March 2024

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2 | March 2024

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ABOUT THE COVER This month’s cover angler is Glenn Newlin. Glenn and grandson Harrison Lee were fishing East Matagorda Bay when this beautiful speckled trout of 9-pounds and 30-inches took Glenn’s shrimptail lure, handmade by Harrison’s friend, Ryan Hayes. Harrison says they snapped a few quick photos and released Glen’s trophy healthy and strong. Congrats to Glenn on the careerbest trout and conservation kudos for the CPR!

MARCH 2024 VOL 33 NO 11

CONTENTS

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

8 Fresh Ideas 12 The Wings of Change 18 Solving the Riddle of the Tides 24 Drum or Sheepshead?

30 The Power of Superplastics 34 Vibrio bacteria–A Potentially Deadly...

38 Let’s Ask The Pro 42 Shallow Water Fishing 48 TSFMag Conservation News 50 TPWD Field Notes 54 Extreme Kayak Fishing & Sharks...

58 Mostly Sight-Fishing 73 Science & the Sea

Steve Hillman Kevin Cochran Chuck Uzzle Joe Richard Ted Pilgrim Wetz, Frisbie, & Mobley

Jay Watkins Dave Roberts CCA Texas Joel Anderson Eric Ozolins Jake Haddock UT Marine Science Institute

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8 WHAT OUR GUIDES HAVE TO SAY

64 The View from Matagorda 66 Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays 68 Hooked up with Rowsey 70 Wayne’s Port Mansfield Report 72 South Padre Fishing Scene

64

Bink Grimes Shellie Gray David Rowsey Wayne Davis Ernest Cisneros

REGULARS 6 Editorial 62 New Tackle & Gear 74 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 76 Catch of the Month 78 Gulf Coast Kitchen

78 4 | March 2024

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 ADVERTISER REPRESENTATIVES Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net Pam Johnson | pam@tsfmag.com Office 361-785-3420 Cell 361-550-9918 Everett Johnson | everett@tsfmag.com Office 361-785-3420 Cell 361-550-3637

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EDITORIAL

MARCHING INTO SPRING

Hang onto your hat! If the March wind doesn’t blow it off you might lose it trying to keep pace with all that’ll be happening this month.

Although the exact date is yet to be announced, a new set of speckled trout regulations should become effective sometime during the first weeks of March. The daily bag limit will become three fish, reduced from the current limit of five. A new retention slot of 15 to 20-inches will also be enacted. The current slot is 15 to 25-inches. An entirely new wrinkle will allow one of those three fish to be 30-inches or greater length; View The Video an opportunity for anglers to retain a Open Camera & hover career-best speck, which would also over QR Code. When allow certifying a new state or water link appears, tap to open in YouTube. body record for the species during the remainder of the license year.

March Issue Texas anglers have long been Highlights accustomed to the tag system that allows anglers to retain an oversized red drum. It is expected that the Parks and Wildlife Commission will announce a similar program for speckled trout during their regular meetings March 24-25, 2024. While all details

are yet to be confirmed, it is expected that a speckled trout tag will be included on the fishing license issued for the 2024-25 license year.

Given all that our seatrout fishery has suffered the past several years of freezes, floods and drought, I am personally very optimistic that these new regulations will further boost the recovery of our seatrout fishery. Kudos to the commission for taking these bold steps to insure that future generations will be able to enjoy this wonderful resource.

March 19 will mark the official beginning of spring in Texas. Of course, Old Man Winter has the last word on when spring truly gets underway, but we can always hope he will smile and allow Spring Breakers to enjoy warm days and favorable tides all along the coast.

As always, please make caution your byword as you plan to get your family on the water.

Spring is such a wonderful season and perfect opportunity to enjoy the many wonders the Texas coast has to offer. I cannot imagine a better way to celebrate it than with family outings. The grin on a youngster’s face as they reel in a fish and pose for a photo is an absolutely priceless experience for everyone involved. Whether it occurs along a shoreline, from a pier, or a boat is hardly as important as the fact that you put forth the effort to make it happen. Think of it as an investment in their future, their character, and lover of the outdoors they have potential to become.

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Fresh Calm early morning conditions allowed the fresh and salt water to stratify enabling us to put together a good day of catching despite the full moon.

Ideas STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN

T

he Lake Livingston dam is currently discharging at 84,824 cfs (cubic feet per second). It’s January 25th as I write this article and we’re coming off yet another hard freeze event followed by days of torrential downpours. The ground is saturated from here to Dallas so the Trinity is getting fed much more runoff than she can handle. The gin-clear salty water of our bay has now given way to chocolate-colored sediment-filled runoff almost overnight. As if we needed more, we have challenges. All hope is not lost, however, because we have the ability to make some adjustments.

One of the biggest problems I see with a lot of anglers is that they want to find that beautiful “trout green” water. And, if they can’t, it gets into their head and plays mental tricks on them. Sure, seeing that pretty green water tends to instill more confidence when it comes to tricking fish with lures, but I also know from experience that off-colored water can actually present us with a major advantage. So let’s try to overcome the mental block of fishing in low-visibility water and talk about some ideas that will produce positive results.

The first question we must answer is how fresh is too fresh?

In general, spotted seatrout prefer salinities ranging from 17 ppt (parts per thousand) to 35 ppt. I’ve always heard that they will start seeking other areas when salinities drop below 10 ppt and they need at least 4 ppt to survive. Keep in mind that there are clinal differences among bay systems that will allow trout to survive and even thrive in salinities well outside of these ranges. While we may not have different species or subspecies within our spotted seatrout populations here on the Texas Coast, we do in fact have populations of trout which have adapted to the salinities, habitats and forage species for the systems in which they live.

These regional populations are often referred to as clines by the scientists and biologists who study them.

Salinity levels in Baffin Bay regularly reach 50 plus ppt and sometimes higher but that cline of trout has adapted through the years. The other extremes involve the clines of trout in Galveston and Sabine Bays adapting to very low salinities. Both Galveston and Sabine are fed by two major rivers each, so salinities will typically dip much lower than systems farther down the coast during most years. I’ve caught fish in both bays out of water you could drink.

I’ll typically do the old taste test initially but that’s not always a tell-tale sign that it’s too fresh because of the fresh water being layered on top and the salt water lying beneath it. This is especially true when the wind is calm. Sometimes a better way to determine if there’s any salty water under the surface is to look into the prop wash of your big outboard motor or maybe even your trolling motor. I literally did this on my trip today (It’s in the video after this article).

I started near a bayou that has been very productive for me this winter. There was a fresh and musty marsh smell in the air and the water had a rusty color to it. Knowing the history of the area and the fact that we had just gotten more than four inches of rain, I knew I was wasting my time there.

Not only was the fresh water flowing out of the bayou but it was also flowing north to south from the Trinity and San Jacinto Rivers. I began to hit areas just south of where I had started in an effort to find the location of the fish I’d been on. My third stop proved to be the ticket as I found suitable salinity and okay water clarity while drifting through deep shell-lined troughs. We caught and released more than two dozen trout to 22 inches along with a couple of redfish in that small “stack up” area.

Throwing dark colored soft plastics is usually the ticket when fishing off-colored water and it certainly was this particular morning. That is until the clouds cleared from the sky and the wind totally went calm. The water on the surface still looked like coffee with creamer but the water in my 10 | March 2024

trolling motor prop wash was green and salty. When skies are bright and you have already confirmed that there is clear water beneath the fresh turbid layer, it has been my experience that brighter colors will actually work better than dark ones. I made the switch to a Laguna Shrimp Saltwater Assassin and it was time to hold on! It was nuts how much

Nasty looking fresh water on the surface doesn’t tell the whole story.

One of many trout released recently from a small stretch of suitable salinity water after a big rainfall event.

Idling through fresh water will show us if there’s enough clear salty water beneath to warrant a stop. In this case there was plenty.

they hated that color. I was kind of wishing we’d have made the switch sooner but I’m glad we did, nonetheless.

There are plenty of times when the wind and current will not allow the fresh and salt water layers to separate. This can present a real challenge. There are a handful of approaches I’ve taken through the years that have proven to be quite effective when this happens. Scent impregnated baits such as the MirrOlure Lil John, especially when rigged under a rattle cork, will sometimes draw strikes in the murky water when nothing else will. Inserting small glass rattles into our soft plastics can be really productive too, especially coupled with the vibration of a paddletail bait such as a Bass Assassin Sea Shad. That sound (vibration) resonates through the water and a trout’s lateral line will help them home in on it.

Because of the higher salinity water having a greater density than the fresh, it sometimes helps to fish closer to the bottom. This doesn’t

Derrick Lens had himself a solid morning catching trout, reds and flounder following two days of torrential downpours.

necessarily mean you need to drag along the bottom with a heavy jighead. If you do then you’ll most likely be spending a great deal of your time getting hung on shell and that is wasted fishing time. Remember also that if you’re getting hung up it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to Mach 1 your lure over the shell to keep from getting snagged. In essence, all you have to do is gently sweep it through the water column. As a matter of fact I prefer nothing heavier than a 1/8 ounce lead head, especially in early March when we are typically still trying to trick suspended trout over thick oyster reef. You will get a feel for where the bottom is and then you can fine tune your retrieve.

Since there’s really no natural flow from the rivers anymore (because of dam-controlled man-operated freshwater inflow) we have to learn how to react to massive unforeseen flows of freshwater from time to time. It can seem like a major challenge but savvy anglers will actually use the discolored low-salinity water to their advantage. Not only will trout stack up in pockets of higher salinity water but you can usually have the area all to yourself because most others are out searching for that “trout green” water. Stay open-minded and know that sometimes less than perfect conditions can yield near perfect results if you make the right adjustments. Good luck and stay dry!

This thick speck hammered my Double Bubble Texas Custom Lures Double D on a recent trip while fishing in beautiful “trout green” water.

View The Video

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

STEVE HILLMAN

CONTACT

This is the same area after almost 8 inches of rain in five days. Five feet of water with probably a two-foot layer of fresh on top. Texas Roach and Morning Glory Bass Assassins worked well on this day.

Mike Silva had the hot hand on this day chunking a Texas Chicken Assassin in murky water over shell.

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

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

TSFMAG.com | 11

The Wings

of Change STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN

T

his is the first in a three-part series analyzing how the many changes in technologies, equipment, clothing, gear, tackle and lures have affected Texas’ saltwater anglers over the course of the last three decades.

Since the early 1990s, many aspects of our lives have changed, some more significantly and permanently than others.

Certainly, the list of changes runs long for those of us who participate in the sport of saltwater fishing. Taking a metaphorical look back some thirty years at a typical day for an angler with their own boat reveals the scope and magnitude of this evolution. As a starting point, it helps to think of something that remains the same, despite the passage of all this time; a day of fishing starts before the date arrives, in the planning of the event.

In the dawn of the internet age, planning a day of fishing generally involved getting out some faded paper bay-maps and scouring a few fishing logs scribbled in tattered notebooks to recall data about trips taken during the same time-frame in previous years. This kind of planning had a positive effect on efforts in the long run and still would today. But thanks to the ease of browsing the internet on many devices, including our seemingly magical cell phones, today’s anglers have better resources available to use in planning trips.

Fishing forums have perhaps moved past their peak in popularity, and I doubt many people now turn to them for advice when considering when, where and how to fish on a given day.

People do look at images on Google Earth when trying to learn new places to fish and to remind themselves of the general layout of places familiar to them. Some likely use data they’ve implanted in the software to study efforts made in the past at specific locations. Meticulous planners can also look at recent and current data related to tide levels, water temperatures, salinity levels and wind-speeds and directions at the places they’re planning to visit on their upcoming trip.

All these modern online tools serve anglers much more effectively than did the marginally reliable tide charts and fishing reports printed in magazines and newspapers, which our hypothetical angler heading to the dock in the 1990s could have used when planning a trip. Moving forward in the fictitious narrative to the actual day of the excursion and describing our angler’s basic equipment, we discover a similarly significant evolution from the boat, motor and trailer our captain would have used. All these items cost much more than they did thirty years ago, but today’s angler arguably gets better bang for the buck, even considering inflation, compared with our 90s captain.

The pickup truck driven by our angler to the boat ramp in the predawn hours of a Saturday morning those decades ago likely pulled a trailer built on a frame composed of galvanized steel. Some years later, most trailer-builders ditched the steel for aluminum, and today’s boats typically ride on lightweight, sturdy trailers with axles and wheels better able to withstand the relentless, corrosive effects of saltwater environments. In similar ways, the hulls of the boats sitting on the trailers of yesteryear differed from the ones made and used today.

In the early 90s, a fiberglass center-console boat made specifically for use on our coastal waters typically had either a true or modified V-shaped hull. A small percentage had a special pocket behind the transom, which would allow for planing off in shallower water, when combined with a jack plate, which was a relatively new thing to put on boats of that kind at the time. So, some of the boats our captain could have pulled to the dock on the impending imaginary day might have allowed him to function safely in relatively shallow water, but many did not.

As the metaphorical wings of change continued to beat between then and now, boat manufacturers began tweaking hull and motor designs to create boats that would run and jump on plane in shallower and shallower water; eventually, the race to the bottom hit a hard finish line. Once boats became capable of running in mere inches of water, even literally in mud for short distances, boat designers became involved in another competition. Changes in the main rules governing fishing 14 | March 2024

Boat and motor designs and GPS technology have made it much easier to head to places far from the dock and start fishing right at daybreak.

When environmental conditions make it impossible for captains to see obstructions in the water, GPS and other modern technologies become most important.

Anglers today operate in an ever evolving, complex world, subject always to the effects of the wings of change.

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tournaments contributed to the importance the GPS system, establishing coordinates all of this new game. As soon as almost all over the face of the globe, when enhanced tournament organizers began requiring their with saved waypoints and tracks, can make contestants to launch from the same ramp, in a navigating the sometimes treacherous bays predetermined order, speed became the new and salty waterways relatively safe and easy. obsession for people fishing the events, also I still advocate using a Q-beam or an LED among the people trying to sell them boats.

