October 2006 by Texas Salwater Fishing Magazine

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006 Volume 16 No.6

Gulf Coast Connections

Send us Your Letters, Questions & Comments! Gulf Coast Connections

Texas Saltwater Fishing P.O. Box 429 Seadrift, TX 77983 Office: 361-785-3420 Visit us on the Web: www.gulfcoastconnections.com

10 Just Fishin

Mike McBride

14 The Phantom, The Circle and the Pentagon

Kevin Cochran

18 On-the-Water Etiquette

Bink Grimes

22 Taking Control

Martin Strarup

24 The Sights of the Natural World

Billy Sandifer

Departments 26 Let’s Ask The Pro

Jay Watkins

Editor and Publisher

30 Fly Fishing

Casey Smartt

Everett Johnson

34 Redfish Tournament Scene

Brandon Jenewein

everett@gulfcoastconnections.com

36 Offshore

Bobby Byrd / Capt. John Cochrane

40 Conservation

CCA-Texas

40 Prop Talk

Louie Baumann

Pam Johnson

46 Science and the Sea

UT-Marine Science Institute

pam@gulfcoastconnections.com

48 TPWD Field Notes

Glenn Sutton

50 Kayak Fishing

Scott Null

54 Kayak Fishing-Chandeleur Islands-Part 2

Jason Bryant / Ryan Evans

Business Manager

Advertising Tracey Johnson Ph: 361-785-3420 or 936-520-3146 Fx: 361-785-2844 tracey@gulfcoastconnections.com

Subscription – Circulation Shirley Elliott Ph: 361-785-3420 shirley@gulfcoastconnections.com

Subscriptions Gulf Coast Connections is published monthly. Subscriptions available for $34.00 per year. E-MAG is available for $25.00 per year. Order online at: www.gulfcoastconnections.com Or make checks payable to: Gulf Coast Connections Attn: Subscriptions P.O. Box 429, Seadrift, Texas 77983 * Subscribers are responsible for submitting all address changes and renewals by the 15th of the prior month’s issue. The U.S. Postal Service does not guarantee magazines will be forwarded.

Advertising Please direct advertising inquires to: tracey@gulfcoastconnections.com or call 361-785-3420 © Copyrighted 1990 All rights reserved. Positively nothing in this publication may be reprinted and reproduced. *Views expressed by GCC contributors do not necessarily express the views of GCC.

Features

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

58 According To Scott

Scott Sommerlatte

59 Fish’n Chicks

Patricia Drake

60 Youth Fishing

Aaron Cisneros

62 New Tackle & Gear

GCC Staff

What Our Guides Have to Say... 64 Sabine Lake buffet

Chuck Uzzle

66 Fishing Galveston

Mickey Eastman

68 Capt. Bill’s Fish Talk

Bill Pustejovsky

70 Follow the Birds

Gary Gray

72 Catching up with Cliff

Cliff Webb

74 “Fall” into the Laguna

Capt. Tricia

76 Wading forward into fall

Ernest Cisneros

See our centerfold for GCC’s Solunar Table and Texas Tide Predictions 78 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 79 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 80 Photo Gallery-Catch of the Month 82 Gulf Coast Kitchen 83 Index of Advertisers

October stands out as perhaps the best month of the year for redfish on the flats. This scene will likely be played out hundreds of times, in hundreds of places, by hundreds of people all up and down the Texas coast this month. Now matter how you like to chase them, redfish are a hoot! (Photo by Scott Sommerlatte) October 2006

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

According to the Chinese calendar,

2006 is the year of the dog. Pam and I decided last summer that it would be the year of the Alaskan vacation. Business, family, and a host of other matters have limited our ability to travel for way too long but this year was going to be different. On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, August 27, our flight touched down in Anchorage and we could not wait to get down to Soldotna. We had an actionpacked seven days of fishing planned. We were there to chase everything from halibut and coho in the North Pacific to rainbows, dollies, and grayling in remote mountain lakes. And if we survived all that, we’d take in a glacier cruise and some whale watching. The eco-systems we visited were incredibly rich and diverse and the fishing was nothing short of awesome. Alaska bills itself as “The Great Land” and no matter how you interpret it; Alaska is truly a great place. In many ways, Alaska is a lot like Texas. Mind you we mingled almost exclusively with people connected to the fishing, but I came readily to admire their rugged individualism, strong sense of state pride, and the way they care for the land. Relatively few were born there, but I understood that, I was not born in Texas. Now amid all the similarities between Alaska and Texas, I did note a remarkable difference; the average Alaskan seemed reasonably satisfied with the job their fish and wildlife managers are doing. My guess is that when you live in a climate as severe as coastal Alaska, you develop an extra-sensory consciousness of the environment. You cannot help but notice the entire balance of nature sagging under the weight of man. It’s almost as if the general population embraces rather than challenges the regulations Fish and Game have designed for conservation of resources. Everybody hunts and fishes in Alaska. And if the resident users are not taxing the resources sufficiently, hordes of lower-forty-eighters are on their way up looking for a non-resident piece of the pie. So, how do they keep their rivers, streams and lakes full of fish? Well to begin, every body of water we fished had its own regulations. Some places were catch and release only, others were one fish of a given species per day, sometimes we were allowed only a single barbless hook, and there were places where the limits seemed very generous. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard people say regional fisheries management will not work here in Texas. “It’ll be an enforcement nightmare — nobody will follow the rules — all you’ll end up doing is starting a big fight.” Yeah, we’ve certainly heard all of those. Now I’m not for a fleeting second suggesting Texas should adopt a 64-page fishing regulation digest like the one the nice lady that sold me the non-resident license handed across the counter, thank God my guides told me everything I needed to know. But don’t you think the average guy can learn that limits in one bay might be different from those in another? And don’t you think the average guy will abide by new fishing regs the same as he abides by changes in waterfowl, deer and dove laws? I read a news column the other day that said if you are under the age of fifty, the population of Texas will nearly double within your lifetime. TPWD says saltwater fishing in Texas is growing at the rate of 2,000 new anglers per month and that we’ll soon have over one million. Call me gun-shy, but this looks like the tip of an iceberg to me. Unless we can steer around it and learn new ways to look at fisheries management, the fisheries we’re going to hand over to our kids and grandkids won’t amount to much. There is much to be learned in Alaska; I think they’ve got it figured out!

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

I used to pray every nIght

‘specialists’ out there; from the ‘topwater only’

that I could go fishing every day for a living.

guys after one big bite to those who couldn’t care

Then I finally figured out that the Lord really

less about anything except sight-casting to bone-

doesn’t work like that, so I just decided to quit the

crushing redfish in remote places. Perhaps that

responsible world anyway and ask him to forgive

is why fishing is so popular, but no matter where

me instead. I’m not sure if I’m being punished

our saltwater passion takes us, it’s all good for

or rewarded yet, but so far it’s been a pretty

the soul.

interesting run down here at the end of the road. Let’s just say that life is a trip.

At any rate, no matter where we are in this game, we would all like to think that we are the

There is absolutely nothing to do here in

best at what we like to do best. Sometimes it

Port Mansfield except fish, so most of those

takes a little humility to remind us that such a

who come here… can. We have the fortune to

premise is merely another delusion, however,

visit and fish with a lot of folks who are at the

that is the one lesson that will prod the honest

top of their game. The wonderful thing about

among us to move the bar. That’s another great

bay fishing is that there are so many ways to

thing about lure fishing. There will always be

do it that there is something to fuel everybody’s

room for improvement. Well, I had my rear

primordial calling. There’s everything from just

bumper handed to me the other day by some of

going to try and catch fish with whatever it takes

those ‘specialists’, so I thought I’d share.

to specializing in any number of techniques with various levels of difficulty. There are plenty of

Where we were, the fish wanted none of my ‘highly refined’ and proven presentations. They

Steve Bell lands yet another red on a bug while other baits are largely ignored. That’s Hardy’s Wanda Wand bowed up in the background. 10

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

would even spook off 1/16 oz. leadhead and soft

The first spot I mentioned was on an

The second spot revealed

plastic if it landed within fifteen feet. Of course,

extremely thin sand flat at low dawn. The boat

a sizeable school of redfish

blame it on the fish because I do this every day.

had pushed scattered wakes as far as we could

slowly milling about the

“Sorry guys, Saturn isn’t aligned with Uranus

see, but as many fish as were in there, the

bottom of a narrow, four-foot

and they’re not going to feed until later. I know

silence screamed “uncatchable conditions”. The

deep gut. The water was still

these things.”

boat barely floated with the motor up. That’s not

deathly calm and extremely

much, plus the water lay totally becalmed.

clear. We pulled some distance ahead of them

Well, out of my boat jump two of the best dressed, metro-sex looking dudes; complete with

The first explosion certainly was a fluke, but

and waited for the boat wash to settle (something

pleated pants, Stetson straw hats, fold-down

then the noise became sporadically familiar as

I wish more people would consider instead of

microscopes on their hats, and pulling thick

they slowly covered more water. Nano-sized

torpedoing them like starving attack pilots.) We

crayon-colored string through long wimpy rods

poppers, resembling little burnt marshmallows

snuck to nearly waist deep and began probing

of all things. Interesting, but “fat chance” says I.

from a box of Lucky Charms, were repeatedly

the gut. Again my finely honed techniques proved

There is no way these fly-fishermen were going

drawing detonating strikes. “O.K. I’m impressed!

futile. It was just one of those days for a level-

to have even a remote chance except perhaps

Great job!” Then I promptly pulled them out of

wind guy. The fly-heads, however, were simply

practice making swooshing sounds with their

there to a place where I thought I could play too.

blind casting with little brown and olive colored

silly sticks. It smelled of a dead walk and a waste

After all, thou shalt not threaten my manhood

clousers about ½” long.

of precious morning time. A stolen one — liner

with such effeminate equipment, and don’t

came to mind. “They know how to shop, but can

think we don’t have fun challenging each other

a weighted line into the backing with rifle-like

they fish?” Well… they could; and they did, in

with different skill sets either…just to keep it all

power and accuracy, and with what amounts

two separate arenas.

interesting of course. Actually we were off to try

to an insect attached to the end of it. They

and isolate a better concentration of catchable

caught aplenty in a very difficult situation, often

fish, or so I said anyway.

bowed up two at a time. I didn’t understand in

When I say casting, I mean smooth-rolling

In the animal kingdom bugs still sometimes come out on top.

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

the beginning but now know these things, and

going to see a lot more

am either better off for it or quite possibly gender

‘specialists’ out there. That’s

challenged. These fly guys just flat kicked my butt.

O.K., because although

The underlyInG mOrAl OF All

much, I do know that fishing

of this ramble is actually several. One — there

is like a big buffet and only

are so many ‘styles’ to master in lure fishing

those with little imagination

that we won’t live long enough to conquer them

are starving.

all. Second — even when we think we know

I don’t pretend to know

As for me, I think

something, there will be someone right behind

I’ll continue to work on

you to challenge you differently…which is always

catching some of those

a good thing. Third — there is a time and place

fish that I haven’t been

for everything, and david Sams nailed it in the

able to catch yet, even if

intro to his book Engulfed. To paraphrase; “most

it means wearing pleated

fishermen fish primarily for the enjoyment. You

pants and picking up a

had eight on live bait. he had four on plugs, and

Wanda Wand. Anyway, no matter

another guy had two on flies. Dead heat.”

which direction we go in our fishing pursuits, or

everybody has their own style and their own

how far we take it, let’s remember that whether

measuring device for success. If Texas Parks &

it is sweat, tears or the ocean, all things can be

Wildlife determines that we need to adjust trout

cured by saltwater. I’m ready for tomorrow’s

limits down here on the lower coast, I betcha we’re

dose. It’s just fishin’.

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Early on a summEr morning,

attention is suddenly focused on a hole blown in the water by an attacking game a solitary angler idles up to the edge of a fish. With a loud “splat!”, a mullet’s life miles-wide grass flat in a secluded corner of has likely ended, the sound of its demise the laguna madre, pausing for a moment to instantly registering in the mind of this apex gaze eastward, where the burnished hues of predator. As he watches the spreading sunrise glow over the dunes on Padre island, circles emanating from the foamy hole, he soon to end a short, hot night. hears another, softer noise behind him in Then his eyes begin to scan the surface the deeper water from which he’s idled. of the water around his boat, looking for It’s the airy sound of a porpoise clearing signs that the fish he’s been finding here its breathing hole. He can see the dorsal have stayed for another day. A slick pops to fins, tails and profiles of a school of the the port side of the path he’s chosen, which squeaking gray mammals surfacing off the crosses a shallow grass bed surrounded by outer edge of the flat. To the fisherman, it’s fish-holding potholes. Starting as a mere just another sign that the fish he’s looking shiny spot, the slick quickly grows to the dimensions of a bathtub, then to equal the size for have not left. Hunters like porpoises don’t have to guess whether they are of his boat, floating slowly with the morning “on fish”; their profoundly sharp senses breeze away from where it first signaled the eliminate all uncertainty. presence of a feeding fish. as he slips over the low side of his In the opposite direction, the sharp-sighted skinny-water skiff, the old salt can smell the fisherman spies the tell-tale wide, humping fish whose presence he’s already verified wake pattern of a school of moving black visually. At first, the scent reminds him or red drum. spooked only slightly by his of watermelon, but not the sweetest kind; stealthy craft, they push away at a leisurely he surmises that the odor is wafting off pace, but he knows they will most likely come the countless mullet that are dimpling back to the same potholes where he often the surface all around him as he tries to finds them. determine the most promising direction in While he gingerly drops the anchor over which to head. the gunwale and into the clear shallows, his off the western edge of the grassbed on which he’s parked, a silty gut runs parallel to the shore of a spoil island. Where the gut runs south into the shallower flat, several choice potholes feather out, breaking up the bottom and creating ambush habitat perfect for speckled trout. To the east, a bright, sandy pothole dotted with scattered grass lies next to shin-deep solid grass with fewer features on the bottom. He’s studied it all carefully many times before, both with Pat Vanwinkle holding a black drum he caught on topwater just before daylight on a summer outing. Experiences like this his eyes and the soles of his reinforce the adage... “find drum and find trout and redfish.”

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

boots and he knows where the bottom changes from hard to soft, the depths of various potholes and the paths fish like to take on their trips from the skinniest confines of the flat back to the guts leading into the comfort of deeper water. On this morning, it’s hard to choose the direction of highest interest. Again, he hears a “smack!” when a healthy predator makes a meal out of one of the horse mullet that carpet the flats. The sound comes from a different spot, not where the slick had popped, not where he’d heard and seen the first attack, nor where he’d spied the cruising school of drum. Rather than proceed in any direction, the man stops and begins casting to nearby wakes which give away the presence of nervous mullet. Almost instantly, he’s hooked up when a crazed redfish charges his Super Spook and takes it in one clean swipe. The fisherman finds the pull of the broad, bronze fish most pleasant in the still-dim light. as his drags slips and whizzes, the breeze whistles against tight line, and other fish are spooked by the one he fights; the flat erupts with the slushing, low sound of their fleeing en masse. The closer the fish gets to the man, the harder it fights back, and several minutes pass before he succeeds in bringing it within reach; the redfish makes one last lunge, its tail spraying water onto his face. The man tastes a salty sip of the lagoon; he smacks his lips while reaching out to put his hand around the reddish-brown shoulders of his feisty quarry. Taking a moment to admire the golden accents on its cheek and the powder blue tip on its tail as it waves in the soothing breeze, he releases it and begins to scan the area again. Slicks are popping, bait is darting and nervous water stretches in every direction. With a shrug, he casts back to the spot of the previous hook up and his lure makes it

October 2006

no more than five feet over the water before it’s attacked again, this time by what looks like a pod of redfish; he sees a large wave run up behind his plug and an eruption of foam around it obscures whatever has shown ultimate interest. Again, he’s hooked up to a red pushing the upper end of the slot. He plays it close to him and in the growing light of morning, can see that several of its schoolmates have followed curiously. One actually bumps his leg as it passes, panicked by the sudden knowledge of his presence and fleeing in a boil of mud. While releasing his second red, he smells fish again; this time, the sweet fragrance of ripe watermelon registers as speckled trout to him. He’s been pulling some rare and impressive sow trout from among the schools of drum on recent trips. This is what he’s waited for, and he begins slowly to shuffle upwind of the slick he spots, nostrils flaring fully to verify the scent of a species he places above the redfish on his personal list. But he doesn’t catch any trout for the next two hours or so; there are just too many reds on the flat to give the trout a chance at his topwater lure. Three dozen or more of the brazen bullies are hooked when they openly charge his cigar-shaped plug, though some fifty others strike and miss. One is perfect for eating, just over the twenty inch mark, so he strings it during the middle of the melee. He’s alternately laughing, talking to the fish, cussing them when they bend or break hooks, reassuring them that they’ll be okay when releasing them. Through it all, the whispering wind provides a backdrop of noise and a perfect ripple on the water to help his lure work its magic. Eventually, he wanders far up onto the flat in pursuit of his fish, and with the higher sun angle, he can discern a massive school of drum finning slowly over the grass. Black drum dominate the school, but reds are scattered here and there, suspending

just above them, barely under the surface. He stands perfectly still, his feet stuck in the soft mud and grass, watching them as they pass. Then he picks out the biggest red he can find in the bunch and catches it with almost ridiculous ease, casting the plug beyond it and marveling at how quickly the fish reacts, how its fins stretch tight as it alertly seeks out the clicking and splashing plug, races right over and pounces on top of it. But soon he is tired of pulling on these “old rubber lips.” What he yearns for now is to feel the erratic pull of a big trout, to watch her shake her head and throw foam all around, to feel his hand around her shoulder, one softer than that of the redfish. He wants a peek at the regal blues and lavenders that adorn her back and at the golden rim seemingly brushed on the insides of her mouth and around her lips. So he turns away from the school of

October 2006

drum and as he does, a sound like distant rumbling thunder spreads around his feet and lifts up from the bottom when the fish move as one. He’s been hearing that sound all morning as the multiple schools react in response to the fish he’s hooked. It fooled him once or twice into scanning the horizon for a coming storm, but he smiled when he realized that the pitter patter was coming from the bladders of the many drum he stood among. Like a phantom, he slides back in the direction of the boat, the wind dies away to nothing and a slick sheen covers the surface of the flat, obscuring all beneath. The earthy smell of the schools of drum seems to saturate the still air with a scent akin to chicken necks soaking in the warm salty brine. Then old plugger sees what will lead him to the fish he’s really come over here to catch. Several tall, narrow wakes betray the Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

presence of prowling trout on the shallow flat next to the gut on the shoreline of the spoil west of the boat. As he nears the flat and can reach the shelf where the gut borders the grass, he gets a new kind of blowup, one he instantly recognizes as that of a trout. The pull of the first speck he hooks is lighter; more delicately it fights, but also with more speed and a less predictable pull. It is not a large trout, merely a seventeen incher, the size he prefers most of all to eat, so he strings it with his little redfish and continues looking for one of its ancestors. Four more trout take his topwater and thrash around defiantly as he pulls them over to him, wets his hand and bends to carefully release them from the hooks they fought futilely against. None is a wallhanger, though two measure more than twenty four inches. The wind is gone, the sun is rising higher and the day is becoming downright hot. He looks back on the scene of the earlier battles with the redfish and can tell they are moving off the flat; soon, they’ll be disguised in deeper water and won’t be available to him. He feels that his chance at a giant trout is slipping away as well. But then he notices another wake, way up on the shallow grass, just offshore of the spoil island. It’s too far up there, he thinks to himself, so he continues casting at the potholes near the edge and catches two more trout, all the while watching the wake; whatever is making it is spooking horse mullet out of its way continually as it weaves seemingly in an aimless fashion over the flat. In time, he realizes that the fish will likely pass right in front of him, within casting 16

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

range. Thinking the wake is too big to indicate a trout, he decides that he must cast at it anyway. His first effort fails to intercept the fish, which is moving steadily, but not in a straight line. The second attempt perfectly places the plug in the path and ahead of the predator and he waits just long enough for the fish to come within about four feet of it before he begins to give it spastic, side to side movements to make it appear to be attempting a getaway. And as soon as the lure begins to move, a trout of legendary proportions vaults completely clear of the water, seeming to hover in the air horizontally for a moment, like a snapshot, the thick, spotted profile appearing supernaturally large, impossible to have been concealed fully by the thin waters covering the grass. Then the fish crashes down right on top of his plug, mouth agape, making a splash more like a frolicking porpoise than a striking speck. The fight is dramatic, loud and short-lived. In mere seconds, the hooks pull out and the trout is off, leaving a hissing sheet of foam to commemorate the event. The lone angler shouts a coarse word and turns his face toward the sky, for a moment almost wishing he’d brought someone along with him. It would be useless to surmise how big the trout had been or to try and convince someone he’d actually seen it somersault its way onto his plug. As all dedicated anglers will, he continues fishing, looking for other wakes on the narrow flat and spotting them. Two more four pound specks find themselves in a fight with the man, who succeeds in landing them. As the heat beats down and the wakes signaling feeding fish disappear, the old boy gives up and calls it another day. He tries to fend off the nagging disappointment over losing the tremendous October 2006

trout on the boat ride back in, relieved to feel the effects of the artificial breeze his skiff creates to cool him. He carefully fillets the cold pair of fish he’s brought to the dock and when he gets home, he marinates them in Italian dressing while washing off the morning salt and sweat in the shower. Whistling softly in the kitchen, he fries up the trout and redfish, one battered in lemon-zested cornmeal, the other covered in a spicy cajun rub. And when he tastes them, the circle of life and death and life is complete; he’s involved all five senses in pursuit of both sport and sustenance. The earthiness of the flesh of the fish mingles with the fruit and spice to create a rich panoply of taste sensations, from salty to sweet to umami, the savory flavor first labeled by the Japanese. Taste is the last one of the pentagon of senses brought into play on his satisfying day. When the suds from a single beer wash down the final bits of the fish, he’s unable to resist the weight of his eyelids and drifts off to sleep, dreaming of the lost trout and snoring in the midst of an afternoon nap.

