behind it. The last that all want a bend in their rod. thing I want to do is ask a new fly-fisherman to stand on the bow, make 1000 casts, and not get bit. Talk about leaving a bad taste in a new recruit’s mouth! On most occasions I wait until we have a good setup and a school of fish that isn’t going anywhere before I break out the flyrod and offer up a little encouragement. Knowing that the fish aren’t going anywhere anytime soon makes the whole experience much less stressful for the newbie and that much more enjoyable for me. Hungry school trout are exactly what the doctor ordered for the first-timer. Seeing accomplished conventional anglers pick up the flyrod and have success immediately is always fun. The look on their face as they discover a new style of enjoying their favorite pastime is priceless. On a couple of occasions I’ve had beginning flyfishermen hit the “Texas jackpot” as I call it, a bruiser redfish comes in and crashes the trout party and then takes off with their fly to parts Author landing a husky unknown. Watching the fly line peel off in the blink of Sabine marsh red that took an eye and then the backing begin to disappear often a live mullet…it’s all good! leaves the new fly angler with the wide-eyed look of simultaneous disbelief and exhilaration. Most new fly anglers are really happy to see their line leave in a hurry while attached to a redfish but that look quickly goes away once they realize a fly reel doesn’t offer a 7:1 gear ratio for getting the line back. All the work that goes into landing one of those big redfish makes the memory of the adventure that much more vivid and serves to draw the angler back for more. It’s usually not long after that when the new fly angler takes the plunge and purchases some gear and begins to experiment on his own. And so it begins, a new obsession focused on the same trophy. Now in my little part of the world—between conventional and fly angling— there is plenty of room and I encourage everyone to come and “visit.” Neither style of fishing is the “be all-end all” version that surpasses all others. It’s merely another tool or another club in the bag if you will, to enjoy the sport we love so dearly. I am perfectly happy and content to fish in just about any way, from soaking live bait, wading with artificials, or sight-casting plugs or flies in shallow water. All fishing is enjoyable to me and each method and style have particular advantages that help make me a better all-around fisherman. As for the “Us v Them” that so often invades our Popper flies from my granddad’s collection of sport, all I can say is that it is the worst thing in the 60 years ago, priceless world that can happen between outdoorsmen. Divide treasures that kindled my and conquer is a tactic often employed by fringe own fly-fishing interest. groups who are fundamentally opposed to outdoor pursuits such as fishing and hunting. And don’t think for one minute that these whack-jobs won’t try and go after sport fishing the way they have hunting. Just because a sector or group of fishermen may not prefer the same methods and gear as you or me does not make any of it wrong, so long it is legal in the beginning. As a whole, fishermen should all support one another so that we can maintain a strong front and defeat any “anti” efforts that would take our sport away. I’m not saying we need to hold hands for a big old Kumbaya on every issue every time; I doubt that will ever happen. I’m just saying that before you rule out a style or type of fishing you need to try it first. More often than not you’ll be glad you did.
Contact
Chuck Uzzle
28 | March 2016
Chuck fishes Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes from his home in Orange, TX. His specialties are light tackle and fly fishing for trout, reds, and flounder. Phone Email
409-697-6111 cuzzle@gt.rr.com
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STORY BY JOE RICHARD
A
recent visit to the dermatologist spelled another encounter with the knife, and it left me pondering all those fishing trips over the years, where we didn’t cover up from the sun. Seventeen stitches in the back, this time. It looks like someone stuck a Bowie knife in my back for no reason…Fortunately I can’t see the scar without two mirrors, so I haven’t bothered. Got another 17 last year in my right calf. My doctor likes to dig around. Some people have skin cancers much worse, like on top of the head. My fishing buddy Pete in Beaumont got 30 across the face last September— they peeled him open like a trout. He said later it reminded him of Frankenstein until the thick, black stitches were removed. Leaving no scar behind—his doc did a heck of a job. So, here we are ready for another year of sun exposure. It’s suddenly Spring Break, when many of us hit the water or beaches, and awareness of skin damage is on the upswing. Here in Texas we’ve come a long ways in covering up from skin damage, just in the past seven or eight years. Back in 2009 we had a horrible drought on the Texas coast and the countryside looked something like Australia. The sun was relentless, while I was fishing around Port O’Connor. To cover up I kept a handful of bandanas, and
Two young anglers at the end of the Aransas jetty, wearing better sun protection than usual.
I’d wrap one around my face like a train robber. I was just starting to wear long pants and of course we all had the long “Columbia Wear” type of shirts since the early ‘90s. But what a year, 2009: Every day that summer the sun beat down like Perdition. Not once that summer did I see a Buff face wrap like they were already wearing in Florida. Nor did I see another cheap bandana, just lots of red faces at the fish-cleaning table. Face wraps are certainly prevalent now; they’re almost a fashion statement for coastal fishermen. But at least they offer sun protection. And it’s a pleasant change after all these years, going out to dinner on a summer evening without a burnt red face. These masks aren’t completely sun-proof, and smearing a little high-octane sunscreen under them is also good advice. Beneath a good hat that creates triple protection. The Texas coast is a treeless expanse, save for Rockport, and so we have to carry our own shade with us—getting out there in the boat is like being in the Sahara desert. A boat’s T-top feels great and the meager shade and lower heat is precious, but we still get zapped by the sun from different angles, reflected off the water. That’s even hard on the eyes, and one more reason to wear quality, wrap-around sunglasses on the boat. Walking and plugging the Aransas jetties last summer Yes, you can catch big in July, I took the early ferryboat over, and dressed for the trout while wearing sun worst the sun could offer up. Covered from head to toe. The protection. This one was wind died and the Gulf grew flat, it was pretty hot out there. caught in August. Way out on the end of the north jetty, I was impressed to see these young dudes, maybe 16, wearing the latest in high-tech sun protection. Teenagers? No way! But it was true. They were serious fishermen looking for tarpon and they shook their heads when this aging ferryboat loaded with fishermen anchored close by. “Scaring the tarpon,” they said. I didn’t catch their names, though they are regular readers of this magazine. The sun got worse and I hustled back to the beach, determined to catch the noon ride back. But there was a line of people waiting, many without hats. They stood patiently on the seawall and just behind us were burning sand dunes. When the boat finally arrived, (the same small ferryboat from the 1980s), there was only room for maybe a third of us. I was the last one allowed on the boat and behind me Quality fishing people were left to their fate. I’m not sure when they escaped gloves versus St. Joseph Island. The teenage girl just ahead of me was carried no gloves at all. unconscious onto the boat; when she collapsed beside me it was lucky she didn’t topple down into the rocks. I carried her baseball cap and her dad and boyfriend carried her. And it Young angler adjusts was still only noon…It made me wonder how many people his sun mask in have been carried onto that boat. Once back in Port Aransas I 90-degree heat. crossed on the car ferry back to the mainland, and measured a line of parked cars 2.3 miles long, waiting in the broiling sun. Hot weather in Texas: All we can do is cover up, and carry water and food with potassium like the lucky (or not so lucky) bananas, pickles, raisins, watermelon and guacamole. We’ve actually sipped pickle juice instead of beer after a hard day on the boat. We also use a highSPF sunscreen like Neutrogena 50, my favorite. I’m also a big fan of wearing fishing gloves for about six years now, since skin on the back of the hands is thin and prone to skin cancer. I’ve tried a few brands of gloves and still favor the Buff Pro Series sun gloves that are tough enough to handle even offshore fishing. They also prevent the usual cuts and scrapes when handling fish. 32 | March 2016
Angler completely covered from the sun. This guy said he’s had a dozen surgeries treating skin cancer.
Suggestions: As always, good clothing is the most effective method of sun protection, so use densely woven and bright- or dark-colored fabrics, which offer the best defense. T-shirts are fairly bogus for sun protection, and even worse when they’re wet. I’ve read that a thin white T-shirt provides a UPF, or Ultraviolet Protection Factor of about 5, while blue jeans provide something like 1700. Since you can get skin cancer anywhere on the body, the more skin covered up, the better. As for sun screen, my wife and I have always felt that many of them actually promote long-term skin damage, because many people Young gun adjusts his believe smearing on ointment tackle at the Aransas jetty. is just as good as thick clothing. His hands and calves While you may not redden that already have a deep tan. day, the damage is done deeper down in the skin. Any coastal guide knows that wraparound sunglasses shield the eyes, and doctors say they help prevent cataracts or melanomas to both eyes and eyelids. Hats make a big difference, of course. Use a brim of three inches or longer. Earflaps offer ear and neck protection. I’ve never understood why some guys wear golf hats in the hot sun; that seems like a recipe for either getting your brain baked, or future cancer on the top of the head. I already know one guy who has died from the latter. He was from Austin, loved jetty fishing, and now he’s gone. According to researchers, “A sunscreen’s SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, measures how long unprotected skin can be exposed to the sun’s shortwave, ultraviolet B (UVB), rays before burning, compared with how long it takes to burn without protection. If used correctly, sunscreen with an SPF of 15 would prevent sunburn 15 times longer than if the product weren’t used. Sunscreen with an SPF of 15 effectively filters out about 93 percent of all incoming UVB rays, while SPF 30 keeps out 97 percent and SPF 50, 98 percent. These higher SPFs can make a big difference over time. Look for sunscreens that offer broad-spectrum protection from several kinds of UV light. And contains filtering agents like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, stabilized avobenzone, or ecamsule (a.k.a. MexorylTM). However, a high SPF alone is not enough. SPF offers protection against UVB, but not against the sun’s long-wave, ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. New research shows that UVA penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB, causing as much or even more damage. UVA is also the key cause of sun-induced skin aging. I’ve seen advice to use sunscreen every day of the year, though I’ve never heard of anyone doing that. It might be best in the long term, but I never cared for smearing that stuff on. That’s why I cover up with 34 | March 2016
sun-blocking clothing. I started off cheap with doctor’s scrub pants back in the ‘90s. They cost a dollar at Goodwill, they were light and compact, can be pulled over shorts, and they have saved many hours of sun exposure. I now wear long fishing pants. What to watch out for We all have skin in this game, so to speak. There are precautions to take, but then there are bad signs to watch out for. A yearly checkup doesn’t hurt; I once had an entire team at a university skin care clinic eyeballing me, while I sat there beaming back at them in my boxer shorts with a few scars here and there. Anyway here’s what they were checking for—perhaps a freckle or other growth that: • is asymmetrical • is bigger than 6 millimeters, the size of a pencil eraser changes in texture • appears after age 21 • • increases in size or thickness • a spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, erode or bleed • an open sore that does not heal within two weeks • a skin growth, mole, beauty mark or brown spot that changes color or • appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black or multicolored, irregular in outline or border
Joe Richard
Joe Richard has fished the Gulf since 1967, starting out of Port Arthur, but his adventures have taken him up and down the entire coast. He was the editor of Tide magazine for eight years, and later Florida Sportsman’s book and assistant magazine editor. He began guiding out of Port O’Connor in 1994. His specialty is big kingfish, and his latest book is The Kingfish Bible, New Revelations. Available at Seafavorites.com
Contact
Doctors say it is sun damage caused from years ago, that eventually returns to torment us. In the meantime I’m not taking chances with new burns. If you fish out there every day for weeks, that’s a lot of sun exposure. It makes me wonder how the bay guides survive to retirement age.
Lisa Laskowski with a beautiful CPR trophy.