Light Bar to illuminate the path lying ahead, Today, many companies design hulls because one thing about safe navigating to maximize speed, attaining values like practices has not and will never change; those maintained by cars and trucks on our every competent captain should maintain a highways, while doing so in silly-shallow water. vigil by looking ahead while driving a boat Partly because the hulls of modern bay boats across inshore waters. have such capacity for speed, today’s anglers Some captains seem content to lock their can go farther from the dock in a day than they faces on the GPS screen while screaming would ever have thought possible just three ahead at speeds requiring them to wear decades ago. This fact, combined with the helmets to keep the wind from ripping off People who like to access remote parts of reluctance of tournament organizers to put their eyelids, but this practice can turn fun shallow flats have benefitted greatly from limits on where their contestants can fish, has into grief in an instant. That said, no one could advances in boat and motor designs. allowed anglers to blast off from Matagorda seriously contend GPS technology has done Harbor at the crack of dawn, then return to the scales in the afternoon anything other than make boating safer and easier for anyone who with fish caught at Rocky Slough. The changes made to the motors takes the time to learn to use it properly. One of the most important over this same span further enhance this truth. advantages this amazing and powerful technology provides is the Returning to our mental movie of a captain heading out for a day ability to stop the boat in precisely the same place, time after time, of fishing in the early 1990s, we find a man cussing and shaking his regardless of the environmental conditions. head while trying to coax a coughing two-stroke outboard to start and Especially for captains who put a priority on wading over fishing continue running on a chilly morning. Because carburetors mixed air from the boat, setting up the GPS with waypoints designating both and fuel in those motors, captains often faced a task which included recognized sweet-spots and sensible places to park the boat close manipulating both the choke and the throttle to get them up and to them provides a productive way to control some of the most running smoothly, sometimes requiring them to start the engine important variables in a fishing situation. Even in darkness made several times before they’d keep running at idle speed. darker by the presence of thick fog and mist, a captain equipped with As three decades of moons rose and set, motor makers improved a properly enhanced GPS can access spots in Texas’ most treacherous the quality and functionality of outboard motors, first eliminating bays safely, then stop in the perfect place to slip over the gunwale to the need for carburetors, then replacing the two-stroke systems with start the day. In order to hold the boat in place after it comes to rest on four-stroke systems comparable to the motors used in automobiles. All the water, our 90s captain needed to toss an anchor over the gunwale of this has made modern outboards crank instantly and purr quietly, and tie its rope to one of the cleats. much like the engines in our cars and trucks. Significantly, they do so A modern captain can use a much better method to keep the boat while consuming much less fuel than did the thirsty beast hanging on from moving during the wade. Significantly, today’s captains can the transom of our 90s angler’s boat. also use modern technologies to prevent returning to the boat if and Once our fictitious captain succeeds in getting his motor running, when they decide to move to another location, or simply to keep the he leaves it idling while he parks the truck, then returns to disembark boat closer behind them while they wade. Using a hydraulic anchor on his day’s journey. On the way to the place he’s decided he should system like a Power Pole equipped with a remote which can be worn start, he uses his mental map of the layout of the hazards present around the neck on a lanyard makes wading anglers’ lives easier and along the path, a Q-beam and possibly the compass mounted on the increases their average levels of productivity. console of his craft, to safely make his way. Of course, if fog suddenly (to be continued) rolls in, the Q-beam will reflect blinding light off the particles in the mist, and when the boat comes off plane, the compass will spin, transforming our captain into a dog chasing its tail.

Whether in marginal or perfect navigating conditions, a modern Kevin Cochran is a long-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin captain can and should utilize the most amazing tool that’s changed is a speckled trout fanatic and has created the way coastal anglers operate today. The array of satellites serving

View The Video

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

The Captain clarifies what he calls Fishing Absolute Number 4 16 | March 2024

CONTACT

KEVIN COCHRAN

several books and dvds on the subject.

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

TROUT TRACKER GUIDE SERVICE Phone Email Web

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

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Solving the

Getting it right! Combining tide and solunar predictions produced this remarkable redfish for the author.

Riddle of the Tides STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE

M

ost any fisherman who spends their fair share of time on their local waters has a theory about how the tides work and where they need to be to catch fish during those times. Surprisingly enough though, there are still plenty of people who don’t understand how important the tides really are, or for that matter, what a tide even is.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, a tide is the periodic variation in the surface level of the oceans, bays, gulfs, inlets, and estuaries caused by gravitational attraction of the moon and sun.

The influence the moon has over the tides is extreme to say the least. During the first and third quarters of the moon phase, the tides are the weakest and have the smallest differences between the highs and the lows. These small tide changes are called neap tides. On the other end of the spectrum are the spring tides, so named for their “springy” nature, and these occur when the moon is new or full. During the spring tides the differences between the highs and lows are the greatest.

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By thinking about these patterns you can understand why so many people plan fishing trips around the moon phases. The full or new moon phases mean more moving water because the tides are more extreme, which often translates into greater fish feeding activity.

Now that we have established what the tides are and how they get their energy, we need to know what effect they have on the fish.

During certain periods of the year the tides mean different things.

For example, in springtime most fishermen like strong incoming tides because they tend to bring in good, clean saltwater from the gulf. During the fall it is opposite; outgoing tides help bring the bait into the bays as they empty the marshes. Either tide can help you Shorelines exposed during extreme low tide events When tides drop to extreme levels, I like to take note catch fish; the main thing is to at will become fish magnets when the tide returns of bottom structure we cannot see on normal tides. least have some tidal movement. due to sun’s warmth absorbed while exposed.

The periods between the tides are referred to as slack, during which the fishing generally tends to be water up from leaving. much slower. The tides trigger most fish into becoming more active, it Now then, we see the exact opposite occurring in the winter is almost like ringing the dinner bell, so to speak. months when you have an outgoing tide and a strong north wind. The Now the tide schedules you see in the newspapers and magazines will water levels can fall dramatically. There are different factors to take give you an idea when the tides will occur. However, these schedules into account, just be aware of them. do not take into account what kind of weather or wind conditions may One other important piece of the tide puzzle deals with correction be present, so you need to use a little common sense. factors. Your evening news may call for a high or low tide to occur For example; if the schedule calls for a weak outgoing tide and the at Sabine Pass at 1:00 AM. However, that time will be quite different wind is blowing strong from the south, you may not see any change the farther you fish away from the Pass in another part of the Sabine at all in the water level. That big south wind will essentially hold the Lake and marsh system. What you need to know is what are the

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correction factors for your area. The time difference between Sabine Pass and Sydney Island is just over an hour, depending on local weather conditions. So if the tide is supposed to change at 1:00 AM at Mesquite Point it should start to change at Sydney Island around 2:00 AM. The visible movement of the water may not always be evident, but the influence is still there. “Influence” is the feeling produced by the tides that kickstarts increased activity and feeding behavior in fish.

The marshes, on the other hand, are tougher to gauge when it comes to tide movements as things like wind and runoff can make it almost impossible to calculate the tides correctly. All you can do is keep good records and watch the conditions in order to get a better feel for how the water will react to certain conditions.

If you want to go one step deeper Another great reason to study the tides and weather. Exceptional into the tide puzzle, you can delve north wind can completely drain marsh lakes and leave you stranded. into what some call the tide within sure to fish when you have factors such as tides in your favor. the tide. Let’s say the tide is predicted to start moving at 2:00 pm and The tides are not difficult to understand so long as you can find will end at 6:00 pm. At 2:00 pm the water will begin to move and it some reliable information. The tide charts presented in this magazine will get progressively stronger until it reaches the maximum speed or are a good place to start and there are also tons of tide and current influence. So, we’ll say the tide begins to move at 2:00 and by 3:00 pm predictions available on the internet. it is flowing as strong as it’s going to flow until it begins to weaken at Along with the tide charts you might also want to reference the around 4:00 pm, and then is almost comes to a complete stop by 5:00 Solunar Tables in this magazine. Solunar theory and the associated pm. So now our time line says the strongest tidal influence occurred predictions on feeding activity are equally applicable to all forms of between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm which would be considered the best wildlife – fish, waterfowl, small game, and big game. Which means time to be fishing – hence, the tide within the tide reference. they can be as useful to hunters as they are for fishermen. Planning I’m sure we have all been out on the water catching fish and all of a your fishing trips for days and time periods when the tide charts and sudden it seems someone threw a switch and the bite suddenly died. solunar predictions coincide would be wise indeed.

If you note the time this happens and compare it to the tide chart, it Gaining confidence in applying your newfound knowledge may will generally coincide with the tidal flow declining below the max take some time, but it is time well spent. I promise if you use this speed, which in turn lessens the influence felt by the fish. information correctly you will see very clear and definite patterns that I can assure you that once you gain a greater understanding of the will make your time on the water much more productive. So, take a tides and feeding periods, along with the factors that influence them, few minutes to consult the tide and feeding tables before you head you will become a better fisherman. Concentrating your efforts during out on the water, and be sure to take a youngster or two along every these particular times instead of just going fishing and hoping for he chance so they can also learn to enjoy our fine sport. best will put more odds in your favor and that translates to success.

View The Video

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22 | March 2024

CHUCK UZZLE

CONTACT

You are much better off fishing for a couple of hours during tide changes and feeding periods than if you are fishing all day and hoping for the best. I’m not saying you can’t catch fish during slack periods because that’s just not true, it happens every day. What I am saying is that if you truly want to maximize your time on the water you will be

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 Website

409-697-6111 wakesndrakes@yahoo.com wakesndrakes.com

TSFMAG.com | 23

Big black drum caught while using blue crab for bait.

Drum OR Sheepshead?

STORY BY JOE RICHARD

T

here are still a few people out there who can’t tell the difference between a black drum and a sheepshead, but not many. One belongs to the drum family, and the other to the porgy family. Both provide serious action in March, because they’re spawning and hungry. With rare exceptions, both feed almost exclusively on shellfish. That means shrimp, oysters, crabs, or barnacles.

And sometimes, even freshwater crawfish.

Big drum and his favorite meal, the blue crab.

Sturdy spin rod hooked up to a 30-pound drum.

On the jetty with a sheepshead on top, and keeper-sized black drum on bottom.

26 | March 2024

First, the big drum spawners, growing to 50 pounds or so in Texas waters, are happy to chew on half of a blue crab. These monster drum bunch up in deeper holes with good tidal flow, like any of the jetties or Texas City Dike. Or deep harbors, like Galveston’s. For shore-bound anglers, these are the biggest fish they’re likely to encounter during the year.

These all-important blue crab as drum bait may be hard to find in March; the water might still be too cold and crabs sluggish, still buried in the mud. Crab traps soaking in the bays might take two days to catch a few.

It’s better to find a seafood dealer and determine which days a trapper will return with a basket of crabs. If you have a choice, pick the biggest, angriest male crabs still alive. Skip the limp, smaller crabs, though any crab is better than none when targeting spawning drum on the coast. It’s much less time-consuming to just buy a dozen crabs. They can be kept alive clicking and irritable, in your refrigerator the night before a trip, if you cover the container with a wet cloth.

As I showed a small group on a bridge one day, pop the crab’s shell off and toss it overboard for chum. Then, cut the crab down the middle, creating two baits. Ease your big circle hook through the crab’s short paddle leg, right at the base when the joint is rubbery. Leave the hook entirely exposed. You want that hook to sink into drum lip, not get wadded up in hard crab shell.

Toss that half-crab out into deeper water from 15 to 30 feet, using 30- to 50-pound line, with ample lead to hold bottom in a current. I’ve always done best on an incoming tide. Get hooked up to a giant drum, and it will be “just you and him,” as my Cajun neighbor used to say.

These big brutes have to be released; they’re the spawners and rather inedible, anyway. Smaller, more tasty drum up to 28 inches are more scattered but can be targeted at the base of jetty rocks. That means they’re on sand bottom, seldom higher up in the rocks. One of the guides in POC has caught countless slot-sized black drum by using a depth finder and anchoring above where the sand meets rocks some 20-30 feet down. He uses an egg weight on the sand with only four inches of 30-40 pound leader, to keep that shrimp anchored on bottom. When Mr. Drum samples the shrimp, the hollow egg weight telegraphs the nibble up the line. These drum put up an obstinate fight and are usually welcome during a long day of jetty fishing, with only a 3-redfish bag limit. Add five legal drum to the box, and you’ve got a pile of fillets.

What can you say about sheepshead? Texas has more of these structure-loving fish than any other state. Structure includes eight rock jetties, Galveston’s rock groins on the beach, platforms both inshore and offshore, shrimpboat wrecks undiscovered, and deep commercial harbors offering complete protection from fishing pressure. And a 5-fish bag limit established decades before other states.

These fish aren’t frequently targeted in Texas, except for jetty walkers found aplenty at South Padre and Port Aransas. The favorite fish of winter Texans. More isolated

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28 | March 2024

Platforms in the Gulf and bays are loaded with sheepshead.

Sheepshead caught from a nice stable perch, a Gulf platform.

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

jetties, available only to boaters, obviously carry more sheepshead. These would include Sabine jetties, most of the Galveston jetties, and Port O’Connor’s Matagorda Ship Channel jetties.

Those are the three venues where we used to easily fill the box before bag limits arrived.

Catching sheepies during their winter and early spring feeding frenzy is almost a nobrainer, unless you lack sufficient bait. Or the bite is slow because of muddy water, outgoing tide and a north wind. Anchor at the jetty on a warm or even foggy day, drop down a live shrimp in 10-20 feet of water, and see what happens. Or use a float near the rocks. That first nibble won’t take long.

Since these fish favor hard structures like pilings or rocks, where they spend their days tugging on barnacles and young oysters, it’s best to use a hard line, like 20-pound Ande. Or braided line, which telegraphs the subtle bite these fish are famous for. Forget the circle hooks, use a sharp J-hook in the 2/0 size. Even so, the hook will bounce right out of their hard mouths that are reinforced with flat, sheep-like teeth.

(Thus the name). We always used baitcasting tackle, to horse these fish away from structure; spin tackle seemed inadequate. We also used bare jigheads, which eliminated using a leader and lead weight that might also snag a rock.

My standard sheepshead trip was to anchor in 20 feet of water near the jetty, and drop down 2-ounce bank sinkers on homemade, 40-pound mono leaders. These weights could often be jiggled loose from rocky snags. Pyramid and eggs sinkers were useless, snagging repeatedly with many breakoffs. We caught lots of sheepshead and lost some tackle, too. I had people releasing anything under four pounds because with these fish, the fillets are small compared to overall body weight. Plus, I had to clean them. A dozen bigger fish was ample work on the fillet table, using an electric fillet knife. It all yielded a tasty pile of fillets that some people have described as tasting like crab.

Those two-ounce bank sinkers worked so well, I bought a mold to make them, melting down used wheel weights.

Unfortunately that mold made different sizes, which slowed the process of filling a coffee can with 2-ounce weights kept in my boat.

Another captain in POC, Joe Surovik, had a rare mold that made four or five two-ounce bank sinkers at a time, the only one I’ve ever seen.

With it, we could make a pile of weights on a windy day (that carried away the fumes). A can could last several years, depending on how many trips we made to the jetties. Two ounces of lead might sound like a lot, but I wanted something that would zip that bait down 20 feet, without wasting time. It didn’t take long for sheepshead to find it and latch on.