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Easing my boat into Rockport’s

Cove Harbor, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department technician met me on the dock. “You mind if I ask you a few questions?” he said. I had participated in a half-dozen other creel surveys conducted dockside along various ports around the state, so I was familiar with the questions and obliged. The survey gives vital information concerning anglers’ attitudes and catch rate. The last question is my favorite. “On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being best, rate your day on the water,” asked the technician. Normally, I do not hesitate. It is a blessing to be alive — enjoying God’s creations gets a 10 whether I take home fillets or not. However, four hours of wading and witnessing a Saturday in Morris Cummings Cut prompted me to ponder a bit longer before honestly answering. Poor boater etiquette, litter, profanity (verbal and non-verbal) and a sense of irreverence towards anyone but self put a damper on this day; and, it is not happening only in Rockport. I 18

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

have experienced it in Galveston, Matagorda, Sabine and Port O’Connor. The same disrespect we endure in rush hour traffic is beginning to trickle to our leisure time on our waterways. Not surprisingly, the concrete jungle is spilling over in our bays, over 700,000 people to be exact. We must do something. That something starts with self. For starters, slow down! Seventy-five percent of the boats entering and exiting the Morris Cummings Cut on the day in question never took their boat off plane. Though I was only one of two anglers wading this locale, four other boats were anchored in the narrow, 30-yard wide channel; and, the wake they suffered at times left them reaching for a towel to wipe the mist from their glasses. I was not upset due to the boats ruining my fishing — I continued to scratch out fish even with blaring outboards roaring through the 14-foot deep channel. What bothered me is the impatience and “me” attitude exhibited by the boat captains. Two minutes to idle safely past waders and boaters would not have made a difference between feast or famine at the cleaning table. I should not be surprised at careless boating practices — there is not a required adult boat operator’s license like that mandated to drive a car. I really believe the majority of boaters just do not know what proper boating etiquette is. How will they learn? It will not happen overnight. Responsible boaters will have to take the lead. Words are cheap, results will occur from action — your actions. Start from within.

Steer clear of waders. If you can decipher what color cap a wader is wearing, you are too close. The same holds true for boats. If you can read the registration numbers on a boat, you are too close to run on plane. Slow down and idle. Never run between an anchored boat and a wader. Take the time and go around the boat. Most of the time the wader plans to fish his or her way back to the boat. Use some consideration. I always wear a bright-colored shirt when fishing a bar in the middle of West Matagorda Bay near Port O’Connor. It saved my life once. There, boaters are notorious, especially on weekends, for running within casting distance of waders. Besides the disregard for others, boating that close to waders is dangerous. Three summers ago, an inattentive boater, with the help of a few of his crew, finally decided to look where he was going in time to yank the steering wheel to the right 30 yards before hitting me. It was not like boat traffic was heavy. My boat was the only one in sight for two miles; and, I was wading within 100 yards of my boat. The guy driving the boat had the entire bay to navigate, yet, for some reason he was drawn to my locale. Steer clear and this will not happen. If unpleasant boating displeases you, keep your cool. An obscene gesture or foul language never solved a problem. Instead, make a mental note of the action and learn from it; ever attentive so not to replay the action under your own navigation. Texas’ population is growing daily. With that, new anglers are being born. What attitude will these new outdoorsmen and women learn from us? Take a look in the mirror. Litter is another thing that gets under my skin. Leaving empty beverage cans on the jetty granite, tossing a candy wrapper overboard or allowing a plastic bag to blow out of your boat, anyway you spell it, it’s littering. A year ago I was in the drive-through behind a group of teenage girls. As the attendant handed them their order, they promptly unwrapped the straw paper and threw it out the window, unwrapped their hamburger paper and threw it out the window, then tossed the paper sack the food was packaged in out the window. This is not an isolated incident. I teach in

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

public schools and see this irresponsibility daily. Where did America learn that it is alright to litter? Where does all the trash go? There are no garbage pick-ups in the bay or Gulf of Mexico. I’ll tell you where it goes — to the bottom — or floating along your favorite grassy shoreline or in the belly of your favorite gamefish or wrapped around your propeller.

Here are a few basic outdoor rules we can live by: * If you plan to hunt or fish on public property and someone is already on the spot, hunter or fisher, move on. Wake up earlier next time, or go to Plan B. Do not screw it up for the guys that have already taken the time to setup. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. * Stay clear of other boats. Too often I have had boats come within 20 yards of my boat just passing by. Use the entire bay. By getting close to another boat you could be running right through their drift; thereby, running through the fish. * Know which way the wind is blowing and cross a boat high on the upwind side. A boat may be using the wind to drift a huge piece of water. If you cross downwind you could cut his drift and spook fish. Above all, avoid other anchored or drifting boats. The outboard motor is the surest way to scatter a school of fish. * Treat wadefishers like you would pedestrians on a street. Give them the right-of-way. Do not pull between a wader and his boat and anchor. Do not 20

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

pull on the other side of a wader and cut off his wade. Give waders their space. Go down another half-mile and try that stretch of water. If someone is fishing where you want to be, oblige them and get there earlier the next time. * If boats are anchored in a cut or channel and there is no other way to go but through this area, shut your motor to a crawl and respect those that are fishing. Be considerate and leave as little wake as possible. The same holds true for those bank fishing. Slow it down and respect everyone’s space. * Leave the egos at the marina. A good fisherman is not always measured by the weight of his cooler. I love dining on speckled trout, yet I toss them back when I have enough in the freezer. Practice catch-and-release when possible. This conservation tactic has helped the black bass society immensely; and, we salts, through change of attitude, are beginning to reap the rewards of our stewardship. * When in doubt, use a little consideration and a common-sense approach. Consider how you would like to be treated in this situation. If you are unsure what you should do, slow down and steer clear. Respect and use courtesy for your fellow man. The charm and jewel of Texas is its vast public hunting and fishing waters that are free of fences and locked gates. Despite what some selfish people think, we all have a key.

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

I remember the day well.

my bathroom

It was near Father’s Day years ago and I was

at home and it

salivating over this new tackle box at the local

weighed in at

Wal-Mart store. This thing had all of the bells and

73 pounds.

whistles. The top of the box was large enough to hold back-up reels and spools of line and had

after the incident at the ramp with my friend’s

racks in there that allowed you to hang your larger

back, I had one of my own. The heavy-duty

lures vertically. The front of the box had a large

handle on top of the box couldn’t handle the

panel that hid drawers behind it that could hold

weight of the tackle and it broke which caused

all kinds of gadgets and the newest and greatest

the box to fall as I was lifting it up into my boat.

lures on the market. I told my wife that I just had to

It hit the concrete and spilled out across my

have that box and my request was granted and it

driveway at four in the morning. For the next hour

went home with me as my Father’s Day gift.

or so I picked up all types of lures, hooks, swivels

Once home I started cleaning out my old

and split rings. Not long after that happened, I

tackle boxes. Throwing away things that I didn’t

pulled a #4 treble hook out of a tire on my riding

think I could live without when I had bought

lawn mower and to this day I blame every flat that

them and placing the essential items into my

I get on that incident. I had a tackle problem and

new MONSTER box. When I had finished I was

something had to be done.

amazed at the room that was still left in my new

I had to lighten the load of that box and as

box. I had room for MORE STUFF! So a trip back

painful as it was, I started taking inventory of the

to the store to acquire the newest and greatest

things that I used and of those that I didn’t. You’d

lures and line was necessary and while I was

be surprised at the amount of “stuff” that I’d never

there I figured that I might as well buy some new

tied on a line or that had never been removed from

hooks to replace those on some of my older

the package. I mean would I ever really use that

lures, and then there were those new ball-bearing

ACME DOUBLE DUTY SUPER DUPER HALIBUT

swivels that I’d wanted and not to mention those

BOTTOM RIG? Or that special lure that the

new curly tailed Assassins. Before I knew it the

magazine ad said was a sure thing for catching

new box was full and I was happy and would

piranha in the Amazon? Or how about that nifty

remain that way until my wife received the next

glow-in-the-dark noise making walk-across-moss

VISA bill anyway.

rat that I found in there? I’m serious! I don’t even

I was proud. There was almost nothing that I didn’t have in that box and it went with me on every fishing trip. One of my friends complained

and such to fill a few plastic lure boxes. Can

home since it was by far inferior to mine in size

you say pathetic? The stuff that I removed from

and in quantity. I had it all in that box and what I

that MONSTER tackle box was sold at a garage

didn’t have we couldn’t possibly need. And if by

sale to poor souls who hadn’t yet admitted to

some chance we did manage to find something

themselves that they have a problem. will be trading their rods and reels for rifles and

room left in that box.

shotguns and taking to the woods, ponds and rice

#4 treble hooks causing flats on your riding lawnmower. On a side note…September 19th we will celebrate with my Dad his 78th birthday. My Dad is my hero and is responsible for instilling in me my love for saltwater fishing, my knowledge of our local bay systems, boats, guns and my love for the outdoors in general. Happy Birthday Daddy! Thank you for always being there for me and for always finding time in your busy schedule to take me fishing and hunting with you.

fields. This would be a good time for you to do a little cleaning of your own. Take a look into your tackle box when you get

boat at the ramp and injured his back. We’re still

a chance and make a note of the stuff that you

friends and he didn’t sue me but I started to think

use and of the stuff that you’ll never use and then

that maybe I had too much stuff in that box. Later

clean house! Get rid of it. Sell it at a garage sale

I placed my MONSTER tackle box on the scale in

and use the money to “ugh” buy more tackle.

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

and you probably won’t ever have to worry about

With the onset of winter, a lot of fishermen

Mart would fix that problem. I still had a tiny bit of

friend of mine grabbed my box to lift up into the

have to worry about a friend injuring his back

By the time I finished taking out those things

that box and I convinced him to leave his box at

back with a too heavy tackle box? It’s true. A

You’ll thank me some day and you’ll never

package said $12.50, what a deal! I never used, I had only enough lures, leadheads

Did you know that it is possible to injure your

(Right) Here’s an old photo that brings back so many memories... the Matagorda Ship Channel jetties at Port O’Connor were brand new and Daddy took me there almost every weekend for a whole summer. (Left) Here’s my Dad today, we’ll be celebrating his 78th soon — Happy Birthday Daddy!

know where that came from but the sticker on the

that he didn’t have enough room in his boat for

that we didn’t have, well a trip to Academy or Wal-

Not long

October 2006

Be Safe.

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

The laTe afTernoon heaT

was finally subsiding as a cooling breeze arrived from offshore and the sun sank lower on the western horizon. The crystal clear water that had been dead calm since daylight finally had some wave action and current movement and the water in front of me was alive with various species of marine predators and prey interacting in the movements of the oldest dance on planet earth; the dance of life and death on the sea. The gut before me was 50 or more yards wide on both sides but directly at my location it necked down to a mere 40 feet across and ran at that width for 10 yards. This hour glass configuration is known to beach fishers as a squeeze. All of the bait moving through that entire 50 yards to either side of me was forced to move through that 40 foot wide squeeze and obviously that made it a very effective ambush spot for the predators. Ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and speckled trout were all present and actively feeding beneath diving gulls and terns but I had a problem.

Starting in mid-August each year the shoreline is inundated with this year’s crop of hatching seabirds. The laughing gulls we see each day that are brown in color are fledglings and they are totally without survival skills — and since the fish were topwater lure oriented, the youngsters can really be a problem. I’m used to it but I had this one particular individual who seemed absolutely determined to keep me from fishing at all. Three casts in a row I had a nice speck come up on a topwater plug but I was so busy attempting to keep the lure away from the juvenile gull the presentation didn’t suit the trout. The Creator put these birds there and thusly they have the right to be there. I do them no harm whatsoever under any circumstances but I was sure getting frustrated by this little jerk. I waited until I thought he had moved on and then made another cast at the trout. As the chartreuse and silver lure reached the location where the trout had been laying I stopped it dead still in the current for a moment and just as I did the gull dove out of no where to pick up the lure. But at the very same instant the gull had the lure in his beak, the trout hit it and the bird’s

beak full blast. I heard a loud “twank” and for a second the gull, the trout and the lure were all connected. I thought for a second the trout was going to pull the gull down into the water but shortly thereafter it released both its captives. The gull was obviously terrified and immediately took off on a long pilgrimage and the interesting thing was that the others in the area vacated as well and left me in peace. The icing on the cake was that 2 casts later I landed the 4-pound trout and released it. What a hoot! Perfect early morning sight casting day in the surf with gin clear water, no swells and mullet and whiting solid along the shoreline. Once the sun was high enough I began to see trout and reds within three feet of the land as we traveled the beach. A couple of the trout were 6 pounds. I replaced the topwater lure on my customer’s tackle with a small paddletailed plastic and we continued along with the intention of casting to individual fish as we came up on them but the customer was having real problems presenting the lure to the fish. Then I realized he wasn’t seeing them. Fearing the answer, I asked if the glasses he was wearing were Polaroids and he advised that they were not. Nick Meyer was down the beach that day and had a spare set of Polaroid glasses and loaned them to

Tobin Stillwell and a 5’ 11” 100 lb. blacktipped shark that was sight-cast and released on 40# line. 24

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

or e

s d

e s

him and saved the day. There are relatively few days each year when the opportunity to sight-cast multiple game fish in the surf. To be lucky enough to be there on one of those days and then not have the necessary eye wear to take advantage of it is sad. Polaroid glasses are the most important piece of equipment that I own and use daily. Late morning, clear, hot and still and no bite going on. Constantly searching for a fresh game plan to get rid of these midday August blues. Thousands of mullet circling around in the wade gut and some headed south. Then in the middle of the first gut I noticed a slow-moving school of fish going north. Nothing had been going north all day and the school appeared to be slightly reddish in color. I traveled on for several yards and then stopped and put the Suburban in reverse and backed up the beach ahead of the school. The customer asked what was wrong and I replied, “Oh, I was just trying to find out if I was really that stupid or not and the answer is I’m not. Let’s go, those are redfish.” They were and we landed five 8 to10 pound fish. An 8’ Bull shark came across the bar and stopped that. Next day… fly-fishing. A huge thunderhead concealed the sun all morning and made sight-casting nigh impossible. Eleven o’clock and the sun began to break through for short periods. Same area I had seen the redfish school yesterday. Customer is sight-casting to a small red up close when I observe several hundred fish in a tightlypacked school coming straight in from offshore. At first I thought the school was made up of horse mullet but then realized they were hundreds of redfish packed as tightly as possible. And swimming around

David Rowsey with a 7# catch, photo and release speck caught on the 31st of August.

and around them in a tight circle was a 450 pound tiger shark. The shark herded them all the way up into 4’ of water and then nailed one and it and the reds disappeared back into the deeper water of the gut. Within minutes we had found a smaller school slowly moving north in the first gut and we sight-cast six of them. The last two we caught on fly rods. A longtime surf fisher drove up and I asked if he had been enjoying the reds. HE HADN’T SEEN ANY and followed me as we ran back north to where the school was currently located. Once again an 8’ bull shark brought the party to closure. Every redfish we caught during these two days had minor flesh wounds from sharks. Two days ago we observed 14 bull and blacktipped sharks within casting distance of the shoreline and Tobin Stillwell of San Antonio caught and released one of easily 100 pounds. All you had to do was slowly drive along the shoreline until you saw

October 2006

one and cast a bait to it. But first one must see them. The next 90 days in the surf zone will be filled with many spectacular sights. Ironically, most of the folks in the area will not see them. They will be thinking about all that stuff back in town or how much longer it will take for them to reach some predetermined camp site and they are robbing themselves of the wondrous sights that are surrounding them. The successful predator hunts slowly and kills quickly. He is a part of the Natural World, not apart from it and he is keenly in tune with his surroundings. I’ll be SEEING you on the sand. Be Careful, Be Courteous, Be Kind

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

First, I want to thank the readers for making me feel so good about the piece in the August issue of the GCC. It was with total sincerity that I wrote the words that appeared in that article. If WE put our minds to it, WE can turn this thing around and have the trout fishery our future generations deserve. With that said, let’s get to this month’s topic. I think most anglers who are familiar with my fishing career, know that I am first a trout fisherman. Grew up chasing them and will die chasing them. Trout, especially mature fish, keep you guessing and do not come without a complete understanding of what makes them tick. I am still learning and will be until my brain can no longer retain the knowledge given it. I would have some argue that my one brain cell is already in overload mode. We still get the job done on a consistent basis, so for now all is good in the attic. In this issue we will talk about sight-casting, primarily to redfish, but during certain times of the year large trout can also be caught with this style of

fishing. I caught my first double-digit trout more than 20 years ago on a day of sight-casting to redfish during a mid-winter fishing trip. August through October can be some of the best sight-casting times of the year. With lighter winds and lower tides, fish can be seen much easier, making sight-casting one of the most productive and enjoyable methods of fishing. It is however something that requires a higher level of skill, so be prepared to put in some time on the practice field. When we mention the term, sight-casting, most anglers immediately envision tailing redfish on a calm, skinny water flat or along a saltgrass shoreline. Sight-casting though has a broader meaning; it is casting to a specific object that we have sighted. The object does not necessarily have to be a fish; it can be submerged structure, a nervous mullet or a bird that strangely hovers over a particular area. Best-case scenario is of course an actual fish. Sight-casting takes practice. Accurate casting ability is not something that comes naturally. Bass anglers are among the best at sight-casting to nearby targets, but saltwater anglers probably cast to objects at greater distances with more accuracy. ALL sight-casters need to be able to make the long

Look carefully, there’s a big red in there! Redfish can slide along very slowly, never making a wake or poking a fin above the surface.