J AY WAT K I N S
ASK THE PRO
X-Spots I have something I want you to try the next time you arrive at your favorite fishing area to find the entire Facebook/Twitter/Instagram crowd already waist deep. For the record, I do not engage in social media but neither do I oppose any that do. I prefer my website instead to inform, teach and promote my business. Having said that, we have all no doubt run into the situation I just described, and being frustrated is fine, but being outraged is ridiculous. Outrage that leads to obnoxious behavior over somebody beating you to a fishing spot not only ruins your day, but likely also ruins it for others. Many years ago I learned that “X marks the spot” locations are certainly not the only areas where fish can be found. Today, I actually love to see boats stacked in small areas; it simply leaves more water for me to investigate and possibly locate fish the crowds will never know exist. Truth be told, the majority of the locations I fish are not what the X-spot crowd would 36 | March 2016
consider primo, anyway. Leaving an area known to be holding “catchable” fish, especially big fish, requires an exceptionally confident mindset. Back many years ago when Jay Ray and Ryan were young boys, they would ask whether it bothered me to have boats pulling in on all sides of us and getting out to wade. My answer was simple…“They know the fish are here because they see us catching them. But, they don’t know why they’re here. When the fish leave, those guys won’t have a clue as to where they went, nor why they left.” This was not arrogance I was spouting—it was the plain, simple truth. I learned to fish through trial and error. We were without a boat for most of my teen years, so walk-in– wade fishing was how we fished and we were quite limited in the areas we could access. I benefited from those experiences later in my guiding career as I had developed the ability to define fish-attracting aspects of a given area when I was young. I do not believe there is
a better way to gain a feel for an area than getting your boots on the ground. Confidence enables me to get out and work an area, all the while evaluating its finer features. My angling skills in getting fish to eat are probably not any greater or more special than most of you because, when you really get down to it, you can only make a Bass Assassin or a Corky do so much. Sure, I have continued to tweak presentations, and improvements in tackle have certainly aided in my success. However—the most overlooked aspect in the go-it-alone style of fishing is simply the lack of pressure on the fish in the area you are fishing. Greater numbers and less pressure typically provides higher angling yields. For years I have observed excellent anglers overlooking potentially productive areas simply because there is no X on their bay fishing map. The toughest hurdle anglers face is having staying power in an area they are not familiar with when bites are not coming. Your mind will play tricks, you will second-guess your decision, and your confidence will naturally wane. The only way to conquer this is to search out areas that have characteristics similar to the one you had planned on fishing, but
38 | March 2016
arrived too late. Once in the secondary area you must stay the course and let the area’s Robert Moll 7-pound plus CPR! layout and the fish that are present direct your movements. Remember that bait schools move throughout the day and gamefish move with them. This is caused by tidal movement, wind switches, changes in water clarity and also changes in sunlight. Sunlight plays a big role during winter’s periods of prolonged cold and overcast. When trying to learn new areas, your buddy with aspirations of being a track star will absolutely kill your chances. Leave them at home if they are not willing to spread out in an orderly line and work slowly and carefully through the area. I will tell you how strongly I feel about this. It pisses me off seeing people doing this, even when fishing with other guides. It is so easy to get a clear mental picture of where the deeper guts and draws run as well as all the shallow humps and table tops on the flat when everyone is working a similar line. Once fish patterns start to develop it is easy to adjust and fine tune everyone’s position. You need to be committed to spending long periods that include solunar major or minor feeding periods. This will reveal the best of
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lines of travel and then spend hours or even a full day in a single area, catching fish, and not just during peak feeding periods. Boat traffic moves fish! Learn to use this trait to your advantage. It works for me and that is really all that counts in my book. Guides from all parts of the Texas coast ask how I manage to put up with the crowds in my home waters around Rockport. I guess I honestly don’t pay much attention to other anglers and have always sought out areas that had characteristics similar to those that have been known historically as hot spots. I have always believed there are more places that hold fish than those we are aware of, you simply have to seek them out and learn to fish them. As winter‘s grip loosens and temperatures rise, crowds are sure to gather around all those X-marks-the-spot locations. Take some time and let a new area show you its real potential. You’ll not only gain a lot of fishing knowledge but you will also likely find a few new Xs of your own. May your fishing always be catching! -Guide Jay Watkins
C ontact
everything the area has to offer. Another very important skill that anglers need to learn or improve on is their approach and exit to and from a fishing area. In my latter years of guiding I have learned to enter an area with several important things in mind: -Timing is everything and I am speaking of the solunar table. McBride gave us a great article on this a few years back. Going in too early, all you succeed in doing is stomping around and disturbing natural fish behavior. Track stars are the absolute worst for putting trophy-class fish on high alert. -Next is your actual entry to the area. I constantly coordinate landmarks with bottom features to assist during return visits. I’ll line up an exposed spoil bank with a radio tower or a piece of debris on the shoreline. I sometimes make my own landmarks—like sticking a piece of a broken fishing rod I found one day to mark a series of potholes about 80 yards off the King Ranch shoreline. Of course I also mark such places on my GPS but that old rod in the bank leaves zero doubt as to the exact location of the productive structure. Park at least 150 yards away and gently ease in. -Make an equally stealthy exit! I will drift, troll motor or walk the boat away from feeding areas before jumping up on plane. I believe this is an extremely important ingredient toward future success in any fishing area. If you take time to observe, you will be surprised how a boat running as far as 200 yards away will sometimes alert and cause fish to move. They may not spook instantly but they often react by slowly pulling off, away from the disturbance. Having learned this I am often successful in positioning my anglers along these natural
ROY’S Bait and Tackle Outfitters
Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading yearround for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. Telephone Email Website
361-729-9596 Jay@jaywatkins.com www.jaywatkins.com
361-992-2960
7613 SPID Corpus Christi, TX 78412
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40 | March 2016
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Talk, text or Facebook…it’s your day. But paying attention to the fish does have rewards!
C A P T. S COT T N U L L
S H A L L O W W AT E R F I S H I N G
Please leave a message… Smartphones. Nearly everyone has one. They make life easier and more productive on a day-to-day basis. There is virtually a whole world of information right there in the palm of your hand. For someone my age it really is amazing to think from where we’ve come in such a short period of time. I vividly recall scrolling through the Weather Channel before leaving to go fishing, praying they were right this time. Nowadays I have a half-dozen apps and sites on my phone that tell me everything from wind direction at various points around the bay to an HD radar showing me how much time I have before an approaching thunderstorm or front reaches my exact location. I can look at the tide stations to see the predicted flows as well as retrieve up-to-the minute data on what the water level actually is compared to that prediction. I know right to the minute when the moon will rise, set and be directly overhead or underfoot. As cool as all that is, there is also a huge downside. We are glued to these damn things. You see it every day. People walking with their eyes on the screen ignoring everything and everyone around them. Drivers going down the road texting despite all of the warnings against it. You see it in restaurants as two people having dinner stare at their phones, mindlessly shoveling food into their 42 | March 2016
mouths, while ignoring each other. Unfortunately, I don’t think any of this will be changing for the better. We are addicted to information and staying in touch. Increasingly I’m seeing this same thing on my charters. And that’s a real shame. Just this week while prowling the marshes of southern Louisiana chasing bull reds on the fly, I had one that left me shaking my head. It was a beautiful winter day. Sunshine, warm temps, clear water and feeding fish. This poor fella had the addiction bad. His phone was dinging, buzzing and ringing every couple minutes and he was helpless to ignore it. He missed so much, answering calls and typing responses. Every fish I spotted, and there were many, initiated the same frantic drill to remove his readers, replace his sunglasses, stow the phone, and retrieve the fly rod from between his knees. By that point the cruising bull had moved off or spooked in a puff of mud. He’d stare for a few moments and maybe make a cast or two before returning to the phone. We hardly even spoke during the charter, apart from me interrupting to point out a fish. I get it. I run my guide business, work as a sales rep and usually have some construction projects going. People want and need to talk to me, but there’s a time and a place. My phone is limited to emergency use or possibly
Fish or no fish; no way this could be as spectacular through an office window.
talking to another guide I know is fishing nearby to discuss the fishing situation. And of course, I’ll use it to check the weather or tide and take photos of my clients’ catch. I’m not a caveman. Calls from future customers or work-related stuff goes to voicemail, that’s what it’s for. They can wait until I’m off the water. Same for emails. I figure the guy on my bow paid for my services and shouldn’t have to share his time on the water. Surprisingly, I’ve heard stories from customers about guides who have spent nearly the entire day chatting on the phone. I would not be a happy customer if I was in that position. Even this guy didn’t irritate me. It’s their day and they can spend it however they choose. But what a shame, he missed so much. Beyond the obvious missed shots at willing redfish, he missed the experience. Other than soaking up some sunshine, he may as well have been in the office. There were reds and huge black drum intermittently tailing throughout the day. They’d briefly tip up and expose themselves before going back to cruising. I love seeing that. He missed it. There was a small school that briefly appeared, pinned some finger mullet against an exposed oyster reef and destroyed them. He missed it. And the 30-plus pound drum in a tailed-up standoff with a crab. He missed that, too. And there were other cool things going on. Pelicans diving into bait, skimmers plucking minnows from the surface, a reddish egret doing the wings-out dance through the shallows
Sunrises and sunsets are part of the reason we go.
TSFMAG.com | 43
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trying to corner his prey and many other birds just being birds. I know not everybody gets into that, but I enjoy it. On that trip I also witnessed a family of otters bail off the shoreline as we rounded a corner. He heard the splash. Those otters then proceeded to poke their heads up every few minutes to check us out. They were cool, but always timed their appearance to coincide with his inattention. I love being out there. It’s a big part of why I do what I do. It isn’t all
about a search and destroy mission to snatch as many fish as possible. For me it is about melting into the marsh and taking it all in. I want to watch the dolphins, see the birds feeding, catch a glimpse of the critters that live there, and watch the sun rise or set. Yeah, I’m that guy. Maybe I’m just trying to balance out all those years I had to work on the streets of Houston dealing with humanity at its worst. If the fishing is the more important part for you that’s fine too. Put the phone away and enjoy it. Pay attention to what’s happening. You can’t possibly be effective at catching fish without seeing the subtle clues that lead you to them. Baitfish reacting to a predator, a shorebird trailing a prowling redfish or even their shallow wakes. Immersing yourself into the rhythm of the bay can only help you become a better predator. Disconnect. Try it. At the end of the day this fella hands me the daily fee along with a healthy tip and a firm handshake; saying, “That was awesome. It felt good to be out of the office.”
Capt. Scott Null is a devout shallow water fisherman offering guided adventues via kayak, poled skiff, and wading. Telephone Email Website
281-450-2206 scott@tsfmag.com www.captainscottnull.com
By Julie Hagen | Social Media Specialist
FIELD NOTES
Saltwater Social Media In 2016, having an online presence through social media is expected from any organization looking to connect with its customers, consumers or constituents. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is no different. Social media apps and the web allow for an unprecedented amount of information to be exchanged between government agencies and the public. These conversations are authentic and informative and have the power to shape statewide regulations. For almost 40 years, TPWD Coastal Fisheries’ field staff have worked to gather data about Texas marine life and coastal environments. Their work has helped to regulate fishing and boating practices for generations of Texans through the use of best practices and data analysis. But in the age of the Internet, this can be taken a step further to include the public in our scientific data gathering. How can anglers help? One example is through the reporting of red snapper landings. The iSnapper app was created by our partners at the Harte Research Institute and aims to collect red snapper catch data from recreational anglers. The iSnapper app is a unique opportunity for anglers to help make these changes a reality through the reporting of their catches and firsthand experiences. Data from the iSnapper app will help supplement the survey data already being collected to give a well-rounded picture of the health of our red snapper fishery. The app also updates you about weather conditions, lets you save photos and easily share your catch on social media. It’s a great all-in-one app for any recreational angler. The iSnapper app is available for
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download on your smart phone or you can visit www. snapperonline.org to report your catch. Another way to share is through the Tarpon Observation Network. Landing a tarpon is considered a lifetime achievement for a recreational angler, so why not brag about it to TPWD! The Tarpon Observation Network (TON) is an online portal (http://tpwd.texas. gov/landwater/land/maps/ gis/ris/tarpon) that allows anglers to report tarpon sightings and landings while also graphically displaying the historical and current distribution of tarpon along the coast. Only one of every eight hookups results in the angler actually landing a tarpon, but observations from the public help us to better understand juvenile tarpon habitats and their movements along the shoreline. More data is needed because of the significant reduction in the tarpon population due to overfishing and loss of habitat. The more data
reported the more we can learn about this elusive sportfish. While we appreciate the data the public can provide us, we also want to share information with you. During the fall of 2015 Texas experienced a red tide event along the coast. Red tide is a naturally occurring alga that when occurring in high numbers kills fish and causes allergy like symptoms in humans. These harmful algal bloom events impact anglers, residents and visitors and are closely monitored by TPWD. Therefore, it’s important to keep the public
informed through multiple forms of communication. The TPWD Harmful Algal Bloom Education and Research Facebook page (www. facebook.com/Texas-Parks-and-Wildlife-Harmful-Algal-BloomsResearch-Education-120287757990075/) played a key role this summer in providing the public with the most up-to-date red tide information. The page continuously posted about the severity of red tide blooms in specific areas and where fish kills were reported. Staff from all the Coastal Fisheries’ field offices in the state pitched in to help collect this data and share it online. By using Facebook to share information, it allowed a conversation to develop between the agency and the public. Constituents were able to ask specific questions about red tide and receive accurate answers from our team of experts. The conversations in the comment sections also helped our staff and coordinating agencies create a bigger picture of how this red tide event was affecting the coast. The new Texas Parks and Wildlife - Coastal Fisheries Facebook page (www.facebook.com/TPWDCoastal) wants to serve a similar purpose and be the go to place for up-to-date information about what is happening at the coast. So let us know what you are up to by sharing your photos, asking your questions and learning more about what we do.
Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or www.tpwd.state.tx.us for more information.
48 | March 2016
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S C O T T S O M M E R L AT T E
FLY FI S HING
Staying Connected: The Nail Knot Part 1 of 2 It is hard to ask an individual that spent hundreds if not thousands on a great fly rod and reel to leave it at home but, personally, as a guide, I would prefer that everybody that came down to fish with me would just leave their tackle and use mine. The reason for this is actually twofold. First—it irks me watching people every time they step up or down from the bow, spending time reeling up line and stowing their rod—while their buddy does the same in reverse with a few practice casts added to the process of getting ready and situated. It would be much simpler if the angler stepping down simply handed the already working
“Leader knot… don’t fail me now!”
50 | March 2016
rod to the one stepping up. We would enjoy a lot more productive fishing time during the charter instead of messing around retrieving and replacing rods from under-gunnel storage. But, as my good customer and friend, Frank Wimbish, would say, “I digress… The second and even more important reason for wanting people to use my gear arises from my biggest pet peeve—improperly tied knots. Especially when knot failures result in the loss of a lifetime fish. Over the years I’ve seen innumerable fish lost due to bad knottying at both ends of the fly line, meaning leader knots and also backing knots. Probably one of the biggest mistakes I see comes from laziness on the part of the angler or the fly shop that rigged their tackle. The mistake I speak of is the use of loop-to-loop connections to attach the leader to the fly line. Now, I am not only going to express my opinion here, but also the opinion of numerous guides and anglers I hold in high regard…There is only one way to connect the butt-section of a leader to a fly line, and it’s called a nail knot! So, maybe this is the fly fishing snob in me coming out but hey, we are fly fishermen because we seek to rise to a greater challenge. Most of us took up fly fishing because we were growing bored with conventional angling, and part of rising to the challenge includes developing skill to rig tackle properly. To accomplish this you must master knot tying. Before going further I need to explain the reason I elected not to include knot-tying drawings in this article. Foremost is because my drawings suck and second because Google is your friend. You can easily find dozens of excellent knot-tying videos on the internet. Moving on… Let’s get into the nail knot. Again, shared opinion: The nail knot is the only way to connect the butt section of a leader to a fly line. Yet for whatever reason, too many anglers refuse to master and utilize this powerful connection. I suspect it’s just
too easy to pull a $10 knotless leader from a package, throw a perfection loop in it, and then loop it to a prefabricated “welded” loop in the fly line. About these so-called “welded” loops—they may be a great timesaver but I probably see at least a half-dozen failures during a
Welded loop failure! This is why we learn to tie the nail knot.