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The Power of

T

op Texas inshore guides reveal the rewards of next generation softbait-jig combos

Imagine an almost infinite inshore angling playground; a sight fishing dream destination; a place where covering water is best accomplished in a pair of waders. You’re right in there with your quarry, knee deep among the shrimp and the stingrays, jittery packs of roving redfish, snook and trophy-sized seatrout operating on the periphery. Tension buzzes the back of your neck as you detect multiple piscine targets, jetting around and marauding bait amid a labyrinth of mangroves and turtle grass and the little sand clearings—or potholes—that function as predatory dinner tables.

Stretching its legs for 130 miles between Corpus Christi and the mouth of the Rio Grande, Texas’ Laguna Madre offers littoral zones in abundance, enough shallow water habitat to explore and constantly discover new hotspots. Shielded from the Gulf of Mexico by Padre Island—the longest barrier island in the world—the Mother Lagoon serves as a vast sanctuary, with endless fertile feeding grounds for gamefish.

Here, the “water column”— what amounts to the Laguna’s 4-1/2-foot average depth — encompasses just enough aquatic real estate for saltwater predators to operate and silently sneak bites of shrimp, finger mullet and mudminnows—often by rooting right down in the substrate.

It’s why tailing redfish here remain such a frequent, blood-pumping visual. And why hooking up consistently leans on stealth, polarized eyewear and artful casts with artificial lures. To maximize success in skinny water, however, elite local anglers are increasingly selecting softbaits of a different stripe.

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Led by legendary Texas inshore guides, Captains Ernest and Aaron Cisneros, a movement toward tossing select superplastics is on the rise. “The shallow water nature of the Laguna Madre means it’s absolutely critical to keep your bait in the strike zone where fish can see it for as long as possible,” suggests Captain Ernest, a retired schoolteacher and 30-year pioneering angler on the Lower Laguna.

Reduced Rate of Fall “For the past season, I’ve been experimenting with ElaZtech superplastics, and during that time, I’ve been constantly amazed by the seemingly magical properties of these softbaits,” says Cisneros. “While regular plastics sink fast to the bottom and often disappear in soft substrates, ElaZtech baits like the Kicker CrabZ, Mulletron and Scented PaddlerZ actually float. That means when I put one of these baits on a jighead, my presentation profits from a slower rate of fall, gliding and hovering longer in the strike zone, and greatly increasing the chances a redfish or trout will see the bait from a distance and eat it.

“What’s even cooler,” notes Cisneros, “is what happens when you let the jig and bait sit and soak on the bottom. The buoyant ElaZtech material rises out of the substrate and stands tail-up. Looks exactly like a feeding minnow or a shrimp.

In effect, even when you let the bait sit still, it’s still working for you, attracting fish with its buoyant, stand-up posture and subtle tail sway, activated by waves of current.” When fish approach baits like the Scented PaddlerZ and Jerk ShadZ, which are infused with Pro-Cure gel, the fish-attracting oils and flavor help close the deal. Hard to imagine a more powerful set of advantages for shallow, spooky, clear water predators.”

Captain Ernest Cisneros makes a strong case for superplastics in the salt.

The buoyancy of new generation superplastics allow them to rise and stand up on bottom, showing inshore predators a lifelike, highly visible posture.

Interestingly, the very nature of saltwater—and of the Laguna Madre in particular—provide a perfect environment for casting ElaZtech baits.

Due to low rainfall, a lack of incoming freshwater and high rates of evaporation, salinity in the Laguna Madre regularly exceeds even that of the adjacent Gulf of Mexico. As salinity rates and subsequent water density increase, solid objects with lesser densities begin to float.

“ElaZtech baits, which float in any water conditions, glide even slower and more naturally in the Laguna Madre,” notes Cisneros. “These factors let you get away with a heavier jighead, while maintaining the bait’s overall reduced rate of fall. So, I can benefit from the casting distance of a heavier ¼-ounce Texas Eye Jighead, but maintain that seductive, slow sink rate due to the buoyant ElaZtech and elevated water salinity—as if I’m actually working an eighth ounce. I’m leaning on the bait’s buoyancy to maximize every cast and every inch of available water.”

Five hundred miles to the north, Captain Chuck Uzzle (wakesndrankes. com), also leverages the advantages of superplastics. “Fishing an ElaZtech shrimp pattern like the EZ ShrimpZ on a rattling cork gives your presentation great, lifelike action,” notes Uzzle, who has guided inshore anglers near the Texas-Louisiana border for over two decades.

“The softness and buoyancy of the bait’s material make it spring to life, hovering in a naturally horizontal posture at all times.”

“Many outings on Sabine and Calcasieu lakes, we’ll be catching fish after fish and eventually realize we never once had to stop fishing to re-rig a new bait all day long.”

Adds Cisneros: “What’s crazy is the softness and resulting vibration and action of these baits, which completely contradicts to their tough, long-lasting nature,” Cisneros explains. “You’d assume such a durable bait would be stiff, rigid and lifeless. And yet, these ElaZtech baits are even softer than traditional plastics. I’ve now got so much confidence in their free-flowing movements, buoyancy and softness that I can’t imagine reverting back to old school stuff.”

Superplastics Superiority Yet, as Cisneros notes, buoyancy and bait action are merely a fraction of the superplastics story. “Not only do these extra buoyant softbaits provide a slower-sinking action and an attractive glide, they’re also incredibly durable,” he observes. “One bait alone can last for weeks and catch dozens of fish. Earlier this year, I fished a single pearl-colored StreakZ 3.75 for three weeks, catching countless trout and redfish before a tiny 3-millimeter tail section finally tore off. The bait still worked, too.”

Action Boosted Moving even further from convention, Cisneros has become a fan of articulated, action-inducting Texas Eye jigheads. “If you want to add a freer range of motions to your favorite softbait, such as a 4” or 5” Scented PaddlerZ, Jerk ShadZ or DieZel MinnowZ, rig it on a 3/0 Texas Eye jig. For

Articulated ‘Texas Eye’ jigheads enhance bait action while offering a stealthy, snag-free presentation around grass.

32 | March 2024

Captains Cisneros and Uzzle each extol the baits’ remarkable ability to withstand dozens of bites without tearing apart.

smaller baits like the Kicker CrabZ or StreakZ 3.75, go with a Texas Eye Finesse head, armed with a lighter wire 1/0 wide gap hook.

“Beyond adding another pivot point and a heightened swim action, the Texas Eye also maximizes the buoyancy factor, letting Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ on articulated Texas Eye Jighead. the bait rise just a bit higher off bottom on the pause,” he suggests. “The free-wheeling The opposite of traditional PVC based soft plastics that contain hook also keeps fish hooked up, removing their ability to leverage jig potentially toxic phthalates, ElaZtech is one-hundred percent non-toxic weight and shake free. and safe for living things. Moreover, its durability begets fewer potentially “You can rig completely weedless or Tex-pose style. Almost always, but used baits left in the water. “And because they float rather than sink to especially around mangroves and thicker grass, I go weedless, allowing the bottom, used or discarded ElaZtech baits are easy to retrieve from me to maximize every cast and rarely snag up. Yet the sharpness of the the surface and dispose of properly.” hooks keep my hookset ratios as high as ever.”

Specific to protecting the majestic Laguna Madre, Captain Ernest recently instigated the C.A.R.E. (Catch-and-Release Effort) program, Conservation and C.A.R.E. offering incentives for guide clients who voluntarily release all fish. This Inexorably tied to the waters on which father and son make their year, C.A.R.E. participants qualify to win an impressive prize package, living, Ernest and Aaron Cisneros have long advocated for wise including Simms apparel and Z-Man Fishing tackle. The program has resource use, conservation and careful release of larger fish. “The been adopted by many local and visiting anglers, helping preserve Texas’ very nature of ElaZtech aligns directly with our conservation-based premier inshore playground. philosophy,” notes Cisneros.

Double Shot of ElaZtech Ernest’s son Aaron, both a noted inshore fishing and waterfowl guide, often runs with a double shot of ElaZtech. Leaning on the buoyancy of the 4-inch Scented PaddlerZ or Salty Ned ShrimpZ—specifically, two of each at once—Cisneros rigs both baits on a single tandem rig for the ultimate in realism and to cover his bases top to bottom. “I’ll rig two identical baits, running a lighter jig like the 1/8-ounce Trout Eye Finesse one to two feet above a second, heavier jig, like a ¼-ounce Trout Eye. Tie on the first, leaving a long tag end to which you can tie the heavier jig. Simple. And shows fish two different looks—an attractor up high and a bottom crawler, like a shrimp, down below.”

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

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VIBRIO BACTERIA A Potentially Deadly but Preventable Threat to Anglers & Beachgoers STORY BY MICHAEL WETZ, PHD CHAIR FOR COASTAL ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES, HARTE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR GULF OF MEXICO STUDIES, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI RAY FRISBIE, PHD PROFESSOR EMERITUS, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY JAMES MOBLEY, MD, MPH, FAAP MEDICAL DIRECTOR, HEALTHY SOUTH TEXAS PROGRAM, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

W

hat is Vibrio, and why should it matter to you?

Vibrio is a naturally occurring halophilic (“salt liking”) bacteria that is found in all of our bays as well as coastal waters here in Texas. If you’ve been in saltwater, you’ve encountered Vibrio. Depending on the location and time of year, a single drop of seawater can contain 100 or more Vibrio cells. Vibrio encompasses a number of different species, but when most people hear “Vibrio”, they think about the rare but traumatic flesh and limb destruction that it can cause, colloquially referring to it as “flesh eating bacteria”. If you are an angler or commercial harvester, you may know someone who has been affected by a Vibrio infection. All told, there are approximately 12 species of Vibrio that can cause illness in humans through either consumption of contaminated seafood or infection of open wounds. This article focuses on Vibrio vulnificus, a species that causes wound infections – when and where the risk is most pronounced, how you can reduce risk, and what to do if you suspect that you have been exposed. It is our hope that the information here will be useful to anglers, seafood processors, commercial harvesters and beachgoers who venture out into our local marine waters.

How can you be exposed to Vibrio?

Infection starts when Vibrio enters the body through open wounds that range from cuts on the body to something as small as a piercing, mosquito bite, or puncture from a fishhook or fin. The risk is very low if you do not have an obvious open wound but increases if you do.

Healthy individuals can become infected, but risk is usually much higher in those individuals with compromised immune systems that have chronic liver disease, diabetes, or elevated iron levels. The most common activities by which people become infected are swimming, fishing, or handling raw seafood (Figure 1).

34 | March 2024

Despite the rareness of Vibrio infections, the consequences are potentially severe and life threatening. For example, symptoms of skin infection can begin to develop within 4 hours of exposure and then spread rapidly. If not treated properly, loss of limbs and/or death can occur as quickly as 24-48 hours after exposure. In fact, about 1 in 5 persons who are infected with Vibrio will die from the infection.

3.

If you get even a tiny cut or abrasion while swimming or wading, such as a cut from an oyster shell or a puncture from a fishing hook or fish fin, treat the wound immediately! Do not wait!

Wash the wound with antibacterial soap and large amounts of warm fresh water. Look for a soap labelled ‘antibacterial’.

Understanding the risk of Vibrio infection Vibrio is present year-round in marine environments, although it’s population will fluctuate considerably with water temperature. Highest abundances (and highest risk to human health) typically occur when water temperatures exceed ~70°F. This generally occurs from March to November in Texas bays and coastal waters. In addition, recent work here at the Harte Research Institute, funded by Texas Sea Grant, has shown that Vibrio populations temporarily explode when there is an influx of Saharan dust (Figure 2), which usually happens between May and August. This may be due to the high levels of iron that get deposited in surface waters when dust falls out of the sky – Vibrio is greedy for iron and responds rapidly to sudden additions of growthinducing elements like iron.

How can you reduce your risk of infection?

1. If you have any kind of open wound or rash, consider avoiding saltwater or brackish water, as any skin puncture (small or large) can allow Vibrio to enter the body.

2. Wear protective clothing such as puncture resistant gloves when handling shellfish or fish and wear close-toed shoes when walking around in the water.

Figure 1. Examples of common activities that can lead to Vibrio infection, including wading through or swimming in saltwater, puncturing of the skin by a hook or fish fin, or sustaining a cut while processing of oysters or other raw seafood. Open cuts, rashes or even small punctures such as mosquito bites can allow Vibrio to enter the body and lead to infection.

Figure 2. Example of how Vibrio populations respond to Saharan dust deposition in Texas. Samples were collected at three sites (Oso Bay, Padre Island Canals, Ocean Beach) before, during and after dust was deposited in the region during July 2023 (top maps; dust is reddish-orange on the map).

During the dust event, the population of Vibrio increased sharply as shown by the increased presence of Vibrio colonies on the collection plates at all sites (bottom pictures; yellowish-orange colors show presence of Vibrio colonies, absence of yellowish-orange colors indicates fewer Vibrio present).

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Figure 3. (Left) Photo of an angler’s leg that had become infected with Vibrio ~8-9 hours prior to photo. Note the blistering and red inflammation around the wound, which are common symptoms of infection. The victim was taken to a hospital once symptoms developed and was successfully treated. (Middle) Photo of angler’s leg 4 days after receiving a puncture from a stingray barb. No medical treatment had been sought to this point, allowing the Vibrio infection to spread. (Right) Same angler’s leg as in middle photograph but showing effects of medical treatment because of infection spreading. In this case, the angler did not lose the limb and eventually recovered.

Chlorhexidine-based products such as Hibiclens® scrub, which can be purchased at your local pharmacy, provide lasting antibacterial effect. Then apply a topical antibacterial such as Triple Antibiotic Ointment or Bacitracin. Cover the wound with a clean dressing or Band-Aid. What to do if you suspect you are infected with Vibrio The most common symptoms of a Vibrio infection are: 1. Pain, swelling, redness and warmth at the wound site (Figure 3).

2. Fever or chills.

3. Significant pain or stiffness in the limb with the wound.

If you experience any of these symptoms after being on the water, go immediately to the hospital emergency room. Time is of the essence, as Vibrio infections can begin within 4 hours of exposure and spread rapidly to the point that serious health risks can occur in less than 24 hours. Inform the physician of the wound, exposure to coastal saltwater and that Vibrio infection is a possibility. The initiation of antibiotics should be strongly encouraged by the patient, even while attempts are made to culture the organism.

