Michael Kent is our cover angler, proudly displaying his career-best speckled trout, caught earlier this year while fishing Port Mansfield with Capt. Nathan Beabout on a MirrOlure MirrOdine XL. Michael’s trophy measured 28 inches and weighed an even eight pounds. Just to add a bit of drama, as Michael was applying the Boga, the fish thrashed and impaled a treble hook in his thumb. So, not only did he catch a great fish, she also caught him. Thanks for the CPR, Michael!
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September
Issue
Highlights
HANG ON – WE’RE ALMOST THERE!
Suffering through dog days heat, sometimes the only thing we have going for us is the knowledge that it’ll only be a few more weeks. The first day of fall will be September 22, according to the calendar, anyway. But don’t hold your breath; September weather is quite often only a rerun of August. So, hang on, stay hydrated and keep the sunscreen handy.
Continued hot weather doesn’t mean we cannot enjoy great fishing, though. We spent a four-day weekend recently at Port Mansfield with the thermometer about to burst every afternoon. The ticket to excellent catches was early starts and determined effort. Gallons of Gatorade helped.
One of my favorite things about September is the Cast-N-Blast opportunity. If mixing dove and teal shooting with some fishing doesn’t sound exciting, I’m going to guess that perhaps you’ve never tried it. It’s a real hoot and an annual tradition for me and nearly all my outdoors friends. My mouth is already watering just thinking about redfish slabs and bacon-wrapped doves sizzling over mesquite coals. September is also the beginning of the new fishing and hunting
license year. 2024-25 licenses go on-sale beginning August15 and I want to remind everybody to make sure and purchase theirs before heading out on the water or afield Labor Day weekend. Kind of comical now, but not so for a friend last Labor Day. We were out at George West for a white-winged dove shoot when the friendly game warden happened by. Everybody checked OK except one fellow who somehow got it in his head that he didn’t need a new license until the New Year, January 1. Well, he knows now. Luckily, he was able to purchase one online with his cell phone and continue hunting after placing the citation in his billfold.
Along with the new license year comes further revision to speckled trout regulations in Texas. Effective September 1, 2024, TPWD has introduced a trophy trout tag as part of the 2024-25 Fishing License, enabling anglers to retain one fish per day of 28 inches or greater length as part of their daily bag. An additional bonus trophy trout tag per license year can be purchased for a $3 fee. The daily bag limit remains three trout of 15 to 20 inches; one of which may be 28 inches or greater length with a properly executed trophy tag. Anglers are encouraged to consult the TPWD website or Outdoors Annual for further clarification.
So, there you have it folks. Fall is approaching with lots of great opportunities on the water and afield. I trust you will enjoy this issue of the magazine…and don’t forget to take a kid fishing!
A ONE PUNCH KNOCKOUT
I made this photo along Surfside Beach only twelve hours before Hurricane Beryl made landfall. The debris littering the beach was from Tropical Storm Alberto’s storm surge that occurred just three weeks earlier.
“Weather” We Like it or Not
STORY BY STEVE HILLMAN
NOAA’s National Weather Service forecasters said to expect a very turbulent tropical weather season in 2024, going so far as predicting 17 to 25 named storms in the Atlantic Basin. I hate to say it but it’s beginning to look as though they may have gotten it right this time.
On June 19th we had Tropical Storm Alberto. On July 8th a Category 1 hurricane that bore resemblance to a Cat 2 hit our part of the Texas coast. As I sit here typing (July 24th) my trips have been rained out three days in a row and the rest of the week isn’t looking any better as the Gulf is currently full of storms that are coming onshore every day. Back in spring the Lake Livingston dam was releasing record levels of freshwater, upwards of 130,000 cubic feet per second, and currently bouncing between 15,000 and 24,000 cfs daily. We’ve had to navigate our way through all of these weather events to remain successful at catching fish. Constant high winds from every direction, drastic salinity changes, and enormous tide level swings have kept us on our toes for sure, but by understanding what makes our bay system tick we’ve been able to win the battle most days.