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year of fishing charters, many of which occur while fighting large or trophy-class fish. This is heartbreaking to both angler and guide and totally unacceptable in my opinion. Or maybe an anglers goes to the fly shop and the person behind the counter nail-knots a short piece of line to the fly line and then throws a perfection loop into the “short-butt”…and here we go loopto-loop, again. As for the perfection-to-perfection method, let’s just say this method causes major issues for not only less-experienced casters who throw numerous tailing loops throughout the day, but also for the more skilled who have the ability to throw very tight and narrow loops. The problem occurs when the double perfection connection travels too near the fly line and becomes entangled. This event does not allow the leader to deliver the fly properly and results in a botched cast. This can cost you a fish just as easily as a welded loop coming undone. And yet there is still another reason that the nail knot is so important. I
ONE H G U O T T E L L MU of r goes out e v e n t e ll u r Grade A good M er Saltwate b m o B e h T style. eath for w-sinking d lo s is t e shore ll u M and other in s k c e p S , h Redfis e new . Look for th h s fi r to a d retailer. pre rea tackle a r u o y t a t Mulle
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Case in point, I was fishing with an 8-weight earlier today for snook and redfish when we came upon a laid-up tarpon between 40-50 pounds. It was my first shot at a tarpon this year and, I am ashamed to admit this but, my knees were a little shaky and I blew the cast. But, if I hadn’t, and the fish had eaten the fly, my knots would have been put to a severe test. When tying a nail knot for what I would term “more powerful” fish, I recommend doubling the fly line. To do this with a nail knot tool requires the largest they make. Smaller tools always seem to get too tight with doubled fly line and larger butt sections of leaders being crammed through them. Again, I urge you to go to do a little “fishing when you can’t” and explore some of the videos available on fly line rigging and making good connections between your fly line and leader. Until next month…be gude and stuff like that.
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see it day in and day out—even with experienced anglers. It is the dislike or flat refusal to reel the leader through the rod tip. Folks, it is necessary to bring that leader into the guides to land large fish, especially tarpon and billfish. Shortening the line and pulling with the butt of the rod is a necessary evil, even when close to the boat. To accomplish this you MUST know how to tie knots that will pass thru the guides without ripping them off of the rod. And, it just so happens- the nail knot is one of those knots. So, at this point, I may or may not have convinced you how important the nail knot is. But let us just say, for grins and giggles, that I have and you are ready to learn to tie it. There are four tools available. The first is a nail. Who’d’ve thunk it? The second would be a small soda straw, followed by the tube of a fountain pen. Last but ‘knot’ least (pun intended) would be a NAIL KNOT TOOL. Yep, some genius figured out the simplest way to tie a nail knot. Hell, if my dog had opposed thumbs he could tie one. In short, I suggest heading to the fly shop and getting one. But here is the kicker, in order to make the connection that I recommend- you need to purchase the largest nail knot tool available for reasons I am about to explain. Remember, we saltwater anglers may catch the occasional “rat” red but one thing is certain when fly fishing in saltwater—you never know what you may be casting to when you choose which rod to throw.
Scott Sommerlatte is a full time fly fishing and light tackle guide, freelance writer and photographer. Telephone Email Website
979-415-4379 vssommerlatte@hotmail.com www.scottsommerlatte.com
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DAV E R O B E R T S
K AYA K FI S HING C HRONI C LE S
Gearing up for
tournament season We all know that life typically revolves around a calendar that has four seasons—spring, summer, autumn and winter. I reluctantly abide by this as much as I have to but, as a fisherman, I have another calendar that I strive to live by. Unlike the typical four season version, my fishing calendar has only two—wintertime trout fishing and tournament season. Tournament season gets underway in April, so March is reserved for getting everything prepared. Finding a tournament or tournament series that is held in your area should not be a problem but there is a little bit of work to be done before an angler hits the water. He or she needs to prepare their gear, get a stock of lures, and make sure you have all the other necessities ready to go.
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The first thing that I do is go back to my hunting and fishing room and pull out all of my summertime lures that I stowed away for winter. I then take inventory of what I have and what needs to be replenished or replaced. Afterwards, I will compile a list and head to the nearest tackle shop. Fishing Tackle Unlimited is my favorite since they have everything an angler needs at one location. Typically my list will consist of popping corks, Gulp, Norton Sand Eels, Buggs, and a few more miscellaneous items. Instead of purchasing new topwaters, I buy new split rings and treble hooks to replace the rustier ones, to help save some money. Now that I have my lures in order it is time to focus on my rods and reels. I will usually spend a little time
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breaking my reels apart and cleaning them. It also is one of the few times during the year that I purposely replace my line—breaking off a fish on tournament day because of old, weakened line is totally unacceptable. I have come to the point where I prefer braid over monofilament. It is just a personal preference thing that I have developed and my favorite is 30-pound Sufix 832. If I was going to use mono I would use P-Line CXX; it is the strongest on the market but the memory is so bad that you have to replace your line fairly often. Whatever your line preference might be, the most important thing here is that your reels and rods are prepared for the challenge and should not fail when the big day arrives. Now comes the other items that are necessary on tournament day. First and foremost, an angler needs a reliable and accurate measuring device. Most tournaments, if not all, use the Check-ItStick. You do not have to have the same device, but it certainly helps. If possible, it is a good habit to compare your stick with the weighmaster’s at the captains meeting. Last year I discovered my stick was measuring 1/8” shorter than the weighmaster’s. I came to this conclusion when I had a redfish bust the 28” mark but measured good on my device. One 1/8 isn’t much but makes all the difference between first place and being disqualified. So this year a Check-ItStick is on my list. Another item that is a must for a kayaker is a good stringer. I have seen people make their own but I have also seen them come up losing a fish. I have several different stringers but I have found that the Stinky Pants Stringer is exceptional. It is a very reliable product when it comes to carrying your fish. The next piece that I find necessary is a livewell. Keeping your fish alive from your launch point, wherever that might be, to the weigh-in is key (even though I am probably one of the world’s worst about showing up with dead fish.) Some tournaments are awarding anglers a weight bonus for live fish. Last year in the Lone Star Kayak
Series I got bumped from 1st place to 3rd by two anglers who earned the live fish bonus. Earning this bonus is a definite must if you plan on winning or placing high on the leaderboard. With all my gear ready I am stoked for the upcoming season. The calendar on my desk is scribbled with tournament notes on every weekend through the end of October. For those who may be thinking about entering a few there should be plenty options to choose from. My favorite events are the Lone Star Kayak Series. They put on four events each year and pay cash to the top 25% of the field with great merchandise prizes as well. I also find it fun just to go to the weighin and converse with other anglers from across the coast. I also would like to thank Jeff Herman for being the photographer at these events and all the great weigh-in photos he makes. Another tournament that I look forward to is the Saltwater Survival Series. Now this series is not your typical tournament style. It consists of a “shotgun” start from a central location and anglers can fish wherever they would like inside the boundary. But here is the catch. Every participant is given the same six Egret lures and the fish they catch has to come on one of them. This greatly levels the playing field and makes for an interesting day of fishing. Also on my list are the tournaments that the Saltwater Boys put on. I am part of the club here in Southeast Texas and it is always a blast with this group. It is a smaller organization, mostly locals, but everyone knows each other so there is great camaraderie. They just started a new chapter in the Sugarland/Houston area so if you want to be a part of a group and participate in some smaller tournaments, this would be a great place to start. They also have great sponsors that take care of them and there are always great prizes for everyone at weigh-in. Regardless of all the pre-tournament work that needs to be done, it puts a smile on my face just thinking about it. I, for one, am very excited for the upcoming season. There is something about hooking into a big red and knowing that if you land him, he could put you on the winner’s podium. Some people get their kicks by shooting big deer but not me. What they call “buck fever” is what I get when I hang into a fish on tournament day. The adrenalin comes during the battle and then followed by the anticipation when I put him on the measuring stick. Then comes the excitement of knowing that you have the perfect redfish or the disappointment of missing the 28” mark by one 1/8— either outcome will give you the shakes. That’s what it’s all about. See you at the scales!
Dave Roberts is an avid kayak-fishing enthusiast fishing primarily the inshore Upper Coast region with occasional adventures to surf and nearshore Gulf of Mexico. Email: TexasKayakChronicles@yahoo.com Website: www.TexasKayakChronicles.com
Whether you are in the surf searching for your next trophy or stalking the flats for redfish, the Tsunami Barrier combos are designed to take on the harshest punishment that saltwater gamefish can inforce on tackle. Each combo is factory balanced to provide anglers with the best setup possible to insure the ultimate experience while on the water. Built for both monofilament and braided line, Barrier combos feature a light weight graphite reinforced reel body and rotor while 4 shielded stainless steel bearings provid smooth operation. A durable graphite composite or tubular glass rod provide the perfect combination of weight and balance for casting and fighting fish.
Combo Features: • Graphite Composite & Tubular Glass Blanks • Stainless Steel Guides with Aluminum Oxide Inserts which are ideal for both mono and braided lines • Cork & EVA Grips
• Machined Anodized Aluminum Spool • 4 Shielded Stainless Steel Bearing System (IAR) • Thick Anodized Aluminum Bail Wire
Oyster Lake Project Phase II— construction of limestone riprap breakwater, October 2015.
Story by John Blaha | Photos by Lisa Laskowski
T S FM a g C o n s e r v a t i o n N e ws
Oyster Lake Shoreline Protection Project Completed Shoreline degradation is an ongoing issue that challenges coastal habitat up and down the Texas coast. Shoreline degradation is the result of many issues, some manmade and others natural. Manmade issues include development, the creation of channels through sensitive marsh for commercial purposes, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), and others. Natural issues include consistent
prevailing winds impacting shorelines, hurricanes, winter storms and other effects of Mother Nature. CCA Texas’s Habitat Today for Fish Tomorrow (HTFT) program has taken part in several projects that were implemented to protect eroding shorelines, re-nourish shorelines and to prevent the breaching of one ecosystem into another. These projects include a joint effort with Ducks Unlimited Texas and others for June 2014—smooth cord grass shoreline protection along the ICW in the being planted shoreward of JD Murphree Wildlife Management Area reef ball breakwater. and along the ICW just north of the San Bernard River where important fresh water marsh lakes were being threatened by salt water intrusion from the ICW. CCA Texas also worked with Ducks Unlimited and others in Cow Trap Lake (Brazoria County) where marsh shorelines where losing ground to the elements yearly. Other efforts included those with TPWD in Bird Island Cove in West Galveston Bay and Snake Island Cove with the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF), also in West Galveston Bay. The latest effort to help protect and restore shoreline degradation was recently completed on the far western end of
60 | March 2016
June 2014—cordgrass planting completed.
West Galveston Bay along the Oyster Lake shoreline. This shoreline separates West Galveston Bay from Oyster Lake, a sensitive estuary lake accessible from the ICW and connecting creeks from Bastrop Bay. Over time, it is estimated that over 650 feet of shoreline has been lost on the West Galveston Bay side, and 150 feet on the Oyster Lake side since the 1940s due to prevailing wind, currents and hurricanes. Furthermore, the rate of erosion appeared to be accelerating, as since 1995, up to 175 feet of shoreline was lost on the West Bay side and 55 feet from Oyster Lake side. This project was a multi-phase undertaking that used different types of breakwaters designed specifically for shoreline protection and re-nourishment, and stretches across approximately 5,200 linear feet of critical habitat. Phase I of the project placed 950 feet of shoreline breakwater along the West Galveston Bay and Oyster Lake shorelines. Another 500 linear feet of reef balls were place along the West Galveston Bay shoreline in a 3-wide configuration, and an additional 450 linear feet along the Oyster Lake shoreline in September 2013. The impacts of the breakwater were seen quickly and between September 2013 and June 2014 in the natural deposition of 1,100 cubic yards of material accumulating behind the breakwaters, thereby triggering the rebuilding process. In June 2014, volunteers planted more than 2,000 smooth cord grass sprigs covering .75 acres in the area between the existing shoreline and the breakwater on the West Galveston Bay side. This cord grass was provided by project partner NRG and, since
November 2015—cordgrass spreading across restored area.