Why we need a Vibrio early warning system in Texas In many parts of the world, Vibrio infections are increasing due to a combination of factors including warming of waters that either allow Vibrio to expand to new locations or that expand the seasonal window of opportunity for its growth, and also simply due to more people heading to beaches and out for fishing. Because of this, we need to better understand when, where and why Vibrio occurs. Unfortunately there is no routine monitoring for Vibrio in Texas, hindering our ability to understand when, where and why Vibrio occurs, which then prevents notification of the public when risk is high such as is done by the Texas Beachwatch program for fecal bacteria: https://cgis.glo.texas. gov/Beachwatch/index.html. In other states with good data, efforts 36 | March 2024

to develop Vibrio “early warning” systems are showing promise. Given the rare but serious impacts of Vibrio on human health, the negative publicity that Texas beach communities receive when an infection occurs, and also the potential to reduce the public’s risk with a robust warning system, we believe that there is merit in the State of Texas investing in a saltwater Vibrio monitoring program. In the meantime, we hope that anglers, beachgoers and anyone venturing out into saltwater can benefit from the recommendations here for minimizing their risk of infection and illness from Vibrio.

Thank you to Samantha Johnston and Rosalie Sanchez for their review of this article.

Take home messages: 1. Vibrio (“flesh eating bacteria”) is a naturally occurring bacteria found in all saltwater environments.

2. Infection is rare but can be deadly if not promptly treated.

3. Risk of infection is most pronounced when water temperature is at or above about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, although infection can occur year-round. Infection risk is also more pronounced during Saharan dust events.

4. To minimize risk, avoid exposure to saltwater when you have open wounds on your body, especially if you are immunocompromised.

5. Treat fresh cuts or wounds that have been exposed to saltwater immediately by washing with antibacterial soap and warm water.

Chlorhexidine products such as Hibiclens® scrub provide lasting antibacterial effect. Then apply a topical antibiotic cream and cover with a clean dry dressing.

6. Carry a small bottle of Hibiclens® with you on the water.

7. If you have been exposed to saltwater and suspect that you are developing a Vibrio infection, immediately seek medical care and tell the doctor that you were exposed to saltwater.

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J AY WAT K I N S

ASK THE PRO

IMPROVING YOUR FISHING SUCCESS DURING FRONTAL APPROACH Winter is in full swing with frequent changes in air and water temperatures, and also wind direction. These changes create the need for adjustments in our daily fishing plans. I have always felt that the best anglers always adjust according to conditions, allowing the changes to play to their advantage rather than disadvantage.

I was diligent in recording the conditions of each day when I first started fishing; wanting to know why I caught or did not catch them, along with where we caught them.

Cold fronts affect not only air and water temperatures but they also influence tides, create wind-driven currents, and produce barometric pressure changes that signal the coming changes to the fish we are seeking.

In all the bay systems I fish, we will normally see some increase in feeding activity as these frontal systems approach. It’s not magic, nor does it mean you will catch fish anywhere you might choose to fish. We must still be in areas that have the requisite needs for the fish in that bay system.

I know you likely get tired of me mentioning the importance of having a reliable food source present, as well as suitable bottom structure in the same area. In the winter months I also like to add quick and easy access to deep water. However, with that said, many of the fish we seek do not live where there is quick access to deep water. This is proven over and over when fish kills occur repeatedly in the same areas where fish do not or cannot access deeper water when the mercury plummets.

Over my guiding career I have witnessed three very major freeze events and, in every instance trout and reds were killed in the exact same areas. This can only mean that these are areas were fish live out their lives and do not move or know to move when water temperatures drop to dangerously low levels.

Prior to forecasted freezing temperatures, Shane Overstreet with a I find myself placing my solid 7-pounder – CPR! groups in areas I believe 38 | March 2024

will incur a fish kill. Sounds terrible, right? But you cannot believe how accurate that assessment has been over the years. Enough talk about deadly freezing temperatures and fish kills, let’s get started talking about the days we get prior to fronts and how we can improve our success.

At the beginning of each winter season I start mapping out areas that have good stands of bottom grass.

Depending on the weather pattern for each year, the areas that hold and maintain good areas of bottom grass will change to some degree. Fixed structures such as oyster reefs, shoreline points, and coves stay pretty much the same as long as we have no major weather events such as a hurricane. In the past, the commercial oyster fleet did tons of damage to our middle coast reefs, but new regulations have been enacted to prevent this and there are also now oyster farms popping up with promise to relieve the pressure on natural reefs.

I fish submerged grass more than I fish shell. I catch good fish on both types of structure but the fixed structures typically receive more fishing pressure on a regular basis, so the population of larger fish is naturally smaller there. On submerged grass, the fish tend to move more, as does the bait. So, this in a way helps protect the population.

Small areas of scattered grassbeds are my favorite types of grass structure. The very fact that they are scattered actually helps concentrate the trout more effectively. The scattered nature of these beds also allows for pinpoint casting and a more deliberate approach, which produces predictable strikes and, in my opinion, strikes from better trout. Fewer trout, for sure, but definitely better quality.

When fishing scattered grass beds, don’t be afraid to change lures after multiple casts to a specific patch of grass fail to produce a strike. A different lure profile, color, and action can produce a strike when the first lure did not.

I see this happen often when fishing with slow-suspending lures and switching to one that works best on a more aggressive presentation.

The Texas Custom Double D is a great choice in a situation such as this. Many times, the ability to allow this lure to hover in a slightly higher portion of the water column will produce strikes when a lure that is falling toward bottom will not. And it can work both ways; which is the reason why lures are designed to match specific applications.

Most everyone who reads my column regularly or has fished with me knows that a topwater is seldom my go-to lure. That said, topwaters can be exceptionally effective for locating and reading the attitude of big trout.

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Speckled Truth’s Kyle Johnson with a 6-plus – CPR!

Ray Weiss with a nice 5 ½ pound fish – CPR!

Many times we see larger trout come up and eat or take a swipe at an erratic or aggressively worked floater versus a slower more methodical presentation. We refer to this as a reaction strike and many times the fish will completely miss the target. But that’s OK; we learned something.

Knowing that good fish are present is critical to catching big fish.

Soft plastics work the same way. Many are the days that I switch lures to locate fish or gain a better idea of their feeding attitude. Knowing and believing that fish are present is huge. This knowledge then allows us to

go about the process of discovering what they are most likely to eat.

I have become a big believer in picking areas based on the presence of what big trout need, and then slipping into the area and slowly allowing the pattern for the day to develop around us. It can be a gamble at times, but more often than not the knowledge we gain, whether we catch them or not, is priceless to the future development of my own knowledge as well as the clients I have with me.

There is no replacement for a true learning experience, and we learn

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Custom Corky Fat Boy and Soft Dine in Boogeyman, Gringo, Bay Mistress, Pistachio, Pure Silver/Blk Spots, Crown Royal, and Pearl Harbor. The same colors have been effective in the Double D family.

Some of the water we are fishing has somewhat of green algae hue, so colors such as Texas Turnip, Double Bubble or the new Copper series have also been effective.

We have also had good success with the MirrOlure Lil John, Lil John XL, and 5” Bass Assassins. Watermelon Red Glitter, June Bug, Molting, and Black have been good as of this writing. I still recommend the Texas Custom’s 1/16-ounce 2/0 jig head in all the colors they offer. I prefer Watermelon Red Glitter, but they all work very well.

On a different note, I want to comment on TPWD’s decision to adopt a three trout daily bag limit with 15- to 20-inch retention slot. I am 100% in favor! I am also very hopeful they will create a tag system to allow one fish per year of 30-inches or greater length during the March commission meetings. I firmly believe these actions will have a great impact on the future of our trout fishery.

May Your Fishing Always Be Catching! -Guide, Jay Watkins

C O N TA C T

best by observation, and this requires that we spend a good amount of time in an area. I don’t keep my boat close to me most days. On occasions when I have clients that need numerous breaks during a wade, I will drift it down closer than I might want to.

I am of the belief that today’s trout, especially upper-slot trout, are very aware of our presence. I also believe that these trout, even though aware, will eat for us if we approach in a manner and fish in a manner that allows them to accept our presence. There is no hard data to prove or disprove my beliefs. What I will tell you is what I observe on an almost daily basis, and that is that upper-slot trout will move a great distance away from boat pressure.

I am certain of this because it has become a game with me and my clients when a boat runs or jumps up in an area we are fishing.

Depending on the location of the disturbance, I can accurately predict which angler will be getting the next strike. Sounds like a tall tale, I know, but it happened three times just today.

If recording data equates to science, my records of these happenings become more scientific every day. This private study of mine started many years ago on the outside beach of Traylor Island during the peak of trout season for that area. It still works today in the exact same areas.

This winter my clients are seeing tremendous success with the

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

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DAV E R O B E R T S

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

BACK TO THE BAHAMAS! It was only a few years ago when I was invited to join a fishing trip to North Andros, Bahamas. Ever since I first stepped foot on North Andros I have been enamored of its every aspect – the people, the culture, the food, the white sand flats with varying shades of blue water, and the fishing. It truly is one of the most spectacular places I have been lucky enough to visit. The day I departed I began planning a return trip.

For several months I kept my Google Maps browser open to the Bahamas so I could scour every inch of the islands and eventually decided to focus on South Andros this trip. South Andros is probably half the size of its counterpart to the north, but it is surrounded with the same sand flats that I just knew would hold bonefish. Fast forward a few months and I was headed east to South Andros.

Upon my arrival I was greeted with warm weather and a salty sea breeze. I eagerly jumped in my rental car and began my way down the coastline. I pulled into Nathan’s Lodge and was greeted by Freeman, the property caretaker, and shown to my room and all the amenities of the facilities. I quickly unpacked and decided to go make a drive across the rest of the 42 | March 2024

island, with hopes to find a good starting point for the next day’s fishing. It didn’t take long to come up with a gameplan and was shortly headed back for a dinner of fresh grouper.

Morning came and I grabbed a cup of coffee, gathered my rods and headed down the road. Since the tide would not start falling until late morning, I decided to head to a small creek where I could wade the edges and hopefully find some passing bonefish. After about an hour of patient waiting, a pair of really nice bones appeared from the depths but it was too late, they saw me as immediately as I spotted them. Earning their name of Grey Ghost, you never know when they will just magically appear, and then disappear. With the tide beginning to fall I decided to head to another flat.

I began walking along a stretch of beachfront toward some scattered mangroves, hoping to discover some kind of structure that might be holding fish. Sure enough, I spotted a pair a of bonefish weaving their way in and out of the mangrove clumps and timed my cast to land just in front of them. A few quick strips and an eager bonefish came up, nosed down on it, and the fight was on. I always forget their power because within

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seconds I was well into the backing on my reel. After a strong fight of several minutes I worked her close enough to land and what a beautiful specimen she was, a perfect Bahamian bone!

I continued working my way through the mangrove clumps and picked up three more nice fish before deciding to call it a day. Arriving back at the lodge Freeman informed me that most of the better food places were closed, but he would take me to his cousin’s place, who he assured was cooking. We went down the road to a place someone would likely have never found, even with Google Maps, and we finished the evening with good food, cold drinks, and football.

The following morning I changed my game plan up a bit and headed off in another direction. Once I began walking across it I soon realized the bottom was a little too soft, and making a long wade would be out of the question. No worries though, I opted instead for a walk along the beach where I could keep an eye on the tideline, waiting for it to begin falling. Once it did I eased out onto some sandy flats and it didn’t take long to spot six fish coming directly toward me. I picked one out of the group, made a decent cast, and as soon as I began to strip line three of them charged it. Not completely sure which one had eaten the fly; I made a sharp strip set and one burned out left while the rest pushed off to the right. This one was a better fish and took me a few more minutes to get in. I got a photo and made a quick release, totally satisfied with the whole situation. That scenario played out repeatedly for several more hours and I eventually had to force myself to turn around and begin the long trek back to the beach.

The next day came and I was greeted with 20 mph winds at sunrise. I knew it was going to be a tough day as the wind seemed to be building almost by the minute. I attempted a wade but it was nearly impossible to make a decent cast. I dogged it off but did get a chance to swing by Deep Creek Lodge for a bite to eat and was able to meet the lodge owners. Nathanial was kind enough to show me around his place and shared a few bonefish stories. He has been fishing the area his whole life and was the first lodge on the island.

Finally my last day had come and I decided to ease back down 44 | March 2024

to Deep Creek Lodge and see if Nathanial might have a boat available. He replied that he did and in less than ten minutes we were headed down the creek. We began wading down a shoreline and in what seemed only minutes we spotted a good bone. I made a cast and quickly got the attention of that fish. I started the morning off making four casts and landing four fish. Talk about feeling right with the world! We did eventually spook a few but during that memorable wade I managed to land a total of eight fish. The fly I had tied was a small shrimp pattern that I use often for redfish and those bonefish acted plum stupid over it.

Around midday we jumped back on the boat and headed for another area. He poled me around and I picked up several more fish

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View The Video

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

South Andros Bonefish Trip

46 | March 2024

want to press my luck but I was anxious to get her in my hands.

After several stressful minutes she calmed down and I was able to make the grab.

Nathanial immediately said she was easily a 10-pounder, which is a true trophy in the bonefish world. He snapped a few quick pictures and I got her revived and released. I was elated that she disappeared as quickly as she had appeared. We high-fived and celebrated our way back through every detail that had just happened. We fished on for a while but as the refusals began to outnumber the takes, I asked if he might be ready for a cold Kalik. And, of course, he was.

We got back to his dock, celebrated a successful day of fishing, and I assured him that I would return.

Trips like this are never long enough, and having to return to reality comes around all too quickly. Once again though, I have come to love this place even more and am already planning a return visit. On top of all the things I described in the beginning, fishing for bones in the Bahamas has to be one of the most challenging and rewarding things an angler can hope to do. It is a beautiful place down there, and I am already counting the days until I can go back.

C O N TA C T

when he suggested another area a short distance away. This stretch started off slow but he assured me that bigger fish like to move from the deep side, up onto the shallow flats to feed.

After a few hundred yards of nothing, I felt the boat beginning to turn slowly and face me toward the deeper water. Nathanial whispered, “Two good fish coming our way. About a hundred feet out.” I spotted them after a few seconds and made a cast of about 60 feet that was right on the money. The fish charged my fly but at the last second turned away. Nathanial urged that I pick it up and make another cast. Once again she turned on it, only to push away at the last second. What happened next was a total surprise; the other fish that I guess must have been in the glare and unseen to me, come out of nowhere and hit my fly full speed!

There was no need to strip set with this one; just keep it tight and hold on. In a matter of seconds I began to wonder whether I had enough backing. With the fish still taking line and knowing I was about out of backing; I finally got her turned and began to gain some line back. Just when I thought I was making some headway she took off again. Finally I got her alongside the boat, but that was another challenge in itself. Knowing it was a very good fish, I didn’t

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

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

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As a last stand to conserve oyster habitat on the Texas coast, the Mesquite Bay complex was closed to oyster harvest permanently in November of 2022. The future is now and conservation efforts must continue up and down the Texas coast to conserve and restore lost oyster habitat.