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

cast as well as the short flips and pitches. It’s what you do the most that you are the best at. Seasoned fly-casters can make me stare with wonder at their ability to cast such a small fly such a great distance so accurately. Practice makes almost perfect in the sight-casting game. If your do not practice casting to objects you see while fishing or in an open area while not on the water, you will stumble when your chance comes on the real thing. I pitch and flip to Dixie cups in the backyard and small potholes on the flats while fishing. It amazes me at just how many anglers never practice their accuracy skills. I constantly pick objects, some moving and some stationary, and make repeated casts to them as I wade down a shoreline. You can bet when my chances come I am ready. One of the most important aspects of sightcasting is the stealth in which anglers approach the areas he or she intends to fish. If you are pushing mullet out in front for ten or more yards, you’re moving too fast and making way too much noise. If the mullet spook, the redfish and trout are probably already in another county. Wading slowly also helps to prevent a nasty encounter with a stingray. By wading slowly and watching every movement in the water you will be surprised at what you see and how close some of it is willing to swim. “In the water” was the term mentioned in the previous paragraph. Lots of the time we catch ourselves looking only to the surface of the water for the signs of the fish we are targeting. Redfish are masters at sliding just below the surface, fins down and tail ever so slowly easing them forward. They need to work slowly in order for their hunt to be productive. I try to get my clients to train their eyes to see through the water. Look for the slightest hints of movement. A pinkish or bronze glint, an iridescent glimpse of blue that ripples off the tip of the tail, a wake or “V” that pushes across the shallows. Ever see a small white shrimp doing a floor routine of flips and hops across a seemingly calm flat? A wise sight-caster will have a lure right in behind that shrimp. I hope that you can start to see that sight-cast fishing is more than just another way to make a cast. Once fish are located and you’ve been working on your casting accuracy; timing and presentation come into play. Timing is everything when it comes to skinny water fish. In shallow water, fish of all species become much more aware of the world

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Here’s the value of moving slow and keeping your profile as low as possible. My son Jay Ray just set the hook on a good red; look how close we got to these fish.

above the water. The slightest movement can spook an aggressively feeding fish. Shadows and body movements can play critical roles when stalking your prey. I like to keep my shadow away from the targeted areas, sometimes this might mean wading into the wind or at odd angles along the shoreline. Movement with the rod can also send fish packing, one-spooked red leads to two and two leads to… well, you get the picture. I have learned to cast at low angles to the water and have incorporated flipping and pitching techniques into my sightcasting game. Again, this takes time and practice. Timing is also critical. I watch the fish and try to notice the line of travel the fish is on. Once this line is established I pick an ambush point along this same line. Predators know where the ambush points are so when they enter; say a pothole, they expect to see something fleeing from their presence. I try to have my lure visible to them as they enter and then have the bait react as if it knows trouble has entered its space. Typically, the slightest twitch of the bait will bring the fish charging across the pothole. When fish are aggressive, you never see the bait disappear; it is just a tick on the line. Non-aggressive fish take more timing and a better understanding of what is going on with them. I personally like to bring the bait across their nose but out in front at a greater retrieved speed. Quiet often just the glimpse of the bait will draw that instinctive strike. “Study long, study wrong” is what my dad use to tell me when shooting a basketball. The longer I studied the basket the worse I shot. Luck for our team, I was sitting on the bench next to my dad most of the time so it never hurt us. Another thing I have observed and this is especially true with trophy trout — moving fish are much easier to catch. If the fish are stationary, your chances are decreased greatly. I know from 28

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Here’s the one everybody’s looking for, a big red busting bait along a shallow shoreline.

experience that large trout lying motionless in water clean enough for us to see them are darn hard to catch. Add even the slightest movement to the picture and you’re in business. When sight-casting from the boat, lots of things come into play. There is hull slap from wave action, some boats have it and some do not. And what about casting platforms… are they good or bad? Raised platforms are great for seeing fish at greater distance but sometimes the fish see you before you see them. Never let yourself fall from your poling platform or casting deck if you can help it. Jump and land on your feet. When you fall, you lose body control and this can lead to something terrible happening. Twenty-plus years ago I got my poling pole stuck in the Estes Flats mud and ended up hanging onto it as my client slowly drifted away. Embarrassing moment but I learned from it. Fish will definitely see you if you’re too high but the other side is you can see them farther out and this is an advantage to us. Longer more accurate casts are required when sight-casting from the boat. Want to see some really good sight-casters? Watch the FLW Redfish Series or the Redfish Cup coverage on ESPN and FOX SPORTS on Saturday mornings. Finally, there is the excitement of watching a fish actually eat your lure. It is still as exciting today as it was when I was a young boy. I am always amazed at the quickness in which it happens. One of the problems I see with many anglers is the inability to let the fish get in a position to set the hook after the initial take. I immediately crank down on the strike without moving the rod. At close range, the rod movement AWAY from the fish can telegraph her, sending a message to spit the bait.

By they way fish do not let go of the bait. They do not have hands! Once the line and the rod have been loaded, the hook can be set. If the fish is looking at you, I suggest letting it turn left or right before striking. I have had fish hit so close to me that I actually allowed them to swim past me before setting the hook. It takes time, patience and confidence to pull this off but you can do it. Sight-casting is something that takes skill; there is very little luck involved. The slightest miscue on your part will send your target fleeing and leaving the rest of the flat aware of your presence. In closing, I would like to remind everyone that our bays and back lakes are more crowded than ever. Be mindful of your responsibilities as a person to other persons. I believe the greatest Fisherman of all instructed us to “DO UNTO OTHERS AS WE WOULD HAVE THEM DO ONTO US.” Life is too short to be inconsiderate.

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Prior to any fishing trip,

most anglers formulate a game plan — we call it “Plan A.” Plan A designates a target species, strategy, starting point, and choice of tackle for the trip. Plan A is usually based on a wide array of influences ranging from weather patterns to fishing reports. Variables like current movement, water temperature, and the presence of baitfish are fairly reliable predictors of predator activity and a good way to put together the plan. Other influences, like “hot tips” from fellow anglers are somewhat less reliable. You know the story- “Yeah... old Larry Mullen Jr. said his cousin J.T. has been tearing them up on the south flats. I hear they’re big ones too. We need to get in on that! We can beach the boats on the sandbar, pack our lunches, and wade in.” Once Plan A is established it always seems to follow a similar course of events (at least mine do). First, there is the overconfident journey to the coast- big talk and absolute faith in a foolproof fish-catching plan. And then there is the reality unveiled by the first wade, proving yet again that regardless of how inspired Plan A is, it generally veers off course once you hit the water. My experience has been that unpleasant details like gale-force winds, deep mud, and boisterous boaters are just a few of the factors that conspire against Plan A. Discouraged anglers get quiet as Plan A disintegrates, then they get restless, and finally someone speaks up. “Whose

idea was it to come here anyway? We gotta’ try something else.” Enter Plan B. The longer I fish, the more I believe in the substance and honesty of Plan B. Formulated on the water by nearly-defeated anglers who are desperate for results and reduced to negotiation, Plan B throws hype out the window and gets down to business. Unlike its superficial predecessor that promised quick returns and big pay outs, Plan B promises nothing. It rewards creative thinking, hidden opportunity, and hard work. I know this because I am regularly victimized by Plan A and depend on Plan B to catch fish. When formulating Plan B my first move is to consider the options. I can quit and go home (not gonna’ happen) or I can move locations, change tackle, change strategy, or even pursue a different species of fish than what I had intended. Generally I start with the location, asking, “How do the conditions differ from what I expected? Is there sufficient current? Will there be current soon? Are baitfish present? Is the water too hot or too cold? Are there good ambush points for predators? How will another location differ from this one?” Usually I can think of a million reasons why fish should be present in a good-looking area, but that doesn’t mean they are, and it doesn’t mean I can catch them. If several similar areas together demonstrate a negative trend, I often choose to make a big move rather than another small one. You know the old saying, “Why keep doing the same thing and expect different results?” If I have been fishing flats, I go to secondary channels. From secondary channels I go to main channels or manmade structure. From main channels I go back into the weeds… and so forth, all the while keeping my eyes peeled and retaining the option of revisiting a promising location later in the day. It’s often vertical game, covering a variety of depths and structural features rather than covering wide open spaces with long wades. To effectively fish structure and depth requires some flexibility in fly tackle. By that I mean flexibility primarily in fly lines. Generally, fly lines bracket a depth and flies are just along for the ride. Floating lines With no current movement to coax him into the flats, this red was cruising with others near the refuge of a deep channel.

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

work great for very shallow water, but if you want to fish deep, your fly line needs to go deep. For this reason I often cast intermediate or fast sinking fly lines. After all, fish feed at a variety of depths, NOT JUST IN SHALLOW WATER. The option to fish sinking lines is a key part of my Plan B. What about flies? With a few exceptions, I subscribe to the Lee Wulff principle — “The last thing you should change is your fly.” The flies I typically rely on in tough conditions are simple, reliable producers, like Clousers and EP Baitfish. Once I select a pattern, I work it to exhaustion. I’ll slow down, speed up, and try nearly any sort of retrieve to draw a strike. When I am absolutely sure a fly is a dud I’ll cut it off and try the same pattern in a smaller or larger size. If that doesn’t produce a strike, a completely different fly comes out of the box. Most of us dream about big reds and trout, but sometimes catching them, or even finding them, isn’t in the cards… no matter what we try. If that’s the case, Plan B means it’s time to lighten up and go after something else. It’s an easy switch for me because I don’t ever keep any fish, so table-fair is not an issue. What I do value is a strong fight. Two alternative inshore species that fit the bill are ladyfish and jack crevalle. Ladyfish surfacing around passes and jetties are a blast on a fly rod and the big ones are startlingly strong. Jack crevalles, the bad boys of nearshore waters, often hang out in these same areas. Jack crevalles provide an extended adrenaline fix and they will quickly make you forget about those barren flats. If you’re willing to play, there are plenty of other hard-fighting fish out there to make great memories, including sheepshead, black drum, whiting, flounder, even tripletail.

This redfish slipped up from a deep channel to feed along a narrow sandbar. October 2006

An interesting scenario, with rocks, current, drops, and a deep channel in the background. Perfect spot for a sinking line.

The key thing to remember when things don’t go as planned is to remain flexible. Keep your eyes open and be willing to try something new. By changing your tactics and taking a new approach you can improve your skills as an angler. And if you give it a chance you may find, as I have, that good things ultimately come from going with Plan B.

For the past few years, Rockport fly fishing guide Captain Billy Trimble has been tying a highly effective redfish pattern he calls the Blind Chicken. Billy recently sent me a handful of Blind Chicken flies in the colors he prefers, and he included a short story about the fly.

Have you ever pulled a mysterious fish into the boat or onto the beach? “Man… this thing was unlike anything we had ever seen- brownish black with a big gaping mouth. We were afraid to touch it!” Maybe one of your kids has asked, “Hey Dad, my friend at school caught a tripletail. What’s a tripletail look like?” If you’ve ever been stumped, you ought to pick up a copy of Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish, by Ken Schultz. Schultz has written more than a dozen books on sport fishing and has served as a staff writer and editor for Field and Stream since the early seventies. Schultz’s latest book is a “layman’s” type of field guide with species arranged alphabetically and accompanied by full color illustrations. Schultz covers the distribution, habitat, reproduction, and feeding habits for each species and includes a list of common names. Also provided are two special sections at the beginning of the book. The first section is an overview of fish (shape, color, feeding, senses), and the second section covers basic fish anatomy. If you are looking for a highly detailed textbook-type guide to ichthyology, this is not the book for you. But, if you need a simple guide to help you quickly identify and learn more about the unique inhabitants of our coastal waters, Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish is a good choice. Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish By Ken Schultz 274 pp. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. $17.95

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Flatten barb, slide cone over shank, and attach thread. 2. Apply cement to hook shank and palmer short piece of Estaz Grande to rear of cone. 3. Apply cement to thread wraps and attach deer hair to top of hook shank. Pull thread tight (this tucks hair tight behind cone). 4. Attach several strands of Flashabou and bucktail, again applying tension to thread to draw and tuck hair tight behind cone. 5. Apply small drop of cement to base of thread and tie off thread behind cone. October 2006

A good friend is fond of saying, “…the definition of a fool is someone who thinks they have an original thought.” So… here goes! Although this fly looks similar to many other flies that have been around a long time, I have not found anything like it anywhere. The name for the fly comes from one of my favorite soft plastic lures, the Electric Chicken — a chartreuse and pink lure. My pattern has a cone head with no eyes (blind). I don’t like flies with bead/barbell eyes because they pick up grass immediately. I have let my clients drag the Blind Chicken behind the boat and have watched it crawl weed-free for miles. The real magic behind the Blind Chicken is that it is quick and easy to tie, easy to cast, and effectively imitates shrimp, swimming crabs, and baitfish. I have fished the Blind Chicken for redfish over the past 2 years with rare exception, and continue to watch reds fall victim. My clients have caught hundreds of redfish on it. Favorite color combos are pink/ chartreuse, solid chartreuse, chartreuse/ white, and red/yellow. The hot cones come in chartreuse, pink, orange, and red. – Captain Billy Trimble

The tying steps shown illustrate an orange-based (my favorite redfish color) Blind Chicken, but you can use any color combo you prefer. If you would like more information on this unusual pattern, contact Captain Billy Trimble at Trimble Fly Fishing, www.trimbleflyfishing.com 361-205-1266.

MATERIALS Hook- Tiemco 811s (or equivalent) #2 to #6 Thread- High tensile (match fly color) Cone- 3/16” Hot Cone Body- Estaz Grande (large Cactus chenille) Underwing- stiff deer back or belly hair Flash- Flashabou Mirage Overwing- bucktail Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Boats strewn about at Cypress Cove Marina.

Sitting on the bed eating

a “Mega Ham and Cheese Sandwich” and a bag of fiery hot Cheetos, I began feeling guilty about fishing today. It was one of the best fishing trips I have had; catching and releasing over 25 redfish from 26 to 40-plus inches. All of the fish were caught trolling banks and sight-casting. Maneuvering our Majek Xtreme as slow as it could go, orange-brown shapes would magically appear at the outer edges of my and my partner’s field of vision. Once spotted, we would toss or flip a #4 blade H&H spinner bait rigged with a 1/4 ounce jighead and purple and chartreuse Red Killer in front of the fish we wanted. Slowly cranking our baits, the reds would come up to the bait and inhale it. It was truly an experience that I will never forget and one that filled me with excitement to go along with the guilt as we prepared for the 2006 New Orleans Redfish Cup. The fishing was awesome and just what I had expected, but what I will not forget is everything else I saw on my trip, everything other than the fish. We were fishing in Venice, Louisiana exactly one year after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Louisiana and Mississippi coast. Driving south of New Orleans that morning I saw firsthand the devastation this area has taken. One year later the area is still recovering from America’s worst natural disaster which left over 1,300 people dead. Surveying one small piece of a larger and still recovering area, I felt uneasy knowing this was not the worst place where people need Cypress Cove Lodge is completely rebuilt now.

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

help. There were few homes standing, and if a home was standing, it was damaged beyond repair. Each place where a home once stood, a travel trailer now sat. The majority of the people are living in travel trailers while their homes are gone or sit damaged awaiting repair. The schools where kids had a short ride to learning now sit unattended and in disrepair. The Corp of Engineers continues to repair levees that were never intended to protect areas from a storm like Katrina. It will be years before the area is back to what it was before the storm.

Houseboat that floated off mooring & settled on Mechanics shed at Cypress cove Marina. Damaged Boat at Cypress Cove Marina.

That evening we ventured out to eat at one of Venice’s three restaurants and quickly found that they all close at 6:00 pm. We ended up at the Venice Hardware Store where we purchased our Mega Ham and Cheese and Cheetos. The inside of the store was still in disarray and talking with the owner, it was difficult for him to find any help in the area for the store. The owner ran the store by himself and was visibly tired, with most of his time tending to sales of what little merchandise he had. We went back to our room at Cypress Cove Marina (http://www.cypresscove. net/explore.cfm/cypresscovemarina/) which has repaired its hotel and some of its cabins. Damaged boats and buildings are still around, but the slow cleanup has started and Cypress Cove along with Venice Marina (www.venicemarina. com) are open for business. The one thing that was readily apparent is the people of Venice are resilient and hard working. No one we talked to was asking for a handout. In fact everyone we met was extremely welcoming and helpful in our stay. The town wants to get back to normal and have people coming to stay and partake in the awesome fishery that Venice Installing new roof on lodge in January 2006.

October 2006

Damage inside Cypress Cove Lodge.

More damage inside lodge.

Outside view of damaged lodge which caught a boat.

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October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Top weights (top 5) in New Orleans Redfish Cup all fished near Venice. Fishery is still great.

2. Franklin-Jim Franklin and Brian Fornea, 3rd place New Orleans Redfish Cup.

is the gateway to. The town is one that is totally dependent on the riches the Mississippi Delta provides from fish and fishing to the oil and gas beneath the delta. On the fishing side of the house, the Mississippi River delta and coast has changed drastically. Last year, we fished the Wagon Wheel area just north of Venice. The Wagon Wheel is an area where numerous wells have been drilled and the canals that interconnect them form a wheel shape. The area was very rich in bait and vegetation and the clear waters that filled the ponds held some of the fattest redfish you can imagine. That trip, we had caught a 27-inch redfish that weighed over 9 lbs. The ponds that we fished in the Wheel teemed with bait and it was like bass fishing for redfish. A year later, our trip back to the Wagon Wheel to check the ponds we fished, provided a glimpse into the changes that have taken place. We began our trip around the outside of the Wheel and immediately noticed there was no vegetation growing in the water. We continued to circle the Wheel to the area we had fished near a pumping station know as Little Toledo. Trolling into a previously 4-foot deep canal, the trolling motor began hitting bottom and there was marsh growing

3. Randazzo-Anthony Randazzo and Billy Wallbaum, won New Orleans Redfish Cup with over 16 lbs per day for 2 redfish. Fished in Venice.

4. Tindal-Mike Tindal and Artie Price Jr., second place just 0.01 lb behind Randazzo.

where the canal once was. The canal had filled with silt. Turning into our pond, we found it no longer existed. The lush clear pond had been blown away along with all the other ponds in that area. The pond was now open water that only had marsh banks and no longer held teeming bait. Again there was no vegetation or grass growing to help filter the water and provide hiding places for small bait. Only the marsh edges remained. The water was muddy and lacked the deep channels that funneled water through it creating perfect ambush points for hungry redfish. My trip to Louisiana was just a glimpse into a tiny piece of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and its lasting effects. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world of the constant media blitz, it is easy to forget things that happened over a year ago. For most, Katrina ended way long ago as the next new news story filled the airways. For the people of Louisiana, it will be a watershed event; one which will leave horrible memories for many and will never be forgotten. The people affected by Katrina will return to a normal way of life. I was not left with the impression that anyone would not rebuild their homes and slowly work to regain the way they have lived their lives. Life in the Mississippi Delta is what the people of Venice know and they are working to return to it.

The last afternoon I was there, we were going to cross the gulf from Venice to Barataria Bay and then on to New Orleans. As we exited Red Pass headed to Four Bayou Pass, we saw a redfish bust the surface. I immediately stopped the boat and trolled back to the spot where we saw the bait being busted. A large school of bull reds was cruising by and we launched our baits into the school where they were immediately inhaled and the fight was on. We landed our 37 and 34-inch reds, unhooked them, took some quick pictures and released the fish. As they swam away, I fired up the ETEC and began the long ride home. I thought about how lucky I am to be able to enjoy the great sport of fishing. Staying in Venice truly let me see what is important in life and how everything one has can be taken away instantly. I want to thank the people of Louisiana for letting me stay in their area and towns and making me feel welcome while they return to a normal way of life. If anyone is thinking of taking a fishing trip, Venice is a great place to go. You will be helping the economy and enjoying the fishing of a lifetime. The shape of the Delta has changed, the people are in the middle of rebuilding, but the fish remain and the fishing is outstanding; which like the river flow, is the one constant of the Venice area.

Pictures of fish caught in Venice Area. 34

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Wake up! We got a bite!” “Huh?”

