McBride Talks
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The Build
Homemade Poling Skiff Handcrafted dream boat on a budget; page 26.
Doggett on
Working the Wind Going for it in a gale; page 36.
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NOVEMBER 2011 VOL 21 NO 7
ABOUT THE COVER Bob Stein enjoys fishing the Matagorda Island marsh with Capt. Scott Sommerlatte.
eDITOR AND PUBLISHeR everett Johnson
Sommerlatte photo
everett@tsfmag.com vICe PReSIDeNT PRODUCTION & ADveRTISING DIReCTOR Pam Johnson Pam@tsfmag.com Office: 361-785-3420 Cell: 361-550-9918 NATIONAL SALeS RePReSeNTATIve Bart Manganiello Bartalm@optonline.net
CONTENTS
FEATURES
08 Practically Speaking 12 Jolly Days on Quiet Bays 18 The Weather Grinch Stole My... 22 I Have No Clue 24 Body language and a Crystal Ball 26 The Skiff 32 Texas Tarpon Basics 36 Working the Wind
Mike McBride Kevin Cochran Billy Sandifer Martin Strarup Chuck Uzzle Ryan veurink Joe Richard Joe Doggett
8
21
Donna Boyd Donna@tsfmag.com
Shirley elliott Shirley@tsfmag.com CIRCULATION SUBSCRIPTION – PRODUCT SALeS Linda Curry
Coastal Birding Let’s Ask The Pro Fly Fishing TPWD Field Notes Boat Maintenance Tips Conservation Kayak Fishing According to Scott Youth Fishing Texas Nearshore and Offshore Cade’s Coastal Chronicles Fishy Facts
HAVE TO SAY
Dickie Colburn’s Sabine Scene Mickey on Galveston Capt. Bill’s Fish Talk Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays Hooked up with Rowsey Capt. Tricia’s Port Mansfield Report South Padre Fishing Scene
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4 | November 2011
Dickie Colburn Mickey eastman Bill Pustejovsky Shellie Gray David Rowsey Capt. Tricia ernest Cisneros
Billy Sandifer Jay Watkins Casey Smartt Wendy Tabone Chris Mapp CCA Texas Scott Null Scott Sommerlatte Jake Haddock Mike Jennings Cade Simpson Stephanie Boyd
Cir@tsfmag.com ADDReSS CHANGeD? email Store@tsfmag.com DeSIGN & LAYOUT Stephanie Boyd stephanie@tsfmag.com Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine is published monthly. Subscription Rates: One Year (Free emag with Hard Copy Subscription) $25.00, Two Year $45.00 e-MAG (electronic version) is available for $12.00 per year. Order on-line: WWW.TSFMAG.COM MAKe CHeCKS PAYABLe TO: Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 * Subscribers are responsible for submitting all address changes and renewals by the 10th of the prior month’s issue. Email store@tsfmag.com for all address changes or please call 361-785-3420 from 8am - 4:30pm. The U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee magazines will be forwarded .
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editorial New Tackle & Gear Fishing Reports and Forecasts Catch of the Month Gulf Coast Kitchen
PRINTED IN THE USA. Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58 Fisherman’s Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 © Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine contributors do not necessarily express the views of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. Periodical class permit (USPS# 024353) paid at victoria, TX 77901 and additional offices. POSTMASTeR: Send address changes to Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983.
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EDITORIAL Hope You Like The
NEW LOOK
If you are a regular reader you have probably noticed that our Art and Layout Department have been cranking out a new look. Things were not always this glitzy. Back when Pam and I purchased Gulf Coast Connections from Gene Baker and produced our first issue without his help in May 2001, we liked to died cutting and pasting and waxing bits of paper and fuzzy black and white photos to “the boards” as we called them. I will never forget a fellow outdoor publisher asking if we had a clue what we were getting in to. Innocently, and believing every word, I replied, “No, but I’m sure we can learn.” It is absolutely amazing how far technology has brought us and the incredible quality of material our writing team sends in each month. Well, here it is November 2011, and we have learned a lot. The greatest lesson I have learned is to stay the heck out of the Art and Layout Department. This should please readers immensely unless they might enjoy all the illustrations in the magazine drawn like stick people. Let’s face it, I am a technician not an artist, way too rightbrained. So if you like the new look we have been sporting, send Pam and Stephanie an email bouquet and do not forget to include our writers, photographers, and other contributors. These are the folks who have combined their talents to turn a skimpy pulp fishing rag into a magazine. After scores of requests, Cade Simpson joins the TSFMag team with Cade’s Coastal Chronicles. Cade’s mission is to present a how-to where-to article each month specifically for readers who do not own motorboats, hire fishing guides, or take expensive fishing vacations. His audience will be the everyday walk-in wade fishermen, paddleboat angler, and folks who enjoy fishing from banks, piers and jetties. That’s the way Cade fishes and that’s what he will be writing about. He will offer tips relating to kayak launch spots, marinas, bait camps, where to find public fish cleaning stations, where to grab a burger, and where to camp or find a motel on overnight trips. Follow along as he makes his way to major ports and lots of out-of-the-way places in search of fishing adventure up and down the Texas coast. Now about the cover last month – hold the phone calls and please stop sending me email. Yes, I dummied up on the title lines. Ryan veurink shared a great story on his homemade poling skiff project and you can read about it in this issue on page 26. I will try my best not to publish title lines in the future without including the story. Texas anglers have a lot to be thank for and foremost is our freedom to come and go as we please and enjoy the many wonders of this great coast. As you gather round your Thanksgiving table, give thanks to the Almighty for the men and women who serve in far away places so that the United States of America will forever remain, “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.”
6 | November 2011
STORY BY MIKe MCBRIDe
Here’s where the She Dog really shines.
8 | November 2011
Discover your best game.
Inquisitive lure chunkers will often begin their fact finding with queries related to the right color. Men, especially fishermen, have always been fascinated with color even though the male brain comprehends little beyond black and white. What they’re really seeking (though even they perhaps do not realize it yet) and what they’ll eventually get around to if you will oblige them, are clues that would reveal the right presentation. The color of the lure itself is but one of a host of considerations and rarely the most critical by a long cast. When we learn to better estimate what the most practical and highest-percentage tool might be, that dazzling array of colors seem to run together and become rather drab. The word “practical” here suggests a sensible approach to a particular situation, the one most likely to produce the desired effect. Strong opposites would be ideas that prove inefficient, useless and incapable. Now nobody wants to be a useless fisherman, so let’s try to throw what’s best to get a job done. That might be hard to decide, however, without first understanding exactly what that particular job is. The black and white answer is, “To catch fish, dummy,” but many factors can help define the best tool for the situation. To choose correctly we first need to go through a discovery
period to determine exactly what card we need to play from the hand we have been dealt. Personally, the discovery process is what this lure fishing game is totally about. It’s not only what drives my passion but is perhaps the most critical factor in preventing our becoming that “useless” angler. First we need to discover where fish are, then we discover how to catch them. It’s find them, assess them, then address them, and hopefully gaining and packing away some tidbits of knowledge to apply next round. We would like to think this is all about a battle of wits, and it certainly can be, but not against the fish - they have none. The guy we have to beat in most fishing situations is us. Let’s assume we have already found some fish. Now we need to evaluate two basic but highly critical factors before we tie a good knot. What is the present attitude of the fish, and how does that play with our current conditions. Fish seem to be in one of three basic modes, either aggressive, neutral or negative. Are they high in the water column and feeding, low and lying down, or somewhere in between? We can try to interpret some of the easy signs for a first best guess, but the behavior of baitfish and other creatures is only one chapter of a large book. Reading all the clues of nature is a complete and fascinating science all its own. Once we figure out what our quarry is doing, we can choose wisely which lure might effectively get into, and stay, in the strike zone. The sensible question now becomes “What can I get to them, under these conditions, at the right speed and depth, with the appropriate level of attraction?”
Aggressive, neutral, or negative? Once we figure it out we can choose wisely.
TSFMAG.com | 9
Conditions can include much, but obvious considerations are wind speed and direction, overall surface conditions, water clarity and depth, current or lack of, and of course the overhead canopy. Is it raining or cloudlessly blue? Others include physical speed bumps such as shaggy grass or snaggy shell. It may seem too complex to decipher, but it’s not really rocket science after we fully define the challenge. Most questions are answered by simple adjustments in weight, size, contrast, and “tease” factor we can apply. The color deal is simply one part, basically pertaining to contrast. Before reviewing a few scenarios, let’s look at an example of choosing poorly. We were standing thigh-deep and throwing up-current across a shelf that tapers deeper. Some chunky trout were hovering low, casually picking off shrimp being swept down a handy little serving tray. The water was thickly sanded so good contrast was in order, and a fair current called for some balanced weight. A dark soft plastic rat tail made sense, and a quarter ounce of lead seemed perfect to hop it across the bottom at an enticing pace. After racking up a seven fish to zero lead, I look over and find that my angling hopeful was pulling on a little bitty, but pretty paddle tail screwed to a 1/16 ounce lead head. It was struggling pitifully on the surface against the current, and as he winced again upon hearing another of my grunting hooksets, I smiled and asked if he thought he was getting in the strike zone. “Heck I don’t know,” he puzzled, “But man, I sure like this color, I tore ‘em up on it last year!” OK - color me stupid, but I don’t think we can depend on pretty alone to get the job done. Let’s try to boil this down to common sense, which is what it really is. Let’s say we find ourselves in some rather murky, dead-calm kneedeep water, watching finger-sized shrimp skipping franticly to avoid aggressive swirls and giant sucking sounds. “Practical” would suggest a small and high offering, with just enough “presentation” to call them
The small Skitter Walk is perfect when they’re hustling shrimp in the murky shallows.
10 | November 2011
up and not run them off. A little shrimpy-acting, bone-colored Spook Jr or the baby Skitter Walk sounds suspiciously capable here if we snap it around like a shrimp with lots of pauses rather than jerking it steadily forward. You wouldn’t want to throw a big rock where a little pebble would do, and it probably wouldn’t matter how many colors of that obnoxious She Dog we try, any color will probably spook them as good as the next. Wind always dictates choice in various ways, and often overlooked
Fretting over color is hardly as effective as picking a lure that matches their mood.
Mike McBride
Contact
Find ‘em, assess ‘em, address ‘em – in that order!
is lure ballistics. When no wind is available to assist your woefully neglected reel land a lure where it is needed, and a soft plastic makes the most sense, should we be throwing a paddle-tail that catches a lot of air or go to something more aerodynamic - like a straight tail? Just that simple move adding a few feet to your cast can make or break your day. And the same adjustment can apply to chunking into wind. Many situations call for throwing directly into it, such as towards windward structures like a reef, spoil or shoreline, up-current into a gut, or perhaps the best stalking angle for sight-casting visibility. Pink will probably not cast farther than plum. In heavy chop, where we can see eight inch mullet getting blown end-over-end across whitecaps, we might consider dropping a sinking or suspending lure into the swells but the reality is that we’d likely end up fishing below the level of opportunity. That’s where the Queen of Obnoxious Behavior, the MirrOlure She Dog, might better disrupt things. I probably wouldn’t throw a pink Corky here just because it’s pink…or because I beat ‘em up with a Fat Boy the day before. In many areas, especially from the middle-coast south, we often find big fish in little water. Compounding this situation is usually some amount of grass; rooted and floating. Our presentation zone shrinks to a few precious inches. “Captain, Oh Captain! I can’t keep my lure out of the grass!” Well OK, let’s start by ditching that gumball jighead and the snap swivels. With a working zone of barely a foot we need something that is easier to control. Unless we can defy gravity, a swimming soft plastic will fly flatter than one you have to jig. And if they seem to want a full-meal deal, a larger suspender like a Corky Fat Boy can be walked straight through the center of that dividend-paying margin. More about grass, it really doesn’t matter what color those treble hooks are, they’re all grass rakes – bring on the single hooks. These are just a few small samples meant to encourage more careful thought before tying that next knot. Back to color for just a quickie - yes there are times when it matters - but only in terms of can they see it or is it too much? In truth, something light, something dark, and something natural gets most everything done, and some colors can qualify in more than one category depending on water clarity. Our favorite pretties can wiggle right in there, but the more critical path is usually knowing when to try what, and especially how to get it where it needs to be. Choosing lures with high chances of success is not much different from the philosophy of playing good pool or golf. We can hit hard and hope, or shoot precisely and maybe put a little spin on the ball.
Mike McBride is a full time fishing guide based in Port Mansfield, TX, specializing in wadefishing with artificial lures.
Skinny Water Adventures Phone Email Web
956-746-6041 McTrout@Granderiver.net Skinnywateradventures.com/ Three_MudSkateers.wmv TSFMAG.com | 11
STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN
Dillon Leopold caught this fat trout on a day when numerous big ones bit, during a warming trend after some bitterly cold days.
The transitional period from late-autumn to early-winter coincides with several popular outdoor seasons in the Lone Star State. Traditionally, many Texans don layers of camouflage clothing and crawl into deer stands and/or duck blinds, eager to harvest whitetails, redheads, green wings and similar colorful creatures inhabiting our backwoods, river bottoms, marshes and prairies. Others gratefully acknowledge the positive effect the hunting seasons have on our coastal bays. We who fish year-round feel liberated on the wide-open, uncrowded waterways. From the Louisiana shoreline to the flats of South Bay, the Christmas month 12 | November 2011
offers tremendous trout fishing potential for motivated, educated, properly equipped Texas anglers. Admittedly, December fishing, like the month’s weather, is unpredictable and prone to rapid changes. Passing fronts generate relatively short periods of frenzied activity, followed by longer lulls. If a prolonged warm-up occurs between northers, a real bonanza is possible. Undoubtedly, fishing productivity will be closely related to the timing of the trip and the specific location where the effort is made. Along the Upper Coast, in estuaries like Sabine Lake, Trinity Bay,
West Galveston Bay and East Matagorda Bay, most or all of the major bait fish and shrimp migrations will be winding down sometime around Thanksgiving and will be over well before Christmas. Coastal Bend estuaries are similarly affected, though the migrations might linger a little longer. In the hyper saline lagoons south of the JFK Causeway, migrating herds of bait will become concentrated near the passes to the Gulf this month. They’ll likely ride the falling tides out of the bays entirely at some point. Statewide, the easy days of finding flocks of gulls hovering over schooling trout will be gone. Both the fish and the human beings who chase them will be forced to change their habits. With less variety in the available menu, speckled trout will commit cannibalistic acts in order to survive. They’ll also focus and feed more on mullet. Locating the relatively sparse schools of forage is therefore a critical step in locating trout this time of year. Sometimes, finding the bait is difficult, particularly when the schools of mullet suspend or move deep and hug the bottom. Savvy anglers learn to make predictions about where the fish should be and rely on their predictions on days when bait activity is scarce. Understanding how cold weather affects the behavior and movement patterns of the fish is an important part of consistency during this transitional time. Many of the mullet and trout seek warmer water and move to deeper basins and channel edges within the bays when water temperatures dip into the fifties for more than a day or two. Consequently, people interested in targeting numbers of fish will find working deep, open areas and drop offs to be productive. In Sabine Lake, the reefs and holes in the south end are worth a
try, as are the edges of the rivers and channels. Deeper reefs in Trinity and East Galveston Bays, and the vast expanse of scattered shell off Green’s Cut in West Bay, all hold numerous trout, as do holes like Offatt’s Bayou and Moses Lake. In East Matagorda, areas with a mix of mud and shell near open-water humps produce plenty of trout when winds are relatively light. Further south, similar open-water reefs and areas of scattered shell in bays like San Antonio, Mesquite, Aransas, Copano and Nueces have tremendous potential for producing limits of eating-sized trout at times. In the Laguna Madre, many “regular-sized” trout hang along the edges of the ICW and in channels which intersect it. Relatively deep holes like Emmord’s, Beacroft’s, Yarbrough and the waters north of the Queen Isabella Causeway offer cold trout some relief. Of course, some people share my obsession for targeting trophy trout, so they focus on different types of areas in their hunt for wall hangers. Most of the monster trout I’ve caught in December were caught in water depths ranging from about thirty to forty eight inches, (crotch to belly-deep on me). Occasionally, bunches of big trout move much shallower than that, in response to cold snaps. Once the weather turns and temperatures begin to rise after the passage of a strong front, some of the sow trout will move shallow, since the shallowest water warms up first. Though bright sunlight can coincide with such a move, it isn’t necessary. If arctic air causes water temperatures to plummet into the forties, knee-deep flats will hold fish on the back side of the blast. The best flats are those along shorelines protected from north and northwest winds, where shallow areas are relatively close to deep, open basins or channels. Wading is often the best (or only) way to coax cold-stunned fish into biting.
In the gloaming, just before dark, it’s often possible to catch big trout on topwaters in December. Hector Saucedo hooked this one on a Super Spook Junior.
TSFMAG.com | 13
Areas famous for this kind of fishing can be found around the islands in the north end of Sabine, as well as tight to the canes on the Louisiana shore. All of the Galveston Bays have areas with the right mix of shallow water next to deep, particularly Upper Galveston Bay and the upper end of West Bay. The muddy flats, guts and reefs immediately adjacent to the ICW in east Matagorda produce whopper trout in early winter, as do areas on the north shorelines of Corpus Christi and Nueces Bays. The King Ranch Shoreline (indeed the entire west side of both Laguna Madres) is justifiably famous for producing big trout during this season, as are flats, rocks and drop-offs along the north shoreline of Baffin Bay. Regardless of which part of the coast they target, trophy seekers should embark with a clear awareness of where the weather lies on its “circle of change“.
The joy of fishing during the Christmas month can be revealed in the beauty of the light and the sounds. It can also be discovered in darkness and silence.
On warm days in December, trout sometimes take topwaters for hours on end. On colder days, before the weather makes a true turn, the same fish might be impossible to entice except with a soft plastic dragged inches in front of their noses. Mostly, the reality of the situation lies somewhere between these two extremes. In many cases, Corkys and other slow-sinking twitch baits are the best lures to deploy. It’s wise to base December trophy trout strategies on some broad generalizations. One such plan is to assume it’s easier to locate fish with soft plastics and start off each day throwing those, then move “up” through the twitch baits to the topwaters if and when the catching gets easier. A related, useful notion is the idea that fish are easier to catch higher in the water column in warmer weather. Pre-front conditions, with onshore breezes and moderate temperatures, are more likely to generate potential for floating plugs, while post-front conditions, with offshore winds and colder temperatures, most likely necessitate the 14 | November 2011
16 | November 2011
Kevin Cochran
Contact
placement of soft plastics low and slow. In fact, it’s wise to work all lures slowly; cold water creates sluggish fish. Sluggish fish react slowly to everything, so creeping lures fit more naturally into the estuarine environment when it’s chilly. The need for subdued presentations and reduced speed is greatest when the weather is on the negative side. Another rule of thumb indicates the hours right around dusk often offer the best potential to catch fish in December. In some places on the Upper Coast, night fishing is far superior to daytime fishing this time of year. Shallow reef systems which seem void of life all day can produce numbers of fat, aggressive trout after darkness descends, especially given good tidal movement. Similar changes in the mood of the fish can be observed in southern bays too. Many times, after struggling to scratch out a few bites through the afternoon, I’ve caught numbers of big fish in the gloaming, particular when some other celestial event happens while the sun is setting. It can be a good idea to sleep in and fish late
during December. Armed with a positive attitude, patience and an awareness of where to target fish, people can catch plenty of trout and big ones too in this holiday season. For me, December is one of the most consistent months for catching picture fish. I’ve personally caught several thirty inch trout during this time frame; I’ve also documented a high-percentage chance of someone in the group catching a specimen weighing seven pounds or more. Truthfully, I’m normally not as busy as I’d like to be this month, probably due to the aforementioned effects of the hunting seasons. Perhaps some of you out there would like to help me with that problem! I know I’ll be chasing double-digit dreams, whether alone, with friends or with clients, whenever the weather gives us a chance during this time of change, celebration and opportunity. Many magical sounds fill the air this time of year. In one day, it’s possible to hear the specked bellies’ plaintive wail, The violence with which this 8.5 the whoosh of passing fleetpound trout attacked a Fat Boy winged teal, the rattled horns wrecked the silence of a warm, of rutting bucks, and of course, calm December afternoon. resonant blasts heating the blue-steel barrels of hunters’ guns. I love all those sounds; each has a place in my heart and stirs fond memories. But what I love most about spending time outdoors in December is not a sound at all. Mainly, I cherish the comforting quiet of our uncrowded bays, where I often find serenity in a silent inner sanctum, far from the clutter and clamor of the concrete jungle.
Kevin Cochran is a full-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has authored two books on the subject. Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut.
Trout Tracker Guide Service Phone Email
361-688-3714 KCochran@stx.rr.com
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STORY BY BILLY SANDIFER
Tyler Thorsen showing off a 7-1/2 pound topwater surf speck.