B y C C A Te x a s S t a f f

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

VICTORY FOR CONSERVATION: SPOTTED SEATROUT REGULATION CHANGES ON THE HORIZON The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWC) approved changes to Spotted Seatrout regulations, modifying the daily bag limit from 5 fish to 3 fish and tightening the slot limit from 15-25 inches to 15-20 inches. The daily allowance threshold for one oversized fish as part of the three-fishbag was also changed from 25 inches to 30 inches.

TPWD estimates these changes can result in a 27% increase in spawning stock biomass over the course of a generation of Spotted Seatrout (seven years). Barring influences that impact juvenile recruitment or adult mortality events – such as winter freeze events – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff anticipate the benefits will be magnified the longer that they are in effect.

TPWD received 2,851 comments on the proposed regulation changes. 36% (1,021) were completely supportive of the published proposal, 38% (1,072) supported and objected to aspects of the proposal, and 25% (714) were completely opposed to any change.

Prior to the TPWC meeting, the CCA Texas Executive Board voted to support the TPWD proposal to reduce the bag limit to a daily possession of 3-fish and to modify the slot limit to 15-20 inches. CCA Texas recommended no allowance for oversized fish to be retained as a part of the 3-fish bag until a tag system for fish 25-inches or greater can be implemented by TPWD. TPWD will soon publish a new proposal and solicit public comment on the development of a tag system for oversized Spotted Seatrout, which will be considered for adoption at the TPWC meeting on March 28, 2024.

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission is to be commended for enacting these regulation changes with a sense of urgency before the 2024 Spotted Seatrout spawning season. The fishery will reap the benefits from 48 | March 2024

their expeditious action,” stated Shane Bonnot, CCA Texas Advocacy Director. “We look forward to the upcoming discussion on the creation of a tagging system for oversized Spotted Seatrout and believe it will promote conservation while allowing recreational anglers an opportunity to keep their personal ‘trophy’ fish.”

“TPWD resource data clearly showed that the averaged coast-wide catch effort is well below the previous 10-year mean,” stated Rocky Chase, Chairman of the CCA Texas Government Affairs Committee. “This decision by the Parks and Wildlife Commission displays management with a vision for the future, and the next generation of anglers owe them a debt of gratitude for their actions.”

Conservation Efforts Continue for Oyster Reef Restoration and Management Texas oyster reefs are a critical component of the natural landscape, providing important services for our bay systems and coastline. It is important that organizationally and as individual conservationists the efforts continue for the benefit of Texas coastal ecosystems.

• The value and services oyster reefs provide are undeniable. Oyster reefs…

• Are critical in determining current, acting as baffles slowing water surges and stemming shoreline erosion • Are a seed source for adjacent reefs • Serve as habitat for hundreds of aquatic species • Provide recreational fishing opportunities • Offer other numerous ecosystem services with ecological benefits far greater than the harvest value While resilient, the oyster fishery has limitations, and we must be proactive in our continued efforts to improve its sustainability and promote reef growth.

CCA Texas is dedicated to the conservation Palacios Marine Agriculture Research of oyster reefs along the Texas coast and is (PMAR), Aransas National Wildlife Refuge represented in multiple work groups and (ANWR), Mission-Aransas National Estuarine initiatives. TPWD has two workgroups, the Research Reserve (NERR), Texas Parks and Oyster Regulations Work Group and the Wildlife Department (TPWD), and Texas Oyster Restoration Work Group. Additionally, General Land Office (TXGLO). This group is CCA Texas has a seat at the table of the focused on identifying and prioritizing sites Mesquite Bay Restoration Initiative. As the for restoration efforts in the Mesquite Bay name implies, the TPWD Regulations Work complex. As the process evolves and sites are Group focuses on the regulatory processes identified, members will determine permit used in the management of the harvest holders, engineering needs, methods, and of Texas oysters. This group is made up of project timelines to accomplish the individual industry representatives, academics, and projects. The effort to restore damaged and non-governmental organizations all working lost oyster habitat will be a long-term effort, for common ground on the best practices and one that will need the support of many to ensure a sustainable oyster fishery for the conservation minded groups. present and future. The TPWD Restoration Oyster regulatory management, With the passage of new conservation-minded Work Group focuses on restoration efforts restoration and creation efforts are critical to trout regulations, smiles and an abundant and and techniques, while also identifying the health of our coastal eco-systems from quality fishery will be on the horizon for anglers up the best areas for restoration efforts that Sabine Lake to the Rio Grande River. The and down the Texas coast. Photo by David Rowsey. will be carried out by TPWD. These areas historical losses that have occurred in the include those in areas open to harvest and those in closed areas as last decade due to environmental impacts and over harvest will take well. Members of this work group also include those from industry, years to recover. Governmental agencies, academics, non-governmental academics, and non-governmental organizations. organizations, and industry must all play a role in the efforts to ensure The Mesquite Bay Restoration Initiative is made up of representatives the sustainability of oyster reefs for generations to come. from FlatsWorthy, CCA Texas, Texas A&M Corpus Christi Harte Research For more information about CCA Texas efforts to conserve Texas’s oyster Institute (HRI), Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP), reefs, please visit the Advocacy Resource Pages at www.ccatexas.org

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B y J o e l A n d e r s o n ( Fa c i l i t y M a n a g e r, Pe r r y R . B a s s Research Station) and Shane Bonnot (Advocacy D i r e c t o r a t C o a s t a l C o n s e r v a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n Te x a s )

FIELD NOTES

THE TEXAS REDFISH: A STORY OF COASTAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT & SUCCESSFUL SPECIES RECOVERY The Texas Red Drum, commonly known as Redfish or simply “Red”, has a storied history unique within the annals of fisheries management and coastal advocacy.

Today’s anglers “wade the path others have trodden,” enjoying a vibrant and sustainable fishery made possible by conservation pioneers who set into motion a series of events to save the bison of the bays. The forecast for sustainability of the Texas Red Drum population has not always been a positive one.

The story of Red Drum conservation in Texas begins in the late 1970s, when the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and members of the newly formed Gulf Coast Conservation Association (now CCA) took notice of declining Red Drum abundance and began pursuing aggressive legislative and management actions aimed at recovery of Texas Red Drum stocks. The first daily bag limits were set for sport and commercial fishermen in Texas in 1977. Then, in 1981, Texas House Bill 1000 (a.k.a. the “Redfish Bill”) was passed, which permanently prohibited the sale of Red Drum caught in state waters.

This measure alone effectively ended the commercial harvest of Red Drum in Texas, making it the first of the five Gulf states to take this bold step. Three other Gulf states (Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana) have since passed similar measures. The fishery was closed permanently in the federal exclusive economic zone in

the Gulf in 1987 (the “EEZ” are the federal waters just outside state jurisdiction and extending 200 nautical miles from shore). Notably, former Texas Governor George W. Bush consolidated federal protection of the species across its natural range (including the Atlantic coast) with a 2007 Presidential executive order (EO 13449) that permanently prohibited the sale of any Red Drum caught in the EEZ. Along with these forward-thinking fisheries management measures, TPWD and conservation leaders began working on a vision for stock enhancement of Red Drum that could pair with fisheries management to accelerate recovery. The first marine stock enhancement facility was opened in 1982 through a public-private partnership between TPWD, CCA, and the Central Power and Light Company, which provided land for a hatchery in Corpus Christi. Stocking began in 1983 when 7 million Red Drum fingerlings were released coastwide in Texas.

Presently the TPWD operates 3 stock enhancement facilities in Corpus Christi, Palacios and Lake Jackson, which are heavily supported by the CCA. The agency releases anywhere between 10-20+ million Red Drum annually depending upon management needs and natural recruitment estimates based on TPWD field samples from the previous year. Since the inception of the enhancement program, over 820 million Red Drum fingerlings have been released along the Texas Coast.

Image 1: TPWD fish and wildlife technicians deploy Perhaps as a result of this monumental investment a bag seine in prime juvenile Red Drum habitat of time, energy and capital into Red Drum near Sargent, TX. The bag seine fishing gear allows management and recovery, catch rates for Red Drum TPWD to monitor the juvenile populations of different fishes, including Red Drum. increased throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s based on data from TPWD’s long-running gill net surveys. Over the most recent 10 years, anglers that reported that they targeted Red Drum specifically have also reported an average trip satisfaction grade of 8 on a scale of 1:10, based on data from TPWD’s long-running angler intercept program (also known as the Texas “creel” surveys).

It would be tempting to look at the current state of Red Drum angling in Texas and declare victory. But scientific rigor requires a systematic assessment of what recovery looks like from a biological standpoint. To that end, TPWD biologists started investigating whether there was a way to retrospectively examine changes in size and age

50 | March 2024

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of the Red Drum population during the recovery. In the late 1990s, researchers at the Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station within TPWD initiated collection of tissue structures called “otoliths” from Red Drum caught coastwide.

Otoliths are hard sensory structures near the brain of a fish that perform functions that are similar to the inner ear bones in mammals. Notably, in some species (including Red Drum) otoliths lay down perennial rings, or “annuli”, similar to tree rings. If properly treated and examined microscopically, these annuli give an accounting of the exact age of a fish.

Perhaps more importantly, these structures allow scientists to link the average size of a fish (for instance, in inches or mm) to a given age range.

The TPWD otolith collections occurred over a nearly 20Image 2: A TPWD stock enhancement rig is backed year span and allowed biologists to derive the mathematical up to the bay and ready to stock Red Drum fingerlings at sunrise. Red Drum are harvested functions that would allow the linkage of individual size from hatchery ponds at night, and stocking into with predicted age for Red Drum. This seemingly simple the bay occurs during the cooler parts of the day relationship between age and size unlocked a treasure to minimize stress on the juvenile fish. trove of information, because biologists were then able to assign estimated ages to every single Red Drum observed in the TPWD gill net monitoring program going back to the 1970s. What they found was striking. Shortly after passage of the Redfish Bill and implementation of the additional aforementioned conservation measures, the average age of Red Drum in Texas waters began to climb, growing steadily from a population with an average age of 0.84 years old in 1980, to an average of 1.5 years old in 1994.

The difference was notable for anglers as well, as the mean size of Red Drum observed in the gill net survey increased from 16.5 inches in 1980, to approximately 19.6 inches in 1994. Generally speaking, the improvements in size and age observed during the recovery have been maintained over time to the present day.

Age data through time were also used to estimate important fisheries characteristics like mortality rate, which is simply the rate at which individuals are removed from the population through fishing, predation, disease, or other factors. Based on the otolith data, mortality in today’s estuarine Red Drum population occurs at a rate that is about 50% of what it was in 1981, and as a result the number of fish that grow to reproductive maturity and that escape to the offshore spawning population is approximately double what it once was. This is an important point, because Red Drum in Image 3: Otoliths are bony tissues found near the brain of most fishes. Whole otoliths (upper left) are dissected, encased in resin, and sectioned using a Texas’ estuaries support the bulk of the recreational fishery, metallurgical saw, then mounted on a microscope slide (right). When viewed but they also represent the next generation of spawners that through a microscope, annual rings are visible on the sectioned otolith (below are tasked with sustaining viable population numbers as left, with rings marked). The Red Drum pictured is estimated to be 5 years old. they mature and move offshore.

The results of the otolith study by TPWD were peergovernment advocacy groups like CCA, and an army of conservationreviewed and are set to be published in the American Fisheries minded anglers, the Texas Red Drum represents a conservation Society journal Marine and Coastal Fisheries later this year. The success story that continues to be written, and a standard for how findings of the study reflect an astounding recovery that is relatively research, management, and citizen advocacy can change the future of unmatched in other highly targeted fish species around the world an iconic coastal species. and are a testament to the successful management approach by TPWD. The people and events intertwined in this recovery forever changed recreational angler’s role in fisheries management, creating a conservation ethic that is now woven into coastal fishing culture.

Through cooperation between government agencies like TPWD, non-

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

52 | March 2024

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Springtime blacktip sporting a new tag, ready for release.

ERIC OZOLINS

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

LET THE CHAOS BEGIN! Winter weather in the Lone Star State is highly variable.

In some years, we have bone-chilling cold for extended periods of time, but mostly our winters are mild.

This winter was somewhat typical, with a few strong cold snaps interrupting generally benign conditions.

Especially at the end of winter, Texas coastal anglers become impatient. The eager sporting men and women are ready for temperatures to climb and feed their adventurous spirits.

Often, late-winter arctic blasts act as productive triggers for better fishing on the beachfront. Soon after a late push of cold air, a metaphorical light on the horizon starts to shine, and the spring migrations begin to take shape. For the next couple months, the warming nearshore waters explode with a high volume of diverse species. In anticipation, anglers appropriately make their way to the coast, hoping to personally witness some of the spectacles.

Rising water temperatures start both forage species and their predators moving along the beachfront.

Another catalyst for these movements is the change in the prevailing wind direction from north to south, 54 | March 2024

which drives nearshore currents. The currents bring in offshore nutrients and vegetation like sargassum seaweed. The weed seems like a nuisance, but it plays a critical role in the ecosystem; copious amounts of larval and microscopic life forms cling to the rafts of floating vegetation.

Once the weather warms, and the currents begin moving steadily, the main focal point of the oceanic springtime mayhem is the relationship between predator and prey. Various species of baitfish congregate and run through the shallow surf-zone this time of year, the two most prolific species being mullet and menhaden. The menhaden gather in spherical schools, or bait-balls, while countless mullet string out in long trains. Both these concentrations of prey garner the attention of some feisty predators.

One of the iconic predators prowling the surf and attacking the swarms of bait in the warming waves is the jack crevalle. Jacks are impressively efficient at chasing down and devouring their hapless victims.In most years, right about the time of the Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach Clean-up, we see our first signs of a

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jackfish invasion on the beach.

Days when these brutes are present in full force and slicing through the breakers creates the best opportunity for catching them by sight-casting.This is loads of fun, because pound for pound, jacks fight as hard as any fish we target. When these predators feed with full ferocity, they’ll attack most any large lure thrown into their midst, including magnum topwaters and spoons. When casting conditions run optimal, jumbo swim-baits work well too.

Some other interesting species greet anglers in great numbers off the beach this time of year. Like the jacks, redfish will also chase the mullet trains. Some of our largest reds enjoy a feast before heading offshore for a few months. Smaller slotreds will be around as well; they’ll readily take live finger mullet and lures which effectively mimic them, like gold spoons.