“Come on, get everybody up!” “Oh yeah, we’re still fishing” As the groggy angler steps into the cockpit he sees a big splash behind the boat in the moonlight. “What was that?” “It’s a swordfish, come on let’s go!” Bluewater fishing this summer was the best we’ve seen in several years. Not only was the fishing good, the weather cooperated most of the summer with light winds and calm seas. There were many reports of marlin and sailfish, plenty of tuna, wahoo, dolphin and swordfish! That’s right, broadbill swordfish. There has been a renewed interest in swordfish in the past few years and the catches this summer prove there is a lot to do offshore at night, if you stay out and stay up. The broadbill swordfish has always been considered one of the top gamefish in the world. Usually spotted tailing on the surface, sportfishing crews would present baits very carefully to

them and daylight fishing for these fish became a rare

alert for changing current and wind. The other option is

opportunity. Later, swordfish were thought of more

drifting. One of the most popular methods these days

as a commercial fish species targeted by longliners

is drifting while fishing for yellowfin tuna around the

in the deep ocean. They are a streamlined primitive

deepwater spar rigs; the other is drifting the deep rocks

looking species with a large eye and tremendous bill

for swordfish. It’s tough to fish all day and all night, so

that makes up almost half of their total length. In the

it really helps to have plenty of crew to share in staying

late 70’s recreational fishermen found them right off of

up through the night. With more crew you can have

South Florida’s east coast. Using an idea from Cuban

shorter watches and everyone gets more rest.

deep water for swordfish and marlin, Jerry and Jesse

to drift several baits at various depths over an area

Webb of Pflueger Taxidermy began experimenting

where you think a swordfish might feed. You may

with deep baits and a new invention called a lightstick.

vary the depth of your baits according to how bright

The fishing was fantastic and many of the techniques

the moon is, the brighter the moon, the deeper the

recreational fishermen use today can be attributed

baits. According to Bret Holden, you want to fish areas

to their efforts. Swordfishing at night became very

that have steep changes in depth, such as a rock or

popular and the technique spread to other parts of the

ledge. Bret is the premier swordfish angler on the

world including the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, the

Texas Coast and maybe the entire Gulf. Since 1990

longliners also learned how to target swordfish with this

he has caught 77 swords, way more than anyone

method; only they used miles of line and hundreds of

else that we know. His success is a result of years of

hooks. After a few years the Florida fishery collapsed

specifically targeting swordfish over any other species.

and the interest in swordfishing dwindled, however,

This year Holden has been working extra hard at not

in the past three years the swordfish have showed

only swordfish, but blue marlin as well and as of this

up again and like before, the publicity has sparked a

writing has caught 18 swords and 17 blues aboard

renewed interest in swordfishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

his 46’ Bertram “Booby Trap” this summer. That’s an

From the Florida panhandle to South Padre Island

enviable season in our book. Holden mainly fishes the

fishermen are trying their luck at fishing for swords and

area just past the continental shelf from 150 to 300

are being rewarded by consistent catches.

fathoms focusing on drop offs around rocks like The

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Michael St. Pierre likes to get to the area he is going to

extends a long way into the Gulf in most areas.

the commercial harpoon boats began targeting

Hilltops, 130 Fathom Rock and High Spot. Captain

The continental shelf along the Texas Coast

these magnificent fish, hoping for a strike. Then

Capt. Mike Horton(middle) with 70 lb swordfish, mate Ryan Doxey (right,) angler Dean Enright (left).

The main concept when fishing for swordfish is

fishermen, who use kerosene lanterns when fishing

Brett Holden with two swords in one night.

Fishermen targeting

fish before dark and troll lures around looking for bait,

bluewater species must

current and birds. This technique paid off this summer

run a long way to go

at the Hilltops. After seeing lots of action in a certain

fishing and it makes

area before dark, he decided to try for swords there.

sense to stay out

The result was the “Caliente”, a 50’ Bertram and owner

overnight and fish the

Doug Shows winning the swordfish pool in the Texas

next day to justify the

Legends Billfish Tournament with a 61 lb. fish. Captain

time, effort and expense

Mike Horton on the “Gringo Honeymoon” also likes

to get out there. At

fishing The Hilltops and released two swordfish in The

night you have several

Legends tournament. All of the captains agree that

options. If you can find

once you get a bite, mark that spot and go back to it,

a mooring buoy to tie

you have a good chance of getting another bite. One

up to, you can spend

note about these and other areas when fishing at night

the night there resting

— look on a nautical chart and locate the shipping

or fishing. Another

lanes near the area you want to fish. Many of the rocks

option is tying to a rig,

just off the continental shelf lie directly in a shipping

but you need to stay

lane. It is important to keep a watchful eye for ships.

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Brett Holden with large Texas swordfish on “Booby Hatch.” We have had them pass way too close for comfort. Whether the helmsman was asleep or just didn’t pick us up on radar — we don’t know, but you have to watch and be ready to move if one gets too close. Even if not in a shipping lane, someone should be up and watching for vessel traffic at all times. Squid is the standard bait for swordfishing, but live blue runners are also used and are good at attracting these deepwater predators. Colored lightsticks or battery-powered lights are used to attract the fish to the bait and are normally attached to the leader above the bait with a rubber band or clip. Many boats will also use large submersible lights at the boat. Holden finds the white light attracts bait to the boat the best and uses a squid jig to catch fresh squid that come into the light. St. Pierre makes his own waterproof lights and deploys two at the boat, one on the surface and one down about 30 ft. These lights are encased in plastic tubes

and come in many different colors, green and white

great place to catch broadbill

are the most popular. St. Pierre caught three swords in

swordfish. Many small fish are

one night this summer aboard the “Caliente” including

caught here suggesting the

a double header and one sword caught after daylight.

Gulf is also a breeding area. To be legal, federal law

To get the baits deep, lead weights are used. Normally

requires that swordfish must be at least 47 inches in

the bait and lightstick is deployed and then after 60 to

short length, that’s the length from the tip of the lower

100 ft of line is freespooled out, a weight is attached

jaw to the fork in the tail. You must release anything

to the line by rubber band or copper wire. The amount

smaller. One thing to remember when boating a

of weight varies with how fast you are drifting and how

swordfish is that the bill is a lot different that other

deep you want your bait. Basically, you have to use

billfish. Instead of being rounded it is flat and sharp

whatever weight it takes to keep your bait at the desired

like a sword (duh!) and can inflict pain and suffering if

depth. Holden likes three baits at 50, 100 and 150 feet

handled improperly. Always use gloves and watch out

respectively. Horton also likes three baits a little deeper

for that slashing bill. When gaffing, try to gaff the fish in

at 100, 200 and 300 feet.

the head because swordfish have a relatively soft body

St. Pierre likes 50, 150 and 250 feet and attaches

and it is easy to tear the hook or gaff out. Gaffing in the

a balloon to the line once the bait is at the right depth.

head also prevents damaging the highly prized meat.

The balloon allows the bait to drift away from the boat

We can vouch for the meat; it’s some of the best the

and helps keep the lines from tangling. When drifting,

gulf has to offer. Our favorite way to cook it is on the

a sea anchor can be used to slow your drift and can

grill, basted with a garlic/butter/white wine concoction.

also be used to keep your bow into the seas, if the wind

Get the fire real hot and sear the fillet about two

kicks up. St. Pierre has a high-intensity strobe light on

minutes on each side. Eat immediately while it’s hot to

his sea anchor, so that when a fish bites, the anchor

prevent it from continuing to cook and get dry. Once

can be untied and then recovered later.

you’ve had a taste of swordfishing, we think you’ll be

Whether you are targeting swordfish on a large or small boat we think the minimum tackle should be

staying out at night a lot more when you are offshore. It makes sense and can be very rewarding.

a 50 lb rod and reel with 80 lb test line. Broadbills are

If you have any questions or would like to learn

tough fighters and can put the tackle and the angler to

more about big game fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, give

the test. Most captains agree that one hook is good for

us a call at Byrd & Cochrane 281-474-4000 or go to our

small to medium squid, but Holden uses double hooks

website at www.byrd-cochrane.com.

when using very large squid. He’s fishing for a state record and wants that big bite. “I had an incredible 13 bites one night and only caught one sword, but I was trying for a big fish and the

Swordfish Basics

Minimum 50 lb. rods & reel spooled with 80 lb monofilament line. 12 Fresh or frozen large to medium squid 200 lb –300 lb monofilament leader Cyalume Sticks in Blue or Green Battery powered underwater lights made by Lingren-Pittman UW lights at boat – Green or White #64 rubber bands #33 rubber bands Assorted lead weight to 3 lbs. 10/0-12/0 7691 Mustad hooks – offset on vise Circle hooks – Eagle Claw, Owner Gloves, gaffs, balloons, waxed string

smaller ones just couldn’t stay hooked on that big bait.” Holden says. The Texas state record is 317 lbs. caught back in 1979. Most captains agree that a 15 – 20 ft. long, 200 to 300 lb leader is all you want for swords. Offset hooks in the 10/0 to 12/0 size work good and Horton has had good luck with circle hooks. You can buy pre-rigged squid, but most crews prefer to rig baits themselves. The hook goes through the eyes of the squid and then the leader is passed through the mantle of the squid and sewn to the bait to keep it attached. The Gulf of Mexico off Texas has proven to be a

Texas Legends Billfish Tournament 2006 Results

The Legends, held August 10-13th in Port Aransas, Texas was a great success with 36 boats fishing for over $282,000 in total prize money. A total of 20 blue marlin were released along with 5 white marlin and 8 sailfish in the two-day event. The top four boats were: Place 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Boat Rock-N-Robin Akela Ms. Diane Blue Eagle

Owner Robin Parsley Ed Bass Pete Hebert Jones Brothers

Fish Caught 2 Blue Marlin, 1 White Marlin 2 Blue Marlin 1 Blue Marlin, 2 White Marlin 1 Blue Marlin, 2 Sailfish

The Top Captain and Mate Awards went to Capt Jason Pruns and Monte Williams on Robin Parsley’s Rock-N-Robin. The largest yellowfin tuna went to Brad Aery on Smooth Finish, top dolphin to Charles Miller’s Clean Sweep and both the largest wahoo and swordfish to Doug Show’s Caliente. 38

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

The strength of Coastal

Conservation Association Texas (CCA Texas) has always been and will continue to be rooted in its diverse and passionate membership. What started out as a mere handful of concerned fishermen in 1977 wanting to do something about the continuing degradation of our coastal resources has grown to a membership of more than 52,000 members in 50 local chapters in the state of Texas, and approximately 90,000 members nationwide in 15 state chapters. CCA Texas has continued to grow because of a desire by saltwater enthusiasts to make a difference and to be part of an organization that sticks to its principles and mission. In 2006, CCA Texas started local chapters at Texas Tech, TCU, University of Texas at San Antonio, in the Tyler/Longview area (the Piney Woods chapter) and most recently the Nacogdoches/Lufkin area (the East Texas chapter). In addition to these chapters, a Texas A&M Corpus Christi chapter is scheduled to be started in October. When you look at a list of CCA Texas chapters and see locations in Midland, Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, areas along the coast and on college campuses, you might ask, “how does CCA Texas pick these locations for chapters?” It is really quite simple. These areas have concerned saltwater fishermen who want to make a difference. These grassroots are the key to a successful local chapter and state organization. When these members contact CCA with an interest to start a local chapter, the wheels begin to turn and the result is an active, passionate and successful chapter dedicated to the conservation of our coastal resources. College chapters are particularly important to the success of CCA Texas. “College campuses hold the leaders of tomorrow,” said CCA Texas Executive Director Robby Byers. “These college students are active because they believe in the efforts of the organization and understand the need to continually fight for the conservation of our coastal fisheries.” CCA Texas must continue to grow in order make a difference in the battles that lie ahead. The battles over freshwater inflows reaching our coastal bays and estuaries continue and will intensify as municipalities and corporations scramble for water rights up and down all of Texas’ water basins. Fisheries management issues have become more and more complicated and the principles of sound management are often tested. Habitat restoration projects continue to grow throughout the state, including projects such as Bahia Grande in the Rio Grande Valley (be sure to read the September/October issue of Tide and the progress of Bahia Grande) and the recently approved $20,000 grant for a sea grass planting project off of Sportsman’s Road in West Galveston Bay. The seagrass planting is a joint effort with the Galveston Bays Foundation. A strong local chapter with members able to identify these projects, raise the necessary funds and make it happen is the key to making a difference in conservation. As a concerned fisherman, you can make a difference by becoming involved in a local chapter or perhaps by helping start a new chapter in your area. Be sure to check the CCA calendar for upcoming banquets and events. For more information on local chapters, visit www.ccatexas.org and click on the local chapters tab on the left hand menu. If you are 40

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

interested in helping start a new local chapter, contact Robert Taylor, CCA Texas Assistant Director, at 713-626-4222.

Upcoming BanqUets

Beeville Fish Fry – September 21st Midlothian Chapter Banquet – September 21st neW Piney Woods Chapter Banquet – October 3rd State of Texas/STAR Awards Banquet – October 5th NEW UTSA Chapter Banquet – October 19th Port O’Connor Chapter Banquet – October 21st Brush Country Chapter Banquet – November 1st neW East Texas Chapter Banquet - TBA

CCA Texas has funded

more than $500,000 to Texas Parks Wildlife Department law enforcement and research since the year 2000. The importance of these dollars was recently highlighted in an email from TPWD Capt. Rex Mayes to Phillip Fitzgerald, CCA Texas TPWD committee chairman. “Local Wardens Justin Hurst and Aaron Koenig, along with Chris Bird who will be a cadet in the Game Warden Academy in October, were patrolling for night shrimping violations the other morning in Matagorda Bay. They were using the CCA donated night vision to watch shrimping vessels that reported trawling before legal hours. Approximately 4am, they observed what appeared to be a shrimp vessel traveling from the Matagorda Jetties toward the Palacios channel. The night vision allowed them to identify the vessel as a snapper boat by the name and rigging. They subsequently boarded the vessel and inspected the catch. Numerous undersize snapper were located on board. The captain of the vessel was charged eight times for undersize fish. Charges and restitution are pending in state court.”

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

With the advent of four stroke

motors offering greatly improved fuel economy, many anglers are looking that direction for a little relief at the pump. But what they are not looking at could cost them in the long run. Lower unit gear ratios play a significant part in the efficiency of your fishing rig and that is probably the most overlooked aspect of motor purchase due to the fact… you have no options when it comes to manufacturer settings. If you understand how gear ratios work in cars, this should be fairly easy to comprehend. If you are like me and most of it is a foreign language, I’ll do my very best to put this as simply as possible and in terms even I understand. A motor turns a certain RPM (revolution per minute). As the motor spins, the drive shaft is connected to a set of gears in the lower unit and those gears drive the propeller shaft. Now, the output shaft does not turn the same rpm’s as the motor because of the planned difference in gear

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

ratio. Due to this ratio, (which the manufacturer has set for that particular lower unit), the output shaft spins slower than the engine. That rotation speed can be figured by this simple formula: Engine RPM divided by gear ratio. Knowing this particular information can be beneficial for a few reasons. Most important is: The slower a propeller spins; the more pitch you will need to maintain speed. Now this is where being a math geek comes in handy. Using the first formula to determine prop shaft speed, you can now find out what the theoretical speed of your boat should be. Theoretical speed is the speed the boat would do with 0% slip. Take your engine RPM - divided by gear ratio — now multiply that number by the pitch setting of the propeller — and divide that by 1056 (translates feet per second into miles per hour.) As an example, at full throttle your boat’s outboard turns 5500 RPM. You are running a standard lower unit with a gear ratio of 1.86:1 and you are turning a 17 pitch propeller. Theoretically, you should be doing 47.6 mph. Now go to one of today’s new four strokes with a 2.71:1 gear ratio and spin the motor 6000 RPM’s and go to a 21 pitch propeller. Before you do the math, guess which one should go faster. If you did the math correctly, you find out that even though you are spinning a higher pitch propeller at a higher engine RPM, because of the gear ratio, it actually spins the prop slower and your theoretical speed is only 44 MPH. This is what many of today’s fishermen are running into and it

is a propeller man’s worst nightmare. The secret is to find out how to spin a higher pitched propeller faster and not overload the motor. That is the aspect that many boaters overlook. Adding pitch to a propeller gives you more speed as long as you can spin it within your recommended RPM range set by the manufacturer. But adding pitch adds more load to the motor, which in turn causes a reduction of engine RPM’s and that could seriously hurt a motor. Let’s look at the chief reason the new motors are going to these lower gear ratios. (Lower because as the drive ratio number goes up, the fewer revolutions the output shaft will turn). In lower gear ratios, you are able to turn higher pitch propellers because the propeller is turning much slower and the load is not near as great- so you are able to take a bigger bite. So, spinning a propeller at a slower rate but taking a bigger bite is good for fuel economy. Problem for shallow water tunnel boats or any boat that has lots of drag… the harder the boat is to push, the more power the motor must deliver. And — as you approach the power limit of the engine, to avoid pulling the engine’s RPM into an undesirably low range, you find it necessary to reduce pitch. And now you’re right back where you started. Thus far we have limited our discussion to engine RPM, lower unit drive ratios, and propeller pitch. Luckily, we have several other formulas and prop performance characteristics at our disposal to get the job done. Being in possession of these data and a few other tuning tricks are what makes or breaks a good running boat. I am in no way trying to steer you away from a new four stroke motor. What I am trying to do is provide some insight into the reason why four strokes could be causing some top speed performance issues. Not all shallow water boats are designed identically, therefore not all suffer from this problem, but some do. Knowing how to do the math and which questions to ask before you buy could make buying and setting up a new outboard a little less painful. Whichever you decide and buy, do the math to maximize your output. Be safe on the water.

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Field Notes

Texas blue crab populations

Over-harvesting crabs is

have declined significantly in the last few years.

another problem. Landings

In fact, last year’s harvests were the lowest ever

decline when yields exceed

recorded. Only 3.1 million pounds were landed,

a certain level, namely

an amount well below the historic average of 6.3

the maximum sustainable

million and nowhere near the 11.9 million pounds

yield. Recently, biologists

landed in 1987. Under normal circumstances, these

Tom Wagner and Glen

landings generate around $12 million annually for

Sutton (TPWD Coastal

coastal economies: when landings decline not only

Fisheries) have been analyzing twenty-six years

do the crabbers suffer, but so do their communities.

of commercial blue crab data. Clearly, catch rates

There also are implications for sportfishing; a lot

have been declining since the mid 1980’s. Stocks

crucial for blue crabs to flourish. Juveniles

of fish feed on the juvenile blue crabs. So what is

were overexploited during the early 1980s, which

avoid predation by seeking refuge in these

causing this decline and how will it affect fishing?

reduced them to a low level. When populations

habitats and a symbiotic relationship develops

are severely reduced, the low level minimizes

between them and the vegetation. Crabs strip

their own perspective. “We need to ensure that

reproduction and recovery is slow. Then in 1997,

the aquatic vegetation of grazing mollusks

freshwater keeps flowing into our bays each year;

a limited entry program was initiated by the Texas

and in turn are provided with extra cover and

that’s when crabbing is at its best”, says a large

Legislature. This was the second program of its

food — circumstances under which strong

seafood dealer from the upper coast. “Crabbers

kind after the shrimp trawl limited entry program

recruitment is almost guaranteed. Unfortunately,

down in Brownsville won’t see a crab at all when

was introduced in 1995. Now, with crab trap

these habitats are continually threatened. From

things dry up.” This reference is to the Arroyo

limited entry entering its sixth year, effort has been

the mid 1950’s to 1979 approximately 35% of

Colorado, which empties out into the lower Laguna

reduced by approximately 20%. This appears

Texas coastal wetlands (325,640 acres) were

Madre. In the dry season reduced rainfall and

to be helping reduce over-harvest and there are

lost to development and population expansion

upstream usage takes its toll — reducing inflow to

some signs that a slow recovery is taking place.

(Texas General Land Office, 1996).We know that

the Laguna to almost nothing. This effect has also

Figure 1 shows how the annual catch-per-crabber

quantifying direct impacts is difficult; however

been observed and documented in other coastal

has changed since the 1960’s and leveled off

it would be safe to say that while stocks can be

Being the most affected, crabbers have

since limited entry. Marsh, seagrass beds and wetlands are

estuaries across the Gulf of Mexico. Blue crab food web links in the ecosystem.