62 | March 2016
the original planting, the grass has been spreading and filling in the entire planted area. Phase II construction began in October 2015. This phase of the project utilized limestone riprap to form the breakwater. This breakwater was built in segmented fashion to allow water to flow freely in and out behind the breakwater and deposit materials that will eventually rebuild the shorelines. Phase II was completed in early January 2016 and 4,786 feet of breakwater that protects 5,150 feet of shoreline are now in place to protect Oyster Lake and the vital ecosystem services that it provides. The final steps in the project are to accomplish baseline data collection for annual monitoring and developing a grass planting strategy for the entire project. Partnerships are crucial in completing projects such as these and CCA Texas is proud to have been a part of the project through the direct contribution of $200,000. This was important as it established groundwork for GBF to secure another $270,000 in matching dollars. These funds along with other funds from project partners bring together many groups in the common cause to help protect and restore vital coastal habitat along the Texas coast. Project partners included Galveston Bay Foundation, CCA Texas, Ducks Unlimited, NOAA, Texas General Land Office, Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s - Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Atlantic midshipman, photo by NOAA\NMFS\ Mississippi Laboratory
STEPHANIE BOYD
FI S HY FA C T S
Midshipman Midshipmen belong to the family Batrachoididae of toadfishes, a group of benthic ambush predators known for their ability to produce sound with their swim bladders. There are fifteen species of midshipman, all in the genus Porichthys, Greek for “porous fish.” They are distinguished by hundreds of luminous spots, called photophores, that decorate their underbellies, and are somewhat reminiscent of the buttons on a naval officer’s uniform, hence the name. The glow of these jewel-like photophores comes from bioluminescent bacteria. Midshipmen likely use this bioluminescence to attract small prey, such as krill, and to hide from predators through a camouflage technique known as counterillumination: producing light to match an illuminated background, such as the ocean surface or sky. Our own local resident is the Atlantic midshipman, Porichthys plectrodon. Atlantic midshipmen are similar to Gulf toadfish (plus the photophores). They have large heads and mouths with eyes on top of the head and mostly brownish bodies with dark splotches and yellowish bellies. They have sharp spines on the sides (directly behind the gills) and on the first dorsal fin. These spines are venomous, and though they can deliver a painful sting, are ultimately harmless to humans. Atlantic midshipmen occur from Virginia to Argentina and exhibit variation in color pattern and meristics throughout this range. Meristics is an area of ichthyology which relates to counting quantitative features of fish, such as the number of fins or scales (the midshipman would be limited to fin counts because it is scaleless). They also show microgeographical meristic variation between the bays and the Gulf on the Texas coast. They grow up to about eight inches, are nocturnal, and as bottom-dwellers, have a preference for sandy or mud bottoms. During the day, they bury themselves in substrate. At night, they float just 64 | March 2016
above the seabed, foraging on planktonic crustaceans, larval fishes, and the occasional squid. Midshipman fish come in three genders: females, type I males, and type II males. All three types are vocal, emitting short grunts to communicate with one another, but type I males are the most loquacious by far. In the spring and summer, type I males head to shallow waters, excavate nests beneath rocks along the shoreline, hunker down, and start to sing. By vibrating muscles against the sides of the swim bladder, which in turn vibrate the surrounding water, the midshipman can hum for up to an hour at a time. This amorous serenade – which has been described as sounding like chanting monks, a droning motorboat, or an orchestra of mournful oboes – is so loud that it has been known to wake people at night, drown out conversations, and even vibrate houseboats. While their vocal talents may not be appreciated by everyone, the songs of type I males entice females into laying eggs in their rock nests. But they also attract an unwelcome guest… Only type I males hum. They are the “singing males.” Type II males are the “sneaker males.” Type II males are the size of females, eight times smaller than type I males, BUT their reproductive organs are seven times larger than those of type I males. Since they so closely resemble females, type II males can sneak into the type I male’s nest and fertilize the eggs a female has laid – in and out before the singer even knows he’s been cuckolded. Although the midshipman can be kind of a nuisance, research surrounding their vocalizations could be beneficial to humans. Midshipmen are model organisms for studying both human speech and hearing because these fish have homologous brain structures to humans. One study traced the development of the midshipman’s nervous system and brain and found that the fundamental structure of the brain circuit was remarkably similar to neural circuits
in amphibians, birds, and mammals, an evolutionary connection that could prove important in modern medicine. Midshipman fish can decrease their own hearing sensitivity by stiffening their inner ear hair cells while they are vibrating their calling muscles. This involuntary response is also found in crickets, monkeys, bats, and even humans (to a lesser degree), but it’s not clear how this happens. All vertebrates have a nerve connection between the brain and ear that is similar to that found in the midshipman, so it is probable that they all use the same mechanism to adjust their hearing. Humans also have a second mechanism to protect their ears when exposed to loud noise: a reflex tightens muscles in the inner ear to stiffen the eardrum and inner ear bones so they become less efficient at transmitting sound. But this response gets weaker with repeated exposure to noise, and only protects from short-lived sounds. It also cannot protect from noises that reach the ear through the bones in the head. The mechanism identified in the humming fish can. At the same time that a male midshipman’s brain sends a “sing now” cue to the muscles surrounding the swim bladder, it sends electrochemical messages to the ear hair cells, essentially telling them to put in earplugs. These two types of signals happen in sync about 100 times every second. Since all vertebrate brains have similar living links to the ears, it’s possible that other animals like echolocating bats, barking dogs, and human rock stars might rely on related acoustic strategies to protect and preserve their hearing when they are making loud sounds. Midshipmen also show seasonal changes in hearing. As the breeding season approaches, sex hormones flood the bloodstreams, which in turn changes their singing and hearing. Female midshipman fish are most attuned to the males’ mating calls when their estrogen levels are
66 | March 2016
high. Similarly, the most successful male baritones have the highest levels of testosterone. Studying these changes could help scientists understand if a person’s hearing declines as he/she gets older in part because of waning hormone levels. Because toadfish first evolved so long ago, their particular neural circuit design is likely 400 million years old, almost as old as vertebrates themselves. Though different groups of animals evolved various designs of this basic neural prototype over the course of eons — and developed diverse systems of muscles and tissues for vocal communication — our own speech and song, nonetheless, owe a lot to the ancient grunts and hums of midshipman fish. Where I learned about midshipman fish, and you can too! Texas Marine Species txmarspecies.tamug.edu/fishdetails.cfm?scinameID=Porichthys%20plectrodon Texas A&M University: Galveston Campus repositories.tdl.org/tamug-ir/handle/1969.3/19092 World Register of Marine Species www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=158784 www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxlist Fishes of Texas www.fishesoftexas.org/taxon/porichthys-plectrodon NOAA (Technical Memorandum) www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/tm155/tm155.pdf Fish Base www.fishbase.org/summary/3072 Live Science www.livescience.com/27237-fish-sings-for-mates.html Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science www.nature.com/news/2005/050711/full/news050711-1.html Scientific American blogs.scientificamerican.com/brainwaves/what-singing-fish-reveal-about-speech-and-hearing/
Open bay schools of drum can be mixed in size.
CURTISS CASH
IN S HORE | NEAR S HORE | JETTIE S | P A S S E S
Targeting Good Ol’
Number Four
Every coastal fisherman in the Lone Star State has no doubt heard of the “Big Three,” or maybe by its other popular name, the “Texas Bay Slam.” These names refer to the accomplishment of landing a collection of at least one legal-size specimen of three inshore species—speckled trout, red drum and flounder— during a single outing. But what about the one I call, Number Four? Texas’s other salt water drum. Why has this species historically been given the Rodney Daingerfield treatment? Until recent years the black drum has been bringing up the rear in Texas coastal sport fishing, inevitably in a dead heat for fourth place with all other bay species. Ask any hook-and-line commercial fisherman and they’ll tell you that’s fine with them, for sure. They’ve been keeping this fishery hush-hush, and for more or less good reason. I started fishing for them on a regular basis about six years ago to supplement an often lighter box of fish. Boat fishing for trout was becoming more difficult with ever-increasing angling pressure and an already stressed biomass. It didn’t take long for me to notice that the commercial guys were targeting black drum. They were catching loads of them on trotlines baited with wooden discs soaked in WD-40 lubricant impaled 68 | March 2016
on an 11/O circle hook. The black drum is a crowd pleaser, though. Excellent table fare, fun to catch and found in schooling masses. What more could an angler ask for from a hearty fish like this? Only partial willingness to take an artificial lure or fly is what you’ll hear from the A-Team, most likely. In some ways, depending on the situation, this makes them even more interesting to me. The black drum becomes sexually mature at approximately 12 inches and two years of age. My friend Shannon Tompkins says, “They are like the feral hogs of the bays, the more you stress them, the more often and better they reproduce.” You can find them in all Texas bay systems, from the fresh water deltas out past the confines of the Texas state waters offshore, and everywhere in-between. Slot sized black drum have flaky white meat fillets and their diets consist mostly of mollusks and crustaceans. I personally think they taste much better than any redfish, no matter how you cook them. BIG SCHOOLS EQUAL BIG SUCCESS Last year, late-February and through March, I was able
to target large schools of spawning drum on San Antonio and Matagorda Bays. On the calm, post frontal days we found groups that numbered in the thousands on shallow open bay oyster reefs and spoil islands. The reefs held clear water due to the mollusks’ fine filtering capabilities, and the typically light winds experienced on bluebird days. The clarity was perfect for locating and targeting these 28-44 inch long fish. They could be easily seen in meandering schools measuring hundreds of yards in length and with a breadth and depth of 4- to 8 fish. On days when the water was more turbid I looked for freshly mudded spots or boils. Often the schools would be found on the lee side of the windblown structure. On the spoil islands, I would concentrate on the lee areas closest to the ship channel dropoff. Many times this area is muddy from barge traffic. Target the calm areas directly adjacent to the tugboat generated current. Large fresh-dead peeled shrimp, whole sea lice, and cracked crab seemed to work best in these areas. As impressive as these schools were to see, the catching was even more phenomenal. A lightlyweighted piece of shrimp or crab tossed near a school guaranteed an immediate hook up! Catching black drum on artificial baits is difficult, but these fish educated me how they wanted to be fed. This was especially beneficial when using light-
Dean Ricks shows off a nice black drum he caught by sightcast last March.
TSFMAG.com | 69
tackle and soft plastic lures or flies. With the clear water offering ideal sight-casting conditions we were able to fine tune an effective strategy for using various artificial lures. The key to hooking up consistently was to cast alongside the group of fish with a natural-colored DOA Shrimp and reeling it slowly near the surface intersecting the swimming school. Once a fish takes notice by turning its head toward the lure, the angler needs to pause. These normally docile fish won’t chase a bait very far, so immediately quit reeling to decrease pressure, or free spool the line. Medium-heavy spinning tackle works extremely well as you can
70 | March 2016
cast light lures and then quickly offer slack line with a flip of the bail. In addition to the reel benefits, the heavier rod blank has the backbone to help control heavy fish boatside. As the 3” or 4” DOA shrimp slowly descended it would rarely make it more than a couple of feet before the line would come tight. Please note that it may be best to set the hook with a slow sweeping action to help pull the fish away from the school. This will allow for multiple hookups by not spooking the rest of them. Once the fish gets away from the group, a sharp pull will get the fish to fighting, helping to wear it down in preparation for an effective release. What a fun tactic and a great change of pace targeting these big fish. I imagine these same tactics can be used in most other Texas estuaries, bays, jetties or passes.
C ontact
Slot-sized drum will eat a wellplaced DOA shrimp lure.
Capt. Curtiss Cash offers charters in the Port O’Connor area; specializing in fishing the bays, passes, jetties, surf and nearshore waters. Species targeted include speckled trout, redfish, flounder, tripletail, black drum, bull reds, sharks, snapper, kingfish, ling and tarpon, when seasonally available. Phone
361-564-7032
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Brian Nelli with a gorgeous Florida sailfish.
E X T R E M E K AYA K F I S H I N G & S H A R K S F R O M T H E S A N D
ERI C O Z OLIN S
Kayak Wars
Legendary Journey Continues Under New Regime A cult of unique fishermen have taken to the water as I had a radical idea of a friendly competition between kayak fishing continues to dominate growth within the ourselves. T.J. is based on the upper Texas coast, me in fishing category of outdoor recreation. From meager South Texas. We initially wanted only to compare personal roots, the popularity of kayak fishing has risen to accomplishments in numbers and sizes of our catches. unbelievable heights. Today, hundreds of thousands, But as the idea developed we eventually agreed to a if not more, make astonishing catches from plastic five-angler team concept. In essence, what we ended micro-vessels. Many anglers are now Angler motivation to navigate and fish “mothershipping� their kayaks from the kayak can vary among enthusiasts to reach productive fishing but all are beneficial to both the individual grounds for pelagic species. and the sport fishing industry in general. Some seek a modestly-priced entry to lake, bay and offshore fishing; others prefer the solitude, while more advanced anglers revel in the stealthy approach a kayak can provide. The same as in other fishing categories, kayak fishing tournaments are becoming increasingly popular. One of the first to appear, Kayak Wars continues to grow and reign as a premier tournament with its online format for posting catches and leaderboards. It began nearly a decade ago, T.J. Pilgrim and 72 | March 2016
up creating was a friendly “civil war” on the water—North versus South. Points would be awarded on a per-species basis and at the end of the year the team on top would carry home the bragging rights. Thus Kayak Wars was born and interest began pouring in from other Texas anglers wanting to put a team together and join the fray. During year three, Florida anglers blasted onto the scene like a hurricane hitting the beach, and with them came an array of new species from their waters— notably bonefish and permit. A key aspect of the tournament’s growth was the presentation to the public. It was a first of its kind based entirely on an online platform. In our fourth year good friend, Rick Underbrink, helped build the interactive infrastructure to allow for realtime automation by the user. All catches would now be logged in a sorted database, with the data to be called upon in detail via any custom query. With this we were able to write scripts to display user-profile pages along with statistics such as species records, and standings. This also allowed the ability to view individual angler submissions, so other anglers would be able to check out catches from any angler or team. The main website page would display the ten most recent submissions and it became routine and fun for users to check the main page often for updates. This perhaps as much as any other innovation put wind in Kayak Wars’ sails. Freshwater species were added to the format soon after the database system went live. Little did we know the number of kayak anglers that pursued catfish, largemouth bass, rarities such as paddlefish, and even the elusive sturgeon. Anglers in the central U.S. and Great Lakes were joining in droves. The number of species entries doubled overnight. Exotics from Florida; snakehead, peacock bass, and other non-indigenous species. And there were no boundaries, saltwater anglers could enter freshwater species and vice-versa. Over time, we were establishing a totally unrivaled set of kayak fishing records. It wasn’t long before Kayak Wars went international and teams from Canada, the UK, Netherlands, Germany, and Puerto Rico were welcomed aboard. Huge participation sprang from the Caribbean, legions of tarpon anglers. Possibly the first-ever yellowfin tuna landed from a kayak in the Gulf of Mexico was entered in Kayak Wars— yours truly the proud angler. TSFMAG.com | 73
Kayak Wars no doubt helped boost the launch of big-game fishing from the kayak. Florida anglers were instantly all over it. Suddenly stud amberjack and majestic sailfish were making news in the tournament. Despite this extreme style of fishing, it is important to note that while always pushing the boundaries, we heavily promoted both conservation and angler safety. The author with what may well have been the first-ever yellowfin tuna landed by kayak in the Gulf of Mexico.