I’m a huge baseball fan and while I enjoy every aspect of the game I’m especially intrigued by the strategies and mind games between pitchers and hitters. I’m not sure, but this could be because I was a pitcher from Little League through high school. The catcher doesn’t seem to get nearly as much credit but plays an equally important a role in the process. Pitchers, batters, and catchers alike study scouting reports and watch videos to better understand the talents and tendencies of each other. Big league players are good at hitting fastballs, especially those thrown down the middle of the strike zone. That’s a given. It reminds me of when we’re fishing in ice cream conditions with excellent tide movement and a gentle southeast wind. Everyone who owns a boat seems to catch them.
Good hitters have the ability to make adjustments to hit pitches other than fastballs. They can hit a good curveball and even a nasty splitter at times. They are good at reading the pitcher’s arm angles and ball rotations to where they can anticipate what pitch is coming. In the fishing world we are the hitter and Mother Nature is the pitcher. It’s pretty obvious that Mother Nature’s not always going to throw fastballs over the heart of the plate. More often than not we’re going to see curveballs, sliders, splitters and changeups. So far this year I think Mother Nature has used her full arsenal and may even be on pace to win the Cy Young Award!
Excessive rainfall and overcast skies have cooled surface water
temperatures, which has pushed a lot of our fish shallower than they would otherwise be this time of year. As a result we are able to wade shorelines with great success, especially during the first couple of hours of daylight. It has also provided more oxygen in the water, further increasing fish activity. I had two clients the other day and we literally witnessed several trout doing summersaults out of the water while feeding on shad.
Pods of small shad and finger mullet are now congregated along shorelines bringing with them predator fish like trout, reds and flounder. I must admit this is not our textbook approach to late summer trout fishing here on Galveston Bay. Historically, we
Keith Burke with a nice one he caught out of slicks while drifting over oyster reefs in 6 feet of water.
In the early morning hours of July 8, Hurricane Beryl wreaked havoc on the Upper Texas Coast as a strong Category One storm.
Jackson Talbott wasn’t going to let his sister out-do him!
Even though the official landfall was hundreds of miles south of us the storm surge from Tropical Storm Alberto was knocking on the door at one of my favorite places on Galveston Bay – Topwater Grill.
Zoey Talbott was able to trick some solid trout wading a shallow flat that typically isn’t as productive this time of year but flood tides and rain from Beryl cooled the water enough to offer us a change of pace.
find ourselves working slicks while drifting over deep structure and oyster shell. While this strategy is still effective at times the shoreline bite has provided us with another option, especially when it’s too windy to drift open water.
I always talk about wading out to ridge lines (aka contour lines and drop-offs) this time of year but higher than usual tides caused by low barometric pressure and easterly winds have forced us to hang tight to shorelines and fish further back into the marsh. These are areas that typically harbor tiny crabs, shrimp and shad, so it makes sense that our smaller profile MirrOlure Lil Johns and Saltwater Assassin 4” Sea Shads rigged on 1/8 ounce and even 1/16 ounce Pro Elite Assassin jigheads have been super effective. Small topwaters like Super Spook Jr’s and MirrOlure She Pups have also been drawing some violent strikes.
In one of my articles a couple of months back I talked about how many of our trout were being pushed into the southern portions of our bay system due to the millions of gallons of freshwater flowing into our bay. Because of the excessive freshwater layer at the surface we were having to fish our lures lower in the water column with heavier than normal jighead weights to access the more dense salt water layer that remained there. Knowing the locations of the deeper channels and guts was a lifesaver as those were key areas that held pockets of higher salinity water. We were also having better success on darker colors such as Red Shad, Plum, and Texas Roach in the turbid water we were fishing.
Now, with recent tidal surges, evaporation, and reduced river inflows our salinities have recovered to more normal levels. This has changed our approach shot all together when it comes to choosing soft plastic lure styles, colors, and jighead weights. The water clarity is also much improved, so brighter colors like Chartreuse-Silver Glitter Assassins and Glow-Chartreuse MirrOlure Lil Johns have been unbelievably effective. A straight limetreuse Bass Assassin has also been hard to beat most days in the clearer water we’re fishing. The higher salinity water causes our baits to be more buoyant which makes them sink slower. As a result I’ve been using a longer fluorocarbon leader than usual (about 6 feet) as fluoro has a faster sink rate than braided line.