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

managed for sustainability using several different methods, natural habitat once lost is gone forever and not easily replaced. The key to understanding the implications of reduced crab stocks is to examine predatorprey interactions within the estuarine food web. Whenever abundance of one species is reduced for whatever reason there are repercussions throughout the ecosystem. These manifest themselves in unexpected patterns, reducing the quantity of one species, while increasing the numbers of another. Blue crabs provide an indispensable food source for many estuarine inhabitants by converting detritus and other organic material into edible biomass. They also constitute a critical food source for many

Catch-per-crabber in pounds from 1960 to 2005.

recreational finfish species such as sheepshead, black drum and red drum. When blue crab populations are depleted, an important food source is lost. Figure 2 shows how blue crab biomass has declined over time (TPWD resource data). To illustrate this point, think about the effects of a prolonged drought without water restrictions. It starts with less freshwater flowing into the estuary. This is followed by reduced primary productivity (growth of algae, seagrass, and phytoplankton). This reduction limits the food supply for organisms at the lower levels of the food chain (zooplankton, mollusks), which in turn limits the food supply of blue crabs. Such a sequence leads to fewer crabs for the fish to eat and ultimately less and smaller sport fish for the recreational fisherman. Figure 3 shows relevant Coastwide relative blue crab biomass (kg) from 1960-2005.

links in the blue crab food web. Causes for declining blue crab populations are many and so are the implications for management. Human activities and ecological processes occur simultaneously in open access resources such as our own. This not only adds to the complexity, but also puts a lot of responsibility on all of us. In a sense, we become a larger part of the ecosystem and everything we do has an impact. Coastal Fisheries staff are in the process of developing ecosystembased models to better understand and quantify the impacts of ecological disturbances. These models will allow better management of the commercial blue crab fishery and establish better angler opportunities for recreational fishermen. Certainly, reviving the blue crab stocks will ensure better fishing in the future. For more information contact glenn.sutton@ tpwd.state.tx.us

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

hours playing on the river. On top of that my partner, Joel McBride, would be there. Joel lives in Colorado and has paddled whitewater for over twenty years. I couldn’t be in any better hands. The only downside was the videographer and photographer who would

Last year during the dog days of our Texas summer I headed north and found

a brief respite from the heat in the mountains of southeast Oklahoma. This year I went a bit further north. North of Oklahoma, north of Kansas, hell…I went north of the border into Canada. If you’re gonna get away from the coast for a bit, you may as well do it up right. A few months back I wrote about having a crew down on the Texas coast for a photo shoot. A couple of those guys were from Canada and now they had invited us along on a kayak fishing photo shoot in that country to the north. Well I couldn’t refuse that kind of offer. Plans were made, plane tickets were purchased, and the waiting began. The more I thought about this the more I wondered if I was really ready. The plan was to fish the Ottawa River before heading off to a secluded lake many miles north of civilization for the remainder of the week. For those of you who aren’t aware, the Ottawa is a world renowned whitewater destination. I’m a flatlander who likes to paddle in the bays. The surf in Galveston is rough enough for me. Class IV whitewater is not in my paddling resume. As the date approached I watched all the whitewater videos and talked to anyone I could about how to run the rough stuff. The only saving grace was the fact I had two previous world champion whitewater kayakers coming along on the trip. Ken Whiting and Brendan Mark are the kind of paddlers who can handle anything a river throws at them.

be standing by to capture my every screw-up. I arrived in Ottawa with more pounds of gear than you’d need for a month long expedition to the Arctic Circle. These guys are whitewater paddlers, not fisherman. As a result, I was placed in charge of bringing all of the fishing gear for three anglers. As I stood there in the baggage claim area I started getting a sinking feeling and my stomach began to churn. One by one my bags had popped out of the chute onto the conveyor belt. Everything had arrived… except for my rods!!! Here we were with three months of planning, many dollars spent, and no fishing rods other than the two fly rods I had brought as carry-on luggage. How do you lose an eight inch diameter, seven foot long tube containing a couple thousand dollars worth of rods? Several phone calls revealed that the rods were safe and sound… in Philadelphia! After much assurance that the rods would be delivered by the next morning, we left the airport headed for the tiny town of Beachburg, Ontario. We arrived in the dark and were shown to our cabin. Once our hosts had headed home, Joel and I walked outside and listened to the roar of the river rapids. Pretty cool. Joel has been on hundreds of rivers so I’m sure it wasn’t any big deal to him, but for me it was quite intriguing. I went to sleep with the bedroom window open and a cool breeze blowing in. It was sort of like sleeping on the beach in the fall with a big surf crashing except there was no break between the waves, just a constant roar. I drifted off to sleep wondering what the river would be like.

These guys live right on the Ottawa and spend many

The author’s first smallmouth, the Ottawa is full of them. Smallies are very aggressive feeders and strong fighters. 50

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

The night was short and the alarm clock wasn’t really needed. I was awake and staring at the clock well before the buzzer went off. Anyone who fishes new and unfamiliar waters understands the uncertainty and excitement that comes with the anticipation of exploring a new place. For me this was not only a new place, but a type of fishing that was totally foreign. A huge, deep, and fast moving river filled with smallmouth bass was something I’d only read about in magazines. When the guys arrived I was looking forward to seeing my rod tube riding in the bed of the truck with the kayaks. No such luck. We strung up the fly rods and launched the kayaks from right behind the cabin. Within minutes we were out of sight of civilization. The Ottawa is a big river with beautiful rocky shorelines and towering trees growing right to the water’s edge. Since this was a fishing trip, we decided to use sit-on-top kayaks the same as we do down here in Texas. I was in a T120, Brendan had the T140, and Joel drew the T160. On moving water a shorter kayak is definitely an advantage and I needed all the help I could get. Joel’s sixteen footer would be a real challenge. The only special equipment added to the yaks were thigh straps. These padded straps are attached to pad eyes fore and aft of the cockpit along the sides. Thigh straps are often utilized in the surf and allow the paddler to use his legs to help control the movements of the kayak the same as the thigh braces of a sit-inside style kayak. The straps also help to keep you in the kayak when you inevitably push the limits of physics. I’m pretty sure I was brought along so that we could test those theories of kayak physics and learn at what point

Joel McBride shows good form learned from 20 years running whitewater. October 2006

2006

7th Annual Kid’s Fishing Day August 11, 2007!

The Kid’s Fishing Day began as an idea to give something back to the people and

visitors of Port O’Connor. From its beginning, the Kid’s Fishing Day has always been focused on, and dedicated to, kids.

Special recognition is due Keith Rainwater of

Texas Tackle Factory and Alvin Massouh (former

owner of Alvin’s Food Store in POC, now Speedy Stop) the originators and promoters of the event.

The first tourney, run on Aug. 4 2001, was held

onsite at Alvin’s Food Store. That first year 45

smiling kids participated in the tournament which

has since evolved beyond any expectations. This

year’s tourney pulled 455 fishing kids and a crowd of over 800 tournament anglers, parents and

friends joined in the Weigh-In festivities where over 800 BBQ plates were served up.

It is important to note that Alvin Massouh’s

tradition of generosity exists today in Cliff Thomas, founder and president of Speedy Stop Stores of

Victoria. After acquiring Alvin’s Food Store, Cliff

stepped in as a major sponsor of this tournament and we wish to recognize his considerable effort

and contribution. Cliff and Keith have big plans for the future and there are surely many more Kid’s Fishing Days to come.

2006 Sponsors: Ozarka, Harrison-Waldrop-Uherek, Wells

Fargo-Victoria, Coca Cola - El Campo, Mikeska’s BBQ, and Port O’Connor Community Center.

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

River guys name every set of rapids, this one is Iron Ring; I couldn’t help but wonder how Bus Eater got its name.

Just below every major drop in the river there is a set of “swirlies” — never celebrate your successful run until you are well clear of these.

Joel’s first Ottawa smallie; if our spinning gear hadn’t been detained in Philly we could have enjoyed a slugfest with these guys.

they will flip over. I was assured several times that

all times helps your stability. Just like Joel, Brendan

into shape. As it was, we weren’t doing too badly.

the Tarpons would do just fine. The camera guys

shot through the rapids and neatly peeled out of

The variety of fish was impressive. I had figured we

seemed to have a bit more sense. They were safely

the current without so much as a wobble. My turn.

were going to catch smallmouth bass, but I had no

tucked into real whitewater boats.

What a rush. Coming into the chute you are only

idea we’d get walleye, catfish, perch, pike, and some

looking at a horizon line of disappearing water.

kind of ugly little guy they called a chub.

The interesting thing about these whitewater

My first ever smallmouth will be one of those

guys is that they tend to name the big drops on

Once the kayak crests over that line it is like a really

the river. Iron Ring, S-Curve, Garberator…and my

wet roller coaster ride. Within seconds I was through

fish that stays in the old memory bank forever. I

favorite… Bus Eater. Imagine what goes through

the rough stuff and cruising past my buddies. They

was standing on a huge boulder overlooking a

your mind as you are being pulled by the river

were cheering for me and I was feeling pretty

lane of fast moving whitewater with a hard eddy

currents into a place called Bus Eater! How the hell

dadgum cocky. For some reason I decided to raise

line. If you aren’t used to strong rivers it can seem

did it get that name? Did it really chomp up a bus

my hands over my head in victory. If you’re ever

a little strange to have a current going upstream

load of kids? Or was it that some guys were sitting

in that situation… don’t celebrate. Apparently that

right alongside a rushing river headed the opposite

on the river rocks and one said, “Dude, that thing

irritates the river and she sends up what these guys

direction. These eddies are where the fish are

could eat a bus.” No matter, I was committed by this

called a “swirly” that grabs your kayak and flips it

stationed to feed taking advantage of baitfish getting

point and there was no turning back. I was going

upside-down to teach you a little lesson in humility.

hammered by the currents. I had cast into that eddy

whitewater kayak fishing!

Once my flotsam of gear was gathered and the

a dozen or so times and had begun to think about

photographers had reviewed their prized images it

moving when a jolt came up through the rod and

upriver of the rapids and scrambled up onto the

was finally time to fish. This had been the plan all

the little 6-weight reel started screaming. The fish

rocky shore to scout the run. It looked pretty straight

along, to run a drop and then pull out of the river

had briefly flashed in the clear water before heading

forward. There was an hour glass of water pouring

to fish the tail race behind the rapids and into the

straight downstream. It was cool how he kept using

through a chute in the rocks and then dropping

pool before the next run. It worked like a charm.

the current to power away from my grasp. Every

several feet into a churning cauldron of twisting

The fish on this river simply don’t see any fishing

time I brought him close using the eddy current, he’d

currents. Sure thing, no problem. With the camera

pressure. Traditional fishermen can’t get to these

dart over to the downstream current and gain himself

guys situated to get the best vantage point on the

spots, and the whitewater guys running the river

some breathing room. Once I finally landed the little

carnage that was sure to come, we went through the

couldn’t care less about the fish they bump over

guy I was struck by the beauty of this fish. I’d seen

chute one by one. Joel shot through like a champ

on their way through. It’s what all of us fishermen

plenty of pictures of smallmouth bass, but no picture

and easily pulled up in a downstream eddy. Damn,

dream about. Untapped fishing potential is hard to

could do justice to the real thing. Those fish have a

that was cool. As Brendan headed into the chute he

find these days and here we were with miles of river

truly wild look in their eyes that’s hard to describe.

told me to just follow his line once he got through.

all to ourselves… and my favorite fishing rods were

After a few photos he was returned to his place in

His only other bit of advice… just keep paddling. As

in Phila-freakin-delphia!

the river and I was headed down the Ottawa spoiling

My first test was Iron Ring. We pulled over just

in the surf, keeping a paddle blade in the water at

I have to admit that Brendan flat kicked our tails

for the next fight.

that day. He had brought along a little spinning rig Here’s a close-up of the business end of a Canadian river smallie; these fish seem to have a wild look in their eyes.

and a handful of small chrome crankbaits. These were the ticket. Every place we stopped Brendan caught fish. Joel and I were a bit more challenged with our fly rods. I had brought along an assortment of sinking flies, but only had floating lines. With the strong currents and deep waters it was simply not the most effective way to cover the water column. I spent many minutes muttering under my breath about those damned airlines. I just knew if I had my preferred weapons I could be whipping these fish

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

…Continued from last month Saturday Morning (Ryan Evans)I knew this morning would prove to be different than yesterday. I removed the mental block that I had, strapped on the game face and told myself that it would be a great morning. After talking to Captain Troy we decided to make a long run to one of the outlaying islands where the big trout hang out. My Dad, buddy John and I jumped aboard the bay boat and made an 8mile run (this is far in the Chandeleurs) to our new destination. Conditions weren’t right for my favorite bone colored topwater (which was mauled by a shark Friday morning) so I threw on my trusty Texas Tackle Factory Trout Killer with pumpkinseed top, white bottom and chartreuse tail. My Dad and John wanted to make a drift in the boat so I jumped out and started my wade.

I found that there wouldn’t be much of a wade as the water eased out to knee deep then dropped to about 8-10 feet. I tossed my soft plastic for what seemed like forever and right before I was going to change lures I decided on one more cast. This was the cast of my lifetime. The soft plastic hit the water and I give it a few seconds to make its descent, popped it once and all hell broke loose. Like lightning, my drag started to scream and line was peeling off my spool like a drag race… my initial thought was that I had a bull redfish until the silver ghost popped 3 or 4 feet out of the water. TARPON! Oh my God! I started screaming back to the boat telling them to come and pick me up. I knew that the only chance I had was to get on that boat and follow this beast. My light action trout rod doubled over (that’s right folks, when I screw up I do it right) line was disappearing at a rate I have never seen, I tightened down the drag and I promise you I almost sold my soul praying that I would never swear or make another rude comment as long as I could land this fish. After this 4 footer gave us a carnival act I will never forget I looked down at what was left of my line and knew that the fight was about over… she had another 10 yards to go and the boat couldn’t get to me fast enough. With a gentle release I knew the slack in my line wasn’t because she was willing to jump ashore and take pictures but that I just had

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

been spooled. I didn’t care. We don’t get tarpon like that in Texas (at least not where I fish) and it is now the nicest fish I never landed. With hands shaking and congratulations and pokes from my Dad and John we headed for some grass flats trying to outrun what looked like a mirage of rain. We stumbled upon what I call “Bird Island” and its beautiful grass flats in 4 foot of crystal clear water. Immediately the trout hammered our soft plastics over and over again. Don’t get me wrong, the trout were not monster sow trout but we were consistently bringing in 1620 inch fighters and released a few others to fight for another day. I heard over our VHF that Jason sunk his lures into a few flounder and a Chandeleur redfish (which proved later to be one of the most beautiful bronze-colored reds I have ever seen). It turned out to be one of the best fishing mornings I have had in a long time and the afternoon would be just as fun. Saturday Afternoon (Jason Bryant)Up to this point, Ryan and I hadn’t gotten to do much fishing together on this trip so we made it a point to head out with the kayaks before it was too late. We strung the kayaks off the back of a skiff and made quick time to an expansive grass flat we had scored some trout on earlier in the day. We crawled out of the “big boat”, jumped in the plastic and quickly began saturating the flat with the Flats Minnows weighted on 1/16 and 1/8 oz. black/gold eye Rockport Rattler jigheads. The deep water

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

allowed us to work our baits relatively slow. We would cast out and allow our baits to slowly freefall several feet and then give it a quick twitch and repeat. The trout could not resist the slowly falling plastic minnow — the small paddletail would gently flutter down through the water column and then you would feel a vicious “THUMP” and your line would begin to swim off to one side. This scenario repeated itself dozens of times throughout the evening. Every cast was made with the anticipation of a trout coming to hand as the end result. A couple of hours passed and the sun started to creep slowly down on the horizon. We had moved up in some shallower water preparing for the evening bite when I noticed the birds had seemed to suddenly wake up. They took flight and began circling the small island in search of their evening meal. I glanced down at my watch and sure enough — we had reached the peak of a major feeding period.

If you read my article in the last issue of Kayak Fisherman Magazine then you know what I am talking about. I looked over to Ryan and said, “We’re in a major.” No sooner than the words had left my mouth Ryan’s rod bowed up — fish on. I was preparing to retrieve my lure and grab the landing net for Ryan when my line surged off to the left — double hook up! I told Ryan he was about to witness the power of the major. For the next 20 minutes we proceeded to hammer the vigorous Chandeleur trout. It seemed that no more than a 60 second window would pass before one of us would be hooked up again. So what could make this evening any more enjoyable? How about one of the most perfect sunsets I have ever witnessed? The huge glowing sphere burned deep red, as it seemed to slowly melt into the thick black horizon. An eerie calm fell over the islands — the birds returned to their roosts, the fish stopped biting, and the water slicked off to the likeness of a finely polished

mirror that served to magnify the radiance of what was now only a purple sliver of light cast by the fading sun. We had just witnessed nature’s grand finale. It was very interesting to listen to Capt. Troy and his experienced deck hands talk about how the islands were before the hurricanes. Personally, I don’t see how the fishery could be better than the way it is now. There are deep drop offs, nice cuts and guts, grass, mud, sand and islands that sustain the bird population along with the fishery. Although it may not be what it was before the hurricanes I feel the islands are in great shape. We didn’t have the typical “fill your cooler” trip with fish that you hear from the Chandeleurs but I think in part the amount of freshwater that God dumped on them just a few days before didn’t help us much. Our boat caught just as many fish as all the other charter ships but I can tell you for a fact they did not have nearly as much fun!