Let’s start with the best news and work from there. Last month we told you about the 12’-6” tiger shark that Alberto Zertuche caught and released from Bob Hall Pier back in August. Alberto called me a few days ago and notified me that the International Land-Based Shark Fishing Association had certified his catch as their All-Tackle Shark Release World Record. Talk about some bragging rights! I figure that will fill the bill. I told him how very proud I was of his accomplishment and that it would do a whole lot towards 18 | November 2011
influencing others to release big sharks. Alberto replied, “Hell Billy, you’ve been preaching catch and release to us for years and Sharkathon is all catch and release and it’s finally stuck with a lot of us.” I haven’t the words to tell you how very proud it made me for him to say that my efforts had played a small role in his decision to release that magnificent fish that is very probably close to one hundred years old. That is worth more to me than all the awards anyone could possibly bestow.
Jayden and Capt. Billy with Jayden’s reds caught on same cast!
I don’t have to tell anyone what this summer has been like for Texas and all its inhabitants. The worst drought on record combined with the hottest summer on record across much of the U.S.A. and Texas has taken a terrible toil. Wildfires have devastated thousands of acres and homes and my genuine heartfelt prayers go out to all those affected. Large areas of grass and pasture lands are without water and livestock and wildlife are suffering and struggling for their very survival. It’s no different on Padre Island. Badgers and raccoons have been found dead on the beach recently. They weren’t run over; they were simply unable to dig down to fresh water. Deer and coyotes are seen in the middle of most days searching for food and water. When the Padre Island National Seashore was formed there were existing wells the ranchers had dug that provided water to wildlife as well as the
Great time of year for big jacks in the surf.
Jayden Hakala; big ladyfish.
rancher’s cattle. They were filled in by NPS personnel for fear of someone falling in a hole, getting injured and suing them. For over 20 years I’ve pleaded the case for restoring them to NPS personnel so that wildlife could once again use them but my efforts have been to no avail. What I’ve never understood is that Big Bend and other National Parks utilize pre-existing manmade water sources and I can’t understand why PINS is treated differently than the other parks within the NPS. My Christmas has always been the last ten days of September as this time frame is typically the best overall fishing of the entire year and specifically it is when the peak of the annual tarpon migration occurs along our shoreline. We’ve lost the last three years to Hurricane Ike and red tides. This year we’re losing it to record breaking high temperatures and no substantial cold fronts having arrived yet. One mild cold front resulted in several days of TSFMAG.com | 19
when planning your trips. Beware of high velocity northeast winds as they will push the water to the dunes and could very well strand you down island. I’ll tell you one lesson learned the hard way in September. When you have water temperatures that you know are too high and light winds, avoid fishing days where the tide falls all day long. You’ll
Albert Zertuche and his pals struggling to revive the 12’-6” tiger.
quality fishing but it was short-lived and we are easily running a month late in our annual fish migration patterns. I’m really concerned about the fact that we have active red tides both to our north and south right now and if this heat continues much longer it is bound to show up here sooner or later. Yesterday was our hottest day of the year; an all time record for the date at 103 degrees. Our normal high on this date is 88 degrees. If you don’t think that impacts everything outdoors you are mistaken. We’ll still have some great fishing before winter sets in but with the lateness of its beginning it will be of shorter duration than usual and pass all too quickly. When we start getting some ReAL cold fronts, take time out to get out there and enjoy it. Watch your forecasted tide levels ever so closely and target the second day behind the passing of a cold front
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outboaRd CoVeRs
t-top boat ConsoLe CoVeRs
accomplish more cutting the lawn. Although well-known I tend to be a very private person and a recluse. As such it’s a bit out of character for me to share the following story with you but I think it’s too important not to. When I got out of the military in 1976 a Veteran’s Administration representative frankly told me I had some very real mental issues and other problems from serving two voluntary tours as a patrol leader in the jungles of South Vietnam. He suggested I file for disability with the V.A. and felt certain I’d get it. I declined and instead lived “down island” for 1 ½ years. I could NOT live in an urban setting. All these years I have never considered myself a part of society and have lived outdoors and had as little to do with my fellow man as possible and still survive. As the years go on I once again find it increasingly difficult to live in town and this time I did go to the V.A. for help. Twenty-one months later they have disabled me 70% and say I’ll be 100% disabled soon. They medicate the symptoms but the issues remain and always will. Two weeks ago both the V. A. shrink and my V. A. medical doctor during separate appointments told me that very frankly they had no idea whatsoever how I had survived this long and how I was still alive due to the amount of Agent Orange I had direct skin contact with and the amount of mental stress I had undergone. I quietly looked each of them in the eye and replied, “Well, I can tell you why. I’m alive because of Padre Island. It is the only peace I’ve ever known, it’s my church and it is the only place on planet Earth where I feel 100% at home.” Had I not had PINS to go to as a refuge I would have been dead long ago. No sad “poor me” story here. I have lived a wondrous life I would change with no one but the fact is I know there are lots of others like me . Maybe not to the degree in my case but people who depend on places like our Nat’l Parks and PINS to escape from the stresses of everyday life and would be lost without access to them. I have run into such people constantly over the years. How many fish they catch doesn’t even concern them. They just NEED to get away and go to PINS. The enabling legislation, Public Law 87-712 states that the purpose of PINS is: “To save and preserve, for purposes of public recreation, benefit and inspiration, a portion of the diminishing shoreline of the U.S. that remains undeveloped.” The Feds say it is a privilege to drive on the beach; not a right. But from the wording of that law it sure sounds like a right to me. A right worth standing up for and defending. Hang in there; better days are right around the corner. If we don’t leave any there won’t be any. -Capt. Billy L. Sandifer
Contact
Billy Sandifer Billy Sandifer operates Padre Island Safaris offering surf fishing for sharks to specks and nature tours of the Padre Island National Seashore. Billy also offers bay and near-shore fishing adventures in his 25 foot Panga for many big game and gamefish species.
Photo credit: Jimmy Jackson
Snowy Egret -Egretta thulasVery active feeder in shallow water. Present in Texas during March through October. Breeds on coastal islands March through August. Slender black bill and black legs with bright yellow feet separate the slim and dainty Snowy Egrets from the other white herons. Long plumes curve gracefully upward from the head neck and back during breeding plumage. Performs spectacular aerial displays in courtship.
Length – 24 inches Wingspan – 41 inches
Phone 361-937-8446 Website www.billysandifer.com
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22 | November 2011
STORY BY MARTIN STRARUP
literally a matter of minutes. We continued catching and releasing for about an hour or so until whoever had flipped the switch on got up and flipped it back off. Just like that it was over. We kept casting for probably another half hour but to no avail; it was a done deal and we knew it. We talked about that morning for a long time. The way it seemed we had everything in place yet nothing happened for a couple of hours, then everything happened at once. Why? I have no idea, none, zip, nada. I’ve played that morning over in my mind a hundred times and still have no clue. I’ve asked others about it as well and have gotten more than a few opinions: the fish weren’t hungry, the moon was not lined up properly with Mars, we were not holding our mouths right, we needed more wind, and my favorite, the fish decided on brunch instead of lunch. How about it you guys and girls? Ever had perfect conditions and the fish not cooperate, not even one single fish then all of a sudden it’s on like Donkey Kong? Did you dwell on it or just figure that was how it was and were just glad that the fish finally decided to give you some action? Not curious at all as to why they behaved the way that they did? I guess that what is bugging me is that I don’t know why the fish acted and reacted the way that they did. That could be some sort of million dollar question; after all Mike McBride once said that he pitied anyone who tried to figure out why something with a brain the size of a pea does anything. So the conditions were right. The wind, the water movement, the bait, the moon, the barometer, everything was in place that is conducive to catching fish according to all of the fishing shows that I’ve watched and the articles and books that I have read about fishing. Maybe the fish don’t watch the same television shows or read the same magazines and books that I do. Keep trying to figure them out. Be Safe.
Martin Strarup
Contact
You could barely make out the crab trap floats as we skimmed across the water and the rising sun was just starting to turn the eastern sky that beautiful shade of orange and purple before peaking its head above the horizon. We were headed back to where we had found fish the previous afternoon and I was following the track on the GPS that we had laid out on our way in after a great afternoon of fishing. We had high-fived each other when we woke up to a heavy dew and no wind at all and to say that our anticipation was high would be putting it mildly. We were almost drooling at what we knew would be the perfect topwater morning. I shut the motor down about 200 yards short of the end of the GPS track so that we could wade in to the guts where the fish had been holding the day before. Rafts of mullet were milling about and there was “nervous” water all around us. I watched my son cast in front of a large pod of mullet as I finished tying on a favorite floater. After ten casts or so apiece we were looking at each other with that “What’s up?” look. Sterling stuck with his topwater but I switched over to a soft plastic on an 1/8 ounce lead head. After about 20 casts, fanned all about the area, our expressions echoed our thoughts – the fish just weren’t there. The moon was quite visible now above the eastern horizon and a steady five mph breeze was coming form the southeast. The current wouldn’t sweep you of your feet but the tide was definitely coming in. We had bait all around us yet none was being chomped by snaggletoothed predators with yellow mouths. I really didn’t have a clue. We changed baits, we changed colors, we changed our retrieves, I’m sure that I saw Sterling spit on one of his baits and I uttered more than one prayer to Deity but nothing changed the fact that the fish, if any were there, simply were not interested. Not interested…yet. We waded back to the boat, had a cold drink and some Prasek jerky while discussing what our next move should be. Sterling thought we should stay where we were and I was of a mind to make a move in hopes of changing our luck. We talked for about fifteen minutes or so and then someone flipped a switch. About fifty yards or so off our port bow, bait began exploding, and within minutes there were audible surface bursts and slicks popping all around us. We eased away from the boat toward the closest gut and while the lure on my line was a last ditch idea only thirty minutes earlier my first cast resulted in that solid “thump” that we all like to feel through our fishing rods. Sterling was bowed up as well and for over an hour we steadily caught fish. In the Lower Laguna where we were fishing, the daily bag limit is five trout per person per day and those five went on the stringer in
Martin Strarup is a lifelong saltwater enthusiast and outdoorsman. Martin is also a collector and dealer of vintage fishing tackle and lures, especially those made in Texas. Email
Trouthunter@swbell.net
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STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE Several years ago I sat at a kitchen table listening intently to wise words offered by my good friend and mentor, Capt. Dickie Colburn. “Son, I’m telling you now, as Hunter grows older your days on the water will get shorter and that’s exactly the way it should work. If I ever find out that you skipped out on one of his ballgames or other activities to run a fishing charter you and I will have large problems…understand?” I can still hear his words as loud and clear as when he first spoke them. I often call Dickie and remind him of the conversations we’ve had and tell him that if he ever quits fishing he can take over for Miss Cleo on the psychic hotline because he has it pegged. Sure enough he was right. In the past several years as Hunter has grown up and become more involved in school, athletics, and everything else, my days on the water did get fewer but I wouldn’t trade or change a thing because of what I have learned both at home and on the water. Once I realized my time on the water was going to get cut way back I decided that if I was only going to fish half as many days that I would spend them doing exactly the style or type of fishing that I most enjoy and that’s sight-fishing for redfish in the expansive marsh country between and around Sabine and Calcasieu. I pored over satellite images, topo maps, and any other literature or information I could find. Countless days and hours were spent on the poling platform just exploring and learning the nuances of the whole area and I have only scratched the surface. I have been fortunate enough to have shared my boat with some great fishermen and I hope to continue that trend for years to come. This style of fishing is not for 24 | November 2011
everyone but I have had very few, if any, complaints once that first fish shows up. Now sight-fishing has its own set of rules or guidelines that are usually learned via The School of Hard Knocks. Understanding or getting a feel for how a fish will react or what their mood might be is half the battle. Being able to decipher the difference between a redfish wake and that of a sheepshead or big mullet is an art unto itself. I always get a kick out of how excited new anglers to this style of fishing will get. Show them one or two fish and all of a sudden they become “experts” casting wildly at every movement in the water. Soon enough they calm down and realize there is a method to the madness. First off, my position on the poling platform offers a much better look at exactly what’s going on compared to the angler on the front deck. Trusting in your guide is the key and following directions is paramount. I often ask anglers as we pole into an area to tell me how far away they think certain objects like clumps of grass or other targets are so I can get an idea of their distance estimation skill. Some folks like to be told distances in yards while others prefer feet. I have yet to have anyone ask to be told in meters but I’m sure that will probably happen one day. Hands down, the best judges of distance are bow hunters and golfers. These folks make it a lot easier for the guy on the poling platform. Another hands down winner as far as accuracy is concerned are freshwater fishermen, especially bass fishermen. These folks are so target oriented that casting to a specific point in front of a fish is second nature. I always make fun of these guys because they are so
The opposite body language occurs when you spook or blowout a redfish; they make a few strokes with that powerful tail and push a wake for all to see. Generally, when a fish blows out, eating becomes a secondary priority. But, never say never. I have seen a few snag an offering while making a hasty exit. My best success in these situations has been with weightless soft plastics like a TTF Flats Minnow, tube jig, or D.O.A. Shrimp. Evidently the opportunity to grab one last morsel, even in flight, is more than some of them can resist. These few tips are very basic but will put you solidly on the road to success if you employ them. The great thing about this style of fishing is the discovery aspect and how much you learn from each encounter. The opportunity to see your fish and how it reacts to what you do or what you present is a nearly perfect combination of hunting and fishing, the best of both worlds in my book. By the time you read this article I will have started a new chapter in my life as Hunter will have turned 16 and started driving. For those who might have hunted and fished with him when he was small that may come as a shock. It seems just yesterday we were catching croaker in the Sabine River and that was a big deal. The days of hustling him to and from school will be fewer so my opportunities on the water will increase. I’m not sure how I feel about all these changes but I know it’ll all be good. I guess I’ll have to sit down with Dickie again, he always seems to have the answers.
Chuck Uzzle
Contact
geared in to fishing a target. If we go by a stick or something else protruding from the water the bass fishermen have to throw at it, they can’t help themselves. I really enjoy having those folks on the boat because pinpoint casting is often the difference in catching fish or spooking fish. Saltwater anglers have been so de-sensitized to casting at a target that it takes a little practice for them to get the hang of this style of fishing. More often than not the saltwater angler is looking for more distance than accuracy so placing a lure in a tight area really seems foreign. Now here are a few things to remember when you get ready to try sight-fishing that will certainly up your odds of success. If and whenever possible, always know the direction your target is facing. A stray cast landed behind a fish is almost as bad as hitting him on top of the head and the results are very similar. Another no-no is casting to the rear of a fish and reeling a lure up behind them. This will lead to spooking 99.9% of the time. Redfish rarely if ever have their prey swim up behind them, they are usually running away, so the presentation is un-natural and almost never works. Lead the fish according to how fast it’s moving and pull your lure in front of it and hang on. Most of these approaches will be met with a serious strike but on occasion you will get a refusal. If this happens a more subtle lure approach may be needed so don’t be afraid to experiment. Read the fish’s body language in order to know what to do next. If the fish is standing on its head rooting crabs or shrimp off the bottom you need to get your lure down in front of the fish or wait until it rights itself in order that your lure will get his attention. It’s great to see them rooting around like that but you need to give them space in order to present your lure effectively. Now cruising fish, ones that are just easing down a shoreline, these are the guys that will crush a lure. These fish are in seek and destroy mode and will often rush a lure from as far as they can see it. I absolutely love to see them chase down a plastic frog like a Stanley Ribbit, a heart stopper for sure. These fish look relaxed, nothing jerky or abrupt in their movements, just smooth and purposeful.
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 409-697-6111 Email cuzzle@gt.rr.com Website www.chucksguideservice.net
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STORY BY RYAN VEURINK, MD
Ask my former college roommates and they will agree, my frugal (or as they will call it, “cheap”) nature likely had something to do with it. I’m not even too sure what sparked the fire in me to begin this process but, after eight years of sharing walls in apartment living, moving to a house with garage space was true freedom. Like many who share a passion for the outdoors I make my living with my hands and enjoy making something from nothing in my spare time. My life in the apartment and lack of aforementioned spare time severely limited my project size. It was during this transition time in my life that I was introduced to the world of fly fishing. I grew up wade fishing and still love the magical sound of walking a She-Pup during a calm sunrise. However, fly fishing from the deck of a small skiff, also called a micro-skiff, was fairly foreign. A guide friend of mine introduced me to a prototype bare bones lightweight tiller-steered skiff which poled flawlessly. Fortunately, we whacked the redfish those days, and I was introduced to an entire new way of chasing the spotted treasures of Texas. We hunted fish. My excitement for hunting and fishing merged together as stealth and accuracy were as important as reading the water conditions. I learned that simply shifting your weight on the deck of a boat in six inches of water during your cast is a surefire way to spook skinny water fish! I also learned about letting the fly sink into his strike zone and about keeping the fly moving to make a fish eat. I needed to repeat those days. But as much as I love being poled around all day, I wanted to learn to do this without the daily knowledge and experience a guide brings. I’m grateful to Capt. Scott Sommerlatte 26 | November 2011
for all those lessons learned (the hard way), but I wanted to do this on my own. I quickly realized a problem. These technical crafts with fancy materials and construction methods sported even fancier price tags. Resting on my frugal nature, I quietly dismissed the idea of affording one of these sleek fish stalkers. I began utilizing kayaks and other shallow water vehicles in an attempt to reproduce those days scorched in my memory. Disappointed by tangled fly lines and limited sight-casting perspective by being too low to the water, I continued the search for an alternative. Enter the internet and bateau.com, a Florida-based company dedicated to amateur boat construction of all styles. The lead designer heard the calls of its customers and engineered a shallow water poling skiff for stitch and glue construction. This was it! A home-constructed skiff on my timetable, mixing creative pursuits with outdoors. Kits are available, but I simply wanted plans for a more start-to-finish boat that I could claim as my own. The basic concept calls for marine grade plywood panels that are bent over frames into the proper hull shape and held temporarily together with copper wire or zip-ties. Thickened epoxy fills the gaps to hold the shape and the hull is “glassed” with biaxial tape and fabric. After the hull is flipped, the inside is glassed to create a composite fiberglass/plywood structure that is lightweight and strong. Internal stringers, frames, and buoyancy form are added below a sole to give internal structure. Decks are added, and finishing work begins. Like any project, the finish is what you make it. One can achieve a workboat finish with an exposed fiberglass weave, coated with latex
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porch paint, or alternatively spend hours seeking a yacht-like finish with expensive two-part epoxy-based paint. Similar to block sanding an auto body in preparation for painting, “fairing” can become a four-letter word. This is the process of ensuring a uniform base with epoxy fillers prior to priming and painting. In the beginning, I had one goal in mind: I wanted a production quality boat. I wanted to be stopped at the boat ramp and asked, “Where did you buy that boat?” Granted, this was a tall goal given I had only moderate woodworking experience, had never mixed an ounce of epoxy, and had never seen raw fiberglass. I spent more time seeking a quality finish than I did building and glassing the hull. Did I succeed? We’ll see next time I go to the ramp! The learning curve for epoxy, fiberglass, paint, and rigging a boat humbles a person. I threatened to use the chainsaw to make firewood on more than one occasion. Some of the errors were downright comical in hindsight. Amazingly, two parts epoxy resin and one part hardener will never cure no matter how long you wait. From gashing open my knee on a trim tab to having epoxy kickoff and start smoking in my hands, I truly have blood, sweat, and tears invested in the project. However, one thing I know after building from scratch, no matter how bad I messed something up, I could fix it!
28 | November 2011
Available online resources and the experienced online support from those who had built similar boats led me through my errors. Recently a group of about twenty builders from Texas and other parts of the U.S. met in Port O’Connor to show off their builds and spend a weekend trading tips. Look for this to become an annual event given its initial success. In the end I am a realist. I know most who read this will say “No thanks, I’ll go buy a boat.” I completely understand that this process isn’t for everyone. Once I caught the boat building virus, I became consumed with seeing this project through. I’m even considering another build. Although I did save thousands of dollars in comparison to those fancy skiffs, I’m glad I didn’t keep track of man-hours required to complete the project. Few things will make you appreciate the work that goes into a quality boat than trying to build one for yourself. My respect for those who make a living in this industry, in this economy, deepened significantly throughout the project. Having the TPWD game warden stick a set of Hull ID Numbers on the transom is a true sense of accomplishment, only matched by sliming the deck of the Mae Dawn with its first redfish. Happy building!
Getting the family involved... Dear Everett and Pam, I always enjoy the articles you publish encouraging people to get outdoors, hunting and fishing with their children. My boys don’t have much choice as the outdoors is our life. even at their young ages we have made so many memories outdoors as a family. On a recent fishing trip we put a twist on the family involvement thing; we took my mother. All my life I have enjoyed fishing and hunting with my dad but I had never taken my mother. We were staying at Rockport and planning a trip the next day down to Baffin. So at sixty-eight years young, I asked her to join us and she accepted. We went by Seaworthy Marine and bought her a one day license and everything was set. We got an early start and drove down to Bird Island. Being Mom’s first trip I debated whether to make the run to Baffin or to just stay on the Laguna. My oldest son decided it for us, insisting we go to his favorite spot that he calls “The Rocks”. After the long boat ride we drifted in quietly and stuck the Power Pole.