C ontact
Smoker king ready for release!
In 2014 and 2015, the growth of Kayak Wars became exponential. On peak weekends, hundreds of submissions were streaming in from around the globe. I became a one-man full-time maintenance team fielding requests, suggestions, corrections and verifications. At the same time my growing beach charter business was literally swamped in a phenomenal summer shark season. My “paying” job had to take precedence and I would be on the beach upwards of 80 hours some weeks, returning to an impossible stack of Kayak Wars duties. I managed to do both occasionally and sometimes the online work would just have to stack higher. It had become painfully clear that I could no longer raise the Kayak Wars baby alone. In January, I felt obligated to find Kayak Wars a new home. Sifting through many offers from individuals and companies, it was paramount to me that Kayak Wars must be passed into the most capable and dedicated hands. Somebody with true passion for the sport, and the managerial and technical wherewithal to guide it where it needed to go. Dallas native, Bryan Thomas, with his entrepreneurial spirit and his technically-gifted brother-in-law, Jason Carter, are now at the helm. Bryan and Jason harbor lifelong passion for fishing and both are hopelessly addicted kayak anglers—fresh and salt. This duo bring more to the table than I could have ever hoped for. We have collaborated extensively to insure a seamless transition as the future of Kayak Wars beams brighter than ever. I pray that all member-participants will welcome Bryan and Jason warmly. Registration is open for the 2016 season and Bryan is currently seeking additional sponsorship to enable the tournament to grow to even greater heights. Have fun, be safe, and let war be waged! For more info please visit: www.kayakwars.com For the past decade Eric ‘Oz’ Ozolins has been promoting shark catch and release and assisting various shark research programs. Eric offers guided shark fishing on Padre Island National Seashore. Also renowned for extreme kayak big game fishing, Eric runs Kayak Wars; one of the largest kayak fishing tournaments in the world. Email Websites
oz@oceanepics.com extremecoast.com | oceanepics.com | kayakwars.com
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74 | March 2016
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Dickie Colburn
DICKIE COLBURN’S Sabine Scene
Sabine
Dickie Colburn is a full time guide out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has 37 years experience guiding on Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes.
Telephone 409-883-0723 Website www.sabineconnection.com
78 | March 2016
For the most part, the most noticeable change this peeling off clothes around noon! month on Sabine for anglers that have been grinding I never overlook the importance of tide movement, away in solitude for the past two months will be surface temperature, presence of bait fish, close increased fishing pressure. The surface temperature proximity of deeper water, warmer mud bottom, is still cool enough that I will be wearing synthetic barometric pressure and the solunar table, but in underwear and fleece addition we are still dealing bottoms under my Gulf Coast with an influx of fresh muddy breathables when wading and water as well. Up to a certain my Frogg Togg’s Pilot Guide point that doesn’t stop the rain gear when drifting. show, but it is definitely a Even in a driving rain, Frogg game changer. Togg’s new Pilot suit keeps me The biggest surprise thus darned near as dry as being far has been how well the indoors, but it really earns trout population has handled its stripes on a daily basis as all of the fresh water and the final layer of protection diminishing salinity levels. against the cold. The material We were forced to adapt to is a little thicker than my all of last spring and learned everyday Toad Skinz and I a great deal about locating can wear far less clothing and catching trout that were underneath and still be more concerned with simply warm. That translates to both breathing than hustling their Jordan Alexander would increased comfort and more next meal. We are currently much rather fish than eat! storage space when I start faced with almost the same
Mike Wilke was pleased with his first redfish!
conditions, but the drop in salinity apparently does not have the same impact in the colder water. Having said that, the coveted deep bite in both rivers and the ICW has been all but non-existent on the north end, but we are still catching both trout and reds from the mouth of East Pass to Green’s Bayou. Last spring, the trout in the main lake huddled over isolated patches of scattered shell in the deeper remaining layer of saltier water and they may well do that again as the water warms. The best news as of today is that we are still catching very solid trout up to eight pounds and upper slot reds in two to five feet of water. Even when drifting in five to six feet of water, however, our best bite is still taking place in the top two to three feet of water. I don’t recall even exploring that program last spring, but mullet imitations
like the Fat Boy, Soft-Dine XL and Catch 5 fished a little faster have been good choices for mining this bite. Swimming a five inch tail on a 1/16 ounce head is always a good option and we have even had our moments with shallow running crankbaits like the Echo 1.75. We are also catching trout and reds fishing a Lil’ John or 4-inch Sea Shad rigged on an unweighted 3/0 wide gap worm hook under a TKO cork. I know that adequate salinity is a must, but we have been more concerned with water clarity of late. Invariably, even if it is only six inches to a foot, we have done better fishing tide lines and the clearer water dumping out of the marshes. The warmer water exiting backwater lakes is like a magnet for both baitfish and predators, but any clearer water has made a huge difference even well out into the lake. I don’t know that more rain won’t eventually wash out this tougher but satisfactory bite in the lake, but we will be quick to target scattered shell and slow our retrieve to a crawl should that happen. And, while desperation will undoubtedly force the fishing armada into Lighthouse Cove, I prefer spending more of my time fishing the deep oyster reefs north of the Causeway. Bumping the deep shell with plastics rigged on jig heads heavy enough to compensate for the tide is the most practiced method of fishing these deep reefs, but failing to check out the upper part of the water column can be a huge mistake. We have enjoyed banner days even when the conditions were less than perfect fishing a suspending lure like a Catch 5 or even a crankbait. If a good deep water bite dies on you, give this program a try before moving on. Spring break should be a designated “Take Kids Fishing Week!”
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Capt. Caleb Harp
The Buzz on Galveston Bay
Galveston
Capt. Caleb Harp has fished the Galveston Bay System since childhood and, now a charter captain and fishing guide, he uses his knowledge to enable clients to enjoy the excellent fishing the area offers. His specialty is the yeararound pursuit for trophy trout and redfish with artificial lures
Telephone 281-753-3378 Website harpsguideservice.com
80 | March 2016
Galveston Bay in March can provide exceptional wade fishing. Fond memories include groups of wade fisherman at first light, waist-deep along a protected shoreline with beautiful green water, shirt-sleeve weather and more topwater blowups than we could count. There are going to be great warm-up days when the fish will feed hard but, we have to remember it’s not summer yet. Old Man Winter may not show his wrath every day but he certainly has not packed his bags, either. March is often termed the month of the spring transition— trout, redfish and flounder begin leaving their muddy-bottom wintering grounds, headed toward the sandier bottoms that make up their spring and early-summer habitat. This is by no means a signal to completely strike mud-shell from your list of fishing locations the first day of the month, however, you do need to anticipate this shift and be ready to take advantage of
it. Quite often, as warming periods grow longer but with cold fronts still in the picture, we can notice them bouncing back and forth. Water temperature is the primary trigger and, of course, the migration of forage species it sets in motion. The unpredictability of where the fish might be on any given day can leave fishermen scratching their heads…welcome to March! And, as if shifts in habitat were not tricky enough, there can also be a wider variety of forage available to complicate feeding patterns. Take for instance when the glass minnows (bay anchovies) Seth Sherlock with a begin showing in large schools great East Bay trout. around the middle of the month. Trout will shadow them and seem to feed best in low-light, usually gorging during the thirty minutes before and after sunrise. Then laying off for the rest of the day, and again for thirty or forty minutes right before dark. The “glass minnow pattern” is also a time for downsizing to smaller lures—kind of like “matching the hatch.” MirrOlure
has a great line of baits for this that includes the MirrOdine and the Corky-like Soft-Dine. The 17MR and 27MR are great lures for springtime conditions; their smaller bodies and shad-like profiles are dynamite baits for getting strikes when fish are being finicky. Another great tackle tip for getting more bites in March is going to a lighter jighead on your soft plastics for a Dark lures in dirty water! slower sink through the strike zone. In situations where I would traditionally throw a 1/4 ounce head, I lighten up to 1/8. Where I would usually throw the 1/8 head I switch to the 1/16. West Galveston Bay West Bay has been spitting out some great numbers. The water has been very green and clear, almost too clear at times. This makes it completely different than any of the other bays in the complex right now, due to their mostly murky to muddy water colors. Great stringers of trout and redfish have been coming from the south shoreline coves and shallow reefs on plum-colored soft plastics and Corky Fat Boys. March in West Bay should continue with great consistency amongst the other bays. Keep fishing in mud-shell as you have been but look towards more sandy bottoms as the month progresses! East Galveston Bay East Bay has been a mud pit over the past month but has remained surprisingly productive despite this. Trout and redfish action has been steady on Corkys and MirrOlure Catch 5s slow-rolled over heavy oysters and mud. As March approaches, you can start making your way further west across the bay, into sandier bottoms. East Bay’s south shoreline is legendary during March for slicking and bait activity. March should also bring better success on topwaters and smaller twitch-baits like the Soft-Dine and MirrOdine. As their metabolism increases with rising water temperatures trout will become increasingly more willing to take a fastermoving presentation. Upper Galveston Bay Overall, I’d say Upper Galveston and its sister bays and coves around the area have been our most consistent producers this winter. This region is blessed with great tidal flows from the Houston Ship Channel that quickly mix fresh water to acceptable salinity and the currents encourage aggressive feeding. On days preceding fronts, anglers have been catching giant trout on Corky Fat Boys and Maniac Mullets. Redfish have been mixed with the trout over heavy shell and mud. March should remain great in and around Upper Galveston but I also expect a sharp uptick in other bays within the complex to give it a run for its money. Be safe on the water and take a kid fishing! -Capt. Caleb Harp
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Bink Grimes
The View from Matagorda
Matagorda
Bink Grimes is a full-time fishing and hunting guide, freelance writer and photographer, and owner of Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay.
Telephone 979-241-1705 Email binkgrimes@sbcglobal.net Website matagordasunriselodge.com
82 | March 2016
“Beware the Ides of March,” spoken to Julius Caesar in the Shakespearian tragedy, foretelling his death by fellow Romans, friends. Likewise, anglers should beware of the Ides (March 15), for swelling spring tides stir large, aggressive fish to feed. Warm, new water from equinox tides pump fresh recruits to barren back lakes and reefs that have been exposed all winter. It’s rejuvenation from the winter doldrums, for both fish and fishers, and the first real opportunity to shed clothing and add a little color to your skin. Folks will frequent Matagorda during Spring Break for our beaches and easy-access fishing. Wives and kids love the quiet living on the peninsula and our waterfront rentals and coastal restaurants. If you don’t fish on the bays, most riverfront houses have piers with lights to fish at night. We will be splitting time in East and West bays. We love to wade the guts and bayous in West Bay with Soft-Dines, Bass Assassins and Down South Lures.
Most of our drifting trips will be in East Bay over deep shell with the same baits. Live shrimp are deadly in spots like Lake Austin, Oyster Lake, Crab Lake and Boggy. Redfish are usually everywhere. We can make long drifts or anchor on reefs; and, you can still fish them when
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the spring winds blow. If a late-season cold front blows through and drops tides, move to the mouths of lakes. The water and bait will be pouring out of the back lakes and the fish ride with the tide and bait. Camp out and wait for the redfish to come through. Redfish are not the only drum species in abundance during March, juvenile black drum, the eating kind, frequent reefs in West Matagorda Bay. Twin Islands, Shell Island and Oyster Lake are all proven drum haunts in March. Live shrimp under a popping cork is the best bet, but dead shrimp will work, too. Over-sized black drum, those over 30 inches, are the spawners and are only catch-and-release, but that doesn’t mean they are any less fun to catch. Big black bruisers frequent the channels, rivers and jetties leading to the Gulf, and a cracked blue crab is the most popular hors d’oeuvre. Matagorda’s new jetty is a great spot to intercept big reds and drum for Spring Breakers. There are some folks who do nothing but target large sheepshead against the rocks. Waders seeking big trout most certainly work the east end of East Matagorda Bay. Brown Cedar Flats, Half Moon Reef and Catch-All Basin have soft mud bottoms that hold heavy trout in the spring. Since a gator trout’s main diet is finfish, mimic a mullet with Corkys and SoftDines. Depending how warm March becomes, a topwater might even be an option. Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay will be at the Houston Fishing Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center March 16-20. Come by and say hello to Tommy Alexander, Charlie Paradoski and myself. We will be across from the Waterloo Rods booth and if you book a charter with lodging at the show we will give you a Waterloo to use on your trip. We will have complimentary Fishing Show tickets available Wednesday through Friday. Give us a text for tickets. Follow our catches on Instagram @matagordasunriselodge.