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Summertime Curveballs
I also love that little extra stretch it provides, along with its low-visibility properties that helps us trick more fish. My number one choice in fluorocarbon is Seaguar Gold Label. I prefer 20-pound test for most applications. A secondary benefit is found in Seaguar Gold’s smaller diameter per strength rating than most fluorocarbon lines on the market, allowing for slimmer joining knots that glide through my rod guides more easily.
There are many days when we can make the necessary adjustments to weather changes to still be able to have a productive day on the water. However, there have been many days when conditions were so horrible that it wasn’t even worth going, or it was just downright dangerous. As much as I want to work (fish) every day, we sometimes have to come to the realization that Mother Nature always has the upper hand. I actually view these short-term bad weather events as longterm gains for our fishery.
Many marinas and boat ramps were unfortunately damaged from storms and hurricanes which also drastically cut down on boat traffic, thus further reducing fishing pressure. Windy and stormy days have kept lots of anglers off of the water, which I think has resulted in more trout staying in our system for longer, which theoretically should allow for greater spawning potential. This should ultimately increase our biomass. I wouldn’t be surprised to see higher than usual TPWD fall gill net survey catch rates this year. I’m not saying that this would be the sole contributor to my predicted upswing but it certainly would seem to help.
Mother Nature has many pitches in her arsenal and, whether we like it or not, she’s been doing her best Justin Verlander impersonation this summer. If we want to be successful fishing these ever-changing conditions we must study the scouting reports and learn to hit more than just fastballs down the middle. It’s time to improve our batting skills!
STEVE HILLMAN
Steve Hillman is a full-time fishing guide on his home waters of Galveston Bay. Steve fishes the entire Galveston Bay Complex, wading and drifting for trout, redfish, and flounder using artificial lures.
Phone 4 09-256-7937
Email captsteve@hillmanguideservice.com
Web w ww.hillmanguideservice.com
Ryne Domann was able to get in on some awesome Galveston Bay trout action just five days before Beryl hit!
Brooks Domann kept pace with his brother on a morning when we caught 68 trout!
How BIG is BIG?
STORY BY KEVIN COCHRAN
September ranks low on the list of best months to successfully target trophy speckled trout with artificial lures in Texas. All experienced big trout hunters know this; some would say the month when summer ends and autumn begins is the worst of all. Accordingly, anglers who use high standards when setting the dimensions which define a trophy trout feel pretty satisfied when they catch a trout measuring at least 27 inches and weighing 6 pounds or more around Labor Day.
During this sweltering time-frame, approaching the end of the season of plenty, when so many life forms abundantly populate the bays and coastal waterways, catching a true 7-pound trout feels like a significant achievement. Doing so means overcoming odds which seem unfairly stacked in favor of the fish. Many trophy trout enthusiasts accept these truths and find other ways to satisfy their angling urges this time of year.
But for folks who don’t, adjusting the dimensions defining “trophy” aids in the quest to keep the fun in the fishing. In essence, the adjustment requires redefining the word trophy and thinking of the term in two distinctly separate ways. We must acknowledge how different contexts alter our perception of how big a trout must be in order for us to think of it as big.
Anglers competing in tournaments do this. In an event held in the bays around Port O’Connor in September, savvy anglers would recognize the significance of bringing trout measuring at least 20 inches to the scales, while the same anglers would set the bar higher in a place like Baffin or East Matagorda Bay, especially in a month like February. Anglers fishing for their own recreational purposes also potentially benefit from altering their perception of the dimensions which define a big trout, not only when moving from one bay system to another, but also as the seasons come and go.
Certainly, catching a 30-inch trout at Cathead in February is easier than catching a trout of equal size at Garrison Ridge in September. So, anglers who want to keep things real should adjust their expectations when they’re trying to satisfy their urge to catch a big trout. Doing so means recognizing how a prevailing situation, with its given time-frame, location and other relevant environmental factors in play, creates a context which can make a trout relatively, though not objectively, big. When trying to answer the question “How Big is Big?” consideration should be given to statistics related to the number of trout we catch of various sizes. I’ve done this for years, even inventing terms (which I then reduced to acronyms) for stats related to the number of trout we caught meeting or exceeding various measurement standards. Analyzing these stats helps one refine the knowledge about how to place trout into realistic categories, eventually with the goal of ranking some fish as relatively big, others as objectively big.