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My first cast to a sand pocket near a rock was hit immediately and I tried to hand the rod off to someone but the fish was swimming straight at the boat and I had to reel as fast as I could to keep it tight. Just when I thought it would turn and I could hand it off to my wife it turned again right toward the boat and surfaced just a few feet away. To everybody’s surprise it looked like a silver yardstick with black dots. Much confusion but ensued but somehow Amy (my wife) came up with the net and we landed the biggest trout of my lifetime; 31-1/4 inches. It could not have been more fitting with Amy, my boys Ty and Layne, and most especially my Mom and Dad (with an exclamation mark on Mom) in the boat with us. earlier this year she fought off breast cancer with strength like a teenager and here we were all celebrating God’s gift of the outdoors together with a trophy that will last forever. Unfortunately Mom has now been diagnosed with another form of cancer but thank Heaven it is very treatable and we all know she will handle it like a trooper. So to everyone who reads this; give your kids the gift of the great outdoors – and don’t forget to take your mom!
Billy Gerke - ForEverlast, Inc.
Thank You, The Joe and Chery Vaughn Family and
Vaughn Construction For all you do for our community.
Port Mansfield
STORY BY JOE RICHARD Coon-Pop with extra wiggle, a double-tailed twister-style worm with higher visibility tiger pattern.
Big tarpon jumps with a circle hook last September.
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November is the last month for catching Texas tarpon - at least for a while. There’s still time to catch that trophy, however, and the following provides a few pointers. Catch them now, or start dreaming about next season. First thing to remember: This is big-game fishing and a bristle of trout rods are completely useless unless you’re hunting small jetty tarpon close to the rocks. Except for specialty fly-fishing, big tarpon require heavier tackle. They’re strong, frequently crazy and even have different personalities. Fight several fish for an hour or more, and you pick up on this. A big, cagey tarpon that jumps only once will save his strength and gulp air at the surface to regain energy. He won’t wear himself out jumping, and may fight way past sunset, hoping you’ll give up, instead of him. That happened twenty-three years ago with our first Texas tarpon, hooked on a ridiculous eight-foot surf rod with big spin reel and new 20-pound line. Tarpon legend Tom Gibson gave me a seven-inch, orange Rapala diving plug with trebles removed and a big circle hook wired on top. While we were anchored it would require casting, thus the surf rod. The strike was amazing about twelve feet away, the huge fish tail-walked past the motor and Hit the dirt! Our two young sons dove into the cuddy cabin. I hung on, impressed that a 16/0 circle hook held tight with only 20-pound line. However…You can’t move a seven-foot tarpon around with a whippy rod, at least not while anchored. We didn’t care to move, with big tarpon rolling at point-blank range like dolphin. But pulling on this hooked fish was pointless, so we set the bowed rod in a holder, rigged up heavier tackle, and jumped or landed four more tarpon as the sun went down. After several hours, that bent
surf rod was finally dealt with in pitch darkness; Miss Amy pulled back and crack! The knot gave at the spool, leaving it empty...relieved to rid ourselves of that fish, we bird-dogged Dave Sullivan’s boat in inky darkness back to the dock, tarpon fans forevermore. Tackle After that fateful day we pursued tarpon with a passion, using our 40-pound kingfish outfits. We pretty much ruined that gear; Shimano TLD-15s and Ambassador 7000 reels were never designed for many hours of brutal work, using fairly heavy drags on tarpon measuring up to seven feet. Learning the hard way, we upgraded to Shimano TLD-20 and -25 reels, Penn 4/0s and a Penn International 30. We started with 40-pound Ande but found that 50 was better. It shortened the fight and the fish were often released quicker, getting us back on station for round two. When Tom Gibson was hunting
Even a small trout lure that wiggles can be rigged with a circle hook.
300-pound all-tackle world record tarpon in Africa, you can bet he used big-game reels and at least 80-pound line. A local lodge there might use Mickey Mouse tackle, but not traveling world record hunters. Rigging The key to catching tarpon today is using wide-gap circle hooks. Don’t pick the offset variety, which is slightly twisted from a true circle. For big tarpon, go with 14/0 or 16/0 circle hooks, since these fish have a mouth like a 5-gallon bucket. Gibson, who pioneered tarpon fishing with big circle hooks in the 1970s, favored a big, lightly rusted (tarnished) 16/0 circle hook that settled fully over a tarpon’s lip before digging in “like a can opener,” as he called it. Keep in mind you have to refrain from setting a circle hook. This usually isn’t a problem; the freight-train strike of a big tarpon can be so sudden, so shocking, you’re more inclined to hang on for dear life rather than “raring back” like Saturday’s TV bassin’ heroes. Keep in mind that tarpon hit so hard, they can swivel a bolted down stainless steel rod holder 90 degrees, launching your rod like a missile. In September, on our boat, we almost lost guide Curtiss Cash’s favorite tarpon rod, a seven-foot spinner (with backbone) and a Shimano 4500 Baitcaster reel filled with mono backing and then 100 yards of 65-pound braid line. But I happened to be sitting beside it and slapped down a gloved hand before it could launch. We followed with the boat, but that fish finally threw the hook; it would have been a double headache with the rod lost. We’d bolted on these rod holders in order to drift-fish sideways, keeping the lines spaced well apart. Leader Start with 80-pound leader and work up to 200. Ande offers 50-yard spools in a variety of sizes. A long, drawn-out fight with a big tarpon may result in 80-pound leader giving way, chewed through by a tarpon’s huge raspy sandpaper lips. In the open Gulf, we’ve seen 200-pound leader frazzled and well-chewed TSFMAG.com | 33
by tarpon, but it always held unless a cruel blacktip shark was involved. Instead of knots we use metal crimps that match the leader’s diameter. Curtiss Cash ties a strong loop knot to his hooks. A snell knot works as well, on lighter leader for smaller tarpon. At the other end of the leader, forget snap swivels. Use a barrel swivel---a strong smallish black swivel of 200-pound strength or so that hopefully won’t tempt the nearest Spanish mackerel (they’ll eat anything shiny.)
Not exactly Mickey Mouse tackle, but this cheaper Ambassador-7 reel is close to getting spooled off Matagorda Island in perfect autumn weather.
Lures Tarpon eat surprisingly small critters, which is why they’re so readily accessible to fly fishermen. The most effective tarpon lure used by regular fishermen are the popular Coon Pops, which are really just worm jigs, though dwarfed by the big circle hook attached on top. They capitalize on the fact that tarpon eat small wiggly critters. Set out five CPs with different colors behind the boat, bump-troll slowly or cast them at a rolling tarpon school and watch what happens---Louisiana anglers (where these lures originated) have been earning multiple hookups with huge tarpon for more than 20 years. To build Coon-Pops, cut off the curve of the jig’s hook with bolt cutters. Then, attach the big circle hook to the jig’s hook eye, using wire or a plastic tie-wrap. We recently bought a bag of small, orange 4-inch tie-wraps that seem ideal for Coon-Popping. Bait Somehow the majority of coastal fishermen, and even some tarpon anglers, haven’t figured out the basics of throwing a castnet. It’s almost a lost art, with marina bait easily available. Unfortunately marinas will never offer live 8-inch mullet, because they bruise and become listless within a few hours. The tarpon angler is well-advised to learn how to spin a castnet, rounding up live bait that no marina Biologist Bruce Ungar sets out a standard eight-inch mullet with circle hook through the lips. He’s using big tackle.
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can offer. It’s easy; buy a five-foot radius castnet and practice throwing at targets in your back yard. A paper plate, perhaps. Soon enough, mind and castnet become one and the net sails with great accuracy exactly where you want it. Even a smallish net thrown accurately will catch up to 20 sizeable mullet that most tarpon crave. Mullet and most baitfish often remain hidden however, but watch for ripples and jumps. That’s when simple blind throws along shorelines, in boat harbors, oilfield canals or even off the beach will suffice. Concentrate on throwing big circles, instead of “bananas” where the net doesn’t open. Mullet, menhaden, croaker, ribbonfish and sand trout are kept in the live well. Stock up; bull redfish, jacks, blacktip sharks and even poop-rustling gafftop catfish may hammer your bait supply. High-end spin tackle with reliable drag systems, able to handle 50-pound braid line, are now used on sizeable tarpon. This setup is used with 80-pound leader, for casting at rolling tarpon.
Basic Boat Tips Tarpon schools offshore generally do not like outboard motors. Serious anglers use a strong electric trolling motor to stay mobile around moving tarpon schools, and that certainly worked for us recently. Super-serious tarpon guys use inboard motors, because the exhaust exits above water, making these boats far more stealthy, especially when slow-trolling Coon-Pops. Jetty tarpon seem more acclimated to engine noise. A roomy 22-foot boat or bigger certainly helps in choppy weather. If you fish with small kids, a cabin offers them nap space and shelter from the elements. And regardless of boat design, adding strong, extra rod holders will help present a bigger spread of baits. When – We learned to look for Texas tarpon starting in May. Sure, President Franklin Roosevelt caught his Texas tarpon in April inside the Port Aransas jetties with the local Matthews brothers as guides, but it Boat crew with multiple tarpon release flags off the Texas coast. They’ve found an open water school in 30 or 40 feet of water.
Tarpon have been called, “The Man in the Silver Suit” for good reason.
wasn’t easy that early in the year. Keep in mind in 1937, thousands of tarpon were landed and killed annually at Aransas, so a local captain could scratch one up for a visiting president even in April. But May is better. We moved to POC on Memorial Day, and I managed to jump a tarpon that very evening while Miss Amy was unpacking boxes. (Somehow, that day, she wasn’t impressed.) July delivers big schools with thousands of fish from High Island to San Luis Pass, fattening up on menhaden. August and September are considered the prime months. Tarpon migrate south in autumn, though their pace varies according to severity of cold fronts. We always ended our mid-coast tarpon crusades by Halloween, ready for other pursuits, and didn’t follow them toward Padre Island. Where – Tarpon roam the entire coast and prowl the jetties, though only once in a thousand trips did we see and hook one at the Sabine jetties. Big tarpon at the Galveston jetties are also uncommon; they’re usually on the horizon however, or 10 miles beyond it. In November, Padre Island is your best bet this late in the season, and the farther south the better. At South Padre you can launch close with even a sturdy jonboat and fish inside the jetties, walk the rocks, or drift at the end where a former Texas state record was caught in 1972 around a big school of “rain minnows.” If new to the game or that area, try booking a half-day trip with a tarpon guide. Early November and calm weather can bring in clear, green water along Padre Island, and I’ve seen remarkable action around the Mansfield jetties during this time. As for the upper coast, in mid-November we did hook a monster tarpon while anchored and bottom-fishing in 50 feet within sight of the Galveston seawall. That fish weighed at least 180 pounds and spooled a TLD-15 reel. While desperately tying the end of the line to another reel, (there wasn’t time to hoist anchor), that tarpon jumped far away and new 40-pound line cut into Bill Wilson’s fingers before parting…Pow! He fell back with a scream, and I wrapped his hand with a fish towel… *
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Catch a big tarpon, and you’ll be a fan forever. But do the tarpon population a favor---don’t drag them into the boat for a hero picture. Take a photo when he’s alongside the boat, twist that circle hook out, and let him go. For taxidermy, measure the length and girth while in the water, release it and order a fiberglass mount that will last decades. Much better than a skin mount whose oil content later turns rancid, turning the entire fish an oily brown color. TSFMAG.com | 35
STORY BY JOE DOGGETT
Big wind can produce big fish, a lesson learned in Tierra del Fuego.
Excessive wind is a recurring issue that all coastal anglers must face. I am, of course, referring to the meteorological gusts, not the hot air spouted by outdoor writers. Some days, some regions, are worse than others. For example, the lower coast gets more wind than the upper coast. The Laguna Madre sees more whitecaps than, say, Galveston Bay. But if you want serious wind - I’ll give you serious wind. About 10 or 12 years ago, I made four expeditions to Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego, on the extreme southern tip of South America. We were wading a river and fly fishing for sea trout (sea-run brown trout). We were in freshwater but no matter; wind against a fishing rod is the issue here. Most days the sustained wind coming off the Atlantic Ocean and racing across the open vistas started at 20 to 30 miles per hour, but days pushing 40 were not all unusual. Occasional afternoon gusts topped 50 or 60. To put this in perspective, TDF is the only place I have visited where the inside handles on vehicles were fitted with short ropes to prevent doors from being ripped from hinges if opened against untimely gusts. Yet, each day we caught sea trout - beautiful world-class fish in the 10- to 20-pound class. Mind, we were fly fishing, not plug casting, so don’t stow your long rod and hide behind the lame “too windy” excuse when the forecast calls for a few chops on the nearest bay. We were successful because we worked with the wind; we used the lashing gusts to our advantage. A universal truth of angling is this: The wind is your friend. There are several reasons that support this 36 | November 2011
wisdom on Texas bays: First, snapping flags and honking gusts discourage shallow-water fishing competition. Small craft advisories might be posted, ruining offshore prospects, but fishable conditions usually are available somewhere inshore. Keep in mind that the typical primary bay offers 360 degrees of shoreline. Plus, you’ve got the options of secondary back bays (“lakes”) and various protected bayous and creeks. Decent water clarity is hiding somewhere, and the limited areas of favorable conditions often will concentrate fish. Study the wind angle, With plug or fly, wading with a gusting wind allows long casts to cover open water.
choice during a windswept drift. A slower crank will work you to exhaustion. If extreme wind or adverse angle conspire against a coordinated drift, the answer is simple: Hop over the side and wade. Remember, the water piling against an exposed shoreline encourages the action to move shallow. And, unless the wind has a tropical name, it will not uproot the firm-footed angler. You can move at your own pace, shuffling for the close, high-percentage casting position, no worries about blasting through the strike zone. Also, the rough surface masks your approach. The lower profile and lack of “hull slap” also help. This is a stealth mission - unless maybe you have the misfortune of walking up the back of a giant stingray cozied into the bottom. Wading the dropoff edge of a The drawback to wading is the lack channel is effective when gusting of long-range mobility. For this reason, wind hampers drifting or poling. pick a promising area, a stretch of several hundred yards you feel really calculate the tide level, and go find one of these privileged locations. good about. This could be a cove popping with mullet, or perhaps a When a cold front hits and the wind is gusting from the north or prominent shell point or a shallow reef. Perhaps best of all is the edge of northwest, seek out the deeper channels and holes that attract fish a channel dropoff. escaping the low-water flats and shorelines. Last summer, with southeast wind hitting 25 miles per hours and the If the wind is from the prevailing east/southeast and shingles open Laguna Madre cut to ribbons, several partners and I waded the aren’t being ripped from the nearest boat shed, do not discount the north edge of the East Cut near Port Mansfield and had good success windward side of a bay. The leeward side might look inviting, but the sight-casting with plug and fly to redfish along the shallow edges chops and currents piling against exposed shorelines push baitfish and between the spoil banks. The biggest drama occurred crossing the shrimp. Also, the whitecaps provide channel to reach the Mansfield harbor cover for roaming schools of speckled strictly Victory at Sea conditions. trout and redfish. Casting or spinning, drifting or This is assuming that the water wading, use the wind as a supercharger clarity is fishable. Chasing chops pushed for long chunks to cover water when by a whipping side-shore wind from the blind casting. A sweeping lob with a west or southwest is a rookie mistake; two-handed rod allows the payload and brown water almost certainly will line to billow with the breeze. Granted, prevail. But a gusting wind from the accuracy is not the best but pin-point open Gulf can carry surprisingly clarity presentation seldom is necessary when - especially during the cooler currents blind casting. of fall and winter. Suspended sediments The fly rodder using the standarddon’t seem to stir as easily. issue double-haul can modify the A steady wind is a strong ally for the technique by making a strong side-arm boater drifting the expanse of an open backcast to keep the line under the flat. You turn the boat broadside and wind. Well, sort of. allow the forces to carry you. An electric Then, during the forward stroke, trolling motor or a long push pole raise your rod arm with a powerful can tweak the angle, and if the pace sweep then stop the tip high and let becomes too fast a nylon drift anchor the wind catch and carry the open loop slows the progress. Tie the drift anchor of line. Slowly drop the tip as the cast amidships to maintain the broadside shoots. Again, accuracy is marginal but A push pole is handy for tweaking profile for safe, effective casting. you can throw a remarkable distance. a wind-blown drift for the best A high-speed casting or spinning reel This is assuming the coils of shooting casting angle on a sighted redfish. (say, 6-to-1 retrieve ratio) is the superior line are ready to rock, not tangled TSFMAG.com | 37
underfoot or caught under the hull (or, when wading, stretched downwind and choked in stringing grass). I believe this specialized fly casting technique is known as the “Belgian Loop;” whatever it is, we used it with great success for long bombs at TDF. Of course, with plug or fly, sooner or later you must about-face and punch casts into the gusts. With the fly rod, throw a high back cast (easy) then, with the strongest haul you can muster, slam that sucker low and hard across the whitecaps. If the rod blows up, don’t blame me; demand satisfaction from the over-priced builder. The plugger is best-served with a low, aggressive side-arm delivery. That, and a thumb educated at the post-graduate level. The freespooler has not be made that cannot backlash into the teeth of a whitecapping wind. Even under a cool thumb, don’t expect superior upwind Reds and trout often move distance. Just be satisfied to get a fishable cast out shallow to feed on bait pushed along wind-blown shorelines. there without having to “milk” the tangled spool. The sly plugger can cheat by improving ballistics with a heavy lure such as a compact Gusting wind and working birds go together. And give the blackspoon or a streamlined dog-walker, something that will drill with headed gulls credit; they have remarkable eyesight and can spot nearauthority into the gusts. The lead-head “tail” specialist can tandemsurface feeding activity even amid sandy chops. Poor water clarity is rig two jigs of appropriate size, in effect doubling the payload while not necessarily a trip-killer - as long as trout are chasing shrimp and the maintaining a suitable shallow-water sink rate. aerial sentries are on patrol. Incidentally, a safe, tangle-free way to carry a tandem-jig rig in a As a general rule (barring the arrival of a norther), early mornings are rod holder is to loop the leader of the lower jig around the reel handle, calmest. Onshore Gulf wind usually increases during the afternoons. then hook the two single hooks together and reel tight. Even if you’re Along the middle and lower coast, stringing surface grass in the not catching anything, you will earn major style points back at the dock. exposed primary bays can become a major issue. There’s a scientific Loose tails flapping and twisting in the wind are the flag of a rookie. explanation for this that’s over my head; just trust me, it happens. On the subject of flags, when they are whipping conditions can be These “wind rows” of sea grass tendrils and foam streaks are most prime for bay boaters working the birds. This especially is true during common during the mid- to late-afternoon hours. The narrow rows of fall. The sustained wind aids the gulls, allowing them to soar and hover cover can actually attract bait and predators but the grass can severely like kites over “popping” shrimp and schooling specks and reds. impact your retrieve. Avoid using plugs with dangling trebles; single-hooked lures minimize fouling. Low tides created by sustained Regardless of offering, do not cast across the wind north wind allow bay anglers to rows. You will bog, guaranteed. Aim for an open alley locate edges of oyster reefs and and keep each presentation fairly short; you won’t forfeit other fish-holding structures. the extra yards of a long lob mired in weeds. Incidentally, when a cast does foul, don’t waste time hand-plucking the hooks; just whap the lure on the surface several times to clear the fodder. Given the turbulent conditions, I don’t think any nearby specks or reds will mind. Who knows, the commotion might even attract them. Many thousands of popping corks and rattle corks have been sold under that premise. Wind does have its drawbacks, not of the least of which are stringing grass and brutal open-water crossings in shallow-draft boats. But consider the alternative of a slick-calm day under a bright sun. Nothing moves without serious effort and close-quarters work on spooky fish is very sketchy. The glassy bay may look inviting but many old salts will echo this truth: Near or far, the wind is your friend. 38 | November 2011
Solid trout last November on 5” Die Dapper by Bass Assassin.