Jason’s Tools of the Trade: • Wilderness System’s Tarpon 160i w/rudder www.wildernesssystems.com • AT Xception OS Paddle www.atpaddle.com Rodsmiths H3 Titanium “Tops ‘N Tails” rod and Troutmaster • American Rodsmiths H3 Titanium “Tops n’ Tails” and Trout Master Pro 6’6” wader rod Pro 6’6 rod www.americanrodsmiths.com • Reels: Daiwa Sol, Daiwa Coastal, Daiwa Advantage 153HST www.daiwa.com • Texas Tackle Factory “Killer Flats Minnows”, “ Red Killers” and “Trout Killers” www.texastacklefactory.com • Rockport Rattler jigs www. rockportrattler.com • TALS pack www.tals-fishing.com 56

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Artwork by Ben Beaty

In all the days I’ve spent on my poling platform guiding customers to within

fly casting range of redfish, I cannot think of a single day that I have not reminisced about the days of old. Days when I launched my boat, knowing that I would be the only one there. Back in the days when there was such a thing as a secret fishing hole. Growing up as a kid on the Texas Gulf Coast was a fantastic thing. My father turned me loose as often as he could to fish the local bays. And, by the time I was a freshman in high school, between summer vacation, weekends, and skipping school, my friends and I were spending a 100-150 days a year on the water. It wasn’t long before we knew the bays from Galveston to Port O’Connor as well, if not better than most of the old timers fishing there. As we all grew older and wiser, we learned keeping our mouths shut was one of the secrets to our success. I still remember, way back in my high-school days, asking two good friends, Craig Williams and

keep secrets and have certain ‘spots’ to ourselves,

we got on some really solid fish. I’ll tell you where

John Thomas Dusek, where they had landed a

we were not the only ones to deny information.

they are if you promise not to tell anyone else. I

spectacular stringer of trout and reds and, almost as

Many old timers did the same but they did in a

would hate for him to find out that I told you.” And,

if rehearsed, they both replied with mischief in their

much different way. They just told you ‘no’ and

so starts the chain of events that either pushes fish

voices, “At Gross Cut.” John Thomas quickly added,

laughed at you. I remember one crusty old salt

out of an area or gets them all strung up and tossed

“It was so dirty.” This was my first introduction to

down in Matagorda laughing at me when I asked

into the grease.

a method of communicating that would conceal

where he caught a nice stringer of fish. I remember

and hide any fishing or duck shooting hole of our

the words vividly, “Now why would I go and do

guts, marsh ponds or lakes that are not marked

choosing. The method, which might be considered

something as stupid as to tell you or anyone else

on a chart with the GPS coordinates giving their

a backwoods type of pig latin, consisted of a few

where I’m catching fish?” I felt like a whipped puppy

precise locations. And, with all the little spots being

key words and phrases and a very random method

as I listened to him laugh, but as I grew older I now

known and the Good Lord not making any more

of choosing an undecipherable name for a new

understand his reasoning. He was protecting a good

it makes it harder and harder to keep a secret, so

area, one that might even already have a name.

thing — something that was easy to do back then.

what are we to do? Well the next time you find a

Oh my, how things have changed.

good bite and your buddies ask you where you

The name of the game was to do whatever it took to misguide any individual, friend or otherwise, from the area that we were catching fish, even

phones and the internet, hot bites and big schools

if it meant passing up proven spots because we

of fish cannot be kept secret for long. Word spreads

were afraid someone might see us there, however

like a wild-fire across a salt grass prairie and before

unlikely the spot might seem to the average

you know it, the boat ramps are packed and people

fisherman. Hell, we even kept secrets from each

are fighting for spots to fish. The sad part is that the

other from time to time. Each spot that we guarded

only way to break the chain of information is to stop

took a certain combination of friends to unlock.

it before it starts. And, any angler wanting to keep

For example, Gross Cut was only known to about four or five of us. Before someone new was allowed to visit the spot it damned near required a Constitutional amendment. Although we were quite proud of our ability to 58

Now days, in the age of information, with cell

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

The sad thing is that I know of very few reefs,

caught ‘em — just smile and tell them Gross Cut. That ought to confuse them plenty.

a secret, better keep his mouth shut from the start. Yeah, right. One buddy tells another and so on… Throughout the daily grind I routinely hear people reveal information in the form of, “A friend hooked me up with some good info this past weekend and October 2006

Best of tides…

Well, the time had come. The Texas Lady Anglers set off to experience offshore fishing, and we decided to do it BAJA STYLE! The Hotel Buena Vista (about an hour up the coast from Cabo San Lucas) welcomed us with typical East Cape hospitality. Many of the ladies that went on the trip had never been offshore fishing, so along with excitement and anticipation, there was a little anxiety regarding what we would encounter during our new experiences. As we stepped foot on the expertly maintained grounds, we were taken aback by the foliage, hot spring pools, white sand, and beautiful water. It was a picture of paradise and we were to enjoy it for the next five days. The first day of the trip was a “free” day. Some of the group decided to take an ATV trip and go snorkeling, some decided to just take in the scenery “beachside” and do nothing but get some sun and relax, while others (including me) booked a fly-fishing trip hoping to catch roosterfish in the surf. And, by the way, fly-fishing with “Baja on the Fly” was an experience I won’t soon forget. Not only did we fish side-by-side with fly-fishing legend Gary Graham, but we were able to experience the power of roosterfish while they cruised the surf annihilating bait and watch spotted eagle rays glide right over our feet. While the roosterfish stayed just out of our casting range, we enjoyed the morning in the surf. The group assembled in the evening for our official welcome party and dinner and received our boat

assignments for the next two days of offshore fishing. As the sun rose

Sunrise on East Cape.

over the East Cape on the next morning, we met at the beach to wait for our boats to pull up to the pier for us to board. My fishing buddies and I boarded the “Jen Wren” and met our captain, Chuy, and deckhand, Diego. I often looked

Waiting to board our boats.

over at Diego and thought; these guys don’t know what they’re in for. And boy was I right! We had five ladies on our boat that day. Each one had a passion for not only fishing, but learning and helping that

October 2006

I’m not sure they had seen very often. My 1st tuna!!!!

We headed to the “tuna grounds” and immediately upon stopping Diego started chucking our just-purchased live sardines out into the water. I’m like “Hey, Diego, what’s up?!” “That bait cost us $20!” He looks over and gave a sly smile

Double Hookup! Shari Leonard and Margaret Kneeland.

and said, “Watch and be ready.” Equipped with Shimano Trinidad and Tiagra 30 lb. class reels and rods in hand, we waited, but didn’t wait long. Suddenly, as if in fast forward, the fish rose to the surface and started thrashing around eating the bait that Diego had thrown in the water. My adrenaline shot up as Diego yelled “Hold on… here they come!” Immediately, each rod had a fish on. Each angler fought their catches, and for the anglers that were experiencing tuna fishing for the first time, each were

Jen Wren’s catch.

learning valuable lessons during the fight. The yellowfin tuna were brought into the boat, all ranging from 25–30 lbs. And then the process began again. I now know why they call these fish the “powerhouses” of the sea. Their speed and strength left me with a feeling of awe and admiration. As our first day of offshore came to a close, the ladies and crew headed back to the hotel with the feeling of accomplishment and joy that I hadn’t felt since my first blowup on a topwater. The smiles on the ladies as we attached and raised the tuna flags brought our day on the boat to a triumphant end. As each boat dropped off their anglers, all the ladies gathered at the swimup bar to share stories. Our second day mirrored the first in routine, but each boat again experienced new things. The Jen Wren decided to go for the bigger tuna and not return to the “tuna grounds.” We launched and headed to find the porpoises off of Punta Pescadores (Fisherman’s Point), which we learned was how the captains find the big tuna… find pods of porpoise, find big tuna. And find pods we did. I’m not exaggerating when I say we literally found acres of porpoise that were intent on giving us a morning long stunt show. …continued on page 61 Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

this is it; this is the cast. About fifteen minutes later, a nice

A pain inflicting sting ray.

trout hit my Texas Trout Killer

After reading Capt. Everett Johnson’s editorial for the month of August about protecting yourself from bottom dwelling, pain delivering stingrays, I never though I would soon be a victim of their tail slashing barb or much less be inflicted with one of the most excruciating pains I have ever experienced in any part of my body. We arrived from our summer vacation in early August, and my dad and I went out scouting for an upcoming tournament that my father usually guides me in. I was really looking forward for these two days of fishing. As the first day came, my stomach was full of butterflies as I put on my wading booties and strapped on the wading belt before departing the dock in the dark. My first wade produced nothing but small trout and undersized reds. The rest of the group was pretty successful in catching, but certainly nothing that they thought would help. Our second wade was in an area where we had found a large number of big reds cruising a shoreline that had an adjacent gut. The water was clear, and it was at this point that my senses became alert as I spotted several big stingrays hugging the sandy bottom. I cautiously waded while working my topwater nonstop waiting for that big strike to occur. All of sudden, a huge wake appeared out of nowhere, and my bait disappeared bending my Laguna rod to its extreme. As much line as the fish peeled out, I knew this was the fish I was looking for. Sure enough it was a bruiser redfish. I then knew that my efforts would turn to finding a trout that would compliment my redfish. I was dropped off in a spot that would forever change my way of thinking about the dangers that lurk on the bottom of our bays. This spot was along the ICW where I have previously done well on trout and flounder. All I needed was a decent trout and any keeper flounder would certainly help my chances in fairing well on the first day. Ten minutes into my wade I lost a flounder that I desperately needed, I continued casting thinking 60

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

and came into the grasp of my hands. It was no trophy; nevertheless, it was one I would welcome on a tough day as I was experiencing. My confidence level quickly arose and now all I had to do was land an elusive doormat flounder. Jigging my worm on the bottom as I walked slowly through the lumps and depressions along the ICW, the last thing on my mind was getting stung by a stingray. My mind was preoccupied with casting at the right spot where an ambushing flounder might be laying. After dropping off the other fishermen in other fishing areas my dad approached me and anchored about seventy-five yards ahead of me. I could see that he was getting ready to wade, also. While I was watching him positioning the boat and dropping the anchor, I made a mistake that I would dearly pay for. My left foot slipped into a hole, and immediately I felt a pain rush

Preparing for a wade.

through my leg that stopped me dead in my tracks. I knew it was not good so I quickly yelled out to my dad. He quickly picked me up into the boat and removed my booties only to see blood gushing out and filling the deck with a red pool. The stingray punctured my left foot right above my ankle. We rapidly picked up the rest of our group as my dad was locating my mother so that she could rush me to the hospital. As my father gunned the throttle across the choppy bay, I could feel the pain going thru my foot. In record time my mother met us at the dock. My dad helped me to the car, and off we were to seek medical treatment. Adrian and Al certainly made things much easier for us. They said not to worry about the boat; they would take care of whatever needed to be done. An hour and fifteen minutes after I had been stung I was sitting in the doctors’ office. They gave me the medical treatment needed and out the door we went. On the way home all I could think about was missing out on the second

day of fishing. At my dad’s strong request, I was told I had to take it easy and stay home. Lesson learned, as Mr. Everett said before, I also now encourage you to invest in a pair of RayGuards that will protect you from the dangers that lurk in the bottom of our bays. I was lucky that my foot sustained no tissue damage, or that the barb did not break and stay in my flesh. This past summer I saw many sting-rays and have continued to see them today, but I am now more prepared and educated firsthand about the dangers and pain that sting-rays can inflict. I will now be more aware of shuffling my feet and making sure to wade with my Foreverlast RayGuard boots at all times. Make an investment in a good pair of ray guards so that you will not experience unbearable pain and risk of possible infection or in extreme case the loss of life like our well-loved animal conservationist and TV personality, Steve Irwin.

October 2006

…continued from page 59

The captain radioed other boats

Tops-n-Towers (www.topsntowers.com)

over to join us and we all began to

Fish Junkie (www.fishjunkie.net)

troll the area. With the downrigger

Silverstar Jewelers (www.fish4fun.com)

and outriggers hooked up with

Temple Fork Fly Rods (www.templeforkflyrods.com)

teasers and cedar plugs, we trolled

Capt. Mike Mosley (www.saltwateraddiction.com)

until we heard the first drag begin to

Casa del Pescador Lodge (www.casadelpescadorlodge.com)

whine. FISH ON!! Another yellowfin

Hotel Buena Vista (www.hotelbuenavista.com)

— WOO HOO!

Patti Polensky and Patricia Drake giving money to the town of Buena Vista.

We watched another boat raise

If you’ve been following TLA throughout the year, then you’ll know that all of our

and hook a marlin. Although our boat

activities include some type of learning about fishing. While personally I learned A LOT

didn’t raise a marlin (that’s offshore

— there was one thing that seemed to

lingo), watching one launch out of the

be a prominent theme… no matter how

water was a sight to behold.

different inshore and offshore may be,

After a full second day, we headed back to see how the other boats

there’s still nothing more exciting than having a fish on your line. Whether

did. I was thrilled to hear that two of our lady angler boats did raise blue

you’re trolling, wading, or drifting, it’s all

marlin, one raised a striped marlin, and another boat went closer inshore

about the fight.

and caught four roosterfish. All of the boats brought in an assortment of yellowfin tuna, dorado, and pargo (a type of snapper). Our two days of offshore fishing came to a close with a dinner and

Experiencing East Cape, Mexico, was a trip to remember, but experiencing it with my fellow lady anglers made it

ceremony on the beach, complete with tiki torches. We brought raffle

a trip of a lifetime. TLA is planning on

items with us to Baja and sold raffle tickets on the trip. TLA ended up

another offshore trip for 2007 — wanna

raising $2000 for the Buena Vista media center (computer equipment with

come?! Vamanos!

Internet for the 47 children that live in the town). This would not have been possible without the help of:

If you’d like more information about the Texas Lady Anglers, visit www.

Islander’s Custom Tackle (www.islanderscustomtackle.com)

texasladyanglers.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Sept. 1 – 2 Texas Lady Anglers Inshore Slam Tournament Galveston, TX Sept. 29 - 30 Texas Lady Anglers Redfish Shootout Rockport, TX Oct. 20 - 21 Texas Lady Anglers / Full Stringer Lodge Charity Tournament Matagorda, TX Nov. 3 – 5 Group Trip to Port Mansfield Nov. 17 – 18 Texas Lady Anglers Flounder Fling Tournament Galveston, TX

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

X-Rap® Walk 13 With X-Raps running at every depth, Rapala knew the family wouldn’t be complete without a topwater delight. Introducing the X-Rap Walk 13: it applies all of the famous X-Rap characteristics to create an amazing topwater action bait. “This X-Rap is going to set new standards for topwater baits,” said Bernie Schultz, Rapala Pro Staff member.

The X-Rap Walk 13 is available in six tantalizing saltwater patterns. Featuring the classic X-Rap finish that will torment any species of fish, this topwater delight is bringing the X-Rap attitude to new levels. Brace yourself. Suggested retail price: $9.99

www.rapala.com

ShallowSport 24V

No fancy made up words or marketing trickery is necessary for this Texas based boat company that builds over 200 semi-custom boats annually. Shallow Sport Boats has been a house hold name in Texas for over 25 years and has recently introduced number nine in their impressive model line up. The new “24V” features an 8’6” beam and draws 11” nicely equipped. The proven hull design is an extension of the 21’V which has been in production since 1989. The reverse chines in the bow allow the boat to jump on plane quickly and keep passengers exceptionally dry. The large rear tunnel allows the boat to cruise across skinny flats in as little as 4” of water without scarring the bottom. All cored and molded liner decks and a 30 gallon release/live well are standard features.

956-233-9489 www.shallowsportboats.com

Penn International Torque Series Penn is proud to introduce a truly unique reel, the Torque series with an Integrated Side Plate. Integrated Side Plate, the new, unique, and patented design, integrates right side plate components into one rigid assembly. This innovation enables the reels to achieve super-high drag capabilities with fewer parts than a traditional reel. Crank up the drag and the machined side plate absorbs any load you can dish out, all without causing any binding to the main and pinion gear. Gears, pinions, and handle maintain perfect alignment no matter how heavy the load. Torques come in 100, 200, and 300 models.

www.pennreels.com

Spivey Red Taker This is the ultimate redfish lure, it has a mag willow blade that produces flash and vibration and the unique shaped ½ oz. Gold spoon twist and wobbles on retrieve while the yel/ orange flash feathered treble hook has a waving action. This imitates a small croaker on the run! Comes in only one needed color scheme. 281-997-3364 www.spiveyenterprises.net

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Waterloo Rods Waterlooâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new 3 piece travel rod with brushed aluminum case. Available is several different lengths! These travel rods are available in many actions from salt water to Bass actions..

361-573-0300 www.waterloorods.com

Bimini Bay - Tsunami Cork Lure The Tsunami Cork Lure series of six different models is constructed of tough, pliable vinyl material and a buoyant cork core mounted on a strong stainless steel through wire. The core of every model is wrapped in reflective holographic foil for additional attraction. Three-dimensional holographic eyes are a standard feature of each lure. All of these lures boast genuine Mustad red treble hooks. All of the Cork Lures are a slow-sink / suspending design to allow them to spend more time at the payoff depths of the coastal waters. This allows for a constant, slow retrieve. It is very important to remember that when fishing Cork Lures, if you think you are retrieving slow enoughâ&#x20AC;ŚSLOW DOWN! The natural movement of these lures is very enticing to predators. Let them work for you. Stay in contact with these lures at all times and be a line watcher. These two things will pay off in more hooksets on soft striking game fish. Cork Lures should be attached to your line with a short loop knot for free action through the water. Adding a split ring to the nose of the lure will change its retrieve dynamic for more variety. Some of the best producing colors are the Glow with Chartreuse tail, Bone with Silver Belly, Limetreuse, the overlooked Moss Sparkle with Chartreuse tail and the Plum with Chartreuse tail. Remember, looonnng casts, stay in touch with the lure, go sloooww and watch that line. Tsunami Cork Lures can help increase your catch.

www.biminibayoutfitters.com

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

If someone were to come

to get in on the action. School fish on Sabine are a little different because

up to you and ask, “Tell me what

they generally run larger than their counterparts to the south. Big trout are

comes to your mind when I say…

commonly caught under the birds here. I have seen trout up to the magic 30-

,” and in that blank you could

inch mark come from underneath a flock of screeching gulls and terns. Big

insert a Texas fishing destination,

schools of redfish will do their best to destroy every shrimp in sight and the

what would come to your mind?

pogies aren’t safe either. Now while all this carnage is going on in the wide-

Places like the famous Laguna

open lake there is a small faction of anglers who are quietly racking up huge

Madre or Baffin would probably

numbers of quality flounder along the shorelines. These guys never make a big

get you a response like “big trout.”

deal over their catch; they load their boats quietly at the ramp while the trout

Mansfield might be “skinny water

and redfish guys stand on top of the cleaning table and “crow call” to the world.

paradise.” Port O might be “surf

The flounder folks like it that way; it means more folks will be focusing on the

trout,” and Galveston Bay would

“easy pickings” under the birds rather than the best eating fish in the lake which

likely be, “crowded.” All of these

is a flounder.

responses have some merit and each place on the list is well known for something. Sabine on the other

Trophy trout aficionados will love the month of October as big trout that

hand is just a little bit different because it means many different things

prowl the flats really start to put on some girth after all the spawning is done.

to different people. If you had to sum it up in a couple of words it would

The cooler temperatures will agree with the big trout metabolism much better

have to be something like “variety” or in October it would be “buffet.”

than the mercury bubbling days of July and August. We catch some of our biggest trout of the year in October and November; this is when it starts really

I am often asked, “When is the best time to fish Sabine?” My reply

getting good. These big fish can be found in the lake and in both the Sabine

is usually “what do you like to catch or what style of fishing do you

and Neches Rivers in the fall, it’s really nice this time of the year because you

prefer?” Once we narrow down the field then we can get a better idea

can always find some fishable water despite the wind or the weather.

of when someone should fish Sabine; most of those answers usually include the month of October.

Now while we are on the subject of fishing the rivers, this is where the real

This is the month when you

buffet gets going; you can do it all from freshwater to salt and all places in

can do it all. I mean October

between. I have spent many days catching largemouth bass, redfish, flounder,

brings us everything from

and speckled trout all ganged up in one little spot in the Sabine River. The

sight-casting to redfish in the

bonus fish in the whole equation has to be the striped bass- talk about a freight

marsh, catching flounder in

train with scales! Capt. Dickie Colburn and I got on a school of trout under the

the bayous until you don’t

birds way up the Sabine River one fall only to start having our lines broken

want to anymore, hustling

by some incredibly vicious strikes. Once we made some tackle adjustments

school trout under the

we found that under the school of trout was a herd of striped bass and they

birds, chasing trophy trout

all were 8 to 10 pounds. Talk about variety, 18 to 20 inch trout and 10 pound

while wading shallow flats,

stripers all in the same bunch of fish. Truth be known the stripers were probably

dragging shad in the river for

eating the small trout but we couldn’t care less because they were all hitting the

the “Big 3”, or even chasing

same lures.

stripers with light tackle. Whatever your little heart

Now if none of the options Sabine Lake presents to you sound interesting,

desires you can accomplish

then I really don’t know what to say because there is certainly something

at Sabine in October, it’s just

here for everyone. The idea of having so many different ways to fish, places

that kind of place.

to fish, and styles to fish puts Sabine in a small class to say the least. A few destinations in Louisiana can boast of the same opportunities but not many, this

Let’s start off with the

place is truly rare and October is perhaps the best time take advantage of all

obvious; fall fishing under

that Sabine has to offer. Just like any good buffet, October on Sabine will send

the birds. Everybody knows

you home happy, have you begging for more, and no reservations are required.

it happens and the world

Bon appetite!

will flock to local boat ramps 64

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Nothing has really

The trout are getting a little closer and starting to stage up a little bit

my report from last month and put

70’s and low 80’s we are going to start having some great

changed; you can almost copy

it down. It is basically the same. We are having a great year. Our water temperatures have dropped about 6-8 degrees and with these last couple of little fronts we have been getting some shower activity. The water is in great shape and the fish are still biting. Some days are better than others and it’s pleasing to note that it is mostly weather that has given us the little bit of inconsistency that pops up every once in while. The trout have slowed up somewhat. We are still able to get near limits to limits every day. Over all it is not bad for the September transition, usually we go through that summer to fall transition and we lose our bite entirely but I think we have so many fish this year that once you get on a good school you are going to weed your fish out of them no matter what happens. Shorelines are still a little bit slow. Wading is kind of spotty and topwater action is somewhat slow. As far as soft plastics, you can throw what you want to throw because they’re all working well right now; Gulp, Bass Assassin, shrimp tails, shad tails, it really does not matter as long as you’re on the fish you’ll find plenty of action. Most of the trout and reds I have been catching have been coming off slicks and mud boils, tide lines and breaks, and color changes, that kind of pattern, in anywhere from 5-7 feet of water.