In addition to the reds, the black drum will be around, especially at the start of the season, while the water is still somewhat cool. Like their red cousins, these drum vary in size. Anglers who cast out shrimp in hopes of bagging some late-season pompano often accidentally hook black drum, which range in size from little puppies to big-ugly behemoths.

To many folks, the smaller puppy drum rank high on the list of underrated table fare. Certainly, the fillets of small black drum are among my personal favorites to fry in hot grease. The larger ones, of course, usually contain spaghetti worms, so releasing upper-slot and oversized fish is the best plan.

The arrival of springtime along the coast also spurs the mass migration of sheepshead. Their presence along the beachfront correlates with their spawning patterns. During March and April, these fish may run the shallows in fairly large numbers.

Just like the drum, they feed primarily on shrimp. Their meat, infused with a hint of shellfish flavor, is highly desirable for cooking. These tasty fish are often abundant at the jetties, around inshore rigs and in the surf at the same time.

Another fun fish to target in the breakers this time of year is the little tunny. These pelagic torpedoes are part of the tuna family; they school in fairly large numbers, and are only seen in the surf when optimal conditions occur during spring. To catch a little tunny from the beach ranks high on 56 | March 2024

Jack crevalle should be plentiful in the March surf. Always hungry and feisty…suckers for large topwater lures.

Here’s an oversized black drum, sometimes called big-uglies, landed on a foggy morning from the PINS surf.

Springtime also marks the arrival of stingrays to the surf zone; caution when wading is advised.

land would certainly rank high on any angler’s list of achievements.

Great diversity and abundance define the beauty of these springtime runs. Like many other anglers, I get excited to take advantage of this time of year. When the waters evolve from a seemingly sterile state and set the stage for such drama and chaos in such a short span of time, deciding which species to target can become difficult.

The allure of big-game battles with sharks and duels with jackfish weigh against the mission to bring home some food for the table.

When trying to figure out which choice to make, it’s important to consider how the weather and water conditions dictate which of the options makes the most sense. Days with thick fog, bull tides and gusty winds will wreck all hopes at times, but when the right windows of opportunity open, the trip of a lifetime might well unfold.

C O N TA C T

the list of rare and desired accomplishments for many beachfront anglers, like catching a thirty-inch trout or a twelve-foot tiger shark.

I’ve seen these stealth missiles cruising the crystal clear shallows close to the sand on a few days, and have had them crash like Kamikazes into my legs in shallow water. They chase and eat small baitfish and anchovies no more than an inch or two in length, so the only way to catch them on rod and reel is by using tiny lures like the smallest silver spoons. Just like the jacks, they put up a more than respectable fight after they’re hooked.

Another group of powerful fighting bullies must be mentioned in any discussion of predators invading the Texas surf in spring. I’ve studied their habits throughout my adult life. Any sharker worth their salt knows this time of year is an exciting time to head to the beach and soak some big baits. The large, often pregnant, blacktip sharks feed frenetically with the copious amount of bait around.

They’re athletic and acrobatic mid-sized sharks.

On another scale, the great and powerful bull sharks show up this time of year, with the average size growing as the water warms.

Many of the specimens caught this time of year measure between six and seven feet, but catching an eight-footer is not too rare. The bulls arrive hungry and will eat most anything of ample size.

In addition to the bulls, out of the dozen or so shark species we have this time of year, the mako provides perhaps the most exciting opportunity at a true Texas rarity. While just a handful have been landed on the sands of our beaches, the month of March has produced more than any other. Catching and releasing a mako from

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

Email Websites

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

TSFMAG.com | 57

JAKE HADDOCK

M O S T LY S I G H T- F I S H I N G

PLAYING MARCH WINDS Ready or not spring tides are soon to arrive, once again breathing life into our bays that just a few weeks ago appeared quite bleak. I’ve grown to love this time of year, possibly because anything is better than the latter part of the winter season. Also, because I know how epic March days can be when the stars align. Most of the fair-weather fisherman haven’t quite made it out of their winter dens yet and that’s fine by me. There’s something peaceful about fishing in a bay system that is mostly void of boat traffic.

The further south on the coast you can fish this time of year the better. It’s no secret that the waters of the Lower Laguna Madre are going to warm to that magical temperature weeks ahead of Galveston Bay. If you’re going to make the trek, be sure and bring a set of playing cards, as southeast winds of 30 knots or more aren’t uncommon in March on the lower coast. After all, God made wind in Port Mansfield Texas; or so my uncle has always told me. I’ve made the trip a couple of times and can confirm. Somedays, the winds would seem to just appear from a black hole of sorts, just seaward of the East Cut, making the run from Gladys back to the harbor “sporty” to say the least.

Greg Summers with solid red caught while fishing into the wind.

58 | March 2024

On the days when the winds subside and the sun is beaming, I hope to find myself somewhere on a shallow seagrass flat searching for the first tailing pods of the year. I often find larger tailing fish in early spring, making them a bit more of a challenge to stalk than the massive pods of “rat reds” you’ll often encounter by mid-summer. If going with fly gear, something small and shrimpy or flashy, or some combination of these will often seal the deal. With these larger tailing fish, simply waiting for your shot is the best approach. In other words, wait till you see a few of the fish lift their head and start to move to the next grazing spot. Then toss your fly or lure just beyond their path and slide it toward their face. This ensures that the fish will get a chance to see your presentation. If you’re throwing to the fish while their head is down in the grass, they may not ever see it. This method takes some patience and boat control (if you’re not wading), but it can prove effective if you have the means.

Speaking of boat control, during periods of higher winds, say 15 knots and above, it can be the difference in catching fish or spooking them. Regarding poling skiffs in shallow water under these conditions, attention Jackpot! -Stephen Peters photo

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Illustration to demonstrate how pressure waves (orange squiggles) emanate from a boat anchored from the stern.

60 | March 2024

Lad Rack with nice jack landed on “redfish size” fly tackle.

the boat’s pressure waves over your casting range and, because you stopped, the waves make it out further from the boat. As long as you’re drifting the boat is moving with the wind, and the waves are greatly reduced. This is also why long casts are imperative while drifting. I prefer to utilize the Power Pole to stop the boat when landing a fish and getting reset, or maybe even to slightly change direction of my drift, but after that I like to keep the boat moving.

By the end of this month, I’ll also be keeping an eye out for a bay bound pelagic fish – the Jack Crevalle. Jacks are a prized trophy for fly anglers, especially when they are inside the bay where we have a reasonable chance to make a sight-cast. It’s also the best scenario for survival of your fly rod and the fish alike. Getting in a vertical dog fight with these beasts in 30-plus feet of water on fly gear has broken many a rod and makes the fish vulnerable to shark attack.

Jacks tend to like fly patterns that resemble baitfish with lots of flash and will readily take surface poppers. These fish sport some serious teeth, too, so I like to use a bite tippet of 50-pound fluorocarbon when targeting them.

March is a great time of year to knock the dust off your fishing gear before the action really heats up in the coming weeks. Try and pick your days in between gale force winds and make a few shakedown runs. But don’t be surprised when you stumble on a pile of fish all to yourself!

C O N TA C T

to details such as what direction you choose to approach a fish from is everything. All boats, regardless of if they are built of carbon fiber or concrete displace weight, which in turn displaces water and creates pressure waves. How large the pressure waves depends on a number of variables. However, I can assure you no skiff levitates on the surface eliminating all pressure waves, contrary to what you may read on the internet.

So, what’s the big deal with pressure waves? The short answer is they spook fish. I believe this is one advantage of these high-end lightweight skiffs, because less weight equals less wake.

Furthermore, skiffs have two ends, pointy and square. The pointy end cuts the water much smoother than the square, thereby creating less wake. This is also why it makes more sense to pole upwind to wary fish whenever possible. Once the bow of your boat cuts the water creating a small wave, the wind blows the wave downwind and away from the fish. So, if you’re poling into a brisk 15 knot wind, the fish likely won’t sense a thing. Now, whether the angler on the bow can get it done into that same wind is another discussion.

Poling downwind in a gale, while sometimes maybe the only option, is not often very successful, especially for the fly angler. The wind is constantly pushing your pressure waves over your field of view, and you’ll often see fish change direction by the time your angler is in casting range. At this point the angler better be perfect and fast to get it done. Otherwise, it is game over.

Pressure waves can also affect your fishing when drifting. Ever notice when it’s blowing pretty good you seem to get bites while you’re moving, but after getting bit you put the Power Pole down and then nothing? I would believe it’s because the wind is blowing

Jake Haddock grew up in the back bays of Port O’ Connor where he developed a great passion for saltwater fishing. In his younger years he was a youth writer for this publication. In present day he enjoys guiding light tackle and fly clients in Galveston and occasionally Port O’ Connor.

Phone Email Website

713-261-4084 frigatebirdfishing@gmail.com www.frigatebirdfishing.com

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BINK GRIMES

THE VIEW FROM Matagorda

We all await spring sunshine, spring break, crawfish boils, and a little color on our pale winter skin. March gets our Matagorda economy going again after months of winter doldrums. We welcome everyone back and are ready M ata go r d a to go fishing.

You can bet that sunny and mild March days have potential to send fish to the sand and grass shorelines.

Bink Grimes is a full-time fishing But, they typically aren’t far from the and hunting guide, freelance mud, either. If you can find a spot with writer and photographer, and mud and grass you will probably also owner of Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay. find fish.

Winter is a determining factor in March fishing. A winter that lingers Telephone 979-241-1705 tends to keep fish in deep, muddy Email haunts – a mild winter brings swelling binkgrimes@yahoo.com tides, pushing fish to the shallows. If Website winter winds persist, find the nearest matagordasunriselodge.com deep water channel and try natural baits. Saying that, you still can’t go wrong with slow-sinkers. The water temperature dictates, but chances are they are just as likely to hit a slow-sinker anytime they get ready to eat. Spots like the Colorado River and Diversion Channel in Matagorda and Caney Creek in Sargent always harbor winter fish.

At the time of this writing the coast has received much needed winter rains, and most rivers and bayous are currently swollen. But that’s only a temporary setback for late winter fishing. The fact is that these rains and associated runoff are much needed for the health of the estuaries to balance the salinities after nearly two years of drought.

Though many will claim the only way to catch a lunker trout is to wade, Matagorda anglers know otherwise. You have just as good a chance, weather permitting, of catching the largest trout of your life while drifting over mid-bay shell in five feet of water. I fought it for years, but the fish keep telling me they also like it in the deeper water.

Shorelines once littered with acres of seagrass are now seasonally reduced to mostly mud. When we lost the grass we lost our population of large trout that traditionally staged there during winter and early spring. That’s not to say there aren’t large trout on the shorelines, just fewer; and, the proof that there remain lots of big trout in East Matagorda is shown in catch and release photos while drifting over five feet of water.

Our redfish also get going in March. Tides begin to swell this month and bigger tides mean more redfish in West Bay. All that shell along the shorelines are potential haunts for redfish and black drum. We feel like we can catch redfish in practically any wind when we have big tides. There are lots of spots to hide and our shallow draft boats are perfect for blustery March days.

News from Austin indicates that more conservative trout regulations will be enacted this month. Please be good stewards of our natural resources, and if you don’t have a reason to harvest a trout, give it back to the bay. The days of killing everything you catch are over. If we want our bays and estuaries to thrive we must give, give, give instead of take, take, take. Better days are on the horizon with these new regulations. I thank all anglers for putting the resource first.

Sunrise Lodge and Properties just put the finishing touches on a few renovations to our lodge. We added a pool and installed a putting green to give our guests more entertainment in the afternoon after a morning of fishing and/or hunting. We look forward to seeing you and all that 2024 brings.

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64 | March 2024

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CAPT. SHELLIE GRAY

MID-COAST BAYS With the Grays

Change is on the way and I’m not and forearm; I usually have my beginners start with a Super Spook Jr. talking only about the weather. After or a Skitter Walk. a review of population sampling data Long casts are essential when fishing shallow water where fish can and conducting a series of public spook easily. I always recommend maintaining visual contact with the meetings, the TPW commission has lure in order to make sure it is “walking” correctly and not fouled with decided to implement new spotted floating grass. “Walking” is accomplished by simultaneously twitching Port O'Connor seatrout regulations. Effective in midthe rod tip and reeling slack. You may feel awkward at first but don’t Seadrift March, the daily limit will be reduced give up, skill is only developed through practice. from 5 fish to 3 fish. The retention slot There will be times when the fish will only “blow up,” which means will become 15 to 20-inches. It will a near miss. Just remember to avoid setting the hook until you feel Captain Shellie Gray was also allow one of the fish in the bag the weight of the fish on the line. In reality, most times, the fish will born in Port Lavaca and has to be a trophy of 30-inches or longer. do the hook-setting for you. If it seems you are not receiving strikes as been guiding in the Seadrift/ Personally, I agree with this new often as you hope, try varying the speed of the retrieve and include Port O’Connor area full time for the past 22 years. Shellie regulation, especially since we recently pauses of a few seconds. If that doesn’t work, it might be time to specializes in wading for lost a good number of trout on the switch to a soft plastic or some other lure. I often tell my clients there trout and redfish year round middle coast due to freezing weather are days when topwaters are better fish locators than fish catchers. But with artificial lures. back in January. look what you have learned; switch to another type of lure and start Some anglers may not be happy catching them!

Telephone with this, but if keeping fish for dinner If you were to look in my tackle box you would notice that I prefer 361-785-6708 is important to you, I would remind surface plugs in natural baitfish colors. One big exception would be the Email bayrats@tisd.net that along with three trout, you can bone color. I’ve never seen a baitfish this color, but trust me, they work.

Website still keep three redfish, five drum, five As I mentioned earlier, smaller topwaters like the Super Spook Jr. www.bayrat.com sheepshead, and five flounder… and and Skitter Walk are not only easier to use but also the better choice Facebook that’s a bunch of fish dinners! when conditions are calm. I prefer the quiet “tic, tic, tic” of these @captsgaryandshelliegray Numerous people have asked smaller ones compared to the larger and louder lures. However, when whether the new limits will hurt my guide business and my instant the surface is choppy, I will be quick in opting for the MirrOlure Top reply is; “Not one little bit!” I have worked hard in my 22 years of Dog or She Dog in hopes of gaining more attention from potential full time guiding to insure my clients receive a day of learning first redfish and trout in the turbulent surroundings. and foremost. Teaching people to catch fish while keeping it fun is The best way to fall in love with topwaters is in leaving one tied on my favorite part of my job. I like to think that the wealth of fishing long enough to learn why so many of us rave about them. If you are knowledge I willing provide and fun attitude is what has kept my quick to give up after just a few failed attempts, then you are missing client list growing. out on one of the most intoxicating ways of catching fish.