J AY WAT K I N S
ASK THE PRO
November is the best of the best for fishing on the middle Texas coast. Due to the layout of the bay and its barrier islands, this section of the Texas Coast offers both the serious and the casual angler the opportunity to cash in the area’s best fishing of the year. The middle Texas coast is blessed with an abundance of various types of subsurface structures. We have tons of live oyster reefs as well as shorelines laden with pristine submerged grassbeds. Add to this a vast backwater marsh system and one has the recipe for unbelievable fall fishing. Understanding how changing weather patterns influence the fishery is the key to your success. Fronts arriving from the north will become more frequent so we can expect strong SE wind two to three days prior to the arrival of each system. Wind velocities in my experience are controlled by the severity and the speed in which the front is approaching. Dry fronts seem to pull more wind whereas fronts that bring rain seem to approach slower and draw less from the SE. This is not scientific data, just my own observations over the past thirty-three years. During the days prior to our frontal passages you will want to concentrate your efforts on scattered shell or submerged grass 40 | November 2011
structure along barrier islands and spoils. Windward spoil structure can be at its best prior to the change that is coming on the front. The beauty of the Middle Coast is the absolute abundance of these types of structures from basically East Matagorda all the way to Corpus Christi Bay. Rockport and Port O’Connor are right in the middle of all the best stuff this time of year. Due to the way the barrier islands and the spoil islands are laid out we have lots of water to fish when weather patterns are less than favorable. This, along with excellent fishing opportunities is why the area is home to so many guides and is such a popular fishing destination. Easy access and easy fishing, that’s the way we like it right! Don’t get me started on liking it easy. Just before a front arrives is often the best time to be in your favorite fishing hole. Understand that one needs to be aware of changing conditions and have the right equipment to get you back to the dock when winds begin gusting to 35 or 40 mph as the frontal line approaches. Use common sense and put the safety of your fishing partners as well as your own first and foremost. No fish is worth dying for.
Bait choices for winter fishing.
C ontact
Fronts push water onto windward flats, causing false high tides and creating ideal feeding conditions for upper echelon predators. Some of the best days for big trout in our area are under these types of conditions. Knowing the safe routes to and from these types of areas will allow you to stand in and fish through the blow. The push of water from the NE also causes what I call a “dumping” of the bay. This simply means the water dumps out of the bay resulting in lower than normal tide levels in a very short period of time. This little tale is hard to believe but I have three witnesses to vouch for it. One day a few years back in Spaulding we experienced just such a quick drop in the tide levels; it actually grounded my boat and literally left redfish on dry land in front of several sloughs along the Black Jack shoreline. We got out of the boat and walked up and picked up live redfish and walked them to water. Honestly, it was one of the most amazing sights I had ever seen. When this dumping effect starts there is only one place to be and that is in or at the mouths of the many sloughs that feed the marsh. Bait and gamefish will both be concentrated and the feeding frenzy that occurs is nothing short of phenomenal. It is the easiest fishing of the year and possibly the best bite you will ever witness in your lifetime. Wading is by far my preferred fishing method but in the month of November drifting the flats south of Rockport can be easy and very productive. Heavy seagrass on most of the flats in Redfish Bay holds the bottom sediments in place despite strong wind and the result is slightly sandygreen water with a good surface chop – absolutely ideal conditions for this area. Depending on the frequency of the fronts and strength of the winds, the waters on most of these flats gets almost too clear as water temperatures drop, making sight-casting terrific but fooling them more difficult. Following the fronts the tides are lower and fish are concentrated in the areas of sandy green water. Add to this the message Mother Nature is sending out about eating all you can in preparation for winter and it is “game on” lots of days. In November of 2010 I experienced better fishing in Estes and Redfish Bay and am hoping 2011 will be a repeat for us. With my 24 Haynie HO I can more easily drift with clients, using the trolling motor to position the boat on the proper drift lines in the flats. You know I would prefer to wade but when it gets right on the flats it does not get much easier. Bass Assassins and the Paul Brown Original Corky by MirrOlure will be my go to bait no matter where or how we are fishing. As mullet become more scarce the new Die Dapper swim baits and Vapor Shad series from Bass Assassin will become very productive. We caught some of our biggest trout and redfish last year on these new baits. I hope to see many of you in November when fishing the Rockport area. As always - keep what you need and release the rest. May your fishing always be catching. -Guide Jay Watkins Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading year-round for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay. Telephone Email Website
361-729-9596 Jay@jaywatkins.com www.jaywatkins.com TSFMAG.com | 41
CASeY SMARTT
F LY F I S H I N G
WATERPROOF More than 20 years ago, I watched my first video camera go belly up in the Guadalupe River. We were canoeing down a particularly nasty stretch with the camera stowed in an aluminum case in the center of the canoe. We got sideways in the current, the canoe flipped, and the camera box went downstream. The box bobbed in the current for a minute or two and then slipped below the surface. We retrieved the box further down the river… all 25 soaking pounds of it. Water poured out when I opened the lid. It wasn’t pretty. As an insolvent college student who really shouldn’t have spent the money on that camera in the first place, it was a hard lesson. But waterproofing technology has come a long way in 20 years. These days, waterproof cameras and waterproof cases are better built, more widely available, and more affordable than ever before. That’s great news for anglers and outdoorsmen who want to take their cameras on the water without an eminent fear of ruining them. This month we’ll take a look at a few cool waterproof cameras and waterproof cases designed to handle the rigors of the rugged and wet outdoors. Lifeproof Case for the iPhone 4 Not long ago, photos taken with the lowly cell phone were pretty crappy. But manufacturers have continually
video
Check out Casey’s Fly Fishing Video Library at www.caseysmartt.com
42 | November 2011
improved the onboard cameras in these devices and many are now quite good. When you consider the option of editing photos within the phone and the ability to instantly send the photos electronically, the modern cell phone becomes a strong player in the camera world. One inherent problem, though, with using phones on the water is the very real fear they’ll get wet and you’ll ruin the phone and lose all its contents. It’s a significant deterrent. But, if you happen to own an iPhone there is a solution. It’s called the Lifeproof case. The Lifeproof case for the iPhone protects the phone from water, snow, dirt, and shock (what the company calls the “4 Proofs”). Not only does the Lifeproof case provide a solid protective covering, it also allows the phone to remain fully functional. You can make calls, take photos, and operate the touchscreen normally while the phone is inside the case. The Lifeproof case is slim and unobtrusive and the build quality seems reasonably good, offering protection against water intrusion to a depth of 6 feet. I have been using a Lifeproof case for several months and it has performed as advertised. My only complaint is that the sounds coming and going through the phone are slightly muffled. This makes it a little tough to hear callers and
for them to hear you in windy conditions or when there is a lot of background noise. But, if you frequently carry your iPhone into wet locations it’s a fair trade. The Lifeproof case for the iPhone sells for $69.95. Waterproof Compact Point and Shoot Cameras Waterproof point and shoot digital cameras have been around for nearly 10 years and have become widely popular. Most of these cameras have solid plastic or metal bodies to protect against impact and access ports outfitted with O-rings or neoprene gaskets to protect against water intrusion. Generally speaking, these cameras are built to withstand dust, dirt, freezing temperatures, impacts from 6-foot drops, and water intrusion to depths of around 30 feet. New waterproof point and shoot cameras come out each year and it’s easy to get lost in the details and specifications when comparing them. I am not going to try to cover every waterproof camera on the market, but I’ll mention two very good ones- The Canon Powershot D10, and the Olympus Stylus Tough-8010. Both cameras offer similar protection against drops, freezing weather, and water intrusion. The Olympus Stylus Tough-8010 takes it one step farther and is crush-proof to 220 lbs. The Stylus is also slimmer than the Powershot and records 720 HD video, while the plump little Powershot only records video in standard definition. The photo quality in both cameras is good, but the Powershot is slightly better than the Stylus, with sharper images and more vivid colors. I have also found the buttons and controls on the Powershot easier to manipulate on the water or while wearing gloves. Overall you really can’t go wrong with either of these proven high-quality waterproof cameras. The Olympus Stylus Tough-8010 sells for around $250.00 and the Canon Powershot D10 sells for $299.00. GoPro HD Hero Video Camera I have owned a few different compact waterproof video cameras over the years and have been pleased with the performance of most of them. But hands-down, my favorite is the GoPro HD Hero video camera. This camera is seriously cool. The GoPro HD is housed in a small but virtually indestructible waterproof polycarbonate housing that can be clamped, strapped, or suctioned to nearly anything. The housing is waterproof to over 100 ft. and can withstand high drops and high-speed crashes. A selection of adapter mounts is included with the GoPro HD Hero camera and
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C O N TA C T
mounts are also sold individually. The GoPro Hero HD will record 1080p HD video at 30 frames per second and 720p HD video at 60 frames per second. The resolution and color saturation of recorded HD video is very good and the overall quality rivals any other compact HD video camera I have seen. The GoPro HD also records still photos at a resolution of 5 megapixels and can be programed to snap photos automatically at 2, 5, 10, 30, and 60 second intervals. The GoPro HD housing is equipped with a super wide angle lens and it captures a lot of real estate (170 deg on 720p and 127 deg on 1080p). This lens also has the inherent effect of “absorbing” camera-shake, so even under very rough conditions video lacks that disturbing “shakiness.” The GoPro HD Hero is a perfect
camera to mount to your kayak or to the console of your boat. It’s available in several different packages and is priced around $299.00. Ikelite Waterproof Camera Housings If you want the absolute best waterproofing protection for your camera equipment, consider looking at Ikelite’s line of waterproof housings. Ikelite manufactures top of the line housings for a wide array of compact and SLR cameras- think “Jacques Cousteau” here. These housings are exceedingly well built and rated for use at depths of well over 100 ft. Ikelite also makes strobes and a variety of other accessories to go with their camera housings. Ikelite housings start at around $300.00. A Word of Caution When it comes to waterproof cameras and housings, the reality is that most failures are due to user error or lack of maintenance. Seals and fittings will fail if they are not properly cared for, and manufacturers will almost never cover the cost of your camera if their housing fails. Sad but true. With that in mind, no matter which waterproof camera or camera housing you use, make absolutely sure you follow the manufactures operating, care, and maintenance procedures. This will help keep your equipment safe and sound for the long haul. Casey Smartt has been fly fishing and tying flies for 30 years. When he cannot make it to the coast he is happy chasing fish on Texas inland lakes and rivers. Telephone Email Website
830-237-6886 caseysmartt@att.net www.caseysmartt.com
Why go fishing when you can go catching instead? Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana is your gateway to big fish and big fun, courtesy of America’s best fishing guides and waters that are teeming with tuna, tarpon, marlin, snapper, redfish, speckled trout, bass and more. That’s why pros in the know call Plaquemines Parish America’s year-round fishing hot spot, with marinas in Buras, Myrtle Grove, Point a la Hache, Empire, and Venice. Don’t miss the boat to America’s best fishing. Plan your get away to big fish and big fun! Visit CatchFishLA.com.
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it’s catching!
B y We n d y H a m m o n d Ta b o n e | G a l v e s t o n B a y S u m m e r I n t e r n D i c k i n s o n M a r i n e L a b | D i c k i n s o n , Te x a s
FIELD NOTES
FOR THE LOVE OF FINS & SCALES… A typical summer intern is usually a youthful college student looking for summer funds and hands-on experience. I am not your typical intern. I am a former teacher and a mom who also happens to love anything with fins or scales. I graduated from college at age 22 with a BA in Biology, got married and had three beautiful children. I was a stay at home mom until my youngest child started kindergarten. Then I decide to start my “third” career. In 2009 I enrolled in graduate school to bolster qualifications for a future TPWD biologist position. I should receive my Masters in Marine Resource Management from Texas A&M University this year. A hands on internship will help me achieve this almost 20-year goal. On June 1, 2011 I hit the deck running. I accompanied the TPWD fish and wildlife technicians on the Research Vessel San Jacinto. We left the Seabrook Marina at 6:30 a.m. headed for the near shore Gulf waters off of Galveston Island. Several TPWD marine labs, including the Dickinson 46 | November 2011
Marine Lab, conduct Texas’ Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) by performing longline, shrimp and groundfish surveys. SEAMAP is a cooperative State and Federal program for collection, administration and distribution of fishery-independent data. Shrimp and groundfish surveys for SEAMAP are conducted following routine TPWD gulf trawl sampling protocols. Coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico are divided into a grid that is randomly selected for surveying. At each selected station, water depth, temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity and turbidity are recorded before sampling begins. A 6.1 m (20 ft) wide otter trawl with 38 mm (1.5 in) mesh is deployed and towed at 3 mph for 10 minutes parallel to the fathom curve within the selected stations. Our first catch yielded almost 2500 juvenile Atlantic croaker, along with spot, star drum, and a modest catch of brown and white shrimp. The first fifty of each shrimp species (brown, white and pink) and nineteen of the remaining individuals caught, were weighed,
measured and sexed. Vegetation, such as sargassum, caught in the On my first longline trip I was not very successful at holding, net was sorted and its density estimated. Data gathered during measuring, weighing and tagging very angry thrashing sharks. I these summer surveys are entered in a database. The data are used got the job done and kept all my fingers, but was not able to tag to monitor growth and distribution of groundfish and penaeid and successfully release as many sharks as I would have liked. But shrimp as one component of evaluating management measures in I had a plan. During the interim between my first and second the Gulf of Mexico. longline trips I became better familiar with the Although I have never tagging equipment and practiced my tagging My first two days on the job I worked been so exhausted, a combined 24 hours. I loved being on technique, to the amusement of my fellow fish the water and marveled that I was actually smelly, sweaty and sore and wildlife techs, on any dead shark I could getting paid to have so much fun. Every get my hands on. in my entire life, trawl catch that was hauled aboard seemed My second longline trip was much more I smiled the entire time. successful. like a present I couldn’t wait to unwrap. I We tagged and released a total of never knew what was going to appear on the deck, and I reveled as 25 sharks including Atlantic sharpnose, blacktips, bulls, and spinners. my knowledge and recognition of abundant and obscure species The highlight of my day came when a huge shark, estimated to grew with each catch. Although I have never been so exhausted, have been between 7-9 feet, bit completely through the mainline smelly, sweaty and sore in my entire life, I smiled the entire time. while the crew was attempting to get it close enough to the boat Things got even more exciting. The second week of July, I to land. We only got a shadowed glimpse of the behemoth before it accompanied TPWD staff aboard the R/V San Jacinto to conduct a disappeared back into the depths. longline survey. At summer’s end, as my last TPWD internship gulf trip drew to a Since 2001, TPWD has conducted fishery-independent scientific close, I could not help but feel like the luckiest girl in the world. No surveys of small and large coastal shark populations to assess the office or classroom could compare to the experiences and views I status of shark stocks. Standardized longline equipment is set at was privileged to have. randomly chosen locations. One hundred gangions attached to a one nautical mile mainline is baited with AtlanticNO mackerel 2011-TEXAS-brown-01.pdf FEBRUARY ISSUE BORDERand allowed NOVEMBER ISSUE NO BORDER Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local to soak (fish)for one hour. Biological data of species identification, TPWD Law Enforcement office, or www. length, sex and weight of captured shark species are collected and tpwd.state.tx.us for more information. recorded. Tagging is an important component of any successful longterm longline study. And that is where the fun part began.
Six NEW fish producing colors in five Paul Brown lures. Look for the Paul Brown Original Series Lures at a tackle dealer near you.
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Paul Brown’s Devil 08 Pink Silver
“Paul Brown’s Famous Originals!” Six NEW Paul Brown Original Series Colors.
11 Black Back/Silver Glitter/Pink Belly 12 Black Back/Pearl/Chartreuse Belly
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L&S Bait Company • 1415 East Bay Drive • Largo, Florida 33771 • Tel 727-584-7691 • www.mirrolure.com TSFMAG.com | 47
Science and the Sea
Boat Chris Mapp’s Tips Maintenance TM
Land-Loving Leapers If you think a fish out of water would be easy to catch, you haven’t encountered the Pacific leaping blenny. This acrobatic, slippery little fish can be found hopping and climbing around the rocky coasts of Guam. A diminutive 1½ to 3 inches in length, it spends almost all of its time on land – a curious and unique lifestyle among marine fish. To navigate its rocky habitat, the blenny has developed a tailtwisting move that allows it to leap from rock to rock with impressive distance and agility. But these land-loving fish are still bound to the sea for survival. The Pacific leaping blenny has gills, not lungs, and though it can breathe through its skin, it must stay moist at all times to do so. This restricts its hopping grounds to the challenging environment of the intertidal zone. Living here means the blenny has only a narrow window of time for foraging and breeding – between the drying sun of low tide and the crashing waves of high tide. Learning how this blenny adapts to such challenges may give scientists insight into vertebrate evolution. About 350 million years ago, marine fish thought to be the ancestors of modern land-dwelling vertebrates began making forays into terrestrial habitats. To study this transition, researchers have to rely mainly on fossil evidence. The Pacific leaping blenny, however, is a living, hopping example of how the precursors of land animals may have adapted to the demands of moving from sea to land.
The University of Texas
Marine Science Institute www.ScienceAndTheSea.org © The University of Texas Marine Science Institute
48 | November 2011
I get lots of calls from troubled boat owners. Some types of calls come on a regular basis and because of the importance I want to pass along some information that could be useful if it ever happens to you. The call I’m referring to usually comes either from the dock right after launching or when a fisherman tries to start his boat after the first stop during his fishing day. It goes like this: “I don’t understand it, the engine cranked right up first thing this morning.” The caller is almost always frustrated and sometimes a little panicked. Here are the symptoms of his boat problem: - engine spins normally but will not start. - Kill switch lanyard is in place, fuel tank is full, batteries are strong, gear shift is in neutral, and the engine has been running great in general prior to this problem. The first question I ask: “Did you squeeze the fuel primer bulb first thing before you started the engine this morning?” And…the answer is always, “No, I never had to do that before.” Priming the fuel system, pushing the choke button twice on older carbureted product, and making sure the engine is trimmed all the way down, is a must for the first engine start of the day. After that, just making sure the engine is trimmed all the way under is important because fuel runs down from the carburetor into the engine and this makes for a clean start without cranking the starter too much. The technology shift to fuel-injected engines does not require choking and the tilt position of the motor is no longer as important. However, there is still a link between the older and modern fuel system technology – you should still squeeze the primer bulb first thing every morning to fill the entire low-pressure side of the fuel system. Gasoline/ethanol blends have a tendency to evaporate in the fuel system at higher temperatures causing a vapor lock. Filling the lowpressure side of the system before the initial engine start-up of the day will eliminate this. Pay close attention to the fuel primer bulb. Inspect regularly for cracks and leaks in the bulb itself and also the fuel lines and connections. Anytime you install a new primer bulb make sure the arrow indicating direction of flow is pointing toward the engine. A properly installed and properly functioning primer bulb should become firm in your hand with two or three squeezes - not ten. One last tidbit: When calling from your cell phone on the water, duck behind the console or some other place out of the wind so I can understand everything you have to tell me! Have a safe and fun fall fishing season. Coastal Bend Marine www.coastalbendmarine.com chrismapp@coastalbendmarine.com 361 983 4841
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C O N S E R V AT I O N
SENATOR VITTER TAKES IMPORTANT STEP IN PROTECTING VITAL GULF HABITAT CCA APPLAUDS LOUISIANA SENATOR FOR EFFORT TO AVERT RIG REMOVALS
Coastal Conservation Association is applauding Sen. David Vitter (R-La) for legislation filed September 16, 2011 that will prevent rigs and other structures from being summarily removed from the Gulf of Mexico. In a knee-jerk response to the Gulf oil spill, the U.S. Department of Interior issued a directive in October of 2010 ordering that all non-producing rigs be plugged and any remaining structure removed within five years of the issuance of that directive. Sen. Vitter’s Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act of 2011 seeks to allow those structures to remain in the Gulf as vibrant artificial reefs. “More than ever we need to create habitat for marine life in the Gulf, not dispose of it,” said Sen. Vitter. “These idle rigs are serving a valuable purpose by supporting our fisheries, and it just doesn’t make sense to remove them. I appreciate the Coastal Conservation Association for bringing this issue to my attention so we can reach a reasonable outcome that benefits the fish and the fishermen.” “The structures are generally regarded as the largest man-made artificial reef in the world, providing habitat to dozens of species of fish and marine life, many of which are structure-dependent,” said Chester Brewer, chairman of CCA’s National Government Relations Committee. “Sen. Vitter, like all fishermen, realizes the critical connection between habitat and healthy fisheries, and we are grateful for his efforts to have those structures stay in the water as habitat and as popular fishing destinations for recreational anglers.” There are approximately 3,500 offshore structures in the Gulf of Mexico and the directive, known as the Idle Iron Policy, would impact roughly 650 structures that have not produced oil or gas within five years of the directive issue date of Oct. 15, 2010. “If nothing is done, a tremendous amount of habitat will be lost and the negative impact would be massive,” said Brewer. “In the aftermath of the oil spill disaster, it is understandable that the federal government felt the need to be seen taking action, but this directive could create far more problems than it solves. Sen. Vitter’s legislation serves as a reasonable approach to address the Administration’s concerns while maintaining this vital habitat.” The Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act would not allow platforms to be removed until an assessment has been completed to determine whether there are coral populations or other protected species in the vicinity of the platform, and to identify any species that have recreational or commercial value. If it is determined 50 | November 2011
that there is a substantial reef ecosystem around the structure, the decommissioning of the platform will be halted until it can be determined that removing it would not harm the reef ecosystem. The Act further states that companies are exempt from the requirement to remove platforms from the marine environment as long as the owner commits to converting the platform into an artificial reef either by initiating discussions with applicable state governments regarding potential sites for the artificial reef or by taking steps to provide for “reefing in place.” For reefing in place, the Act outlines several steps that must be taken, including removal of the top decks, maintaining an anode system and navigation aids, and paying into a Reef Maintenance Fund created by the Act. The Reef Maintenance Fund is to be available without fiscal year limitation and not subject to appropriation, for the maintenance of artificial reefs established under this program. “This is a well thought-out solution that works for everyone, but most importantly it works best for the marine environment,” said Brewer. “We look forward to working with Sen. Vitter and with Congress to get this bill passed as quickly as possible and keep those platforms in the Gulf as vital artificial reefs.” 2011 CCA Texas State of Texas Angler’s Rodeo (STAR) winners announced CCA Texas STAR had another successful year and many great stories emerged from the 2011 tournament. This year’s event was once again successful due to all of the great support from our sponsors including: Texas Ford Dealers, Tilson Home Corporation, Mercury Outboards, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Whataburger, NRG Energy, Fox Sports Houston / Fox Sports Southwest, Houston Community Newspapers, Comcast, Shoalwater Boats, Haynie Boats, Dargel Boats, Bluewave Boats, Texas Fish and Game Magazine, Houston Astros, Ozarka Spring Water/Nestle Waters North America, and Costa. Winners for 2011 include: STAR Kids Scholarship Division Flounder – 4 lbs. 2 ozs. Tabitha Rowland (10) of MacAllen, TX Sheepshead – 8 lbs ozs. Aven Campos (10) of Orange, TX Gafftop – 7 lbs. 7 ozs. Camden Ritchey (8) of Houston, TX continued on page 65
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A beautiful post-front November morning.