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Capt. Shellie Gray
MID-COAST BAYS With the Grays
Port O'Connor Seadrift
Captain Shellie Gray was born in Port Lavaca and has been guiding in the Seadrift/Port O’Connor area full time for the past 14 years. Shellie specializes in wading for trout and redfish year round with artificial lures.
Telephone 361-785-6708 Email bayrats@tisd.net Website www.bayrat.com
84 | March 2016
Our very mild winter has allowed us to fish during spectacular weather and we are not complaining in the least. Typically during colder months we adjust to fishing in lower than normal water levels due to fronts pushing water out, however, we had higher than normal water levels throughout December and most of January. Finally, around the end of January, we received a series of fronts that dropped the tides to normal low, wintertime levels. Even with the current pleasant weather pattern we expect that fishing during March could be inconsistent. Though fewer, fronts will continue to impact the water conditions. And of course, March’s legendary wind will be in the equation. You might as well get used to it. My prediction of inconsistent fishing stems mostly from March’s highly-changeable weather. Consistently warm weather will encourage trout and redfish to exit warmer, muddy back lakes and begin holding on sandy shorelines of the surrounding bays. But, even with consistent warm weather, a strong cold front can change everything as quickly as overnight. So what can you do to help better your odds? First and foremost, watch the weather forecast! It amazes me how many anglers show up ill-
prepared to fish in the weather at hand, even knowing the weather will be changing. If a strong cold front moves through the night before, you should know that the water levels will be much lower than the day before and running a shortcut through an already shallow back lake may not be a good idea. I can’t tell you how many phone calls we get from anglers who have run aground, stranded after a front. It’s always the same story, “Well, I ran through here yesterday and there was plenty of water.” Another instance—if on the day you plan to fish the forecast calls for a front to arrive later in the day, make sure you have a good weather app on your phone or GPS. The forecast you referenced at daylight can change in a few hours, greatly limiting your ability to make it back to the dock before the mess hits the fan. Some fronts are absolutely ferocious upon arrival and the likelihood of finding help on the water during one of these can be slim to none. Let’s talk a bit about fishing. When I am fishing under exceptionally low water conditions, and I know I will in March, I usually concentrate my efforts toward the middle of the back lakes rather than along shorelines. This should be a no-brainer but, even when the water is a foot lower than normal, I still see anglers
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working shorelines where it’s barely ankle deep because they caught fish there last fall. We will get some periods of warmer weather between the fronts. Look for baitfish to become more active in the shallows. Baitfish jumping and flipping during these warm spells will be a signal to try topwaters and one of my favorites with light wind is the Super Spook Jr. If it is warm but the wind is stiff I usually opt for larger, louder plugs such as MirrOlure’s She Dog or He Dog. I highly recommend that if you are not familiar with loop knots you need to learn to tie one. No other connection enables a surface plug to imitate a wounded baitfish as well. Of course I will also rely on my Bass Assassins. This time of year my preference runs strongly toward neutral colors except when fishing along murky windward shorelines. The 4” Sea Shad in the pumpkinchartreuse, salt and pepper Silver Phantom, and bone diamond are all good choices. If you should encounter blustery conditions, try tying on Bass Assassin 2½ inch Kwik Cork to help draw more attention with the popping sound it creates. Using a cork also allows you to slow your presentation, allowing your offering to suspend longer in the strike zone. If you are a fan of monofilament fishing line like me, early-spring is a good time to re-spool your reels with fresh line. Mono fishing line has memory and takes a significant “set” over prolonged non-use periods and this definitely limits your casting your casting ability. Plus—nobody wants to be the angler that shows up with old, weak line in their reel and loses a bunch of nice fish. With all the positive things that have occurred in the last few years I look for the fishing to be spectacular this year. So get your gear together, pack some cold ones and, let’s go fishing!
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TSFMAG.com | 85
david rowsey
HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey
Upper Laguna/ Baffin
David Rowsey has 20 years experience in the Laguna/ Baffin region; trophy trout with artificial lures is his specialty. David has a great passion for conservation and encourages catch and release of trophy fish.
Telephone 361-960-0340 Website www.DavidRowsey.com Email david.rowsey@yahoo.com
The spring big trout hunt of 2016 is in full swing. This is evident daily with the number of unfamiliar boats and faces showing up, trout tournaments, and social media chatter. The past few years have been more crowded than those of old and I have come to the conclusion that this is the new norm. I don’t particularly like the trend, but you adapt and fish harder and smarter. The big story this spring is awesome water quality. We have not experienced trout-green water like we are seeing now in many years. Being able to cast to specific structure targets with confidence just makes the whole fishing experience more enjoyable. Not to mention being able to instruct (or “guide”) clients to make perfect casts that increase their chances at a personal best fish. Watching a client begin to understand what you are teaching them, and continuously duplicate it with success, is very rewarding to me as a guide. Before the above statement on water quality comes back to bite me on the cheeks, there is a large manmade negative with potential to cause problems—the Army Corp of Engineers (ACE) is dredging the ICW. It started near the mouth of the
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www.mustad-fishing.com 86 | March 2016
Landcut and is working north. It has reached the mouth of Baffin and the waters around the Meadows and Badlands are getting ugly. South winds have the muddy plume pushing northward into the Laguna where it is hugging the King Ranch shoreline. Hopefully this stain is temporary. Although no laughing matter, it seems funny that TPWD puts so much effort into protecting seagrass from prop-scarring and the ACE can practice open-bay dredge spoil disposal, literally wiping out acres of grass. There has to be a better method but evidently nobody is willing to fund it! Fishing has been solid this year with trout averaging slightly heavier on fish under twenty inches than in years past. Trout between twenty and twenty-five inches have all been very solid as well. We have had numerous fish under twenty-five inches weighing over six pounds. I think this may be common on the northern coast, but not so much down here. Another thing that alarms me, and other trophyminded anglers I speak with regularly, is how the seven-plus-pounders seem not as prevalent as prior years. We are still catching them, and I believe this
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Parker Holt with a personal-best that taped past 29 inches. Bass Assassin. Released!
region is still the best for achieving this goal, but the numbers are just down somewhat. I have my own opinion on what is taking place, but it is not backed with any hard science, other than what I see on a daily basis with my own eyes and social media that is forwarded to me. My take is that too many mid-class fish are being killed by recreational fishermen and guides. Those twenty to twenty-five inch fish that could be next year’s trophies are just not getting the chance to hit their max potential before hitting the ice. Baffin does not have the luxury of gulf passes to replenish the stock. What is taken out by anglers is not going to just magically reappear if the trend continues. Over the next few years I believe the five fish limit will certainly help the situation but I would like to see all anglers, especially the guides, take a more proactive stance on releasing trout over twenty inches to insure that there is a viable crop of new fish to reach trophy quality. Removing mid-class fish reminds me of the old cliché—cutting off your nose to spite your face. Fishing patterns have been all over the place with this warm winter weather. Some days we are concentrating on mud and others we are on hard sand. It has, literally, depended on which way the wind blows. Both structures, though, have a common denominator—mullet! If the water temperatures get to a point of staying cold (doubtful) I would be more focused on the softer bottom, but I think this is just going to be one of those seasons where you need to be checking lots of areas, often. My charters have covered miles of Baffin and the Upper Laguna. We are catching trout (and a mix of reds) on just about every structure imaginable, and in just as many places. Outside of bad weather and extreme high barometric pressure, fishing has been solid on the catching part. The good water quality has opened up many opportunities for places to fish, and grinding on a piece of real estate that you can have to yourself. Remember the buffalo! -Capt. David Rowsey TSFMAG.com | 87
Capt. Tricia
TRICIA’S Mansfield Report
Port Mansfield
Capt. Tricia’s Skinny Water Adventures operates out of Port Mansfield, specializing in wadefishing with artificial lures.
Telephone 956-642-7298 Email shell@granderiver.net Website SkinnyWaterAdventures.com
March has always been a very interesting month to fish the Lower Laguna Madre. The weather will usually have moderated to the point that even harsh late-season northers will not drive the water temperatures much below 50⁰ if ever, and recovery into the 60s occurs quickly. March is famous for wind and this has to be dealt with daily but, thanks to the recovery of seagrass since the 2010 flood, decent water clarity prevails somewhere within the bay system nearly every day. February has been good to us thus far in delivering trophy-size trout and, despite February’s reputation for producing lots of heavyweights, I anticipate an equal number or more in March, given the likelihood of fewer northers, quicker recoveries, and more fishable days in general. Actually, the odds of landing nine and ten pounders is greater as the fish continue to gain “winter” weight prior to spawning activity that begins in April. While the classic winter trout pattern has appeared only a few times and briefly, given the mild winter weather, recovery days after northers have produced aggressive feeding and we have been able to capitalize on them. As soon as conditions moderated, especially if the sun came out, our better fish routinely
moved shallow—knee deep or less. Crash diving pelicans are the best indicators of baitfish presence and gamefish feeding activity, and even if the big birds are merely resting on the surface or occasionally “dipping” for a snack, you will
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know where the fish are holding. The most productive bottom structures have been relatively soft with darker grass, especially near slopes, potholes, and windward shoreline troughs. We have been doing well with K-Wiggler Ball Tail Shads and custom painted Fat Boys. On warmer days, medium-size topwaters have also drawn strikes during solunar majors and minors. In murky to muddy water I have confidence in high-contrast lure colors like darker pink, pearl, and chartreuse. In cleaner water, bone diamond, gold, and light pink have been the “clear” winners. While the Fat Boys have placed high on the success chart we are reluctant to offer them when redfish are abundant. These brutes waste no time demolishing a custom Corky and I have already lost quite a few this way. I mentioned having experienced several good topwater sessions during extended warm periods. Aside from fantastic feeding periods, the winter bite is often so subtle that even I found it difficult to detect, and I truly believe without my highend Waterloo Rod and braided line I would be missing the softer bites. One of the most productive approaches during these periods is dragging a soft plastic or slowtwitched Corky near bottom, just above
the grass. Again, it was all about feeling the bite in the first place and good hookset second. March strategies shouldn’t change much, except when necessary with stronger wind and higher water levels. I expect to see fully one foot more water in the entire system by month’s end. Spring will also bring predominate south-southeasterly winds with quite a kick, but it will push water back into areas Chuck Rod had a we haven’t been able to fish in a while. great day, too. CPR! Yet, for most of the month, the patterns should remain as they are now. Equinox is universally March 20 and trout should begin spawning within a few weeks thereafter so they will be achieving their heaviest weights during the final weeks of the month. Be ready with your camera! Your best chances to encounter a school of heavyweights may be tight to recently flooded shorelines, smaller sloughs, backwater lakes, and sandy, shallow grass bed areas. For me, just being out there is a joy, and being able to share what nature has to offer. That could be sight-casting, with topwaters, or finessing a tail. It is all “Pura Vida” for me. My hope for you is the same, and the opportunity seems to be never-ending in this wonderful place called the Lower Laguna.
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TSFMAG.com | 89
Capt. Ernest cisneros
SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene A rr oyo C olorado t o Port I sabel
A Brownsville-area native, Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from Port Mansfield to Port Isabel. Ernest specializes in wading and poled skiff adventures for snook, trout, and redfish.
Cell 956-266-6454 Website www.tightlinescharters.com
90 | March 2016
I got a rare chance recently to go fishing by myself, I told him, “Why don’t you try the deeper water?” Off until a longtime friend decided to join me for a quick my self-proclaimed teacher went. I did not go but evening trip. We hooked the boat and sped off to catch a short distance and stayed there the whole time. the last hours of daylight, my buddy talking smack all My friend went on a marathon, glancing back every the way. He was going to catch the most and biggest, few minutes. I was in fish immediately but kept it and that he had pretty much hush-hush, not wanting him to Mark Alaniz found the spot taught me everything I know. I see, keeping my rod low and where this winter beauty just wanted to relax and enjoy releasing eight reds and three was lying in the sun. my time on the water. trout over 24 inches before the Honestly—I began to feel sun went down. that had we not been in the I picked him up, barely able middle of nowhere I might to see his silhouette in the have told him to get out and fading daylight. He quickly hitch a ride home. He’s been a asked, “What’d you catch?” To good friend for many years but which I laughed sarcastically believe me, he has done worse and replied, “Not a thing. How to me, in the name of fun. about you?” Arriving at our spot, I took my He replied, “Man, you sent time getting ready hoping he me on a wild goose chase. I would take off on his own, and only caught one undersize eventually he did. But before redfish.” I couldn’t help it, my getting in the water he asked laughter boomed louder than which direction he should go. my outboard. He was pretty I wanted to stay shallow, so quiet on the way in.