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

off of the flats. Once we get the water temperature down into the wade fishing. The oil wells have been the hottest ticket. I have not been fishing the wells much because I do not like to do that but a lot of the locals here are doing real well working all of those shell pads and the well pads in the middle of Trinity Bay. The same thing is going on over in East Bay, lots of fish on deeper shell structures. The structures are holding the good schools of reds also. September, as usual has been a bonus month for reds so far. This is when we have a lot of good herds of reds start schooling out deep and that is what we have been finding and keying in on. Last Friday we had our 9 reds in the box and released at least another 35-40. It was a pretty good deal. The trout have been a little slow but we did get our limits. Again the reds are the bonus in September and eventually it will equalize and balance out and trout will take over again in October. In general I’d say 2006 has definitely been the year of the trout; we have caught a lot of trout this year. Basically for the fall run, a lot of people will be concentrating on East and Trinity Bays, which are the two prime bays for that and the northern ends are the place to be. My pattern in October and November is an early morning wade until about 10 o’clock and then we will make a loop out deep and work the birds or slicks, whatever the fish are offering us. We normally do the ping pong thing, working the shorelines and then bouncing out to check on the deep structure. Fishing is still good and it looks like we are staging up to have a really great fall because September has really been above average as far as consistency. It has been an awesome year and looking forward to a fantastic fall when the temperatures come down.

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

September rolled in

with a bang but went downhill from there. Surf fishermen have pulled out some good trout on topwaters, Bass Assassins, and the good old reliable J20 Rebel Broken Back modified by Eddie Douglas. Like I’ve mentioned previously, September is a transitional month for fishing. We’ve already had one cold front and another on the way this second weekend of the month. You never know what to expect with our changing weather patterns. All one can do is go by past records, watch your weather reports, and hope for a good day to get out there on the water and catch some fish. East Matagorda Bay has become home again to working birds; however, 95% of the fish under these birds have only been 9-14 inches. This report should change late September going into October. Looking at all the bait activity going on in this bay system indicates to me that October should be a real humdinger for some good days chunking your favorite lures. In fact, you’ll find me camping out there like I have most of the summer. Personally, my lure choices will be lots of Bass Assassins, Shrimp Cocktails, and She Dogs. Try your topwaters in gold or chartreuse as those colors work really well for me. In fact, Mirrolure has two new lures on the market in the She Dog 83 MR, GCRRH and GCRCH. Both of these baits have proven successful for me. Bass Assassins in roach, plum, bone diamond, pumpkinseed, fire tiger, and 10W40 will

Laura Trevino with 26” red caught in East Bay drifting throwing firetiger Assassins. 68

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

be my go to baits. With some clients that don’t particularly like to wade, I’ll drift and throw the Shrimp Cocktail and the Aaron Faas with 28” trout caught in East Bay new cork that throwing firetiger and roach Assassins Bass Assassin just came out with. You’ll find these corks in either orange or chartreuse. But if you’re looking for an edge, I’ll let you in on a little insider trading. I like to modify my corks by taking a can of black spray paint and giving them a nice dose. I’ve found that these black corks will outfish the other two colors. Don’t ask me why… I haven’t been able to strike up a conversation with a trout or red yet that will give me any clues. Another tidbit is that these black corks work even better with live bait. I personally have not thrown any live bait using them but other guides I’ve talked to have and they can attest to this cork’s success. West Bay at this point in time is holding quite a few reds on the north shoreline behind Shell Island and Twin Island. Most of the reds are being caught on live bait or topwaters. Trout here are small but keepers in the 15½ -16 inch range. Don’t overlook the Diversion Channel for some solid reds and keeper trout. Another area to keep track of is the Flats between the Diversion Channel and old Parker’s Cut for some quality trout and reds. Buyer beware though… if you’re not familiar with this area don’t go there. Reason being is the over abundance of hidden treasures lurking in the deep that would just love to ruin your fishing day by busting up a lower unit or the like. It’s just not worth the risk if you don’t know your way around. All in all fishing has been steady — good, but not great. All points bulletin suggests that late September into October has every indication of some excellent fishing coming up. Get in on the action if you can and until next time Dr. Wayne Brueggen Be Blessed. with Texas Trio.

io. with Texas Tr Marvin Kuhn

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Well we finally made it

through the dog days of summer. For the last few days we have had a northerly breeze when leaving the docks in the morning. Gone are the days of shirts soaking wet from sweat before the sun ever comes up. They have been replaced by goose bumps as my Shoalwater Cat slices its way between shorelines with just a hint of early morning fog; you know the kind where the temperature drops about 10 degrees when you run through it. We are not the only ones around here happy to see a break in the scorching weather. The fish feel the change as well and are a lot more aggressive. They also know that these little wind shifts and temperature drops means that fall migration of white shrimp from our estuaries in the upper end of San Antonio Bay will begin any day. One factor that usually triggers the start of this exodus is a hard falling tide, which will pull not only the shrimp from the very back reaches of our upper end marshes but also other baitfish like finger mullet and shad. While fishing the upper reaches of San Antonio Bay marsh I have seen shrimp scatter across the surface when my lure would hit the water just further clarifying that redfish and trout should be gorging in this same area. These are some of the reasons this is my favorite time of the year to fish. You can fish all over the San Antonio Bay system and expect to catch fish. There will be flocks of birds working over schools of trout, redfish will be abundant, and don’t be surprised to find huge schools of jack crevalle in the mix. These beasts are not bashful and will tackle anything and everything that comes across their path. Ladyfish and gafftop join in the fun as well. This is the perfect time to use up all the lures that have bled into each Watch out for bad weather as cold fronts start approaching this fall.

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

other, the really old ones, or some of the colors you just never use. These fish will eat anything that is Expect to catch more flounder during placed in front the fall flounder run like these two that of them. Brandon and Preston are showing off. But bird action is not the only way to catch fish this time of the year. The reefs in all of the bay system should be holding fish as well. The shorelines and back lake areas will be good places to intercept Mr. Speckled Fish or Mr. Spottail. A very important tip to remember when fishing the reefs or shorelines is that you must have patience. The fish this time of year are much more tightly schooled up then they were in September. The trout will be schooled up so tight on the reefs that if you don’t place your lure within a 10ft. radius of a point or hump in the reef you may think that there is not a fish for miles. So remember keep plugging till you get your first bite then plant your feet and don’t move till you have fished the area thoroughly. Being patient and fishing an area completely is something I can’t stress enough when fishing reefs with my customers. If one guy decides to move towards the fish before we have thoroughly worked the area, the school will move and this will shut down the fishing for the whole group of fishermen. Pay special attention to your buddy when you are reeling in your fish. Make sure he doesn’t walk into the area that you just plucked your fish out of. One more time…plant yourself after you find the first fish! One of the lures that have been working best for me the last couple of weeks is the Swimming Shiner from Bass Assassins. I have been rigging this plastic with a 1/16 oz. Assassin jighead. The “Baby Speck” and “Clown” colors have been producing the best for me. The Swimming Shiner has a taller body and bigger paddle tail creating more action and vibration in the water. The larger body and tail means you can work this bait a little slower then the conventional tails also allowing the lure to stay in the strike zones longer. The topwater action has been real steady as well. There have been days where I have left one on the entire day with continual results. She Dogs in the bone/chartreuse and the 808 colors have been working good for my larger speckled targets. My 21’ Shoalwater Cat has been working excellent for me and my parties over the past few months. Matched with the 250 HP Evinrude E-Tec it makes for a lethal redfish tournament boat. At this time, Shellie and I are leading in the Team of the Year race in the Texas Redfish Series. With only one more tournament remaining our hopes are high that we will be able to catch 2 good redfish each day of the last tournament and hold on to our #1 spot. Shellie and I want to thank Steve Bell at Shoalwater Boats for helping make this happen. If Steve had not stepped up to the plate to help us out we probably would not have fished this series. Thanks again Steve! Early teal season was excellent and the upcoming duck season should be good as well. Fortunately for us here in Seadrift we have received lots of rain this summer unlike areas north of us. These conditions will push larger numbers of ducks to the coast. Fish hard, fish smart! October 2006

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

UPPER LAGUNA/BAFFIN

Hot, dry and calm.

We’ve had day after day of uneventful weather. The fishing has remained consistently good in the Laguna Madre and all the way down to the Land Cut. Usually we have a slow period at the end of summer; it did slow some but nothing like years past when it would just get stagnant. We had one episode of low oxygen in Packery Channel that killed small bait fish. Nothing too bad, the pelicans enjoyed it. We’re still having good action from this wave of fish that came in last spring; hopefully it will last until winter. As of this writing we are experiencing a north wind with cooler temperatures. Good news, to me this means less crowded water and a lot more fishing. It’s going to drop the water temperature and bunch the fish up and bunch the bait up. Things are going to go from hot and slow to fast and furious. It has been a great summer but, I’m definitely ready for fall. A couple of weeks ago, Greg Woodard from Houston came down. We went south and began fishing early in the morning. We fished along a deep grass drop off keeping a look out for any sign of movement. We saw trout that were in pods of five to eight fish on the surface, we could sight-cast right to them. We caught a few as big as 27-inches but most of the time the smaller trout 18 to 20 inch range would hit the lure first. The action was great. Woodard was using his favorite 7’ rod. I asked him to try my 6’6” Waterloo HP Slam rod. I thought it would increase his accuracy in sight-casting these trout and reds. He really liked it and said that he’s “Got to have one.” We were using the new Bass Assassin

Cliff’s wife Carol got in on the surf action too! 72

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Greg Woodard scored on this Laguna Madre giant while sight-casting to trout that were feeding on the surface.

shrimp cocktail in the color they are calling drunk monkey along with the old tried and true 5-inch Saltwater Shad Lee Allen with a beautiful fly-caught redfish. Bass Assassins in plum-chartreuse and bone diamond . We tried some top water, She Dogs in black and chrome and Super Spook Jr in bone and silver. We could actually see these big trout follow the lures up. Again the smaller trout were hitting it first. Maybe the big trout were just too hot. We even caught a few flounder, and the flounder bite should just keep getting better with the cooler water temperatures. On another trip, a week ago, Ernest and Lee Allen came down with friends. These guys are excellent, hardcore, winter time wade fishermen. We’ve had many awesome winter fishing days together. This was their first time to come in the heat of summer. We went south past Baffin Bay to a shallow flats area. As we waded up shallow, we could see dozens of drum; they looked like beer cans in the flats with their silver backs out of the water. The reds were mixed in there too. Lee Allen brought his fly-fishing gear and had a blast; it was perfect for sight-casting reds and drum. Every time he had one on you could hear him laughing across the flats. The other guys and I were fishing the deeper grass beds using soft plastics catching reds, trout and flounder. I decided to wade up to check on Lee; he was way up shallow about a half mile away from us. He was still laughing and still catching fish when I came up to him. So, I left him to go to the boat to move it closer. As I was slowly walking back, looking for fish along the way, I saw a big wake from my left coming in front of me. So I stopped and waited to let it go by, thinking it was a drum. As she moved in front of me I could see spots! Immediately, I flipped the pumpkinseed-chartreuse Sea Shad in front of her, it was only about ten feet away. She jumped on it like a duck on a Junebug. She went ballistic! The water was only one foot deep. I had to drop down on one knee to get my rod tip low enough to keep her head in the water so she would stay on. When I got her close to me I put my hand on her back and pushed her to the sand bottom. It was that shallow which really made it exciting. I can’t believe she didn’t see me before she hit, what luck. It made that long wade all worth it. We fished two days together. The surf’s been awesome too, Cliff They just kept a few fish the first day and on the second day we caught this one in late August. October 2006

This is the big trout Cliff sight-casted with a Bass Assassin in barely a foot of water recently.

didn’t even bring ice for the fish cooler. I know the Allen’s are coming back this winter and I think they’ll come back next summer too. Everyone enjoyed it. The Gulf of Mexico has been beautiful. My wife and I have had the opportunity to go wade fishing on the beach. We’ll stand there in shallow water watching the schools of baitfish come by and the trout will be cruising under them, right on the sand bar. Just be ready to make a cast. During the fall season the conditions are perfect. The water is clear and the winds are usually light. The trout fishing should just get better with cooler temperatures. The redfish are in abundance. We’re also offering flounder gigging and duck hunting trips this year. We now offer accommodations on the water. A beautiful two bedroom and two bath, fully furnished condo on the water. We can pick you up at the dock and return you to a swimming pool, hot tub and a sunset. Come on down, give us a call and we’ll be happy to set up a memorable trip.

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Oh the wonderful relief

that you are pushing

of early fall! Although late summer was

with your legs spook

good to us, we are more than ready to

fish and often keep

trade some of those neck-deep wades

them just out of

for some skinny water stalking of the big

casting distance.

fish kind. The first cool brush of northern air will make us all feel like kids again; energized and ready to experience

often than not during

the wonders of the great outdoors

these extremely calm

as designed. Let’s review a bit about

conditions for various

summer’s end before we launch into what

reasons. Very often, the redfish that would respond were on the grass line edges

we might expect during this next exciting

next to the pure white sand. A topwater rigged with single hooks made it much

season of fishing the Port Mansfield way.

easier to cast farther and work the grassy circled potholes that we have so many

As of this writing we haven’t received

Although late summer was good to us, we are more than ready to trade some of those neck deep wades for some skinny water stalking.

of here on the Laguna. Sometimes it took more than one cast to get them to

the increase in tide levels we had hoped

commit to the plug, but if you watched which direction they turned after a missed

for. Low tides combined with the hottest

swipe, a second presentation to that same fish would bring a hookup. We have

water temperatures of the year made

caught more redfish on topwaters this late summer period than soft plastics or

fishing for larger trout tough. This was a

spoons and I have a few guesses about why. However, on those days where

highly dedicated effort for me this past

topwaters were ignored, the standard paddletail soft plastic bait was (and will

month because that is what most of my clients wanted to do. It seemed that most had the fever for big trout and my highly coveted reds were not pursued as

always be) a good choice. October is a month filled with thought-provoking surprises. The Weather

often as I would have liked. We did, however, manage some success by working

Channel becomes much more important because even small changes in

spoil banks and deeper breaks when the winds allowed. Topwaters occasionally

conditions can move fish. Good techniques are one thing, but the most valuable

did well for the seasoned fisherman, but bright-colored tails on 1/4 oz. jig heads

knowledge one can have will always be knowing traditional patterns and where

were far more consistent.

to look. With more potential for shifting winds, October will challenge us to do just

On many days the most productive retrieve for trout was low and slow and the bite often felt mushy, much like pulling through patches of stringy grass.

that. Despite all the hype and publicity fall fishing receives, it’s not always easy. With the predicted increase in water levels, gamefish will have many more

I had to school my clients everyday. If it feels like grass, then by God set the

options of where to feed. Remember, however, that in the Laguna Madre it’s all

hook anyway, you’ll be glad you did. The patient angler with sensitive equipment

about the wind. There are two standard wind-driven patterns that I will be looking

almost always achieved success. All of our larger fish were released to spawn

for. One is where winds blow water into back areas and create off-colored zones

and hopefully grow into that fish of a lifetime we all dream about.

full of bait. The second is when wind drains an area and drives it toward guts,

Other than the standard hot water fishing for trout, our shallow water redfish picked up the slack and provided some exceptional fun and challenge. During

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

arms can get sore from landing fish. It can happen and it does happen if you time it right. The added bonus is that most of the time it will happen in water below our

we often enjoyed flats

shins, another wonderful attraction to the Laguna Madre experience During fall there is a wide variety of bait in the bays. Once we find fish,

cruising wakes and

reading the water becomes important to determine which types of lures will be

boiling water. We

best. Don’t be afraid to figure out the bite! One common mistake we see with

would run until we

clients is that it’s far too easy to use what worked somewhere else before. Your

saw groups of larger

high confidence lure that “always works” in Galveston or Matagorda may not be

wakes we wanted to

the one for here. “Follow your guide” is always good advice. If you don’t have a

target, sometimes

guide, try to determine what the fish are eating for the moment and how deep.

shutting the boat down

Choosing the right lure and figuring out the retrieve is what makes fishing with

where it barely floated.

artificials the exciting sport it is.

Stealthy wades were

Going through fall, someone is just a cast away from light tackle fame. Will it be you?

drop-offs and other structures. We are looking for stack-up situations where your

low wind mornings completely filled with

We used topwaters more

In closing, our redfish populations look outstanding. We are already seeing

important, and as a

groups of them become larger and more aggressive as they make their move

reminder, if you can

toward the passes. Sight-casting to pods of tails and marauding schools will be

hear yourself walking

high on the list. Trout? What can we say about the class of fish which continue

you are moving too

to thrive here in the prettiest water in Texas? The opportunity here is as good

fast! I cannot say

any post card destination, and from what we’ve seen while cruising the clear flats

enough about this!!

lately, someone is just a cast away from achieving light tackle fame and glory. Will

In calm water, loud

it be you?

footsteps and wakes October 2006

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Summer is gone

Dad instructed me to teach them the ways of wade fishing since they

and so are the extremely hot

had no previous experience in wading the shallow waters of the Laguna

temperatures that accompany the

Madre. I chose our first spot with a hard bottom that provided an easy wade

months of June through September.

for a beginner. The bonus was that the fish were there, and they provided

It turned out to be a really great

some excitement for all of us. The kids were learning and absorbing every

summer as far as catching goes.

enjoyable moment. They didn’t require any teaching on how to cast and only

There were many personal best days

a few pointers on how to retrieve their topwater. Almost immediately they

and countless memorable and fun

were on fish. The catching went on for a few hours. Kevin was able to land

days on the water.

his first ever limit of reds and Kraig caught one red and lost a few others.

One memorable trip that stands

At our next stop, I experienced something that will stand out in my mind

out among the rest is a trip where

for a very long time. Little Kraig was wading but not really paying attention

Kevin Clark a regular client wanted

to his fishing. He was more interested in the scenery of his surroundings

me to take out his two kids that were

when out of nowhere a big redfish jumps all over his lure, and that’s when

visiting for the summer, nine year

the excitement began. That set his brother Kevin off coaching Kraig as if he

old Kraig and Kevin Jr. his twelve

was in the World Series at the bottom of the ninth inning. Forget that I am

year old. It was my first time meeting

supposed to be the professional here. To them it was only those two and the

them, and I was taking them out fishing without their Dad or any other

mean redfish in all of the Laguna Madre. The redfish is stripping line, rod

relative. You bet many things that could go wrong raced thru my mind,

is extremely bent and two kids yelling and hollering at each other; can you

and their Dad’s phone number was certainly on speed dial. What a big

imagine this, and the entire time I didn’t even exist.

responsibility for me, but even a bigger decision on Mom and Dad’s part to trust me with their prize possessions. In the meantime I’m thinking I

As I approached Kraig dying with laughter, the redfish decides he has

am the only guide service that offers baby sitting on the water. Do I have

not had enough and makes one last strong run and in doing so the redfish

them take a nap? I didn’t know what to expect. When I picked them up

snaps the rod in half. Kraig sees the tired redfish and begins chasing it

early in the morning, to my surprise they were more ready than most adult

while holding the broken rod in one hand. The redfish did get away, and

fishermen. They had their ForEverLast wade boots on, life jackets, sun

all Kraig could say was sincere apologies for the broken rod. By this time I

screen, food was packed and drinks on ice. When you’re as ready as they were, I know you are excited about fishing.

A sunset on the Lower Laguna Madre.

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

The Mare’s spent their seventh wedding anniversary chasing snook.

October 2006

Kraig apologizing for the broken rod.

was laughing so loud I could hardly stand up, and when I did finally stop laughing, I told him the experience was well worth the broken rod and handed him another one. The kids left with a wealth of knowledge and

Kevin and Kraigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first ever topwater reds.

most certainly passed the test. The thought that grasped my mind afterwards was that we should always be willing to learn like children; and most important, lets not forget how much fun fishing can be.