C A P T. S COT T N U L L
K AYA K F I S H I N G
LET’S DON’T BE QUITTERS
JUST CAUSE IT’S NOVEMBER! The season of change is finally here. I walked out the door this morning headed to the bay and turned around to grab a light jacket. Sweet. After such a long hot summer, the first hint of cooling sure felt good. Apparently the redfish agreed as they were schooled up and unusually aggressive. The odd part of the morning occurred when I met my customer at the launch. His off-hand remark caught me off guard, “I hope this is a good day, looks like it’s nearly time to put the yak away for the winter.” -- What? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised all that much. The crowds of summer months were already thinning prior to this latest little front. Hunting seasons, school and football seem to take a toll on the number of anglers hitting the water. Yet none of those were of particular concern for this fella. He simply had in his mind that his shallow water kayak fishing was coming to an end just because of a little cooler weather. This couldn’t be further from the truth. My favorite fishing months are the last three on the calendar. What’s 52 | November 2011
It isn’t always about redfish.
Not all November days give you ice cream.
not to like? The oppressive temperatures of summer no longer threaten heat stroke during a full day of fishing, not to mention that in the cooler water the fish feed like a bunch of piranha. Later in the day while taking a break I decided to delve further into his reluctance to fish during the latter months. His first response was that he prefers chasing reds in shallow water and always thought that
the fish would head deeper at the first signs of cooler weather. In his mind sightcasting was a warm weather activity. The truth is that I’ve successfully targeted reds in extremely shallow water every month of the year. The superheated water of summer actually makes it more difficult. Hot water doesn’t hold dissolved oxygen very well which leads to sluggish fish. The reds will still be there, but they’re not always cooperative. Cooler water and higher oxygen content speed up their metabolism. I’ve seen a lot of really good casts refused during August and some pretty sloppy ones rewarded with thumping strikes during October and November. The added bonus is a more spirited fight from your quarry. Now I’ll be the first to admit that there are at least a few really miserable weather days on the horizon. However, those early season fronts are usually brief and followed by a run of beautiful calm with clear skies and mild temps. Bide your time tinkering with your kayak and tackle during the worst of it and be ready to exploit the ice cream that follows. I personally enjoy fishing on wild weather days. One of my best trips last year occurred during the passing of the first hard front. The northwest wind was howling as it pushed the tide well below the
TSFMAG.com | 53
predicted level. The marsh lakes completely drained leaving nothing but mud flats and a few scattered puddles. Every mullet, shrimp, crab and minnow had to pack up and leave. Unfortunately for them their only refuge was the deeper water of the bayou drains where every redfish in the marsh was waiting. It was the most chaotic feeding rampage I’ve ever witnessed. Once we got that myth busted the real issue came out. He admitted to being somewhat of a wimp when it comes to being cold out on the water. He was also concerned that wearing waders in
the kayak wasn’t safe. He couldn’t figure out the best way to remain dry and comfortable. Kayaking into the teeth of a norther or even during the cold days behind the front may not sound like the safest of activities, but with a bit of planning and preparation you can pull it off safely with relative ease. The planning starts the day before the trip. In this age of the internet a fairly reliable weather forecast is right at your fingertips. I’ve got several sites bookmarked and check them often. In time you’ll come to trust one over others. My personal favorites are Weather Underground and Wind Guru. The effects of the wind on water levels varies all along the coast. In my home waters of Galveston Bay the pumping southeast will cause higher than normal water levels while the strong north or northwest of an arriving front will drive the levels lower. Once you have a handle on what the wind will be doing it’s time to start going through your list of launch locations for the safest and shortest route to the area you want to fish. If I’m headed to explore an unfamiliar area, a quick check of Google Earth can confirm whether there are any hiccups in the route where I might get exposed to too much wind. You’ll also want to be prepared for the dropping water levels. More than once I’ve overstayed an area only to end my day slugging through a muddy kayak dragging exercise. It is pretty amazing to I’ve found reds feeding ridiculously witness the total draining of a marsh over a period skinny in every month. of just a few hours.
54 | November 2011
The next step is deciding what to wear. Safety should be your top priority. Being wet and cold is not only miserable, but can be extremely dangerous. Outdoor clothing has come a long way in the last decade. Breathable waders and rain suits as well as synthetic clothing are the answer to staying comfortable in all kinds of inclement weather. Everyone has a different thermostat so there is no “right” answer for exactly what to wear. My advice is to dress in layers and add one more than you think you’ll need. It is far better to remove an unneeded layer than it is to arrive to feeding fish and find you’re one level short.
It is amazing how a drop in water temp brings out the best in redfish.
C ontact
Wearing waders in a kayak is admittedly a touchy subject and there is a feeling among some that the waders will act as an anchor dragging you to the bottom. That just isn’t the case. If you’ll snug a belt over the top of your waders the air trapped inside the waders will allow you to float. Everett did a test on this very subject last year and published the results along with photos in this magazine, I believe it was the May 2010 issue. He got into the pool with his waders and a belt cinched around his chest. Not only did he easily float, he tried to submerse himself and was not able to stay under water. In the event you should fall out of your kayak, the waders combined with your PFD won’t let you sink. Yes you’ll still be wet and cold, but if you don’t panic and have practiced re-entry you should be fine as long as you are wearing proper clothing. This is where you’ll come to appreciate the properties of synthetic clothing. Even though wet, this clothing will still provide some level of insulation. Cotton clothing will not. I cannot stress enough the dangers of wearing jeans, cotton shirts or cotton based jackets on the water during cold weather. These items will absorb water, cling to your body and draw out your body heat at an accelerated rate. As an added precaution, it is also a good idea to pack a dry bag with a change of clothes. The option to get out of the wet underlayer could extend your day on the water or at least make the paddle back to the truck more comfortable. As much as I like having the marsh all to myself this time of year, I hate to hear folks giving up on fishing just because we turned the page on the calendar. Give it a try and I think you’ll start using the DVR to record those football games instead of sitting on the couch during some of the best fishing our coast has to offer. See ya out there!
Capt. Scott Null is a devout shallow water fisherman offering guided adventues via kayak, poled skiff, and wading. Telephone Email Website
281-450-2206 scott@tsfmag.com www.captainscottnull.com TSFMAG.com | 55
S C O T T S O M M E R L AT T E
ACCORDING TO SCOT T
THE PERFECT SPORT It has taken way too many years for me to recognize a couple of important things in regard to my chosen profession. One is that I cannot control the weather. However, if I ever learn how, my rates will increase exponentially. The other thing I have learned is that I have no control over the abilities of the people who step onto my skiff for a day of fishing. One might say though, if I was to somehow learn to impose my will upon the weather, I could no doubt also learn to create the “perfect sport” to stand on the bow of my skiff. Now, we all know that the dreams and aspirations mentioned above will never come true unless the Good Lord decides he needs a little help. And, I can assure, if 56 | November 2011
he ever did, there are much better people out there to fill that billet than yours truly. But, let’s just say that the Man Upstairs was taking orders…. Well first off, she would be gorgeous! I bet some of you laughed. But seriously, all kidding aside – what if? If I could in fact order up the perfect sport, the first and most important thing I would ask for is someone who truly loves angling and all that goes with it. I see way too many anglers, more so on other guide’s boats than mine, who do it for the glory of saying look at what I just killed. It is not about the challenge of taking one of God’s creatures or even the beauty of the surroundings. For them it is about drinking beer and killing things.
Fortunately for me, I rarely have to deal with this kind of person. Next on my list of wants would be a person that is serious about angling. By serious I mean; fishing is a way of life not just a pastime. Now I know this is difficult for a lot of people because many have to work to support their adventures to the coast but, I do in fact have a couple of sports who despite having real jobs, live, eat and breathe fishing night and day. And, their dedication is reflected in their ability and competence while standing on the bow of my skiff. And, while I know this one is actually implied in the above, I still think it is an important, stand all by itself, aspect of the perfect sport. Anglers should take the time to practice with their equipment and become proficient. Very few things are as disheartening for a skiff guide than to witness anglers blowing shot after shot at easily obtainable, aggressively feeding fish. How about anglers who show up at the dock with all of their equipment rigged and well maintained. Yep, pretty sure that one would be on the list of “optional attributes” too. Over the years I have spent way too much time rigging gears while watching redfish tailing away and have seen way too many fish lost because of poorly maintained reels freezing up when a hard-running fish takes off. Here is another quality that I would really like to see as an option on my order form – “willing to go in less than perfect conditions”. Like I mentioned above, it is highly unlikely that I will ever learn how to control the weather and, despite all the training the TV weather people receive, they can hardly forecast the weather accurately. In short, the weather is rarely perfect and it requires anglers to be diverse. Believe me when I say, I do not like it any more than the next guy when the wind blows and the clouds roll in but, some days you just do not know what is going to happen and you just have to go for it. I cannot tell you how many times I have sat at the dock after cancelling a trip only to curse the weatherman for being so crappy at his job. So, what if you are out on the water and conditions are less than perfect for throwing a fly to tailing fish? Well the sport I would order up would break out the spinning rod or the baitcaster and start grinding. There is no shame in catching a fish on a plug, jig or even bait. Some of the best anglers in the world, who incidentally prefer fly fishing, routinely leave the fly rod in the rack and pick up either a spinning or casting rig. I often wonder what makes other anglers, with less skill and ability, so special in their own mind that it is beneath them to do so. Moving down the order form I would be checking boxes such as – sees fish well – has good sea-legs – pays cash – tips big – and last but not least – never cancels. I know I am reaching with these last few but, what the heck, it is of course only a dream sheet. Now, in the spirit of the season – to all my family, friends, customers, and to all of you who take the time to read and consider the words I put in these pages every month, I am grateful for you all and hope that you all have the greatest of Thanksgivings with your loved ones.
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Scott Sommerlatte is a full time fly fishing and light tackle guide, freelance writer and photographer. Telephone Email Website
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Nice red that fell for a popping cork rig.
JAKE HADDOCK
YO U T H F I S H I N G
GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS,
AND POPPING CORKS The other day while I was fishing I started thinking, why do we fish? What drives a person to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars just to have the chance to catch a fish? Is it the catch itself that drives us? Maybe just being out in the wide open, or is it just simply all about spending time with friends and family? Yes I like to fish. I might even say I love to fish. And I
would say that I love to catch fish till my arms are so sore I can’t even hold them up. Sometimes it’s not all about the catch, but it does help when you catch fish. I see fishing as more of a get away from the world. Like your own little slice of Heaven. I don’t know about any of ya’ll, but when I haven’t been fishing in a few weeks I start getting anxious. I crave the sights and sounds. When I’m on the water, the feeling of fighting fish, and the sound of a running boat engine run through my veins like a drug. So I guess you could even say I’m addicted to fishing. Some may even go as far to say they need fishing to keep their sanity. Recently I went on an adventure to the Galveston Bay complex to cure my cravings. I guess you could say Galveston is my home fishing grounds, since it’s way closer to the house than the mid-coast and POC is. Anyway, I was taking advantage of a group of fish staging back up in some muddy back marsh due to cooling Popping cork at work – make some noise! water temps, when I think I finally figured out what I like about fishing. The trip wasn’t anything
58 | November 2011
special, but it was just the fact that I was does. So we artificial guys shouldn’t be out on the water with good friends, the discriminated against by other hard core weather was tolerable, and we were artificial users for throwing a soft plastic catching fish. They were small fish at that, under a popping cork. (Just thought I in fact most were undersize. What made should clarify that a little.) the trip fun was the camaraderie. When I In case you decide to try soft plastics go fishing with people I can’t joke around under the popping cork here a few rigging with while fishing it’s not fun anymore, tips I have figured out. First and foremost, even if we are catching big fish. However, the cork itself, try to stay away from the even though it’s not all about the catch in braided wire and mono-rigged corks. Over this scenario it does help that everyone is time the shaft will wear down and snap. The hooked up and having a good time. firm wire shafts are preferred, especially the A tactic my buddies and I like to use while weighted ones. As for the leader I go with 12 just going on a fun trip is the popping cork, lb. test Hard Mason. Don’t let the size fool you usually with some sort of a scented soft plastic this leader material is very stout. (Also note under it. The popping cork method just flat as far as I know the only place to find Hard The rig is simple to build yet highly out catches fish. It won’t just catch small fish, Mason leader line is in the fly fishing section effective in calling up the fish. big fish, or just a certain species. You will catch at Fishing Tackle Unlimited.) Then tie on trout, reds, flounder, and everything in-between, big and small. about a one and a half to two foot section of leader (depending on Therefore everyone is constantly hooking up, or loosing a fish or the depth of the water). Next, tie on your preferred lead head, and something. This is the type of fishing that builds camaraderie. finish it off with your favorite scented soft plastic. Now you’re ready The popping cork often gets a bum rap as a fishing tool. Simply to catch many different species all on one rig. Pop, pop, and stop, because of the cork connotation, lots of folks relate it to live that’s all there is to the retrieve. It’s a very simple rig to use and you bait fishing – you know “pot licking”. Its true people do use the can have lots of fun while catching many different fish. Next time popping cork to “pot lick” with live shrimp, and if that’s the way you you need a getaway, you may want to hit up your local marsh with a like to fish that’s fine. I personally have nothing against live bait few close friends, grab a few popping corks and have a fun filled day fishing. I just think people shouldn’t jump to conclusions because on the water. the cork doesn’t make it “pot licking”, the live bait on the hook
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Atlantic spadefish on submerged rig structure. * All photos by Capt. Michael Miglini.
MIKE JENNINGS
TEXAS NEARSHORE & OFFSHORE
Sometime back I wrote about our Texas Rigs to Reefs Program (TPWD website has more info) and the challenges it faces with the increased pressure from Washington to remove all idle production platforms from the Gulf of Mexico. Since that time I have been approached and questioned almost daily it seems by people concerned about the rig removal and wondering if anything can be done to slow this process down. With the amount of attention it has received I wanted to take the opportunity to pass on some new and somewhat encouraging developments. In just a few short months many people have taken notice of the destruction of our offshore de facto reef system and it is finally getting some much needed attention. The unprecedented rate of rig removal has been nothing more than a poorly planned and hastily executed kneejerk reaction to the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion and oil spill. A directive issued by the US Department of the Interior in late 2010 called for the removal of all rigs no longer in production, giving the oil and gas industry five years to complete 60 | November 2011
the removal. This directive gave no consideration to the ecosystems that were being destroyed in the process. Recently in Austin I had the good fortune to be able to participate in a sit-down Q&A with a representative of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, or (BOEMRE) as that group is often referred to. This is the government agency tasked with overseeing a large portion of the rig removal, and reefing. The meeting was held in a room filled with concerned yet semi-upset recreational fisherman and that led to a
Part of a dismantled offshore production platform headed for salvage.
push to save our rigs comes from Capitol Hill in the form of a newly proposed Act. The Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act of 2011 (S.1555) proposed by Senator David Vitter of Louisiana, would go a long way toward slowing this removal process and saving our Gulf habitat. The Act would allow for assessments to take place and investigate the overall impact on not only the fish that rely on the structure, but also investigate the amount and types of coral and other marine species that have claimed theses rigs as home. This Act even goes as far as exempting oil and gas companies from the removal requirements set by the US Department of the Interior in 2010; as long as the company will commit to reefing the platform and initiate the process with the appropriate state agency. The Act is something that I personally have spoken about with several representatives during a recent trip to Grouper are commonly found on rig structure. Washington and the response has been favorable. I fear though that with the current political environment in our rather confrontational atmosphere that in my opinion made the capitol and the budget issues being at the top of their list, it may just BOEMRE representative somewhat reluctant to be as talkative as I had get overlooked. So to answer the earlier question concerning what hoped. Throughout the entire meeting the two most notable pieces we can do to slow the process of removal, my best answer would of information that I came away with was that unless something is be to take steps to encourage our congressional members to move done, they are set to remove around 200 rigs in 2012 and by their forward with the Rigs to Reefs Habitat Protection Act (S.1555). own estimates they figure that the explosives used to sever the legs The two organizations that have taken the bull by the horns in kills approximately eight hundred fish per rig removal. To say the least this Issue have been the Saltwater-fisheries Enhancement Association that last number got everyone’s attention. (SEA) and the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) . The CCA has A more recent and somewhat encouraging development in the added a link on their website under the Grassroots Action Center
TSFMAG.com | 61
used to remove the rig. After the well is plugged and the topside is removed, the Jacket, or legs would be left standing in place, still extending about 20 feet above the water line. This approach would essentially preserve the current ecosystem throughout the entire water column. The long term maintenance of the platform to include anode replacement and navigation aids and equipment would be covered by the monies previously placed in the trust. The rigs reefed in this manner would cause no more of a navigational hazard that they do while in production and would allow the thriving ecosystem to remain undisturbed. Only time will tell exactly which if any of these measures will slow or stop the removal of the rigs but This issue has definitely raised a stir throughout the fishing community and now even Congress seems interested in pitching in to grant the fishermen and the ecosystems some relief.
The colorful rock hind also benefits from the structure rigs provide.
Captain Mike Jennings is a professional charter captain with more than 25 years offshore experience. Mike is the owner/operator of Cowboy Charters in Freeport TX and is known locally for running further and fishing harder for his clients.