Have you ever felt as if you’re on a wild goose chase? I know that most fishermen can’t get out as much as they would like due to work and other commitments, but it is possible to figure fish patterns even if your time is limited. The key lies in being in tune with conditions and constantly alert to what’s going on around you—tides, weather, and water temperature. To learn gamefish behavior you must be observant of bait activity. Focus on the slightest changes in bottom structure and study your solunar table. Most importantly, a prayer to the Man Upstairs always helps. On that trip with my buddy, I just didn’t decide right then and there where I wanted to fish. I had done my homework, researched the tides and feeding period, wind direction and water temperature. Once there I liked what I saw, lots of bait flickering over potholes, and headed directly toward a slight depth change. My buddy just hopped off the boat with no clue what was in plain sight. Fishing has been very good as long as the wind isn’t blowing over 25 mph. Winter has been mild except a few mornings when the water temperature dipped below 50⁰ but warmed quickly into the 60s once the sun came out. Our water is in great shape, and generally speaking our bait schools never really disappeared. We experienced extremely
low tides in late-January and early-February, perhaps the lowest I have ever witnessed. Hopefully in March the northers will come less frequently and the tides will recover. But it will definitely be windy! Our trout and reds have remained mostly shallow with the milderthan-normal weather. Even during the coldest periods they were soon back on the flats. Topwater baits will soon be getting more playing time and when the fish refuse to feed on the surface we’ll be quick in breaking out the K-Wigglers. Do your homework. March, April and early-May is when the bigger trout Soon after Mark’s will be their heaviest. catch, Dale Raabe Redfish continue to be in abundance near followed with this one! and north of the Arroyo Colorado. I will say they are much easier to find compared to last year and I am hoping this trend will continue into the spring. I am happy to announce that not only will I be rejoining Fishing Tackle Unlimited as my major sponsor; they have also signed my son, Capt. Aaron Cisneros. I look forward to working, seeing and hanging out with old friends at the Houston Fishing Show. Come by the FTU booth and say hello to Aaron and me and the rest of the FTU Pro Staff. I am planning on being there March 18 through 20. In the meantime, be careful not to end up on some wild goose chase!
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FISHING REPORTS
Lake Calcasieu Louisiana Jeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service - 337.598.3268 March is usually a good month to catch a big trout. Water temperatures will be on the rise, and big trout will be moving up on flats to feed on mullet. Big lures like Paul Brown Devils and FatBoys work well. Later in the day, topwaters or Paul Brown Original Lures will work well. If you’re looking to catch a lot of fish, try soft plastics on eighth or sixteenthounce jigheads. They will work well over reefs in three to five feet of water. Turner’s Bay is a great place to concentrate your efforts in March. This area contains oyster flats and sand flats, as well as plenty of reefs in the three to five foot depths. If you’re looking to catch redfish, the weirs will still have them. Remember, fish the lakeside on outgoing tides and marsh side on incoming tides. Gulp! Lures rigged on quarter-ounce heads are usually what we fish, but heavier heads may be necessary if currents are really strong. Flounder will also be here in March. Cuts leading to the marsh in Calcasieu, West Cove, Joe’s Cove, and the weirs will be the places to be on incoming tides. Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 James says the quality of production when fishing in March is greatly weather-dependent, as are the patterns which work best. “Wading is the way to go when onshore winds are blowing water into the bays and filling the coves and sloughs along the south shorelines of
92 | March 2016
ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica
AND
both East and West Bays. Wading can be great in Trinity and Upper Galveston too, if the water is salty enough. When wading, we’ll throw topwaters some, but mostly slow-sinking twitch baits like MirrOlure Catch 5s and Paul Brown Lures. Of course, I like my old stand by 51M in yellow and pink. Soft plastics will catch a lot of fish for waders too, but targeting the bigger trout is best done with the other plugs. If the tide drops out, fishing from the boat is often better. Usually, catching lots of fish from the boat happens after winds let up following a front, before the tide gushes back in. Normally, it’s tough while the wind is still up. So playing the wind, tide and water level and adjusting strategy is always important, never more so than in a transitional month like March.” Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 Jim says the fishing had been a bit hit or miss a lot of days immediately prior to giving this report. “We have been catching fish in the bayous and wading the shorelines too. Sometimes, we are catching quite a few fish in really small areas in corners and curves of the bayous. Other times, we are able to catch fish spread around on the shoreline areas, and it’s cloudy, with the wind blowing out of the east, and the tide’s pretty high, we’ll catch pretty good for a while wading. March generally offers conditions like that on a pretty consistent basis. There have been some really fat trout caught lately. I got a confirmed report of a nine pounder that was only twenty eight inches. Same guy caught a couple
TSFMAG.com | 93
seven pounders the same day. This was in the area of the Pass. Typically, March produces some good catches of big trout in the Pass itself. Right now, a dredge operation has the area kinda messed up, but it will probably be over by next month. When the winds blow southwest, best bet is to head to shorelines on the other side of the bay.” West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 Randall says the fishing in his area in February was good, and he expects the action in March to be great. “We are already seeing glass minnows. In March, the glass minnow pattern is the ticket to success. One of the keys is to fish late, from about 4:30 until dark. The native shrimp colored Norton Sand Eel Juniors rigged on quarter-ounce heads seem to work best to trick fish keyed in on the minnows. Slowsinking twitch baits like MirrOdines work well too, and when the water temperatures reach sixty five degrees and higher, topwaters take their share too.” He also says he’ll be getting a new JH Performance boat this month. “It will be rigged with the new G2 motor from Evinrude. This will be my second G2. I can’t say enough good things about these motors. One of the top features to me is the fuel efficiency. This thing gets five miles to the gallon! I’d like to thank the people at Sport Marine for keeping me running in such fuel-efficient and high performing boats.” Matagorda | Tommy Countz Bay Guide Service - 979.863.7553 cell 281.450.4037 “In March, we often drift the areas with a mix of mud and scattered shell in the west end of East Bay. When doing this, we’ll throw heavier jigheads to keep the lures close in contact with the bottom. Over there, we like to throw bright colors and stick with the paddletails.
Sometimes, we prefer the drifting in the East end, where we tend to key on schools of bait more often. When fishing in West Bay, we will fish the coves for reds on low tides, throwing dark-colored soft plastics on lighter jigheads into the guts and around grass beds lying adjacent to them. If the tide is higher, the trout fishing is usually better in the coves, and we’ll often target them with small topwaters like Super Spook Juniors in bright colors like the Clown and chrome/blue. Another productive West Bay pattern is the new fifty acre reef. It’s an artificial reef, with lots of rocks. Fishing it is best when the fish will bite topwaters, because you don’t have to worry about getting hung up. Using lighter jigheads is the best bet when soft plastics are required to get a bite.” Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 Extreme low tides here recently have congregated our fish into deep bayous, guts and the deepest holes in the back lakes. We have been finding our fish sitting stationary on the muddy bottoms in these types of areas. Redfish have been easiest to catch on a consistent basis, with lots of smaller slot fish from twenty to twenty two inches being easy pickings when you find the right gut. Cajun Pepper Mambo Mullets and VuDu shrimp have been best lures to use to get their attention. Trout fishing has been tough, except for night fishing off the seawall and piers. Spec rigs in colors like glow and chartreuse and pumpkinseed/chartreuse seem to be the best lures for getting bites from the trout. The trout definitely bite best when late-evening tides are flowing in. March will find us still targeting areas with a mix of mud and shell on the bottom and areas holding lots of mullet. We
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8th Annual Port Mansfield East Cut and Beach Cleanup The 8th Annual Port Mansfield East Cut and Beach Clean Up is scheduled for Saturday March 19. We will be cleaning the Mansfield Channel (East Cut) as well as several miles of the Padre Island National Seashore. The event will start with a kickoff breakfast at 7 AM at the PM Chamber of Commerce Pavilion where we will enjoy a hearty breakfast, distribute sack lunches for each participant, discuss the logistics of the day’s activities, review our safety plan (including any weather issues), safe boating practices, and designated muster points for departure. The event will conclude at approximately 3:00 PM Saturday afternoon.
We provide: - Lodging as needed - Breakfast-lunch-dinner provided on the day of the clean-up. - Sam Caldwell designed Volunteer T-Shirt provided for each participant. We Need: - We need sponsors, including providing local lodging and donations to help offset the costs of lodging and meals. - We need 4WD volunteers to travel from Corpus to PM jetties to help shuttle workers. - We need boats and captains for ferrying workers from Port Mansfield to the jetties. - We need YOU! Volunteers to make a difference! Please contact Kathie Bassler via email kathieb@ basslerenergyservices.com to register and sign up for this event and request housing. Please contact Miller Bassler via email miller@ basslerenergyservices.com if you would like to be a sponsor. Sponsors will be listed on both the Chamber of Commerce pavilion banner and also on the Sam Caldwell T-Shirts. TSFMAG.com | 95
should have a good spring with the rains we have had, since the freshwater should help produce more great batches of the prey species. Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434 “In March, I’ll be wading in the back lakes a lot, focusing on areas with a mix of mud and shell most of the time, chasing the big trout. We’ll be throwing twitch baits like Paul Brown Lures in floating and sinking versions, depending on the depth. Overall, we like a high tide better for fishing this pattern, but a low tide can be good too. If the tide gets low enough, the fish will get trapped in the low spots in the lakes, meaning the sandy potholes. If you can find some green water in areas with really soft bottom, the fish will likely be in there. If you can find bait in a small part of the lake, when there is no bait in the rest of the lake, the fish will likely be there. We’ve been finding some pretty good trout over the last few weeks, meaning fish in the twenty four to twenty eight inch class, and those are the ones we’ll be targeting through the end of March. Often, the trick is getting to the fish and finding a way to approach them. It requires a shallow-draft boat and often some motivation to wade over a soft bottom.” Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 Blake expects to be fishing knee to thigh-deep waters on shorelines adjacent to sloughs and bayous leading into the marshes in March. “We’re catching tons of redfish lately, more than I’ve seen in a long time. In March, more trout will start showing up in these same areas. I still prefer fishing areas with a soft bottom a lot of the time, unless the weather is warm, then I tend to switch over to targeting more of a sandy bottom. All the bays are producing quality fish right now, and I’ll be found everywhere from Corpus Bay to San Antonio Bay this month. It’s
96 | March 2016
a great month for catching trout on topwaters too. I like to throw the chrome Super Spook Juniors a lot. I will also try fishing the surf a few times this month. Last year, we started catching some pretty big trout out there on the beach front in March, and I’m hoping for a repeat of that action. Just today, I was out there. My customer caught a twenty seven incher right away. Didn’t translate into a steady session of catching after that, but those kind of days could be right around the corner.” Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 I really like fishing during the month of March! The fish are recovering from the cold winter temperatures and they are feeding more aggressively. The trout and redfish are moving into shallower water, about three feet and maybe more shallower if we get four days or more of warm sunny weather. The water temperature will still be cold enough to make me wear waders and my ForEverLast Ray Guards. A big portion of the Upper Laguna’s water is in great condition, so finding the right structure to fish around should be easy. I’ll be looking for gradual drop-offs, pot holes, grass lines and rock formations. The trout will be following bait, so look for swirling or jumping mullet or fish slicks. Also, look for working sea gulls in four feet of water or less to find both trout, and redfish. If the water is clear, use natural colored Bass Assassin Die Dappers and bright or dark Die Dappers if the water is dirty, Use eighth-ounce jigheads. Sight-casting in less than twelve inches of water will also provide much fun. Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.937.5961 Crystal clear water throughout most of the Upper Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay has Joe excited about the prospects of sight-casting for big trout and redfish in the first month of spring. “Late-winter and earlyspring are great time frames to catch big trout and redfish in shallow water in South Texas. The fish seem to want to be in shallow water this
TSFMAG.com | 97
time of year. When the water is clear, this means it will be possible to see them on many occasions before a cast is made. For shallow water fishermen, this can be the ultimate thrill. I’ll be targeting my fish over a sandy bottom with plenty of grass beds around, but looking for the fish in the shiny sand pockets, in areas adjacent to shorelines, or near the spines of spoil banks, or in other shallow areas where sand spots make it easy to spot the fish. When targeting the fish, I normally use soft plastics, and try to cast in front of the fish and reel the lures close in f front of the fishes’ noses. P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins Coming off a mild winter, springtime action could begin earlier than normal. This could mean jack crevalle in the surf during the first days of March. Early-run jacks can be targeted with topwaters and live finger mullet. Be advised, they can be moving fast. Your best option is to run the beach to locate the chaos and then set up ahead of them. Shark action will be picking up and I expect lots of blacktips and scalloped hammerheads. When cownose rays are present you can expect hungry sandbar and bull sharks. Redfish should be fairly thick and eager to take gold spoons, live and dead bait. Based on what I’ve seen I am predicting minimal speckled trout action. Driving conditions are good, remnants of tire-puncturing fish skeletons from last year’s red tide have decayed or become buried in sand. March can bring lots of sea fog, extra caution when driving is advised, especially during the busy Spring Break weeks. Spring is a magical time in the surf zone, lots of species moving in, you just never what to expect. Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com – 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge – 956.944.4000 Fishing has been generally very good around the Port Mansfield area. We’ve had a steady redfish bite in off-colored areas of the flats; fresh
mud streaks are excellent indicators of school locations. Our steadiest action for keeper trout to 20-inches has been coming from deeper grass beds and along spoil bank drop-offs. Bait activity is usually scarce this time of year and I sometimes key on only a single mullet jumping or a blue heron stalking the shallows, but this winter has been different. Bait has been easier to locate in the prevailing warmer weather. Black drum have been congregating on east side flats and taking Gulp and dead shrimp. There are pods of reds mixed with them. Gold spoons and K-Wiggler Ball Tails are good choices for the reds. Topwater action is patchy at best, but I look for it to improve soon as things warm up. The bigger trout are in knee to waist deep soft-bottom guts and Corkys are the best lures most days. Weights are improving—please practice CPR on the heavier fish for the future of our fishery. Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Janie and Fred Petty – www.fishingwithpettys.com – 956.943.2747 When tides are right, fishing has been productive. A recent trip yielded a nine pound trout over thirty inches and several oversized reds, along with a limit of both species. We’re fishing shallow water, whether it’s warm or cold. Freddy says, “This time of year, typical South Texas fishing is your butt is freezing while your face is burning. Drifting with a north wind has advantages, especially when the tide is outgoing, making the water movement even stronger by combining to empty the flats.” We’re throwing Cajun Thunder corks with quarter-ounce jigheads and Berkley Gulp! Live three inch shrimp in New Penny and Nuclear Chicken when the water warms up and on the days that are below fifty-five degrees or early on cold mornings, when the water temperature slows the movement of predators, cut ballyhoo on the bottom. Remember, low tides are lowest in the winter months, but the flats will fill up again as the spring highs bring influxes of bait and new growth. Help stop open bay dredge disposal and keep the LLM healthy!