Let’s move along to fishing. March Robert Mooneyham weather can be fickle. What’s that Jessica Jackson and Bruce got into some with a nice post-front old saying…In like a lion and out good redfish action on a chilly weather day. topwater redfish. like a lamb? Well, it’s true. Average temperatures are warmer than February with lows around 52° and highs averaging 74°. March also provides awesome topwater fishing, and who doesn’t love explosive surface strikes?

Before going any farther I want to recommend tying a loop knot on all surface lures. I like the loop knot because it gives the lure far greater freedom of motion in the presentation. It’s called “walking the dog” and is easy to learn, especially if you can watch somebody who has already mastered it. There are also many tutorials available online, just do a search for “walking the dog.”

Smaller plugs are easier on the wrist 66 | March 2024

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TSFMAG.com | 67

10/5/22 2:34 PM

DAVID ROWSEY

HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey

Unless you are living under a rock, you are well aware that the TPW commission voted in January to take steps toward ensuring a quality fishery for many years to come by establishing new size and bag limits for speckled trout.

Upper Starting sometime this month, the regulations will become a three trout Laguna/ bag limit between 15 and 20-inches, Baffin allowing one of those three to be greater than 30-inches per day.

TPWD conducted mail surveys, hosted comments on their website, David Rowsey has 30 years and held public scoping meetings. in Baffin and Upper Laguna The users that participated were Madre; trophy trout with 75% in support of change, while 25% artificial lures is his specialty. were in favor of zero change. Those David has a great passion for conservation and encourages numbers from the concerned users, in catch and release of trophy fish. combination with TPWD’s own gill net surveys that showed the recovery from Telephone the 2021 freeze being much slower 361-960-0340 than expected, was the proverbial Website www.DavidRowsey.com nail in the coffin to act swiftly and Email get ahead of the curve with regards david.rowsey@yahoo.com to building back a more sustainable @captdavidrowsey fishery. There have been an exhaustive number of opinions voiced on social media, but the bottom line is that the more spawning age fish reserved from harvest, the sooner the recovery can be accomplished. It’s not rocket science.

Frank Matusek with his personal-best 29-incher that pushed 8 pounds – Bass Assassin – Released!

68 | March 2024

Back to fishing…I once heard it said that March is Nature’s way of saying, “Let’s Party.” After many March outings on Baffin Bay, I can relate to that. So many of those days have started out as a simple beer (light wind) with a friend, only to have the crazy uncle and his stripper wife show up at the end of the night needing a place to crash. Yep, the winds can be that dramatic in Corpus Christi during this favorite month of chasing big trout.

Many of you have given me the honor of guiding you on these waters. Undoubtedly, y’all have heard me say something like, “The wind is you friend down here.” Or, “This slick-calm day is only good for boat riding.” Honestly, I would rather it be blowing a sustained 25 mph than the surface of the water resembling a mirror.

The truth of the matter is that we need wind in this area to provide water movement (current). We are so far removed from gulf passes that we essentially have little to no tidal influence as seen in other bay systems. In our case, all hydrology is wind-driven. Those currents are what moves baitfish to the hunting grounds, keeps our normally airclear water a little on the sandy side so the trout are not as spooky, and helps conceal our presence in the water. All these are key in pursuing and catching large trout consistently.

The guy or gal that has the best chance of catching good trout is going to know the water well. Saying that, catching is the most fun, but knowing where the ambush spots or good stretches of structure are during days that have reduced water clarity will separate you from others when it comes to catching on the windy days that are sure to come this month.

Keen observations during the low wind days will pay great dividends when the water clarity is questionable in your favorite areas, and boosts confidence that you know what lies beneath the surface. Trust me, off-colored water affects our mental state much more than the fish. Early in my guiding career I had a couple gentlemen on the boat and we pulled into an area where I had left some awesome trout biting the day before. The wind was up and I knew the water would be stained when we got there, but was actually worse than I thought it would be.

Mac McCune was one of the men and he could tell I wasn’t excited about the situation. Mac just happens to own a water management company that takes care of lakes in residential and commercial settings – basically a water quality specialist. He told me the water was not that bad and demonstrated with a plastic water bottle he had just emptied. He filled it with bay water and held it to the light.

As he held it to the sun, I noticed it was much clearer than it appeared from the deck of my Haynie. He said, “This is the clarity from a trout’s point of view.” Whoa! A true light bulb moment for me. I could not believe what I was seeing.

We jumped out of the boat, onto the structure that I knew was there, and had a tremendous wade. Fishing is not always just about catching. Pay attention on the slow, clear days, so that you can have confidence and success on the windy days March is sure to bring us.

Remember the buffalo! -Capt David Rowsey

TSFMAG.com | 69

WAYNE DAVIS

WAYNE’S Mansfield Report

Greetings from Port Mansfield! What a whirlwind tour we have been on lately; everything from extreme wintry weather to trout regulation Port changes, and everything in between.

Everyone already knows the trout Mansfield limits are changing for the better, and this can only mean that our trout fishery will continue to thrive, barring no further shenanigans from Mother Captain Wayne Davis has Nature. I am hoping that we are now been fishing the Lower in a place of sustainability, at least Laguna-Port Mansfield for over 20 years. He specializes for the foreseeable future. Within a in wade fishing with lures. few years our big trout population should increase steadily, all the while Telephone being able to keep a few for dinner 210-287-3877 occasionally without negatively Email impacting the fishery. captwayne@kwigglers.com This winter is proving itself to be yet another great season in the Lower Laguna Madre. The more I fish the more I understand trout fishing. Sure, it can be a struggle at times, and on those days I tell myself I should have zigged instead of zagged, but I do my best to deliver an experience my clients can enjoy.

During tough days I find opportunities that do not always involve catching, such as talking with clients about high atmospheric pressure

Jay Fowler came all the way from Alabama hoping for a career-best fish and got it done with this 9.25-pounder…CPR!

and trying to explain how it affects fish, and then trying to figure out ways to get them to eat in spite of it. Usually, I learn something from them and in turn we try to execute different approaches.

This was just the case recently. I had four anglers and we had high pressure; so we developed a plan. I staged them from calf-deep to waist-deep and we would each throw something different – a topwater, a suspending bait, a Corky, a small profile plastic, and a large profile plastic. With this approach we felt good about getting some response from the fish.

We all felt confident that good fish were present and worked the area thoroughly. The thigh-deep angler caught two fish on his Corky.

Both were hooked on the side of the face, not in the mouth. This told me it was a reactionary swipe, and the fish simply were not eating.

Luckily, this was toward the end of the day and not the beginning, so we left on that note. This lesson was definitely one to be remembered for another day down the road. My best advice is to try not to leave the bay without gaining some nugget of information from the day’s effort because you never know when you may need it again.

On good days, things are good, so much so that our wades are slow and effective. We dial in on what is in front of us and pick apart each pothole and cast at each flicker of bait. This has been the key to success the past couple of months. The potholes I have been targeting have been soft and deep, surrounded by thick shallow grass. Some days big trout are in large open potholes and some days they are in the smaller, deeper ones. Not exactly sure why this is but the takeaway is to never pass up throwing to any pothole. And, consider making multiple casts if one looks extra fishy. This was just the case the other day when I made at least five casts into the same pothole and ended up pulling one over five pounds from it.

Our Lower Laguna Madre has plenty of bait and good habitat, so much so that I feel very good about what is ahead of us. As we move along into spring I expect big fish to be caught, and I also expect some reaching the double-digit weight range. My big fish baits so far this year have been topwaters when the water is at or above 63°. We have caught some when it has been a bit cooler, but 63° and above seems to be what works best. Other big fish baits have been the full size Wig-A-Lo and smaller suspending twitchbaits. All three of these have consistently proven themselves over the last couple of months. So, with that said, I anticipate these baits to continue producing into the spring, with perhaps downsizing to a Wig-A-Lo Junior at times.

I am very optimistic looking forward and firmly believe we are very fortunate to have forward thinking leaders at TPWD and associated committees under their leadership. Things are looking good and things are getting done. Texas is and hopefully always will be the best place to fish, especially if you want to target big speckled trout.

Remember, fresh is better than frozen!

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CAPT. ERNEST CISNEROS

SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene

The year was 1986. I owned a small scooter boat with a six-foot tower. The tower was too tall and unsafe for that boat. I actually tipped it over once but Arr o y o that’s another story. I mainly sightC ol o ra d o casted from the tower in those days. t o Po rt That boat was a blast to fish from and I sa bel I learned a lot about bottom structure.

More importantly I learned a lot about the behavior of fish.

A Brownsville-area native, Fishing was much easier in the 1980s, Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from 1990s, and 2000s; fish were plentiful Port Mansfield to Port Isabel. everywhere. I would play with them, Ernest specializes in wading tossing a lure and jerking it away when and poled skiff adventures for they were about to grab it. Things are snook, trout, and redfish. very different nowadays; fish are not as plentiful and much spookier.

Cell 956-266-6454 I mention these experiences as I find Website myself doing more sight-fishing lately www.tightlinescharters.com than I have in twenty years. What I’m seeing today is that fish will spook and bolt at the slightest unfamiliar noise, even from afar. It gets even more challenging to approach fish in calm conditions. It seems you can only get close when they are actively feeding, possibly thinking more with their stomachs than their brains. Back in the day it was common to observe fish sleeping in a pothole, especially from atop that rickety tower. Nowadays, it is more common to see them fleeing the roar of outboard motors.

In general, fish behavior differs greatly from what it was twenty years ago. In the past, it seemed fish were always willing to bite a good presentation. But not nearly so today.

By now you might be wondering; “What can I do to be more successful?” You can begin by fishing weekdays, or earlier and later on weekends. Study the solunar feeding periods. Keeping a logbook is a great tool for future reference. Read and study articles like this throughout this magazine. Fish with better fishermen than yourself, learn from them, and ask questions. Attend fishing seminars and consider hiring a local fishing guide. And, every time you get out, fish an area you have never fished. Doing these things will broaden your skills and help you become more successful.

Currently, targeting redfish has been easier than trout, but still far from what it was before the big cold snap in January. We are beginning to see more reds on the flats, but they are in pockets and less widespread. The majority of our catches are coming in two to three feet of water with sandy bottom. The Eastside Flats have been holding the best numbers and I expect this will continue until tides rise to more normal levels and they begin using the coves and backwaters of the west shoreline again.

ZMan’s Eye Strike weedless jigs, like the Texas Eye Finesse continue to enable my clients to work lures through grass when the fish are staged near bottom, whether it’s one foot deep or four. The best 72 | March 2024

redfish baits have been ZMan PaddlerZ and StreakZ in Pearl, Sexy Penny, and Space Guppy.

I covered many miles of water immediately following January’s freezing weather and did not see a single dead trout. But, man, did it change their patterns!

I checked all the usual cold-weather holes and none were holding fish. I was perplexed to say the least. It was not until water temps reached 62° that trout returned to the flats and we began catching some solid ones.

So, what’s ahead in March? Well, for one, the tides will rise considerably. The trout that were concentrated in the winter months will spread throughout the warming flats. March’s strong winds will muddy a lot of prime water. Areas to focus on will be along protected shorelines and adjacent flats with heavily-grassed bottom. Grass helps keep bottom sediments in place and generally helps improve water clarity.

Another area worth considering when targeting big trout is the Eastside Flats, which can remain clear even with 30-mph winds.

Cooler water temps means baitfish will stay lower in the water column. When this happens, watch the gulls, pelicans and ospreys.

They will show you where the bait is hiding. Schools of mullet along shorelines is a good sign that big trout might also be there. The best time to target trophy trout is during two tide days. Patience is required because they’re tough to trick.

March and April are the two windiest months of the year. If you do not have a drift sock in your boat, get one. Two is even better. This is also the time of year when trout attain their heaviest weights. You deserve a photo with a lifetime trout. Get out there and make it happen.

Best fishing!

Jeremy Rhodes with a solid wintertime trout.

Gylma Garza did a great job landing this tank of a redfish.

View The Video

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

Science and the

Sea

TM

Randy Nickerson 281-665-1300

Clams’ Contagious Cancer Two facts about cancer are constant across nearly all species on earth: the disease results from mutated cells growing out of control, and it’s not contagious. Or so scientists thought. Although scientists have learned in recent decades of two cancers that are contagious, one in dogs and another in Tasmanian devils, they’re now discovering that multiple cancers can spread like epidemics through shellfish populations, as well.

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

Ancient strains of cancer cells, like those from the pullet carpet shell, have infected several species of shellfish. Credit: S. Rae, CC BY 2.0.

The first hints of this phenomenon came in the 1970s, when researchers discovered soft-shell clams dying in Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters of Maine. It wasn’t until 2015 that biologists found the cause: freefloating cancer cells that infect healthy clams and cause tumors. A year later, scientists identified three more species vulnerable to an infectious cancer: mussels, cockles, and golden carpet shell clams. Today, scientists know of ten susceptible shellfish species. The drifting mutated cancer cells that infect mussels and cockles are specific to those species alone.

But the cancer in golden carpet shell clams actually comes from cells of a different species, the pullet carpet shell, living in the same area, even though researchers did not find any pullet carpet shells with the cancer.

The most recent development came last October, when genetic analysis found the ancestry of these infectious cancers dates back hundreds, maybe thousands, of years. The cancer of each species appears to descend from a single cell, probably an immune cell, that mutated and multiplied and has been picking up new mutations ever since. The original cell of the soft-shell clam cancer is at least 200 years old, while the original cockle cancer cell probably first mutated thousands of years ago. The substantial changes these cancer cells have undergone since then stunned scientists. They’re continuing to investigate just how many shellfish species are vulnerable to these ancient cancers.

www.ScienceAndTheSea.org

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

FISHING REPORTS

Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 James reported decent catching in his area on trips prior to giving this report. “We’ve had some decent days lately, sometimes in places only for a day or two, while the saltwater hung around, before it all got flushed out. We had lots of fish far up the bayous, creeks and rivers before these big rains. They all have to go somewhere when this much freshwater comes rolling through. So, we’ll be fishing areas closer to the passes and channels connecting the bays to the Gulf for a while. In some years, when freshwater makes the fishing really tough in Trinity and East bays and Lower Galveston Bay, we have a really good run in the part of West Bay between the Causeway and about Carancahua Reef. If we get a salty pocket of water in that area when most of the other parts of the system are all flushed out, we can have really good fishing for a while. Lately, the bite has been best on hard baits like Catch 5s, 51M MirrOlures and similar lures. This might hold true for a while longer, since we don’t have many shrimp in the bays, but we still have plenty of mullet.”