C O N TA C T
where we can all add our names in support of this piece of legislation. Another project that has been launched just recently is called Save The Blue. This ambitious project attempts to redirect the manner by which platforms are treated when they reach the end of their production life. Save The Blue would set up a government directed trust. The first thing done would be to evaluate the ecosystem that is in place and allow the current owners to transfer title and liability to the trust, along with the funds equal to the amount that would be
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979-864-9439 texassportfishing@gmail.com www.cowboycharters.com
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continued from page 50
Academy Sports + Outdoors STAR Teens Scholarship Speckled Trout Division Upper Coast – 7 lbs. 9 ozs. Sterline McIntosh (14) of Houston, TX Middle Coast – 7 lbs. 5 ozs. Benjamin Koehler (17) of Marion, TX Lower Coast – 8 lbs 6 ozs. Carter Goyen (13) of Alvin, TX STAR Teens Scholarshp Inshore Division Flounder – 5 lbs. 3 ozs. Christopher Ford (15) of Galveston, TX Sheepshead – 8 lbs. 15 ozs. Robbie Laskoskie (17) of Kemah, TX Gafftop – 7 lbs 6 ozs. Brittany Leatherwood (14) of Nederland, TX Speckled Trout Division Upper Coast – 9 lbs. 3 ozs. David Elmore of Baytown, TX Middle Coast – 8 lbs. 14 ozs. Michael Leach of Corpus Christi, TX Lower Coast – 9 lbs. 10 ozs. Nolan Casey of South Padre Island, TX Offshore Division Kingfish – 55 lbs. 7 ozs. Barry Shaneyfelt, Jr. of Dickinson, TX Dorado – 44 lbs. 12 ozs. Darrell Rittiman of Cypress, TX Ling – 84 lbs. 0 ozs. Robert A. Kirschner Inshore Division Flounder – 7 lbs. 2 ozs. Robert Goode, Sr. of Alvin, TX Sheepshead – 9 lbs. 4 ozs. Ramon Zapata of Baytown, TX Gafftop – 8 lbs. 4 ozs. Jerome Ard of Lumberton, TX Texas Ford Dealers Tagged Redfish Division 1st – TA329 06/2/11 Roy’s Bait and Tackle - David Holt of Denison, TX 2nd – TA263 06/04/1 Indianola Fishing Marina - Paul Resendez of Port Lavaca, TX 3rd – TA326 06/11/11 Woody’s Sports Center - Zach Crawford of Rockport, TX Note: 12 tagged fish were caught, 3 are winners and 9 did not qualify. TSFMAG.com | 63
C A D E ’ S C O A S TA L C H R O N I C L E S
CADE SIMPSON
Our fishing adventure this month takes us to Galveston’s East Bay to try our luck for redfish. Good friend and fishing partner, Mark Campbell, is joining me for a day of kayak fishing. Where Dig out your Hook-N-Line Fishing Map and come along! Connecting to Galveston Bay and Trinity Bay, East Bay is a section of water on the northern side of Bolivar Peninsula. On this outing we chose to access the bay from Crystal Beach, Tx. More specifically, the Stingaree Marina in Crystal Beach was our home base. When It’s no secret – late summer and fall is a great time for pulling in redfish on Texas’ saltwater bays. With the summer season coming to an end the air temperatures are still hot, and the bite is even hotter. Autumn’s 64 | November 2011
Mark landed some dandy reds right along the edge of the grass.
pleasant temperatures only make it better. Tackle and gear I generally bring three rod and reel outfits on the kayak. The rods range in length from 6’6” to 7’6” and are of the medium heavy to heavy action type. I use baitcasting reels loaded with mono-filament line ranging from 12-17lb test. To my preference, I do not overload the kayak with an abundance of fishing lures and other terminal tackle. It has proved much more efficient to gear up for the specific trip I am on, filling only a specific tackle kit I bring on the kayak. Depending on the location, I will change out lures accordingly. For this trip, my kit was filled with a few topwater lures, various spoons and slabs, Rat-L-Traps, artificial shrimp, jig heads and plastic minnows of a few varying colors, and a few other related items.
Where to eat and sleep Mark and I live within a couple hours drive from Crystal Beach. We opted to drive in the morning of our trip and return late that afternoon rather than turn the trip into an overnighter. For the angler planning a multi-day trip, lodging at the Joy Sands Motel in Crystal Beach seemed the best in the local vicinity or if you don’t mind a short commute before and after fishing, 30 miles up the road in Winnie TX there is quite a selection: La Quinta, Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn, to name a few. For camper owners, Stingaree has RV spaces available. For a place to eat, Stingaree Marina Restaurant takes the prize
again. A long day of fishing makes a body hungry and Stingaree Restaurant has the solution with a full seafood menu and the Down Under (downstairs) specializes in burgers, pizzas, po’ boys, etc. For those who prefer live bait, you will find a couple of bait camps along Highway 87 and Stingaree has live bait year round. They also have a fish cleaning station open to the public. With tackle, ice, cold drinks and snacks you could call them a fisherman’s one-stop shop. The other angles Although our focus was on redfish from the kayak, there are plenty of other angling options in the Crystal Beach area. With a shallow running boat, covering a lot of water in and around Yates Cove and Big Pasture Bayou would be a blast. Of course with just about any type of boat you can get out to the deeper parts of the bay. Just across the highway from Stingaree is the Gulf beach; a major hot spot for surf fishing. Rollover Pass, a channel that runs from East Bay to the Gulf is a very popular target for bank fisherman. All in all, Mark and I had a great fishing experience in the marsh off East Bay. We fulfilled our goal of reds from the kayaks, putting another good memory in the books and bringing home some choice fillets for the table.
Contact Info Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-386-7863. Stingaree 409-684-9530. TSFMag wishes to thank Hook-N-Line Fishing Maps for permission to reproduce their material in this article. www.hooknline.com
C ontact
Hitting the water Launching from the marina we headed north across the ICW, hugged the grass line on our right and turned east into what is called Yates Cove/Big Pasture Bayou. With the northeast wind on our backs, we were able to cover the span of the cove with minimal paddling. This allowed for easy fishing along the way. Watching the action of the bait as well as catching a glimpse of an occasional tail or the back of a red, we concentrated our presentation along the Stingaree Marina is a grass line on the south side great place for accessing of the cove. I positioned Galveston East Bay. myself to cast and retrieve parallel to the grass line in front of me. Spoons and my ‘Traps proved to be the lure of choice for the redfish. Given the murkiness of the water, I mostly threw a gold spoon. I didn’t have any golden Rat-L-Traps on board with me, but the chrome Trap worked just fine. Given the shallowness of the water we were fishing I ended up removing the front treble from my Rat-L-Trap to prevent it from catching so much crud on the bottom. At first skeptical, my worries were soon eased as misses were not an issue without the Rollover Pass is front hook. enormously popular, We worked through the even in pouring rain! cove and into some of the deeper cuts and channels through the marsh. It was no problem getting our limits on reds. We even managed to pick up a few trout and flounder along the way. It’s a good day when you land a “Texas inshore slam”.
Removing the front hook worked like a charm.
Telephone Email
936-776-7028 Cademan11@sbcglobal.net
Find me on Facebook to follow along in my outdoor adventures
TSFMAG.com | 65
STEPHANIE BOYD
F I S H Y FA C T S
DOLPHINS First off, let's eliminate some confusion on the topic. Although the terms "dolphin" and "porpoise" are often used interchangeably, these marine mammals, in fact, belong to two distinct scientific families (dolphins: Delphinidae / porpoises: Phocoenidae), and porpoises are not found naturally in Gulf waters (or the coastal waters of bordering states). The main differences between the two are that porpoises have spade-shaped teeth, no beak, and a triangular dorsal fin (when they have one); dolphins have cone-shaped teeth, usually a beak, and a hooked or curved dorsal fin (when they have one). To put it in perspective, dolphins are about as closely related to porpoises as redfish are to cobia.1 So that porpoise that ate half the fish you were reeling in? Definitely a dolphin. Actually, in this respect, fishing around dolphins is similar to fishing around sharks or barracudas. At some point, you might lose a catch to their appetite, though this happens infrequently with dolphins as sharks are much more often the culprit of stolen catches. Dolphins will also frequently follow commercial fishing vessels to prey on unwanted catch that is discarded or fish protruding from the nets while they are still in the water. They'll tolerate high levels 66 | November 2011
of disturbance, noise, and pollution for the advantage of an easy food supply.2 However, our similar tastes in seafood often lands dolphins on the wrong side of the net. All cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) are protected in the U.S. from hunting and poor commercial fishing techniques by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), but this doesn't protect them completely from incidental take.3 Dolphins are caught in a variety of fishing gear, including gill nets, purse seines used for tuna catch, and shrimp trawls. They are also vulnerable to pollution, habitat alteration, petroleum resource development, boat collisions, and other human disturbances (such as feeding and swimming with).4 Though dolphins do, on occasion, appear friendly and inviting to swimmers and boaters, it is important to have as little interaction as possible. Besides being illegal to feed, touch, harass, or harm wild dolphins, excessive human contact can cause wild dolphins to lose some of their natural wariness needed for survival. Plus, dolphins in the wild do bite! They can be unpredictable and aggressive, just like any other wild animal.1 An unusual habit among cetaceans that can occur as a result of negative human impact or natural causes is
stranding, when a dolphin (or whale, or porpoise) beaches itself out of water, without the ability to return under its own power. It's unclear as to why all strandings occur, but possible causes include parasites, disease, choking on ingested objects, wounds from gunshots or boat encounters, difficulties in birth, starvation, pollution, net entanglements, misfunctioning sonar, and panic.1 Of the numerous species of whales and dolphins noted on the Texas coast, the bottlenose dolphin is by far the most common. This is a relatively robust dolphin with a comparatively short beak and a sleek, streamlined body. The skin is smooth and rubbery. Coloration varies somewhat: the top can range from pale gray to slate gray with tinges of green, brown, or purple; sides fade down into a white, pinkish-white, or light gray underside. There are 40-52 sharp, conical teeth in the upper jaw, 36-48 in the bottom. Bottlenose dolphins have more flexibility in their necks than other oceanic dolphins because five of the seven neck vertebrae are not fused together as in the other oceanics. Adults grow from ten to thirteen feet, males being larger than females, and average life expectancy is twenty-five years, though they have been known to reach fifty.4 Female bottlenose dolphins seem to be sexually receptive most of the year and often initiate the courtship and breeding behaviors. Just before mating, a male will rub the female and may exhibit an "S-curve" posture, head lifted and tail flukes pointed down. Though they can breed year round, data suggest that in Texas waters, peak breeding occurs from March to May, which is also the peak time for calving since gestation is a year. Females give birth to a single calf (multiple births being very rare) every two to three years. A newborn calf ranges from three to four feet, a third or more as long
as its mother, and is usually born tail first to prevent drowning.3 Birth may be assisted by an "auntie" dolphin, though it may be male or female, and this dolphin is the only one allowed near mother and calf. Studies suggest that, like humans, there's much learning involved in motherhood. Calves are darker than adults, and newborns sport several vertical, light-colored lines on their sides as a result of fetal folding. These lines disappear within six months. A mother whistles continuously to her calf for several days after birth. This acoustic imprinting teaches the calf to identify its mother. Calves nurse up to eighteen months but will stay with their mothers three to six years, learning how to be dolphins. Females sexually mature at about 7.5 feet (five to twelve years); males mature at 8-8.5 feet (ten to twelve years).5 Bottlenose dolphins are active predators and eat a wide variety of fishes, squids, and crustaceans, though mullet constitutes a large part of their diet in Texas bays.6 Feeding usually peaks in early morning and late afternoon, and throughout the course of the day, an adult eats approximately four to five percent of its body weight, about forty to eighty pounds. Prey is swallowed whole or torn into swallowable chunks. There are several hunting strategies. Individually, a bottlenose may slap a fish out of the water with its tail to stun it, dig in the sand for hidden prey (located by the dolphin's trusty sonar), snap up bycatch from fishing boats, or even lunge onto shoals and sandbars in pursuit of a panicked fish. Often they hunt in groups, pressing schools of fish into tight balls and taking turns zipping through or herding them into the shallow waters of a sand bar for easy pickings.5 During winter, bottlenoses seem to prefer hunting in coastal Gulf
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waters or deep-water passes (shipping channels and such) while in the summer, they feed often in shallow seagrass habitat.2 Occasionally, bottlenoses are someone else's dinner. Their predators include tiger sharks, dusky sharks, bull sharks, and very rarely, orcas. An individual dolphin is less likely to succumb to this fate if he or she is part of a pod, the coherent long-term social groups dolphins form. Pods in Texas waters generally consist of two to fifteen bottlenoses, though in the Gulf, pods may merge to form herds of several hundred individuals. Pod size is affected by habitat structure and tends to increase with water depth and openness. Composition is based largely on age, sex, and familial bonds. Dolphins are highly social with each other: cooperating in feeding, protective duties, and nursery activities (even so far as calf baby sitting).7 Communication comes in varied forms: squeaks, whistles, body language (including leaps as high as twenty feet in the air), jaw snapping, tail slapping, and head butting, just to name a few. They alert each other to danger, point out the hot spots for food, and even work as scouts for the rest of the pod by investigating novel objects or unfamiliar territory.7 There may be social hierarchy among the individuals of a pod. Dolphins show aggression by blowing bubbles from their blowholes, biting, or dragging their teeth along another's skin. Bottlenoses may aid an injured pod mate by vocalizing or physically supporting the dolphin. Each dolphin has its own signature whistle, its name, you might say. All ages of bottlenoses will chase each other, carry objects around, toss seaweed or fish to each other, use "toys" to garner attention‌ Some of this activity may be training or practice to catch food, but no one really knows what's going through their minds. Bottlenose dolphins have larger brains than humans, but the section
concerning intelligence is smaller. Probably the most well-known dolphin sense is echolocation, high frequency clicks, whistles, barks, groans, trills, grunts, squeaks, etc. which act as the dolphin's sonar. Through echolocation, a dolphin can decipher the shape, size, speed, distance, direction, and even some of the internal structure of an object in the water.7 These noises serve a dual purpose of communication and navigation. It is theorized that most of the dolphin's vocalizations originate in the nasal sac (dolphins lack vocal cords). As might be expected of an animal using echolocation, dolphins have phenomenal hearing, twice as many auditory nerve fibers as humans. But something's amiss: they don't hear through their ears! (Or not very much anyway; there is some debate among scientists as to how much.) Most of the sound reception takes place in the lower jaw. A fat-filled cavity in the lower jawbone conducts sound waves to the middle ear (not readily connected to the outer ear), inner ear, and on to the auditory nerve. This method of hearing is more effective for localizing sounds under water. As for their other senses: good eyesight with possible color reception, sensitive to touch, very limited smelling capacity (no olfactory nerves), taste‌ unknown, though they do possess taste buds and fish preferences.5 They generally will hold their breath for eight to ten minutes at a time. Bottlenose dolphins are commonly seen in bays, estuaries, and ship channels but are certainly not limited to Texas waters or even the Gulf. They're found worldwide in tropical and temperate areas (no cold waters, please). Though only one species of bottlenose is recognized, there seem to be two ecotypes (forms): the coastal ecotype, adapted for warm, shallow waters with a smaller body and
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larger flippers to dissipate heat, and the offshore ecotype, with blood qualities better suited for deep diving and a larger body to conserve heat.3 The second most common dolphin in the Gulf is the Atlantic spotted dolphin. As the name suggests, it doesn't get around quite as much as the bottlenose. Much of what we've covered with the bottlenose dolphin also applies to the Atlantic spotted, so we'll just cover the differences, starting with looks. The Atlantic spotted dolphin, also called the Gulf Stream dolphin, is rather small (5-7.5 feet), chunky, long-beaked, and well, spotted. In general, they go through five color phases: 1) newborn calves are dark gray with a white belly and NO spots, 2) color divides: dark top, light belly, still no spots, 3) dark spots begin appearing on belly and lower sides, about four years old, 4) light spots appear on top and upper sides, and 5) dark underside spots merge into almost a solid color near the tail, with pink shading near the forward part of the belly. Throughout, the beak is black except for white lips and a white tip; both eyes are circled in black with a connecting black line across the beak. The older a dolphin, the more spots it has. The dorsal fin is tall and curved; the flippers are small and pointed. They have almost twice as many teeth as bottlenose dolphins.4 The social behaviors are similar to bottlenose dolphins, including a pod hierarchy, whistled communications, baby sitting, etc. In fact, sometimes pods of both species will join up. Breeding/ calving occurs in the same season. Sexual maturity is reached between six and eight years of age, or about 6.5 feet in length. Gestation is about twelve months; calves nurse for eleven months, and moms give birth every two or three years. Sound familiar?4 Hunting strategies can be individual or group oriented, and food preferences range from small fishes (such as herring, anchovies, and flounder) to squid, eels, octopi, and crustaceans. Echolocation, hearing, and other senses all comparable to bottlenoses (and generally speaking, across the Delphinidae family). Atlantic spotteds are often described as acrobatic swimmers due to their frequent breaching (jumping out of the water and landing on their sides or backs), leaping, and other aerial activities. They are capable of very fast swimming and commonly approach ships to bow ride (riding the bow pressure waves of a boat).8 Their dives generally last six to eight minutes. This particular species of dolphin is very timid, though they have been known to approach humans in the Bahamas. Both bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins have a position of apex predators in their ecosystems, a position shared by most of their cetacean cousins. They keep their prey populations in check, and since they often feed on the old and sick, they also keep the prey populations healthy. In addition, bottlenoses may turn out to be a good indicator species, a species that embodies or magnifies the characteristics of a particular region. An indicator species can be sensitive to one or more variables of interest, such as salinity, pollution, extreme conditions, etc. Since bottlenose dolphins have a diverse prey base, they concentrate contaminants in their bodies when there are high concentrations of contaminants in the water, and therefore are a good indicator of pollution levels. As always, despite whatever annoying or endearing qualities we find in these animals, they, too, have their specific niche to fill in the ecosystem, keeping it productively status quo.
Footnotes (1) "Frequently Asked Questions," Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, 25 September 2011 <http://www.tmmsn.org/ about/faq.htm>. (2) K. S. Maze and B. W端rsig, "Bottlenose dolphins of San Luis Pass, Texas: Occurrence patterns, site-fidelity, and habitat use," (Texas A&M University at Galveston, Marine Mammal Research Program: 1999). (3) "Bottlenose Dolphin" & "Atlantic Spotted Dolphin," The Mammals of Texas - Online Addition, 25 September 2011 <http:// www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/turstrun.htm> & <http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/stenfron.htm>. (4) "Bottlenose Dolphin" & "Spotted Dolphin," American Cetacean Society, 26 September 2011 <http://www.acsonline.org/ factpack/btlnose.htm> & <http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/SpottedDolphin.htm>. (5) "Bottlenose Dolphins," SeaWorld Education Department, 26 September 2011 <http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/ bottlenose/home.html>. (6) "Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)," Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 25 September 2011 <http://www.tpwd.state. tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/dolphin/>. (7) "Creature Features: Bottlenose Dolphins," National Geographic Kids, 25 September 2011 <http://kids.nationalgeographic. com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/bottlenose-dolphin/> (8) "Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis)," NOAA Fisheries: Office of Protected Resources, 26 September 2011 <http:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/cetaceans/spotteddolphin_atlantic.htm>.
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Diablo Paddlesports is a TX-based manufacturer of hybrid kayaks that allow you to sit or stand to paddle or pole. With two boats in the lineup, we want to focus on the new products that will compliment our line. The first is a retractable skeg to improve tracking. Easy to install, this will be a must have for all Diablo owners. Next is the Flydeck that covers from the nose of the boat to the rear of the footpegs, and prevents fishing line from fouling on any catchpoints. The most recent is a new duck blind that allows an elevated seat with the blind closing around their neck and then pops open when birds approach.
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TSFMAG.com | 71
DICKIE COLBURN
DICKIE COLBURN’S Sabine Scene We are still waiting on wetter days and have only enjoyed one modest cold front thus far that was strong enough to purge the marshes and force a few shrimp into the lake. The next front, Lenzi Childress hopefully it will be a wet with a nice slot red one, should thin out the taken on Sabine. love bugs and get the bite going in the open lake. We have been fighting some unseasonably strong south winds of late that have stacked the water up in both the bayous and the river and all but eliminated any thought of fishing the lake. The good news is that we have been catching the heck out of trout, reds, and flounder in those areas in spite of the high water. Even the size of the trout has improved drastically over the past couple of weeks and limits of 16 to 20-inch specks
Sabine
Dickie Colburn is a full time guide out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has 37 years experience guiding on Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes.
Telephone 409-883-0723 Website www.sabineconnection.com
have been much easier to come by. It is not at all unusual for three fishermen to catch 50 to 75 trout in a half day, but a large percentage of those trout were only14-inch fish until recently. By the time you read this article we may very well be back in our Frogg Toggs and slow rolling Corky Devils and Maniac Mullets on the deep breaks, but at least for right now there is no better choice of lures than a three-inch swimbait. There are a lot of good ones on the market, but I have done the best recently with an H&H Usual Suspect. It comes in a bunch of very good colors, is wellbalanced and is a little more durable than most of the others I have tried. Any time the fish move up on the break or tighter to
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the shoreline we are catching trout, slot reds and flounder bouncing an Assassin Sea Shad rigged on a quarter ounce head off the bottom or fishing it under a Kwik Cork. Chicken on a chain, Texas Roach, Stinky Pink and Bug Juice have been the most productive colors. When fishing the Sea Shad under a Cork I have been using the new Shiney Hiney jig head with the fluorescent eyes Capt. Adam and it has been a game changer on even with a solid the tougher days. flounder taken This will be our first fall with the Die on a swim-bait. Dapper and we already got a sneak preview last spring as to just how deadly the big paddle tail can be when rigged on a 1/16 ounce head and cranked at a snail’s pace in 2 to 4 feet of water. Coffee ground Cove, the flats behind Stewt’s and Sidney Island and the flats between Johnson’s Bayou and Green’s are made to order for this bait. Depending on your perception of good and bad, the only negative will be keeping the reds off the lure before the trout find it! There is no sense in attempting to list all the lures that will work if the gulls are patrolling schools of reds and specks from Blue Buck to East Pass and they should be. It can be an all day bite and there is very little in your tackle box that will not work. Topwater lures like a She Dog, Spook or
Little Dummy usually produce not only the most explosive strikes, but the largest trout in the schools as well. By the end of this month, depending on how cold it gets, we could also be earning a few shots at stripers in the river. When we aren’t fortunate enough to find them blasting away at shad on the surface we vertical jig deep structure with Hoginars and spoons. It has never been a bite that you can hang your hat on but when they show up it is a memorable fishing experience! It won’t take you long to catch your limit of flounder this month, but at least you can look forward to catching some big ones as we have enjoyed a great flounder bite this entire year. Live finger mullet or mud minnows are hard to beat, but they will wear out a GULP shrimp or four inch paddle tail like a Sea Shad or Flats Minnow as well. Hopefully, your first two will be solid fish and you can then chase trout and redfish as catch and release can be hard on flatfish. The catching can be so good this month that we invariably tend to think that we have finally figured all this fishing stuff out. Count your blessings, keep a few to eat and put the rest back to make it a little easier once reality sets in!