DOA 2.75 Shrimp - the totally new design is the best of both worlds – it’s like fishing a jig and a DOA Shrimp. The weighted hook is super sharp and slips seamlessly into the body of the shrimp. Slightly smaller and heavier than the Original, it has a molded in rattle cavity to easily add sound, skips well, sinks fast, and casts like a bullet.
www. d o al u re s. co m 98 | March 2016
150507_DOA_11.30_TxSportfishing_2.75 Sh_3.675x4.875.indd 1
11/30/15 4:48 PM
©JASON ARNOLD
IF WE SAVE THE SEAGRASS,
WE SAVE THE FISH. Seagrass is critical to good fishing. Marine organisms depend on it for survival—for food, shelter, and oxygen. But boat propellers are destroying Texas seagrass, which is seriously impacting saltwater fishing in the coastal shallows. When boaters do not lift their propeller in shallow water, the prop cuts and uproots the seagrass beds—leaving long barren trenches or “scars” that may take years to heal ... if ever.
Stop Prop Scarring – Lift, Drift, Pole, Troll
It is ILLEGAL in Texas to uproot seagrass with a propeller. Avoid damaging seagrass – lift your prop! When in shallow waters, lift your motor and drift, pole, or troll through it. After all, there’s nothing like a redfish on light tackle in shallow water. Let’s keep it that way!
For more information visit:
www.tpwd.texas.gov/seagrass
PROP SCARS
Eric Sepulveda & Hondo Carrales South Padre Island - 37” snook CPR
Gilbert Torres Texas City Dike - 20” sheepshead
Justin Mares wahoo
Curtis Holden Texas City Dike - 36” drum CPR
Melissa Mitchell Baffin Bay - first sight-casted red!
Ron McDougal - Aransas Bay Charles Smith 48” 65 lb black drum Port O’Connor - 39” black drum 100 | March 2016
Ava Baum West Bay - first flounder!
Krystal Cook Surfside beach - 26” trout
Matt Waddell East Matagorda - redfish
Diane Gutierrez Freeport - snapper
Hunter Canfield Port Mansfield - 26.5” redfish
Christopher Edwards Surfside beach - 27” trout CPR
Katelyn Dowden - Bayou Vista Kay Purifoy Aubree Harris 29” 9.86 lb red Trinity Bay - first keeper fish 72 lb personal best ling!
TSFMag
Catch of the Month &
Silverstar Fishing Jewelry
Photo Contest Sponsored by
Brandon & Jennifer Kendrick Port O’Connor - trout
Heather Ferguson POC - 17” first flounder!
Beginning with the November 2015 issue, Silverstar Fishing Jewelry will be sponsoring a brand new photo contest. Winners will receive a beautiful 1-inch diameter custom-designed sterling silver pendant that would look great worn on a neck-chain. Contest Rules Luis Guzman, II South Padre Island - 25” redfish
Fischer Reed Aransas Bay - first keeper speckled trout!
1. Only current magazine subscribers, their dependents, and members of household are eligible to win. 2. One winner each month selected by TSFMag for photo quality and content. 3. Single-fish photos only, please. We do not publish multiple-fish images or stringer shots. Photos are judged for display of sporting ethics and conservation. 4. Send entries to photos@tsfmag.com **Photo entries must be submitted electronically— prints cannot be accepted. All images submitted to Catch of the Month become property of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine.
MARCH WINNER
Emil Nasrawi Galveston - shark
Irma Sifuenes Freeport - snapper
Graciela Gisela Williamson Lower Laguna Madre - 26” first redfish!
Blake Swift Port Aransas - snook
Jessica Paskell Matagorda - first red! CPR
Joel Taylor
Surfside beach 36” bull red TSFMAG.com | 101
Pam Johnson
Gulf Coast
Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share? Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361-785-2844
Markey Don’s Tequila-Fried Shrimp
with strawberry pico de gallo
STEP ONE: PREPARING SHRIMP 2lbs Jumbo shrimp peeled, deveined, and butterflied ½ Cup tequila 1 Cup chopped cilantro Juice of one lime **In glass bowl—place shrimp, lime juice, tequila, and cilantro. Mix and marinate one hour.
STEP TWO: MAKING PICO DE GALLO 1 Cup chopped strawberries 1 Cup chopped tomato 3 or 4 Jalapeño peppers, chopped (to taste) ½ Cup chopped cilantro ½ Cup chopped onion 1 Tbsp. olive oil 2 Tbsp. balsamic reduction **Mix all ingredients and refrigerate until ready to serve.
102 | March 2016
STEP THREE: BREADING AND FRYING SHRIMP 2 Cups Tostitos corn chips, finely crushed 1/8 Cup flour Salt and black pepper to taste 3 Cups olive oil **On shallow plate combine Tostitos, flour, salt, and pepper. Press each butterflied shrimp into mixture to coat evenly and set aside. Heat oil to 375° in large frying pan, fry 2 minutes each side.
Serve shrimp with Strawberry Pico de Gallo, Spanish rice, and salad.
I want to thank our very good friend Don Markey for sharing this wonderful recipe. A friend of many years, we have lots of fun every time we get together with him and his lovely wife, Sarah. We often jokingly reverse his first and last names…Markey Don. He responds equally well either way, so long as there’s fun to be had. -Pam
with g a m e REE F G et se! a h c r u p y p h ar d co onth subscrip-
Catch your breakfast.
receive a 12-m Order today and ry and sign up family memur tion for $25.00. H iends at the same rate! fr or d/ bers an
More food, festivals & fun. 1-800-242-0071 Photo by Phil Stranahan
www.rockport-fulton.org visitrockportfulton
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Designer & Manufacturer of Specialized High Performance Fishing Rods Office: 361.573.0300
805 B. South Bridge Victoria, TX 77901
Fax: 361.573.0304
Science and the
Sea
TM
A Sneaky but Social Octopus Of more than 300 species of octopuses, a few outliers are bound to do things a little differently. Meet the sneaky — but surprisingly social — larger Pacific striped octopus, who has some unconventional ways of taking both his meals and his mates. While most octopus species seize their prey with all eight arms before the critter can escape, the Pacific striped octopus scrunches itself together and stealthily approaches its prey from behind. It then extends just one tentacle to tap the prey, such as a shrimp, on its far side. The arm tap so startles the shrimp that it heads right into the octopus’s other seven arms.
The larger Pacific striped octopus has a unique hunting style. Credit: Roy Caldwell/UC Berkeley This octopus shows similar boldness in its sex life. Instead of males staying at arm’s length from a female when providing sperm — lest she become suddenly aggressive — pairs of Pacific striped octopuses sometimes move in together. A male and female might stay in the same den for several days, partaking in daily full-contact sex in which they embrace, sucker-to-sucker, and touch their beaks together as though kissing. Sometimes the female wraps her tentacles all around the male with his own tentacles bent backward over his head. In fact, mating and meals sometimes go together for this species. Scientists observed one mating pair that appeared to share their food beak to beak, not unlike Disney’s Lady and the Tramp sharing spaghetti, something never observed in other species of octopus. And instead of dying after laying a single brood of eggs, as most octopuses do, the female Pacific striped octopus may lay eggs over several months. These fascinating behaviors have reminded scientists how much they still have to learn about different octopus species.
www.ScienceAndTheSea.org © The University of Texas Marine Science Institute 104 | March 2016
Bastrop Bayou 36” red drum, CPR
Molly Stamps
Gracie Stamps First redfish! Galveston
Madison Gagneaux Galveston Fishing Pier 35” black drum
First trout! Rockport
David Hull
Wes Wedelich Aden Johnson
Heather Thomas King
Caught red-handed! 23” redfish
First trout over 8 lbs! East Matagorda, CPR!
Galveston black tip shark
texas saltwater fishing holes matagorda to corpus M ATA G O R D A B AY Speckled Trout / Redfish
USCG Licensed Captain Stan Sloan
832.693.4292 fintasticcoastalcharters.com
• Bay Fishing, Offshore, Floundering, Waterfowl, Dove • Night Fishing off Lighted Pier • Right On The Water • Lodging with/without Meals www.matagordasunriselodge.com 979-241-1705 TSFMAG.com | 105
CHRIS MAPP
B OAT MAINTENAN C E TI P S
Eliminate Boat Trailer
Headaches
Chris Mapp, owner of Coastal Bend Marine. Evinrude, Suzuki, Yamaha, Mercury, Honda, BlueWave, SilverWave, Shallow Stalker Boats, Coastline Trailers, Minnkota & Motor Guide Trolling Motors. Great Service, Parts & Sales “What can we do for you?”
106 | March 2016
March is when many fishermen make their first trips, and with them comes a rash of boat trailers limping to the shop. For those who store boats at the coast, trailer problems with service a few blocks away is one thing – it can get ugly and expensive on the highway. Fact is, while your boat trailer might sit idle all winter, there are gremlins at work every day. Whether in closed storage, tarped, or just sitting in the yard. Here’s a pre-road checklist for heading-off trailer problems before they wreck your fun and/or your boat investment. • Once a month, check tire air pressure and take note of tire wear. Aluminum wheels will develop corrosion when salt water gets between the tire bead and wheel. You might not see it until five to seven years but it is coming. Installing inner tubes or replacing wheels is the only sure cure. Galvanized wheels have a better record for longevity. • Tire dry rot can occur rapidly in open storage where UV causes rubber to deteriorate. Small cracks are the first sign of weakness and replacement is again the only cure. • Wheel bearings could last the life of the trailer with proper maintenance. Jacking the wheels off the ground and checking bearing end-play should be done at least once annually. With the tire off the ground, place a pry bar under the tire and lift – maximum allowable end-play is 1/16 inch. Spin the wheel and listen; even slight noise needs investigation. Inject lube and spin the wheel again. If end-play comes into spec and noise disappears, you’re good to go. If noise ceases but end-play remains, the bearings need adjusted. Complete hub
service is required if noise persists. • Pay close attention to wheel studs and lug nuts. We recommend removing lug nuts and cleaning stud threads with dry wire brush annually. Always torque lug nuts to manufacturer’s specs. Apply Corrosion-X to outside after torqueing. • Dissimilar metals corrosion can occur between hubs and aluminum wheels, sometimes making wheels nearly impossible to remove. The only fix is periodic cleaning, and marine grease. • When the boat is off the trailer, carefully inspect bunk boards. Any sign of looseness, decay, weakness or cracking, worn carpeting, etc., needs repair as soon as possible. • Conduct a thorough check of running and marker lights every time the trailer is hooked up. Trailers over 4400 GVW are now required to be inspected annually and those with brakes must be in working condition. • The hitch clasp needs a locking pin. If yours is missing or damaged, repair/replace as necessary before towing. Ditto safety chains! Trailer trouble can ruin a great outing and it is 100% preventable. Don’t forget the spare, always carry a jack and four-way wrench, extra hub and, last but not least never assume, “It’ll be OK.” Coastal Bend Marine maintains free air service at 125 PSI (24-7-365) at the base of our 36 foot tall business sign for your tire inflation needs. Have a great spring fishing season and thanks for your business! -Chris Mapp Coastal Bend Marine | Port O’Connor, TX coastalbendmarine.com | 361-983-4841
texas saltwater fishing holes
corpus to port isabel
classifieds
ON THE WATER
Saltwater Fishing Clinics WITH
Capt. Robert Zapata
If you are having difficulty catching fish on a consistent basis, the clinic is designed for you. Learn Capt.Robert Zapata’s secrets to finding and catching more fish from his 25 years of experience as a professional fishing guide.
For Information Call 361-563-1160
Galveston
Capt. Billy Penick III
USCG & TP&W Licensed • Galveston Bay System • Full and Half Day Trips • Trout, Redfish, Flounder
281-415-6586 www.gypsyguideservice.com penickbilly@yahoo.com
TSFMAG.com | 107
The BEST Choice‌ Any Place, Anytime!
To find a location near you, please visit us at www.speedystop.com
Tidal Corrections Location Calcasieu Pass, La. Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass (jetty) Sabine Pass Mesquite Point Galveston Bay (S. jetty) Port Bolivar Texas City, Turning Basin Eagle Point Clear Lake Morgans Point Round Point, Trinity Bay Point Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, Trinity Bay Christmas Point Galveston Pleasure Pier San Luis Pass Freeport Harbor
High -2:14 -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14 +0:33 +3:54 +6:05 +10:21 +10:39 +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -0:09 -0:44
Low -1:24 -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06 +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15 +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:38 +2:33 +2:31 -0:09
For other locations, i.e. Port O’Connor, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi and Port Isabel please refer to the charts displayed below.
Please note that the tides listed in this table are for the Galveston Channel. The Tidal Corrections can be applied to the areas affected by the Galveston tide.
Minor Feeding Periods coincide with the moon on the horizon, and the last from 1.0 to 1.5 hrs after the moon rise or before moon set. Major Feeding Periods are about 1.0 to 1.5 hrs either side of the moon directly overhead or underfoot. Many variables encourage active feeding current flow (whether wind or tidal driven), changes in water temp & weather, moon phases, etc. Combine as many as possible for a better chance at an exceptional day. Find concentrations of bait set up during a good time frame, and enjoy the results.
Te x a s S a l t w a t e r F i s h i n g M a g a z i n e l
w w w. t e x a s s a l t w a t e r f i s h i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m