I have already noticed a decrease in boat traffic on the Lower Laguna Madre. Less boat traffic means fish will not be as spooky as they were several weeks back. With less pressure on our bay system, there will be

For the month of October, we will be fishing areas that were just recently inaccessible because of low tides. The back bays will again be inundated with plenty of water. Along with the influx of water, bait will once again fill shorelines that were void of any fin creatures for the majority of the summer. October is usually the month that cold fronts begin to appear, and our temperatures begin to fall which in turn causes water temperatures to dip. With the drop in water temperature, fish tend to stay in the back bays longer than the hot days of summer. During the fall, it becomes possible to find fish in the middle of the day on tide moving shorelines. The possibilities of finding fish in shallow water throughout the day are now there because of the drop in water temperatures.

October 2006

plenty of opportunities to get close to fish that were once hard to approach because of all the boat traffic during the summer months. We will continue throwing topwaters throughout the day, but making sure to have a gold spoon and plastics readily available. The month of October also offers a great opportunity to experience some great evening fishing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the last month to take advantage of daylight savings time. In the past we have made it a point to experience some awesome sunset fishing trips in the fall. If you love catching fish and desire to view some of the most picturesque sunsets that this planet has to offer, the Lower Laguna Madre is the place to be. So come on down, but make sure you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wade and fall, but experience wading in the fall.

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Using birds, birds and more birds is the usual method of finding fish in the month of October. Get your binoculars cleaned and that trolling motor fully charged because you will need them this month. When approaching a school of fish with the birds working overhead, always come up to the birds as quietly as possible. At about 200 yards out and upwind of the school, drop the trolling motor and approach with extreme caution. Keep the wind on your back and use the tide to your advantage. At

ago. I’ve switched over to wading more of the time. We are catching some decent trout mixed in with lots of redfish in marsh lakes and on back bay shorelines. That should continue as we go through the fall. Usually, towards the end of October, we see some good trout on back bay shorelines in East Bay. Also, about that time, we will start throwing 51 or 52 Mirrolures more of the time. Right now, the tails are still hard to beat.” He also mentions that the fields he hunts for doves are full of birds. “We are going to whack ‘em. The milo is thick and the doves are thicker!” he says.

50 yards out, drift and only use the trolling motor to bump forward quietly. Two things to pay close attention to while making your approach are the direction and speed of the traveling school. After the birds have left, the fish are still there if you don’t get on top of them. Shrimp jumping and needle gar skipping across the water are sure signs of fish. Lures don’t matter much; fish under birds will eat about anything. The most important thing is to keep up with the school without spooking them. October is normally an excellent month for reds and flounder too.

It looks as though the modest cool fronts we got recently were enough to put an end to a very tough summer for us. The gulls have started working over schools of trout and reds that are hustling shrimp exiting the marshes. That action will only improve with each additional front. We are once again catching trout up to five pounds working the shallow flats on the north end at first light with She Dogs and Catch V’s. As the day warms, we are switching to tails in glow/chartreuse or pumpkinseed and catching both trout and redfish under the birds. The ship channel from the Causeway south to the jetties continues to turn out solid catches of trout for fishermen willing to deposit a few jigheads in the debris scattered along the shoreline The flounder bite is ahead of schedule and will only get better as well. We are currently doing well on both shrimp tipped plastics and live mud minnows on flatfish up to four pounds. If we can continue to dodge any serious storms, we should experience a phenomenal fall on Sabine Lake.

James says he had his best tarpon fishing session ever the day before giving this report. “We went 10 for 21!” he beams. For those unfamiliar with such lingo, that means they hooked 21 fish and landed 10 of those. That is truly phenomenol for Galveston area waters. He says he also had 5 other fish landed over the weekend, and expects to continue fishing for the silver kings until the middle of October if the weather is suitable for it, meaning if the seas stay relatively calm. “Went trout fishing the other day for the first time in a while and found easy fishing in East Bay, working slicks and bait over shell in four feet of water. It was good for September. Caught most of them on Bass Assassins, but my guys tell me the small topwaters have been working too, especially the Top Pup with the green back/gold side and yellow belly.” He plans on heading to Trinity Bay in October for combination trips seeking trout, redfish and flounder. “The north end in October is usually productive for all three species. The trout aren’t normally big, but they’re plentiful.” Jim expects to have some outstanding fishing this fall. “I like October and November best of all. When we get fronts with enough punch to cool down the water and start draining the marshes, the fishing gets really hot.” He reports that his tactics have already changed and that he’ll be wading more of the time this fall. “We still have bird activity out in the middle, but the fish are smaller than they were a month 78

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

“We’ve been smoking the redfish when the storms allow us to fish the way we want to,” Randall says. “Most days, we have complete limits, including one oversized fish for each of the guys to tag. Trout fishing has been spottier, with the surf kind of dying off and the flats behind the pass becoming less consistent than they were earlier in the summer.” He expects the birds to start working in October to make the trout easier to locate, especially in the second half of the month and moving into November. “We usually have some good flocks working by the middle of this month; November is even better. We will also be wading reefs when we aren’t chasing the gulls. There are some quality fish over shell in October around here. The fish will also make a move to the muddier bottoms sometime later on in the month.” Topwaters will be the first choice on many days. “Our best luck lately has been on the chartreuse/sliver Skitterwalks, and of course the pearl/pumpkin SandEels.”

“We’ve got tons of redfish right now and they’re pretty easy to catch,” Tommy says. “I had three on a fly the other day, and I’m not an expert with a flyrod by any means. My customers did better. When you’ve got groups of ten to fifteen reds tailing, it makes for great catching.” Most of the best concentrations of the old spottails are in south shoreline coves of West Bay. “We’ll see the action in East Bay improve in October,” he predicts. “There are already some nice trout on the mid-bay reefs, and by the time we get a couple more good fronts, the birds will be working open water around those reefs. It’s sometimes possible to catch solid trout up to five pounds under birds; at other times, it’s better to drift deep shell away from the birds to find the better trout.” After the bird chasers show up, he likes to make forays to West Bay again. “We like to wade in West Bay in October, especially on the weekends. There are some good fish on the grass beds over there, and the crowds are usually lighter.”

Outstanding fall fishing has arrived. Cool weather combined with a great shrimp hatch has our local bays full of fish. Redfish action is as good as it gets. We have been on schools of fish in the twenty four to twenty seven inch range for about two weeks. These fish have been in pods of twenty to thirty fish and are detonating topwaters. Green/chrome Shedogs, blue/orange Skitterwalks, and black/chrome Super Spooks have been the top baits. When they won’t hit a floating plug, Berkley Gulp Shrimp in pearl and nuclear chicken have been hard for the fish to turn down. Trout fishing under the birds continues to be awesome. Shrimp colored Norton Bull Minnows rigged on 1/4 ounce jigheads have been the best baits for the keeper fish. Most fish are ranging from fifteen to seventeen inches and are healthy from eating tons of shrimp. October fishing should continue to be hot with bird activity in East Bay, and along the seawall in South Bay. The mouth of the Tres Palacios River will be a hotspot for reds in the upcoming months. October 2006

Lynn reports that the surf fishing has continued to be outstanding as of this writing, but that he knows it will be over by October. “We are still catching them in the surf right now, and there are some quality trout, but soon we’ll be changing over to our fall tactics. By then, the hungry sharks that have been stealing fish in West Matagorda will be gone, too.” He likes to wade sand and grass shorelines in the first half of October. “I’ll be fishing areas south, like San Antonio and Mesquite and Ayers bays, working sand and grass with topwaters. I like the Super Spook and the She Dog, particularly the black one with the chartreuse head. We will try to stay shallow as much as possible, since we catch some of our biggest trout knee-deep once the water cools down. If we get a couple of stronger cold spells, I will start looking for the fish to make a move to mud. There is plenty of soft mud in those bays, and if the water drops to below normal temperatures, the fish will often seek that type of bottom after fronts.”

Blake plans to mix in some dove hunting with his fishing in the first part of the fall season. “I’ve got some really nice fields I hunt in the Premont area. It’s usually fast shooting, lots of fun.” On the water, he says he expects to see an improvement in the fishing as the marshes drain and the bait comes pouring out. “All the bayous in St. Charles, San Antonio and Aransas Bays can be great when the fall migration goes into full swing. I’ll be focusing on shorelines near the mouths of the marsh drains. I’ll throw my topwaters as much as I can, primarily Super Spooks and Top Dogs. I’ve had really good luck lately on the black/silver Top Dog.” Of course, the old stand by lures have been producing too. “Around here, it’s hard to beat a pumpkin or purple/chartreuse Norton Sand Eel if the fish aren’t blowing up on topwaters.” He’s already finding lots of redfish ganged up in advance of their migration and expects to find more this month. “We should be on plenty of reds,” he says.

October brings exceptional fishing for a variety of fish species in the surf zone, but it is imperative to plan trips to occur during periods of favorable weather and tidal conditions. Incoming frontal passages will make conditions excessive for a short period. As winds, seas and tides moderate, conditions and water quality become excellent and then the southeast winds begin to blow excessively in advance of the next incoming front. When the southeast winds get going for several days, the catching is reduced dramatically until after the next frontal passage. This scenario will continue throughout the fall and winter months. Pompano and whiting will be available on fresh, peeled shrimp and “Fishbites.” Slot and oversized redfish, large Spanish mackerel and occasional speckled trout will be available on a variety of lures and cut bait as well as on live finger mullet. Bull and Blacktipped sharks are extremely common and typically within casting distance of the shore. Target areas of bait abundance and bird activity.

My favorite way to catch fish is on topwater baits and the weather has been just right for fishing with topwaters until about mid-morning for the last few weeks. The wind has been relatively calm in the mornings and this had allowed me to use MirroLure She Dogs and She Pups in colors like CRBN, CRBL, GCRCH and CRRW in water depths of one and a half to two and a half feet. It has been really exciting finding fish in shallow water and sightcasting with MirroMinnows in colors like CHBL, October 2006

#21, #18, BNSBO and #11. The MirroMinnows are great for fishing in water that is 18 inches deep or less. When the topwater baits are not working, I’m using Exude RT Slugs in colors like pear/silktreuse, bloody white, bone diamond and mardi gras rigged on 1/16 or 1/8 ounce jig heads. I’m using the 1/16 ounce jig heads in water that is two feet deep or less, and the 1/8 ounce jig heads in water that is more than two feet deep. On days with dead calm wind, the best way to fish an area is by wade fishing with small baits, which don’t make much noise when they land. Joe says that the fishing has been gradually on the decline in the Land Cut and Nine Mile Hole, so he plans on moving north for October. “My client Dave Hamasaki did catch five different species, including black drum, trout and redfish on fly the other day along the edge of The Cut. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen one guy catch so many species on the same trip on a fly.” He plans to concentrate much of his effort in October on the flats near the JFK Causeway, and also further north into Corpus Christi Bay, specifically Shamrock Cove and the East Flats area. “I’ll be looking to do a lot of sightcasting to redfish, using lures and flies. Those flats usually fill up with reds for a little while after it starts to cool down. The schools that had been further south in the Laguna Madre will have moved up here and should be fairly easy to locate from the casting platform of a shallow-draft boat.” He says that the pumpkinseed/chartreuse Exude RT Slug continues to be his go-to lure, and should be this month too.

“Let’s go catch a redfish!” Bruce says when asked about the prospects for fishing the Port Mansfield area in October. “We’ve got some nice herds of reds around here right now and they should be concentrated on the north and south flats adjacent to the East Cut come October. We’ll be targeting them in shallow water, around knee deep. The easiest way to catch them is on a gold spoon, of course, but I like to work at them with topwaters most of all. The blowups are just incredible in that shallow water.” Trout fishing shows great promise, too. “Our trout have already moved off the deep humps onto the grass. They should be nicely schooled up over shallow grass and potholes as the water cools down a little more.” Offshore fishing holds potential this month as well. “Our nearshore water stays warmer a while longer than on the upper coast. We get a good push of pelagic fish moving through during October, as they migrate toward Mexican waters.”

With school starting and the traffic slowing, we’re beginning to see larger herds of reds on both sides of the bay, making limiting easier. The trout are still skinny, but the numbers are increasing on the drop off at the Game Refuge and in potholes on the east side. We’ve had the best luck with the new penny and nuclear chicken Gulp Shrimp under maulers for trout, and gold weedless spoons for shallow reds. Freddy says, “The new Gulp Squid is working great; the four inch one is the easiest to use on a 1/4 ounce jighead.” See Rip at Hook Line and Sinker. Tides are still running low from the point at Laguna Vista north. We’ve been unable to fish anywhere close to Cullen’s house due to low tides in the afternoons. It’s time we all face the fact that we aren’t getting the flow necessary to bring water levels up to normal on the tidal flats. We believe the problem lies with the silting in of the Mansfield Jetties. Please call the Mansfield Chamber to add your name to the list of people who want to see the channel dredged. (956) 944 2354 Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

Appetizer for 4 2 medium to large avocados, cut in half, peeled & seed removed 12 medium shrimp Queso dip (see recipe below) 1 package Louisiana brand Shrimp Batter Mix cooking oil Here’s a slightly different twist on stuffing a flounder. We created this one just for seafood lovers who enjoy the dressing as much as the fillets. This recipe makes dinner for two but can easily be doubled or tripled to accommodate more hungry fishermen. Ingredients: 1 medium-sized flounder (18-20 inches) filleted 1 cup Tostada Chips, crushed 1 Serrano pepper finely chopped 1 Tbsp cilantro finely chopped 1/4 cup onion finely chopped 1/4 cup celery finely chopped 1 egg 1/2 cup chicken broth 2 Tbsp butter 8 shrimp (20 count or similar) peeled, de-veined, and course chopped Filleting the flounder: Make slice lengthwise along lateral line deep enough to feel the spine with tip of fillet knife. With filleting strokes, begin at centerline cut and work toward outer edges, freeing flesh from bone. When fillet is removed, turn it flesh side up and use fillet knife to remove skin. Dark side yields two fillets… turn to white side and repeat… you’ll get four nice fillets. Preparing dressing: Melt butter in sauté pan. Stir in all ingredients except flounder. Sauté, folding with spatula, for about 5-minutes or until mixture gains moldable texture.

Preheat electric fryer to 400 degrees. Peel and devine shrimp, place on microwaveable plate. Microwave for 1.5 minutes or until barely cooked through, no more. Place avocados hollow side up, add one teaspoon of Queso to cavity, place three cooked shrimp in each avocado. Mix batter according to package and completely coat each stuffed avocado. Place in fryer and cook for 3 minutes. Place on serving dish and drizzle top lightly with queso. Serve with pico de gallo and remaining queso and chips.

1 Tbsp butter 1 Serrano pepper finely chopped 4 Tbsp of chopped cilantro ¼ cup thinly sliced bell pepper ¼ cup thinly sliced onion ½ pound white American cheese cubes Melt butter in frying pan over low heat. Sauté vegetables until clear. Pour into glass bowl add cheese and 1/4 cup of milk. Microwave until cheese is melted.

Making the rolls: Place approximately three rounded tablespoons of dressing in center of flounder fillet and form roll. Place rolls in shortening sprayed baking dish, seam side down. Extra dressing can be vacuum bagged and frozen. Bake: 375-degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, drizzle with Queso sauce (recipe to the right), serve with avocado slices and fresh chopped pico de gallo.

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

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Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

hunting

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006

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Jerry B’s Kayak............................................................27 361-937-5340

Kroll’s Marine...............................................................65 800-882-4461

LMC Marine Center........................................................2 888-797-9805

Majek Boats...................................................................9 361-991-3102

Pearland Marine...........................................................61 281-485-4351

Ray’s Marine................................................................53 830-980-9485

Rockport Marine...........................................................13 361-729-7820

Ron Hoover RV & Marine Center.....................................1 800-545-8818

Shallow Sport Boats.................................................... 27 956-233-9489

Shoalwater Boats.........................................................88 361-983-4134

South Padre Boat Sales............................................... 55 956-761-3993

Southshore Boats........................................................ 65 361-972-3322

Sport Marine................................................................57 281-238-0060

Suzuki........................................................................... 3 800-247-4704

Texas Marine............................................................... 71 409-898-7632

Tracker Marine..............................................................5 281-209-0900

Trans Fiberglass Boat.................................................. 37 361-972-6629

Tropical Marine............................................................ 45 800-960-1995

Baumann Marine..........................................................42 713-926-6908

Birdsall Marine Design................................................. 63 800-829-1772

Boat Lift Distributors.....................................................77 800-657-9998

Breakwater Marine Electronics..................................... 27 888-870-5082

281-235-8099 979-863-1143 361-230-0111

miscellaneous

Specialty Aluminum Works........................................... 47

98.7 Texas Mix.............................................................86

TechSun Trailers.....................................................Cover

Associated Credit Union of Texas...............................75

361-939-8970 361-575-1477

800-499-7079

Fishing Products (rods, reels, tackle, etc.)

361-573-7223 800-521-6711

Aventura Jewelry..........................................................37 713-932-0002

American Rodsmiths......................................................7

CCA............................................................................ 40

Bass Assassin............................................................. 55

Coastal Kayak Angler...................................................73

Bimini Bay - Tsunami...............................................Cover

Corpus Christi Self Storage.......................................... 73

Brown Lures................................................................ 53

Early Times Whiskey....................................................39

Falcon Rods.................................................................13

Eichorn Gonzales & Miller.............................................17

Fish Slick.....................................................................67

El Jefe......................................................................... 75

Gamma Technologies.................................................. 67

Everything Kayak Expo................................................ 69

Laguna Rods................................................................71

Fishermen’s Network....................................................57

Penn.......................................................................Cover

FTU Traveling Angler.............................................. Cover

Rapala.........................................................................19

Graphics By Design..................................................... 83

Rip Tide.......................................................................37

Hillman’s Seafood........................................................ 82

Rods by Pepper........................................................... 67

Line and Lure...............................................................35

Spivey Enterprises....................................................... 63

Lonestar Outdoor News................................................83

Texas Tackle Factory.............................................. Cover

National Children’s Leukemia Foundation..................... 66

Wade Aid Enterprises...................................................67

Palacios Chamber of Commerce.................................. 65

Waterloo Rods............................................................. 69

Salt-A-Way...................................................................47

Fishing retail locations

Saltwater Fishing Clinics.............................................. 67

Academy......................................................................41

Sea Academy.............................................................. 67

Blue Water Ships Stores.............................................. 57

Specialty Shutter Systems............................................47

Boater’s World............................................................. 21

Speedy Stop...........................................................Cover

David’s Tackle Box......................................................... 27

Texas Rod Benders......................................................67

Fishing Tackle Unlimited................................. 43 & Cover

The Galveston Fishing Pier...........................................73

Gander Mountain......................................................... 44

Waldman Lawyers....................................................... 75

Islander Custom Tackle................................................ 71

Window Works.............................................................37

713-466-7849

386-294-1049

800-688-3481 877-460-4619 918-251-0020

713-626-4222

361-937-3930

361-573-0647 956-944-2876

800-437-2971 281-931-1601

215-229-9415

800-874-4451 888-252-7421 409-737-1136

281-997-3364 361-575-4751

888-923-3243 361-573-0300

888-922-2336 281-334-7583

800-826-2628

Boat accessories

361-939-8745

South Texas Trolling Motors......................................... 53

Gulf Coast Marine..........................................................6 361-967-7800

361-575-8700

281-342-9669

281-481-6838

800-282-5993 409-621-1126

866-856-9477 512-363-9032 281-481-6838 361-785-4282 281-339-2897 972-221-9797 866-361-2276 800-448-3467 361-972-2615 714-550-0987 361-563-1160 361-758-6184 866-579-6433 361-582-5100

409-744-2273 800-833-9151 361-655-0628

Roy’s Bait & Tackle........................................................ 9 361-992-2960

October 2006

Gulf Coast Connections Texas Saltwater Fishing

October 2006