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MICKEY EASTMAN
MICKEY On Galveston
Galveston
Mickey Eastman is a full-time fishing guide out of Baytown, TX. Mickey has 26 years guiding experience on the Galveston area bays and is the founder of Gulf Coast Troutmasters, the largest speckled trout tournament series of all time
Telephone 281-383-2032
74 | November 2011
Howdy folks, Capt. Mickey here to bring you another update on fishing in the Galveston Bays region. Well October is out of the gate and it’s finally starting to look like fall! We’ve had about four cool nights in a row and the fall pattern is beginning to come together. No bird action to speak of yet but hopefully we have some shrimp in the marsh and when we get these water temperatures down they will move toward the bays. We are also anxious to see the flounder run get going. November is one of our best months for numbers of trout as well as quality and we are just now beginning to see some big fish pulling up on the flats. What we are looking for is the water temperature to stabilize in that magical 68° to 72° range to encourage the fish that have been holding deep all summer to move up shallower along the shorelines. One of the beautiful things about fall is that there is usually plenty of fish available for everybody to catch – deep water drifters, channel fishers, waders, etc. There’s enough action in enough places that you don’t see everybody bunching up and fighting for a spot. The way the fall patterns emerge and whether or not they will remain stable has a lot to do with the shrimp migrations. It all depends on how many shrimp we have. A really great fall season is one where
there’s lots of shrimp and they come out of the marsh gradually – say over a five or six week period – not all at once. It’s gonna be anybody’s guess how many shrimp are in the marsh with all the high salinity in this drought. I know that over in Louisiana they are starting to leave the marsh so we shouldn’t be too far behind. They’ve had more moisture over that way and their crop may be stronger than ours but I’m still anxious to see what happens in Calcasieu to get an early read on what might happen over here in a few weeks. I know what you’re going to say, “There’s Ol’ Mick playing that broken record again,” but the fishing across the Galveston System is holding about as good as I believe I have ever seen it. What else can I say, though; it is what it is! Yes we had to contend with some blistering wind at certain times but in between blows when the conditions got right we have just flat caught the fire out of fish. East Bay has just been full of fish, Trinity is full of fish, lower Galveston, West Bay and all the Tri-Bay area (Chocolate, Christmas, Bastrop) have all been good. All the bays are just healthy and full of fish which leads me to be very optimistic looking at our late fall and winter fishing season. Topwaters are starting to work a little bit for shoreline waders and we are doing pretty good in
general working the deeper outskirts of the flats. These fish went from that hot weather dead-in-the-middle deep water pattern over shell to finally heading into shell in four to five feet and now the deeper edges of the flats. This is an indication to me that these fish are going to go skinny and it is just a matter of when. If you can be there when they pull in it’s going to be awesome. Let’s talk some more about that shrimp migration puzzle and the rest of the bait picture. If the shrimp turn out to be scarce then the emphasis will be on the mullet much earlier than normal. Typically, mullet do not become the primary forage until about mid-December but don’t bank on that being the case this year. Just thinking out loud here. We have a transition to go through before anything will be set in stone as they say. Everybody has just been smoking the reds…everywhere. Reports say they have been holding shallow and deep. I am hearing a lot of stories, some guys are saying knee deep and less, I haven’t caught any that shallow or fished that shallow yet because I have had very few wade fisherman but I have been working my boat on the flats and throwing into knee deep water. I’m not seeing them that shallow yet. The basic question regarding redfish is how many do you want to catch? If you ride the trolling motor along the waist deep edges of the flats and avoid spooking the schools with your big engine I believe you can have a 50 fish day anytime the conditions are anywhere close to being right. These schools have been feeding daylight to dark on little bitty shrimp that have just lately come out of the marsh. Even those big old cownose rays are in there with the redfish working those tiny shrimp over. November looks to be a good month, whether or not it will be
one for the record books will depend on bird action and of course that goes back to the shrimp migration. East Bay has some scattered bird action but they’re not working the class of fish we are interested in just yet. A lot of small specks and tons of little sand trout. I was talking to James Plagg the other day, he went over and worked these birds all morning and ended up with about a half-dozen keepers. It’s not time yet, it needs to get a little bit colder. Our skipjacks and gafftops are finally starting to leave, showing up down along the Galveston beachfront and that’s a good sign. Speaking of the beachfront, when it is laid down and green, they are still catching good numbers of trout but the big bonus is the redfish. Bull reds are just everywhere from Sabine Pass all the way to San Luis Pass. There are just tons of big bull reds being caught in the surf right now. That should hold for another three weeks, at least. Reports are coming out that croaker are showing up in the Intracoastal Waterway and along the Texas City Dike. The flounder run will be next. Soft plastics and spoons are working pretty good right now. I had a guy the other day throwing spoons and he caught a lot more fish than the rest of us on plastic. It just tickles me sometimes how one lure will work so well one day and then it’s another lure the next day. Fish can’t seem to make up their mind in these transition periods. I have a feeling the best fishing of the entire year is only a couple of cold fronts away from happening. I know it’s still dove season and the archery deer season is underway but my prediction is that you need to leave that stuff alone for a few days and hit the water. I think we’re in for a record month.
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BILL PUSTEJOVSKY
CAPT. BILL’S Fish Talk
Matagorda
Bill Pustejovsky is a full-time guide at Matagorda, TX. Bill fishes year-round for trout and redfish in all the Matagorda Bays. Wading and drifting for trophy trout and reds are his specialty.
Telephone 979-863-7353 Email CaptBill@GoldTipGuideService.com Website www.goldtipguideservice.com
76 | November 2011
I have always kept detailed fishing logs and my normal practice is to pull them out every couple of months and review past year’s weather patterns, feeding patterns and fishing success to prepare for the days ahead. Having done so recently it stands out that November is almost always a month to remember it terms of numbers and quality of the trout we catch. While not a “trophy” month in the purest sense I am pleasantly reminded of some very memorable catches my clients and I have made over the years. November is a study of the effect of weather on fish behavior. It usually begins mildly with weather and feed patterns quite similar to October but long about the middle of the month it develops a character all its own, and depending the frequency and severity of the fronts arriving from the north country, Thanksgiving and the final week can actually be a tad wintry. Judging by their feeding habit during November it seems as though the fish are on steroids. The reason for this is that trout, reds, and flounder sense the approach of winter and “feed up” as they say in preparation for it, the same as all wild creatures. All Texas bays will come to life again. Our slowly
cooling water temperature sends a signal which activates our fish populations to gorge their bellies on just about anything they can get their mouths on. As a matter of fact, these fish become maniacs— pulling, jumping, and fighting, more so than any other time of the year. I can’t wait to get my line stretched. One of the greatest things about the fall season is that there are plenty of places to fish this time of year. East Matagorda Bay will be prime for wading shorelines (north and south), reefs, and chasing birds. Some local hot spots include Little Boggy Lake,
Willard Kirby and Sandy Johnson brought along a few “essentials” for a day of bay fishing. Capt. Bill said it might have set a new world record!
Big Boggy Lake and Austin Lake, all David Niles waded East of which feed into the East Matty Matagorda with Capt. Bill system. These lakes all lie to the recently – 25-inch trout north of the Intracoastal Waterway Hot Chicken Bass Assassin. and depending bait migrations and tide levels (tide level varies greatly with each passing front draining the marshes and tidal lakes) can prove very productive at times. Don’t overlook the Colorado River, both upper and lower, along with the Matagorda Jetties. The lower river and jetties are always salty but anytime we have prolonged drought the tide will overpower the river inflow and saltwater will push a surprising distance up the river channel – ten miles or more! Naturally, then, trout and redfish push right up the river with the tide. Birds will be working in West Matagorda Bay, a ticket to a quick limit of trout and sometimes redfish too when everything clicks into place. Other area hotspots to consider are Crab Lake and Oyster Lake along the ICW southwest of Matagorda. As I mentioned, we’ll not be hurting for fishing spots. Seeking refuge from weather; the Colorado River and Diversion Channel will be go-to places when a strong norther rips down the country to the coast. It’s just a good, safe area when our conditions make bay crossings impractical and you might be surprised at the fish you can find there.
You have probably noticed that my bait selection doesn’t change much but along with my standard diet of Bass Assassin plastics, MirrOlure She Dogs and She Pups I will be adding my trusty Paul Brown Original Corky and Corky Fat Boy to my November lineup. So there – I do make a few changes every once in a while! My preferred Bass Assassin colors at present are Morning Glory, Roach, 10W40, Hot Chicken, and Chickenon-a-Chain, to name the top five. Whenever I get under the birds and find the trout feeding with abandon I’ll usually rig some of my old faded-out and mottled plastics just to use them up. This is a great opportunity to get rid of those mixed bags of baits that everybody seems to accumulate. Archery deer season opened the first Saturday of October and the general deer season opens the first Saturday in November all across the state. I’m sure that a great number of outdoorsmen and families will be deer hunting instead of fishing so I hope and pray that everyone has an enjoyable, safe, and productive hunting season along with a great Thanksgiving. Save a few days for fishing and be sure to check the marine forecast before leaving the dock. A wicked November norther is nothing to fool around in – always go prepared! Until next time; God Bless. -Capt. Bill
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CAPT. SHELLIE GRAY
MID-COAST BAYS With the Grays
Port O'Connor Seadrift
Captain Gary and Captain Shellie Gray fish year-round for trout and redfish in the Port Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor/ Seadrift area. Gary started his Bay Rat Guide Service 20 years ago. The Grays specialize in wade and drift fishing with artificial lures. Gary and Shellie also team up to fish many tournaments.
Telephone 361-785-6708 Email Gary@BayRat.com Website www.bayratguideservice.com
78 | November 2011
Cool, crisp mornings have returned and boy I am thrilled. This is my favorite time of year to fish with fewer boats on the water and cooler temperatures. Many anglers have exchanged their angling gear for shotguns and rifles while others will be tied up with football, fishing though stays at the top of the list for me. November is when flounder migrate from the bays to the Gulf of Mexico where they will spawn and some will spend the winter - not returning to the bays until springtime. In the past, recreational and commercial fishermen took advantage of the migration catching or gigging limits on a daily basis. Because of the declining populations Texas Parks and Wildlife stepped in and imposed new regulations in an attempt to help improve flounder numbers. The daily bag was reduced from 10 fish to 5 for recreational anglers and from 60 to 30 for commercial fishermen. Exclusive to the month of November, recreational anglers are allowed only 2 flounder per day
on rod and reel. Also - there is no gigging allowed during November and the commercial season for flounder is closed. I have to say that since these restrictions started in September 2009 my fishing clients have been catching more flounder on a regular basis whereas a few years ago it was just one or two every so often. Flounder will always be my favorite species to eat but that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep me from targeting speckled trout
This big sheepie ate my soft plastic!
and redfish. With these cooler temperatures the fish have been more aggressive and more willing to take our artificial offerings. I prefer to start my day throwing small topwater plugs like the clear Super Spook Jr. This smaller plug is easily maneuvered and usually gets big response from hungry fish. I know that throwing topwaters, on average, does not put as many fish in the box as soft plastics or bait, but the reactions you get from fish trying to inhale this lure is well worth the sacrifice. Trout and reds will be moving off the sandy shorelines into the warmer and muddier back lakes. Lucky for us, as the water cools, the long strands of widgeon grass no longer dominate the water column as they did a few weeks ago which allows us to fish these areas more effectively. I will still be using a weedless Texas rig most days, not so much to avoid the grass, but simply because I like the action of this setup better. Back lakes such as Pringle, Contee, Long Lake and Pat’s Bay will all be good places to start your day in November. Given a choice, I prefer water that is somewhat off-colored, not muddy, but certainly not real clear either. Any streaks or muddy spots in otherwise clear areas are definitely worth investigating. Color change is noticed best through a good pair of Costa polarized sunglasses. Bait is still a very important key so keep an eye open for mullet fleeing and scattering along windward
shorelines – a sure sign of predators on the prowl. North wind will become more common making the SAB reefs in front of Seadrift a good option. There are many small unnamed reefs (some are not displayed on even the best bay charts) in this area that produce good numbers of trout. While typically smaller in size than the fish we find in the back lakes, they are usually more abundant and definitely fun when the catching is steady. The same holds true for fishing the reefs as back lakes - look for off-colored water and active bait. Finding a reef does not always mean you have found the bite. Reef hopping is sometimes necessary for steady action. Reefs that run along the Victoria One of Craig Shular’s many reds during Barge Canal will be hot spots if the water cools a recent visit to the considerably or suddenly. middle coast. Black drum and sheepshead can also be found along these reefs and live shrimp is just the ticket for them. Redfish also tend to hang on these reefs and I’ve never known a single one to turn down a juicy live shrimp so hang on! And if you happen to see tails waving in the air over shallow shell, never automatically assume redfish, black drum do the tail thing too. Never cast directly at them though or they’re likely to spook. Aim to the side and drag or drift the offering to them slowly. Holidays will be here before you know it so start planning an extended fishing trip now… Happy Thanksgiving and Gobble-Gobble!
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DAVID ROWSEY
HOOKED UP WITH Rowsey
My anticipation of winter trout fishing is almost impossible to camouflage as November rolls in. I Upper am getting as jittery as a hummingbird that has just Laguna/ finished off a pot of Capt. Billy Sandifer's coffee. Some early season big trout have already come to hand and Baffin even a Baffin tarpon to get the heart rate up. Folks, it is starting out good. November is the true kickoff month for all good things to come to the men and women that are willing David Rowsey has 20 years experience in the Laguna/Baffin to brave Mother Nature's mood swings. The water region; trophy trout with artificial temperature has to drop, plain and simple. To get that lures is his specialty. David has a to happen we are going to have to withstand some great passion for conservation mighty frontal passages that will keep even the most and encourages catch and experienced off of the water for a day or two. Behind release of trophy fish. these fronts will be days of idealistic conditions that will allow water temperatures to fall into that magical Telephone range that make large trout sensors snap into feed 361-960-0340 Website mode. Really, it is not just a feed mode, it is more like www.DavidRowsey.com an attempt to gorge themselves on anything that Email they can swallow to build up winter reserves for much david.rowsey@yahoo.com cooler temperatures to come. In an instant we will start to notice that the trout have bellies resembling
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80 | November 2011
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footballs and have shoulders like Rosie O'Donnell. Depending on water temperatures, November can still be a transition month down here on the Upper Laguna and in Baffin. Just because it may have cooled off, don't be leaving the boat ramp at 4:00 a.m. to be the first of twenty boats to line up at Cat Head. A few of the traditional spots may be showing some signs of life, but the biggest part of the fish, and catching for that matter, will be on the fringes of their favored staging areas for nighttime feeding. Deep dropoffs in the Laguna and Baffin are key areas for my clients and myself as we stalk the big trout that are getting ready to go into full-on winter mode. If you want to stay away from other fishermen, a little outside of the box thinking will bring you some solitude and quality catching during November. Focusing on deep guts that run through spoil islands is a good start. Spoil Islands that have deep dropoffs versus slow tapers are also great focus areas. If you happen to locate the guts and drops that have grass growing on the floor, you are really doing yourself some good. One of the most underutilized structures
in the Upper Laguna for the trout grinders is the natural gut known as Emmord's Hole. The broken, grassy edges of the this natural contour line will be jammed up with quality fishing in November; however, some of it has to be done out of the boat, as it too deep to wade in most areas. On that same line of thought, the grassy dropoff known as Rocky Slough offers a very similar scenario, and should be a big-time producer. For the brave, you can wade Rocky Slough, but it is a tricky wade considering all of the obstacles (rocks) that you have to weave your way through. Guess it just depends how bad you want it. The Power-Pole and Minn Kota is a very viable option here. For those of you who must wade (don't blame you), I would consider areas like Big Grassy, the Badlands, the natural gut in the Meadows, Compuerta Pass, and the spoil islands in the Upper Laguna. Any and all of these areas have the potential to be big time producers
in November, but they are not all going to be good every day. A huge part of being successful is taking the time to scout, using the appropriate lure for the conditions at hand, and having a food supply to keep the trout in the area. My favorite scouting lures are the 5" Bass Assassin (rat tail) and their Turbo Shad line. My go to topwater will be the She Dog by MirrOlure. These two lures find fish fast, and big trout just love to eat them, so it is a win-win for me. I like to choose the color according to water clarity and food source in the area. As a general rule, I stay as natural as possible in the real clean water, and go to darker and brighter colors as the water clarity decreases. "A scrambled egg is just an egg until you mix up all the parts and cook it." Will this be your year? Rowsey thinks it could be.
Set 'em loose. -Capt. David Rowsey
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TRICIA’S Mansfield Report CAPT. TRICIA
Although Mother Nature continues to be generous to Lower Laguna Madre anglers, I cannot help but daydream of the exciting days lying just ahead. With the north wind season finally upon us the Laguna will morph herself into yet another of many diverse personalities, with fall being one of her best. As waterfowl start to dominate Port the crisper air, light jackets Mansfield and breathable waders will dominate our fishing wardrobe and visions of epic trips will captivate our thoughts. If Capt. Tricia’s Skinny Water you haven’t already made Adventures operates out of plans to take advantage Port Mansfield, specializing in of this incredible season I wadefishing with artificial lures. encourage that you get started immediately. Telephone Here lately our famous 956-642-7298 bully redfish finally showed Email up in force. When you found shell@granderiver.net a good group the action was Website www.SkinnyWaterAdventures.com often as savage as one might expect, although not always long-lasting. As a typical example, some impressive
82 | November 2011
catches were brought to the table during the recent annual Vaughn Construction tournament. This year’s Vaughn attracted nearly fifty guided teams. My team was fortunate enough to find a first light topwater bite on a large school. We were able to quickly put together our three weigh-fish stringer while wading waist deep water, and it sure didn’t take long to remember how the term “violence” applies to eight-pound redfish slamming surface plugs. However, as is often the case, the aggressive topwater action didn’t hold as long as we would have liked and soft plastics became the higher percentage presentation. Most of our reds have been full of small blue crabs and when they are rooting them up in the grass a Kelly Wiggler paddletail in pumpkin-chartreuse snaked just above the grassbed does a good job of attracting and tricking the hungry predators. Our trout action has been
similar, and during the Vaughn tournament we also caught our best fish using the same basic method, staying with it and loping the same tails just above deeper grass beds. Being most fortunate again, we were blessed with enough weight to win. If any event planner would like some tips on how to run an efficient tournament, Joe Vaughn’s is an exceptional blueprint. Back to the trout, I have to say there have been days when the bite has been rather inconsistent. One day we’re covered in hundreds of small trout and suddenly we start picking up impressive numbers of solid fish. And then there have been a few days when we couldn’t find but a few bites. So that just goes to show you, even with our trout fishery in excellent shape all across the Laguna Madre, not all days are going to be gimmes. Many factors dictate fish activity and we’ll never understand them all, but one thing we did notice during some of the slower periods, the larger trout were stuffed full of little whisker and eyeball shrimp. Sometimes their preferred forage can be hard to duplicate. When they take advantage of specific “bait events” such as a large emergence of juvenile stuff, even the best of us can’t always compete well. Some of the better
opportunities for larger trout remained over clear sand early to about midday, and other best chance patterns began to migrate closer to the many oilfield cuts later in the day. That will all change soon. If this November even comes close to last year, and it appears quite probable that it will, we can expect some awesome fishing. Although cooler water will encourage fish to stay more within wading range, fluctuating winds and water levels will be the bigger factors in deciding where to start your day. Strong winds, from either south or north, will drain some areas while flooding others. Moving water should be your first consideration, so the primary question will be “what is pushing the fish and where is it taking them?” In draining situations, the first drop in bottom contour is usually a hot spot (at least for a while) whereas the fish in areas being flooded will likely be concentrated along windward shorelines. Always trust your baitfish activity to predict which presentation to try first: big or little, high or low, fast or slow. Pelicans will be one of the best indicators of feeding activity if the bait is not giving us clues on the surface. The white pelicans started in early this year and will soon become some our best fishing allies.
Big Fish.
Check out what Rockport-Fulton has to offer. www.rockport-fulton.org @ visitrockportfulton Photography by John Blaha
TSFMAG.com | 83
CAPT. ERNEST CISNEROS
SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene
A rr oyo C olorado t o Port I sabel
A Brownsville-area native, Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from Port Mansfield to Port Isabel. Ernest specializes in wading and poled skiff adventures for snook, trout, and redfish.