Jimmy West | Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 Several big rain events in the weeks prior to this report have East Galveston Bay in a mess, Jim reports. “The back of the bay is fresh. Really, the whole of East Bay is tough right now. When we get this much rain in winter, it can set us up for bigger problems come spring. Best bet for people at this point is to start thinking about doing quite a bit of fishing either close to the beach or jetties, or at least in places where freshwater plays the smallest role. Areas like this include the flats around Sand Island, Pelican Island and the Texas City Dike, the basin and reefs in Upper West Bay, and of course the jetties and the surf close to them. In areas like this, it’s really important to keep track of the wind speeds and direction. Some of these areas pick up nicely on certain types of wind, while the same winds will wreck other areas. Another thing to consider when the water is fresh in lots of places is the tide cycle. In places close to the ship channel, incoming tides can move salty water into areas and stir up a temporary good bite.”

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves | Groves Guide Service 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323 Randall ranks March right up there with February, as one of the top months in the year for targeting big trout on lures. “This is a great time of year to fish for the big trout with topwaters and slow-sinking twitchbaits. In my area, the best spots are usually close to patch reefs, or on shallow shoreline flats in bays like Christmas and Chocolate. We do catch some good ones in the back-lakes too, normally in shallow spots with patch reefs or a mix of grass, mud and shell on the bottom. We like to key on areas with visible bait present, usually jumping mullet, but if we can’t find any, we sometimes key on stretches of shorelines where we find some egrets and herons hunting, especially if terns and gulls are sitting on the water or diving in the same area. When the weather gets colder, which it sometimes does in March, the fishing is much better on soft plastics in deeper parts of the bays. In those situations, we like to throw soft plastics, normally Norton Sand Eels, in dark colors with bright tails if the water’s murky, and in more natural colors if it’s clear.”

74 | March 2024

ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica

AND

Matagorda Bays | Capt. Glenn Ging Glenn’s Guide Service - 979.479.1460 www.glennsguideservice.com Winter has begun making its exit, and warmer days certainly lie ahead!

March is always the kickoff to the busy fishing season in the Matagorda area, as Spring Breakers make their way down to the coast to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. Sometimes the weather can’t decide if it wants to be winter or spring, but the fishing will heat up reliably, no matter what the temperatures and wind speeds read. I’ll be looking for good redfish action in both East and West Matagorda bays. Live shrimp and Gulp! lures dangled under Coastal Corks and tossed around concentrations of shell will produce mixed bags of redfish, drum and sheepshead.

Speckled trout should be fairly easy to catch while drifting deep shell in East Matagorda Bay and throwing live shrimp under corks, or Bass Assassins when the bite is best. Wading anglers will do well working East Matagorda Bay shorelines and shell reefs, throwing soft plastics, Paul Brown Lures and topwaters. March is still a good time to catch big black drum off the jetties and in the lower parts of the river and in the ICW. Chunks of blue crab fished on bottom produce bites best.

Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 Fishing has been very good in our area lately, with lots of solid trout and redfish being caught on a variety of lures. The trout have mostly been in deeper areas such as the ship channel, the harbor, and in local rivers. 3/8-ounce jigheads rigged with DSL in purple reign, white ice and magic grass have been the best producers. Hopping the lures slowly off the bottom in the deep holes has accounted for most bites.

Redfish have been roaming into the sloughs, drains, and bayous and have been feeding pretty heavily on crabs and grass shrimp. We have been throwing smaller lures at the redfish, like Matrix Shad in Cajun pepper and Norton Bull Minnows in pearl/chartreuse. This time of year, fishing the harbor at night is an often overlooked idea, but lots of big offshore boats leave their lights on at the docks and the trout bite can be phenomenal for people trolling lures through the lit areas. Any lure that is clear with metal flakes in it has excellent potential to work in this drill. As we start to see warmer weather this spring, I expect our fish to transition back to areas with shell and the outer parts of shoreline flats.

Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith Back Bay Guide Service - 361.935.6833 Lynn usually sticks with his winter plan of leaving the dock late in the mornings and fishing through the afternoons, if the weather is on the cool side in March. “This is a transition month in lots of ways. The fishing can definitely still be best in the afternoons if we continue to get fronts coming through on a regular basis. But, if we start to have weeks and more of steady, strong southeast winds and warm, balmy weather, it’s often a better idea to head out early in the mornings, to take advantage of the relatively calmer conditions. I like to fish flats with shallow water fairly close to deeper guts and open basins in March, especially places with a mix of soft mud, dark grassbeds and scattered shell on the bottom. This is a great time of year to target some of the biggest trout in the state. In our area, they’re usually caught in remote backwater locations or along shorelines in

the really shallow areas, where lots of people aren’t confident to fish.

We catch best on slow-sinking twitch baits like Fat Boys, Soft Dines and similar lures. The topwater bite can be outstanding, too.”

Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894 Blake spends a lot of time working shallow shorelines in the Coastal Bend area this time of year, since the trout and reds generally stay close to the bank, or tight to the shallow parts of reefs. “We still do well in the back-lakes during March. In fact, if the schools of reds are lingering in their winter holes and the tide is up, they can be productive on a daily basis. And, we often find quite a few big trout lurking around the schools of reds in those places this time of year. But, the action definitely starts to pick up for the trout along shorelines with a mix of hard, bright sand and grass this time of year. The best action often happens within a few feet of the emergent grass on the shorelines. We do well on topwaters like Spook Juniors on some of the better days, and of course, we catch plenty of fish on the slow-sinking twitchbaits, too. The action on topwaters and twitchbaits is usually best when the air and water temperatures are on the warmer side this month, so more consistently good from Spring Break and along into April.”

Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata | rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 “With the warming weather in March, the fishing really heats up in the Baffin Bay/Upper Laguna Madre area, especially for big trout, which helped make these bays famous. The trout move into the shallows pretty early this month, compared to what they’ve been doing during the colder months of winter. They’re typically hungry, looking to fatten up in anticipation of the first big burst in spawning activity. So, we spend a lot of time targeting them around potholes and on grassy edges close to shorelines, whether we’re fishing in Baffin or The Lagoon. The fishing can be great on the King Ranch Shoreline really tight to the mats of floating grass, especially if the issue with floating and suspended grass isn’t too bad. We like to throw MirrOlure Catch 5s a good percentage of time this month, and we have a long track record of catching big trout on those. If the grass becomes a problem, or if the fish just aren’t feeding as aggressively, we still do well on soft plastics like Die Dappers rigged on either eighth or sixteenth-ounce jigheads. If the water’s clear, colors like salt&pepper/chartreuse tail work best, but darker or brighter colors are best if the water’s murky.”

Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez - www.sightcast1.com - 361.877.1230 “In March, fishing in and around Baffin, in the Upper Laguna Madre, and in Corpus Christi Bay can be really easy or quite tough, depending on the conditions,” Joe says. “Some of the toughest days we typically get this time of year are post-front days with zero cloud cover and dead calm winds. In that scenario, the fish often become really finicky, seeming to sit on the bottom and inactive for periods of time. And, the glare on the water makes sight-casting impossible, unless the fish are moving and pushing wakes. We have much better luck when we have some cloud cover and winds are blowing at moderate speeds. This usually means the weather is somewhat warm, and that the winds are blowing out of the east and southeast. For the most part, we catch our reds and trout in shallow water during March, either tight to the shorelines or on top of sand bars and rock formations. We also do well way out in the middle of some of the vast shallow flats at times. If the water is clear, we’ll be searching for sight-casting opportunities with big trout and reds, usually in and around sandy potholes on grassy flats.”

P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins 361.877.3583 - Oceanepics.com “Our winter season has included the usual changeable weather. The

red and black drum have been good to very good on shrimp, mullet, and Fish-Bites. Pompano are still around and are best targeted on calm days with clear water. This has been a fairly productive winter for this species, with many anglers making good catches when the conditions are right. The best way to target pompano is to use smaller 2/0 or 3/0 hooks with a small piece of shrimp, tipped with Fish-Bites. While we’ve been catching them sporadically in the first gut, walking out on that bar at low tide and casting to the second bar has been more productive. We will still have our cooler water species lingering, but expect to see jack crevalle and Spanish mackerel making their first appearances soon. Lures or live bait work well for both. The winter shark fishing has remained fairly steady, and we can expect activity to increase in spring. Blacktip sharks will be numerous and are suckers for a giant whiting. We will have a few sandbar sharks around, and bulls will begin to arrive toward the end of March. Though rare, there is a chance at a mako if all the variables align.”

Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza Snookdudecharters.com - 832.385.1431 Getaway Adventures Lodge - 956.944.4000 “I like fishing north of Port Mansfield during March, especially around the points and in the coves of the west shoreline, every day the wind allows. I encourage downloading the Windfinder App and referencing the Rincon de San Jose weather station to monitor the winds in this area. I also recommend the Gladys Hole area and surrounding flats this time of year. The east-side flats can also be very productive, holding better water clarity, when the wind will not allow hitting the west shoreline. Reliable east-side flats areas to target would be near Butcher’s and Dubb’s Islands. Trout action in all areas mentioned above has been best in depths averaging mid-thigh to waist-deep. We’ve been finding some scattered topwater action, mostly on Mansfield Knockers. The soft plastic bite has been best on KWiggler Ball Tails and Willow Tails on eighth-ounce jigheads. A range of colors have been effective; Flomingo, Mansfield Margarita, Lagunaflauge, and The Truth, depending on water clarity and cloud cover. Heading south of port, the Saucer and Pipeline areas are often productive this time of year. Areas along the ICW can also be productive when they hold lots of bait, especially behind the cabins, and along the edges of any of the many spoil banks.”

Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Aaron Cisneros | tightlinescharters.com - 956.639.1941 “Fishing in the Lower Laguna Madre has been very good the past several weeks. We have been finding our trout population to be healthy, despite recent cold snaps. Best locations to find the fish have been on grassy flats with plenty of bright, sandy potholes breaking up the green, in water averaging about three to four feet deep. Our go-to lure has been ZMan StreakZ in Sexy Mullet rigged on eighth-ounce EyeStrike Trout-Eye jigheads. We work the lures at a fairly quick pace over the grass, then let them flutter down into the potholes. Redfish action has been steady on shallow flats with grassy bottoms, where depths average two feet or less. Muddy flats adjacent to deep water have also been productive for reds when the weather is colder. Locating active baitfish is always a key to finding the reds in these areas. ZMan StreakZ in Sexy Mullet on Trout-Eye jigheads are also working well for the reds, but we’re generally making slower, steadier presentations across potholes to attract their attention. March weather can be highly variable, and different winds can cause the tide to fall way out, or come in really big. This can dictate where the best fishing occurs.”

TSFMAG.com | 75

Xavier Villarreal Redfish Bay- redfish

Tim Freeman Laguna Madre- redfish

Moses Escamilla Oso Bay- 27.5” redfish

Deanna Whempner Sabine Pass - 36” personal best red!

Nate Vrana Matagorda Beach - redfish

76 | March 2024

Michelle Hunt 26” redfish CPR

Ines Moquete Sargent- redfish

Thelma Escamilla Oso Bay- 22” redfish

Melody Medders Sargent Beach- 42” first bull red! CPR

Judson Hall Bayou Vista - 29” trout

Connor Causey Laguna Madre - personal best trout! CPR

Davis Saunders Greens Lake- 23” red

Gariel Whempner Sabine Pass- 33” first red!

Analeigh Turner 42” redfish

Photo Gallery Guidelines First come – first published!

Photos are judged on artistic merit and sporting ethic displayed.

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

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

RJ Braune Baffin Bay- trout

Marley Crisp Corpus Christi - 28.5”redfish TSFMAG.com | 77

PAM JOHNSON

Gulf Coast

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

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

Fish Wellington My family likes Beef Wellington and it has become our new Christmas tradition. While preparing Christmas dinner this year I began wondering whether they might also enjoy Fish Wellington. So, I did some research and found a recipe but, as seafood chefs often do, I made modifications and came up with this version. I have made it twice, once for family and again for friends. They all loved it and I hope you will, too.

HERB CREAM CHEESE

PREPARATION

4 oz cream cheese, room temperature 2 Tbsp dill, chopped 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 1 Tbsp chives, chopped Zest of 1 lemon ½ tsp of black pepper

- Prepare herb cream cheese by mixing all ingredients in a small bowl.

- Preheat oven to 400° - Place puff pastry on lightly floured surface and trim to size of fillet - plus half inch all around - Place prosciutto slices on puff pastry, leaving ½ inch of dough uncovered all around - Soften cream cheese mixture and spread evenly on prosciutto slices. If not easily spreadable place in microwave for 10 seconds.

- Place fillet on top of cream cheese and roll puff pastry around it tightly, coating the edges with beaten egg and then pinch lightly to seal.

- Wrap in plastic film and twist ends tightly.

- Place in refrigerator for 20 minutes. (At this point it can be refrigerated and kept for up to one day.)

- Remove from refrigerator and remove plastic - Line baking sheet with parchment and place the roll on the paper; brush the roll with the remaining egg wash.

- Bake at 400° 20 to 30 minutes until pastry is golden brown and internal temperature reaches 145° - Remove from oven and rest five minutes before slicing.

- Ladle creamy lemon butter sauce onto plate and place serving size pieces on sauce.

- Yields – 4 Servings

FISH BUNDLES 2 pounds fresh cod fillet 4 to 6 prosciutto slices 1 sheet of puff pastry 1 egg, beaten with 1 tsp water

78 | March 2024

CREAMY LEMON BUTTER SAUCE 1⁄2 cup white wine 1 shallot, minced 1 cup butter, cut into pieces, keep cold 1 cup heavy whipping cream 1 small lemon, juiced

PREPARATION In small saucepan, heat wine and shallot. Bring to boil and reduce over medium-high heat until only 2 tablespoons of liquid remain.

Reduce heat to low and whisk in butter, a few pieces at a time, whisking continuously, until sauce is smooth and all the butter is incorporated.

Whisk in cream and lemon juice. Serve immediately, or to keep warm, use double boiler on low heat until serving time.

Yields – 1 cup

TSFMAG.com | 79

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

Fin Tastic Coastal Charters

USCG Licensed Captain Stan Sloan

832.693.4292 www.fishfcc.com

Home of the & USE COUPON CODE TSFM15 FOR 15% OFF OF CFG ONLINE ORDERS www.CoastalFishingGear.com | 281-736-6670 • 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

PESCADO PARK RV PADS & BOAT STORAGE

Baffin Bay

near Kaufer-Hubert Boat Ramp DAN WARD 832-860-4600 80 | March 2024

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