Cell 956-266-6454 Website www.tightlinescharters.com
84 | November 2011
Other than a few scattered tough days, the fishing in the Lower Laguna has been very good and this gives me great optimism for the winter fishing season. One very encouraging sign is the number and solid size of the trout we are currently catching. During September and October, trout between 24 and 28 inches were not hard to obtain on most trips and I expect we will see even more during November. Rainfall and freshwater inflow always seem to improve our late fall fishing and even though we have received a small amount we are hoping for more. One of the most exciting aspects of fall and early winter fishing is the way each passing front influences the feeding patterns. Some days the trout and redfish seem so excited to feed that you almost have to wonder if somehow they sense winter is coming and they are fattening up
for leaner times ahead. Finding and tracking bait concentrations as water levels and temperatures fluctuate with each passing front will be one of the keys to fishing success. You can bet that if there are rafts of mullet active along a gut, dropoff, grassline or other feature the trout and reds will be there too. Unless stirred by the wind, as the water becomes cooler it also tends to become clearer due to less algae growth. Mud boils or mud puffs are easier to spot in the clearer water and these are another important sign for fishermen. We see these when we are running in the boat, drift fishing A juvenile tarpon was and sometimes when quite a surprise for Pat we are wading. Mud while wading for redfish. boils are created by redfish and trout as they are disturbed out of their holding areas. When the fishing is slow and these type of signs are evident, it tells me the fish are there but
laid up and not feeding. I like to change my retrieve, slowing down The Simms Guide Fleece to match the fish’s attitude, or Bib helps me hang in there on cold days to maybe switching from a topwater make great catches! to a soft plastic I can work slowly in and out of the potholes or over the grassbeds. If these changes in tactics do not work, I at least file the information away that the fish are here and maybe worth checking out again later in the day. Remember that the fish are coldblooded and when the water is cold they can become very lethargic. Sometimes we have to wait for a little afternoon sun for them to become interested in our lures. Spoil banks that tapered sharply to deeper water will start to become very fishy in late November as they offer shallow feeding grounds and warm, deep refuge within a relatively small area. One of the keys to learning which area along a spoil bank is holding fish is by watching the pelicans as the bait will not always be active at the surface. Diving birds are a sure sign, but the ones paddling slowly and dipping their bills occasionally are feeding too. Back to that coldblooded thing I mentioned earlier; if the pelicans are feeding and you’re not getting bites you might need to slow your presentation. I usually spend a lot of time near the Arroyo Colorado until about Thanksgiving when the wintry weather begins to arrive. This is when
the big trout action really heats up further north around Port Mansfield and also back down here closer to Port Isabel. Lures of choice will be the reliable Kelley Wiggler ball tail shad, Corky Devils, 4” Gambler Flapp’n Shads, and of course a few topwaters when the conditions permit. Tide levels should remain fairly stable through most of November unless blown out briefly by strong northers. Expect a big drop in water level right about the beginning of December. In closing, I would like to tell you about an awesome cold weather layering garment from Simms I discovered last year called the Guide Fleece Bib. It is a full-body fleece suit that is worn under your waders and is amazingly warm and comfortable on cold days. A long time ago I upgraded from wading in tennis shoes to wading boots and I thought that was the bomb. I repeated the same feeling when I started wearing the Guide Fleece Bib. I liked it so much; I now own three. Check them out at www.simmsfishing.com , or if you’re near Fishing Tackle Unlimited in Houston, they have a good supply. I promise, you will not be disappointed. Be grateful and thankful that we can enjoy the great outdoors. Happy Thanksgiving!
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FISHING REPORTS
Lake Calcasieu Louisiana Jeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service - 337.598.3268 November usually means cool north winds and low water levels. These conditions lead to some of the best fishing of the year. Shrimp are moving out of the marshes on low tides. This shrimp migration is what drives the fish to the places where they will spend the rest of winter. Big trout will move to flats, reds will seek shallower water along the banks, and flounder will be stacked in deep water along the ship channel. Due to a lack of rainfall, trout will be found all the way up to the Saltwater Barrier on the Calcasieu River. Look for birds throughout the whole estuary. Joe's Cove and West Cove will also harbor lots of fish. These two areas are famously productive bird fishing areas. Most schools will be trout and redfish mixed. Redfish will be on the shorelines as well, around water control structures and narrow cuts. Weirs, culverts, and drainage canals are always great spots. If the fish are not right at the mouth of the structure, they probably are not far away. Move down the bank away from it, and fish for no more than a half mile. Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242 Like many others, James reports the fishing immediately prior to this report was much the same as it has been all summer, but he predicts changes are coming. “We’re still fishing out in the middle, working slicks and bait. The fish are moving around, so they’re hard to stay
86 | November 2011
ORECASTS F from Big Lake to Boca Chica
AND
with. One day we catch 40 or more, the next day not as good. We’re catching them as shallow as three feet and as deep as nine feet too. One pattern that has been productive is working muddy streaks in Trinity Bay. There are tons of big shad over there and the trout and reds are staying with them. Best bet is to work the new, or sharp, side of the streak, where it’s muddiest. Since we have so much shad in the bays, I think wading the shorelines will pick up in November. Once we get a couple more cold fronts, we’ll see some birds working for a little while, but I don’t think it will be great, since we don’t have a great crop of shrimp. I’ll be wading and throwing lots of white/silver Top Dogs and Bass Assassin Sea Shads in LSU color come November.” Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054 With the arrival of duck season, Jim will be busy both hunting and fishing. “We’re expecting some good duck hunting, seeing lots of birds already, so it should be fast shooting. The fishing in November is about as good as it gets too. The shoreline wading should pick up as the water temperatures and tide levels drop. We normally see a good run on bigger trout in the back of East Bay this time of year. I like to throw Corkies and Catch 2000s this time of year, and topwaters too, but mostly it’s about locating the fish. As always, the weather is a big key to catching in Galveston in the fall. The fronts help the fishing, but it’s not usually good when it’s actually blowing. The calmer lulls between fronts allow the water to clear and as long as there’s good tide movement, it can be a real bonanza. Later this month, I tend to
West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays Randall Groves - Groves Guide Service - 979.849.7019 979.864.9323 Randall was quick to mention the redfish action when we spoke. “The redfishing has been great,” he says. “We’re catching them real shallow, keying on snowy egrets. They stand on the bank or close to it, waiting. When they see a shrimp jumping, they try to get there fast and steal it from the reds. It’s more like hunting, really. You’ve got to maintain a vigil and be ready. Then you’ve got to make a precise cast. It’s really fun and productive. The trout fishing has been good too, getting better every day. We’re boxing close to 20 on average lately, catching best on glowsickle and glow/silver glitter Sand Eel Juniors. I expect the fishing to take a good upturn in November; it usually does. Birds will probably be working, but I ignore them mostly, because the bigger trout will become easier to pattern too. We’ll be targeting the mud more, especially areas where there is a mix of mud and shell on the bottom. The reds should still be biting too. Autumn is a great season to be on the water around here, that‘s for sure.” Matagorda | Charlie Paradoski Bay Guide Service -713.725.2401 Weather patterns are a little behind the normal schedule, and the fishing is different than it would be in most years in the Matagorda area as a result. “We’re seeing lots of fish coming out of the Colorado River,” Charlie says. “That’s where the shrimp are, so that’s where many of the fish are. If it stays this dry, the river might produce some great catches this winter. The north shorelines of both bays are covered up with redfish right now. The wading on the south
shoreline of East Bay is slow, for the most part. We are still catching pretty good numbers of trout in the middle of East Bay when winds are light, targeting the dirty water. Wadefishing right now is better in West Bay. We’re finding a good mix of trout and reds over there, with most of the trout running between a pound and a half and three pounds. When we get some more cold fronts, the fishing will improve for the bigger trout. Normally, November is a great month to wade in East Bay. I think we have plenty of good trout over there, we just need the weather to change to catch ’em.” Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollam www.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204 Fishing still remains hot in our area and we are getting on a pretty good pattern for finding fish. Redfish are still schooling up on shorelines, chasing shrimp. Paddletails with any kind of white and chartreuse in them seem to be the best lures right now. Small topwaters such as bone Super Spook Juniors and small Skitterwalks are still producing while drifting across area flats for singles. Trout have moved from the wells back to area shorelines and have been found over shell and grass. Popping corks rigged with Gulp! shrimp and regular sized Skitterwalks in bone and blue baby trout have worked best. Flounder have made a remarkable comeback, and we are catching more in our area than we have in many years. Slow-rolling Gulp! and paddletails while trying to catch reds, we have come across quite a few keepers. We are still waiting on the bird activity to take off, and maybe after we get some more cool fronts, we’ll start seeing more flocks, and South and East Bay will take off.
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Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith - Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434 Lynn expects to keep catching the reds good throughout November, and hopes the trout fishing will pick up with the cooler weather. “We’re catching mostly reds lately, fishing sandy, grassy shorelines. The trout have been kind of tough. November is normally a great month to target the schooling reds. They can often be seen cruising in large pods along area shorelines pushing large wakes as they head for the Gulf. We’ll definitely keep our eyes open for that possibility at all times. We’ll try a variety of things for the trout. There have been some fish hanging around the reefs in San Antonio Bay lately, so we’ll keep hitting those when winds allow the water to stay relatively clear. We’ll also venture into the southern reaches of our area if tides are high. When we get conditions like that, the fish will often pull onto the shallow grass beds on the shorelines. I’ll be throwing topwaters much of the time. This time of year is one of the most consistent for action on the floating plugs.” Rockport | Blake Muirhead Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 - 361.441.3894 November is time for the dual-purpose Cast and Blast trips for Blake. “We’ll be setting up in the blinds early and trying to shoot our limits of ducks by mid-morning. We already have lots of ducks in the area, and it sets up to be a great season. Generally, drought conditions are good for hunting ducks on the coast. The prairies are definitely dry right now, so we seem to get some extra birds in the coastal marshes. Of course, when we’re done shooting, we’ll start fishing our way out of the back lakes. Sightcasting for reds in the lakes has been good lately, and should stay steady throughout the duck season. We’ve been catching plenty of trout too, on topwaters, Sand Eels and gold spoons too. Those lures should continue to work well. When after the trout, I tend to target grassy shorelines in Aransas, Mesquite and Corpus
88 | November 2011
Christi Bays this time of year. It’s a great time to be on the water, with numerous productive and fun options. I expect a banner season all the way around.” Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut Robert Zapata – rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160 It’s time to bring out the breathable waders as the water temperatures are dropping, making it a bit uncomfortable to wade wet. The boat traffic should be on the decrease, which could translate into the fish catching being on the increase. I will be looking for trout in water depths of three feet or less along grass lines and potholes. The trout are feeding on perch, finger mullet and shrimp, so I’ll be fishing with MirrOlure Catch 5. My favorite color is CHBL. Natural colored Bass Assassins like pumpkinseed/chartreuse and bone diamond rigged on eighth ounce screw lock jigheads should be good producers. The redfish population is in great shape, and they are cruising in groups of two to four in water depths of 20 inches or less, and along the edges of the bigger channels, including the ICW. The reds will go after the same Bass Assassins and the Berkley Ripple Mullet in colors like new penny and black/chartreuse. The water clarity is great, but all who are wading should still wear ForEverLast Ray Guards. Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.937.5961 November’s cooler weather usually brings some things to an end in the Upper Laguna Madre, while others are just starting. “The redfish are starting to become harder and harder to find in big schools already. Many of them will have moved out by the middle of November. It’s not there aren’t any around, but locating the big schools and catching them by the dozens becomes far less common. A better bet is to target the edges of channels and other drop offs, fishing for singles and small pods. Trout fishing can and often does take a turn for the better, though. If the fronts this month are strong
enough to send the water temperatures down into the fifties, the fishing in the ICW and channels intersecting it will become steady for trout. The last couple of years, birds were working in huge numbers for several miles south of the JFK over the ICW, and there were plenty of trout under them. If the trout don’t pile up in the ditch, they should be thick in Emmords and Beacroft’s Holes, as well as along grass edges in the Boat Hole.” Padre Island National Seashore Billy Sandifer - Padre Island Safaris - 361.937.8446 November is beautiful on PINS and the crowds have left for the winter. As cold fronts will be coming through the wise angler must plan his trips to fall during the calm period between fronts. Usually the second day behind a frontal passage is most user friendly .Pompano fishing will begin in earnest in November and continue through December. Choose cuts through the sand bars and deep, wide guts for the pompano using “Fishbites” and fresh peeled, dead shrimp. Whiting, black drum and slot and oversized redfish will be available with the possibility of Spanish mackerel and Atlantic bluefish in good numbers. Mako, sandbar, black-tipped, bull, tiger and dusky sharks are possible. Searching the beachfront for and then sightcasting to large jack crevalle on lures or flies is a November favorite. Piano wire leaders are necessary on the bluefish and mackerel and if they won’t hit wire go to Hard Mason mono leader material. Probably the all around best artificial to cover all the bases at once would be a two ounce silver Gator spoon in November. Port Mansfield | Terry Neal www.terrynealcharters.com – 956.944.2559 Anybody who regularly fishes the Lower Laguna Madre during the fall season knows that some of the best fishing of the year is just ahead of us. Early northers have a tendency to give us a brand new
and rejuvenated attitude towards fishing. Calm, crisp mornings are the norm; fish are up on the flats at night where the water cools off faster, and as the sun comes up the fish start moving for deeper water. One of fall’s highlights will be the flounder moving to the channels and migrating on the currents out to the Gulf to spawn. Look for the spoils along the ICW and East Cut to really turn on! Schools of redfish can be found cruising shorelines terrorizing bait as the larger, mature specimens push through the jetties to do their own seasonal spawning. Apart from occasional northers November gives us many great days on the water – good weather and great catching! Take what you can eat fresh and release the rest; we have a future to take care of. Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Janie and Fred Petty – www.fishingwithpettys.com – 956.943.2747 Fishing has been up and down…when we have a breeze, we’re able to limit on trout and reds, most trips. But when the wind is getting ready to change directions, and the surface of the water looks like a mirror, it can be difficult to get close enough to tempt a bite. Reds tend to school up during the day when it’s super calm and trout will head to deeper holes as the sun rises. We’re throwing Cajun Thunder round corks with Berkley Gulp three inch shrimp rigged on a quarter ounce jighead and having good success with reds, trout, flounder and black drum. Freddy says, “When a front comes through, the fish feed like crazy, then you’re going to see a couple of slow days. The reds gobble up as much as they can hold and then lay off for a little while.” Fall is always a great time to hunt the predators that frequent our shallows when the waters are beginning to cool down and boat traffic is a little less hectic than it is in the summer. Wary anglers stay aware of the changing weather, and keep a slicker suit handy for squalls that sweep across the bay during a norther or when the Gulf moisture collides with the warm air off the coastline.
TSFMAG.com | 89
Brooke Conard Port O'Connor - first redfish!
Lindsey Hollis Galveston Jetties - first bull!
Miguel Barajas Arroyo City - 30” 8lb - speckled trout
Brady Blaha Tres Palacios Bay - 42” 27lb bull red
90 | November 2011
Karen Hill ICW - 40” black drum
Christine To Galveston Jetties - first bull!
Scott Bandy Sabine Lake - 30” 11lb redfish
Lisa Boelter POC - 40” red CPR
Tommy Hartung S.A. Bay - 27.75” redfish
Paul Martinez Trinity Bay - 45” drum CPR
Ryan Swindell Cameron - 26” 8lb flounder
Daniel Ponce Coloma - 40” bull red
Jade Arroyo City - 18” sheepshead
Fred Johnson Port Bolivar - 28.5” 8lb flounder
Ramiro Garza & Dillon Cuellar Port Mansfield - speckled trouts
Chad Lyden Sabine Lake - 28” 8lb redfish
Jeremy Garcia Packery Channel - 24” speckled trout
Jackson Morell Trinity Bay - 21” redfish
Morgan Forsyth Trinity Bay - first redfish!
Crystal Suhler Crystal Beach - 42” black drum
Matthew Teague POC - 23” redfish
Cesar Mansilla Galveston Jetties - 37” redfish Publio Olivares Galveston Jetties - 40” redfish Camille Null - redfish
Kristin Socias Galveston Bay - 23.5” 6lb first flounder!
Please do not write on the back of photos.
Jessica Morris High Island - 48” 36lb bull red
Jim Pittman Galveston - red
Email photos with a description of your Catch of the Month to: Photos@tsfmag.com Mail photos to: TSFMag P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 TSFMAG.com | 91
PAM JOHNSON
GULF COAST Kitchen
Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share? Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361-785-2844
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Firecrackers
1 box Nabisco Original Saltine crackers (4 tubes) 1 1/3 cup canola oil 1 Tbsp cayenne pepper 1 Tbsp crushed red pepper flakes 1 package Ranch Dressing (dry)
Crabmeat Au Gratin 3 Tbsp butter 3 Tbsp flour 2 cups milk 1/2 cup dry sherry 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 Tbsp seasoned salt or to taste 1 pound lump crabmeat 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese 1/2 cup Monterey jack cheese Paprika Melt butter in saucepan. Add flour and stir to mix evenly. Add milk, sherry, Worcestershire sauce, and seasoned salt, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil, continue stirring, and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Sauce may be refrigerated at this point if desired. Mix sauce with crabmeat and divide among individual ramekins or spoon into a buttered ceramic backing dish. Top with a mixture of the two cheeses and sprinkle with paprika. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake about 15 minutes for ramekins, or 30 minutes for one large dish. Allow additional cooking time if the sauce has been refrigerated. 92 | November 2011
Place crackers in gallon-size ziplock bag or airtight container. Whisk oil, cayenne, red pepper flakes and ranch dressing together, pour over crackers. Turn container frequently to coat evenly; ready in a few hours.
Shrimp Mousse
1 can (10 ¾ ounce) condensed tomato soup 3 packages (3 ounce) Philadelphia cream cheese, softened, cut into chunks (can use light) 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 1/4 cup cold water 2 cup peeled cooked shrimp (about 1 pound), cut into pieces 1 cup mayonnaise (can use reduced-fat or fat-free) 1 small onion, grated 1 to 2 Serrano pepper minced 1/2 cup finely chopped celery dash of each: garlic powder, salt and freshly ground black pepper. 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley Bland crackers Place undiluted soup in a large saucepan over medium heat and add cream cheese; heat, stirring, until cream cheese has melted. In a small bowl, soak gelatin in cold water until dissolved: stir into hot cheese mixture. Cool about 30 minutes. In food processor chop shrimp, onion, and celery. Place in mixing bowl, add mayonnaise, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, lemon juice and parsley; stir to blend. Pour mixture into a large (2-quart) oiled mold, and chill until set. When ready to serve, run a knife blade around the edge of the mold, then dip the mold quickly in hot water. Invert onto a serving plate. You can also divide up into 6 smaller molds to place around the party. Serve with Texas Aggie Firecrackers…see recipe. Makes 10 to 12 servings. Note: Substitute 1 package chive cream cheese for package plain cream cheese for a nippier flavor. If desired, add 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish to mayonnaise.
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GALVESTON TIDES & SOLUNAR TABLE Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine NOVEMBER 2011
The BEST Choice… Any Place, Anytime!
To find a location near you, please visit us at www.speedystop.com
TIDAL CORRECTIONS Location Calcasieu Pass, La. Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass (jetty) Sabine Pass Mesquite Point Galveston Bay (S. jetty) Port Bolivar Texas City, Turning Basin Eagle Point Clear Lake Morgans Point Round Point, Trinity Bay Point Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, Trinity Bay Christmas Point Galveston Pleasure Pier San Luis Pass Freeport Harbor
High -2:14 -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14 +0:33 +3:54 +6:05 +10:21 +10:39 +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -0:09 -0:44
Low -1:24 -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06 +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15 +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:38 +2:33 +2:31 -0:09
For other locations, i.e. Port O’Connor, Port Aransas, Corpus Christi and Port Isabel please refer to the charts displayed below.
Please note that the tides listed in this table are for the Galveston Channel. The Tidal Corrections can be applied to the areas affected by the Galveston tide.
Minor Feeding Periods are in green, coinciding with the moon on the horizon, and the last from 1.0 to 1.5 hrs after the moon rise or before moon set. Major Feeding Periods are in orange, about 1.0 to 1.5 hrs either side of the moon directly overhead or underfoot. Many variables encourage active feeding current flow (whether wind or tidal driven), changes in water temp & weather, moon phases, etc. Combine as many as possible for a better chance at an exceptional day. Find concentrations of bait set up during a good time frame, and enjoy the results.
Te x a s S a l t w a t e r F i s h i n g M a g a z i n e l
w w w. t e x a s s a l t w a t e r f i s h i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m