In the early stages of my competitive fishing career, I began recording how many keeper trout I caught per day of effort, which I dubbed a Keeper Index (KI), how many trout measuring over 20 inches I caught per day (Power Index/PI) and how many trout I caught over 25 inches (Super Power Index/SPI). Eventually, after moving to Padre Island and fishing almost exclusively south of the JFK Causeway, I added another category to this list, which I dubbed the 7PI, which documents the number of 7-pound trout I caught per outing. I kept numbers for my own personal rod and for the groups in which I fished, either as a guide, or with partners and buddies.
After fishing for a couple decades in a place famous for producing big trout, I compiled a legitimately ample database related to the dimensions one should use to define a trophy trout. Over time, my data supports several interesting and relevant facts. The numbers reveal the rarity of fish meeting specific benchmarks related to both length and weight. Many people place a priority on weight when attempting to define the dimensions of a trophy trout, including most of the people who
run fishing tournaments. In some ways, though, defining a heavier fish as a “better” fish fails to acknowledge several key facts related to the relative importance of weight and length in this endeavor. The weight of a female trout rises and falls over time, as she feeds and stores eggs before releasing them.
In contrast, the length of a fish continually increases, never reversing course. Why then, do we place more of a priority on weight than length? If a person catches an 8-pound, 30-inch fish today, is the achievement less noteworthy than when another person catches the same fish tomorrow, while it’s aggressively feeding, has two smaller trout in its belly, and weighs 10 pounds?
It’s the SAME fish. This fact undermines the value of using weight as the ultimate way to define a trophy trout, or as the best way to determine who should win a competitive angling event. In fact, one might point to the ease of catching a fish while it’s gorging as a reason to consider catching an aggressively feeding, full fish as a lesser achievement than catching an inactive, empty fish. Diving deeper into the statistics related to the relative rarity of fish meeting various standards of weight and length further emphasizes the wisdom of using length as the ultimate way to define a trophy trout.
According to my database, in order to reduce the odds of catching a 30-inch trout to an even 1:1, an angler needs to catch approximately 50 trout measuring at least 25 inches. Stated another way, catching a 30inch trout is approximately 50 times as difficult as catching a 25-incher. As the standard increases by each inch, the difficulty level rises. My data suggests catching a 31-inch trout is about 145 times as difficult as catching a 25. More significantly, catching a trout measuring at least 32 inches proves about 650 times as tough as catching a 25.
If these statistics fail to convince, increasing the standard of the smaller fish used in this same comparison should do the trick. I and my customers and friends have caught approximately 13 trout measuring at least 27 inches for each 30-incher brought to hand. The number of 27s
Big trout like the one Riley Davis caught here are gluttons. Sometimes they ingest really large meals and temporarily gain significant weight.
Kenneth Havel’s beautifully symmetrical 10-pounder would rank as a trophy in any trout hunter’s book.
for each 31 stands at about 40:1 and for 32-inchers, it’s nearly 200:1.
When placing these numbers into the proper context, one must consider another supremely important factor. In order to catch a trout meeting or exceeding some standard, one must make the effort in a place where at least one fish meeting the standard swims. I compiled a huge percentage of the numbers I referenced above while fishing in places known to hold decent numbers of trout measuring 32 inches or more, at least part of the time. Many of our bay systems likely have nearly (or literally) no fish meeting such a standard.
Certainly, catching trout measuring at least 30 inches proves much easier in the waters lying south of the JFK Causeway than in those lying north of it. East Matagorda Bay provides one notable exception to this rule. However, trout in bays fed by big rivers, like Galveston Bay and Sabine Lake, generally weigh a bit more per unit of length than those found in the bays of South Texas, which do not have large rivers continually sending freshwater into them. Scales at tournaments prove this repeatedly.
A 5-pound trout caught in Galveston often measures less than 25 inches, while a fish weighing the same caught in Baffin usually measures more than 25 inches. This complicates the matter at hand somewhat; at some times and in some places, even a 5-pound trout would rank as relatively big and would generate a buzz at a tournament weigh-station. When defining trophy trout, though, no one would seriously consider 5 pounds as a significant benchmark.
Analyzing the relative rarity of fish meeting or exceeding weight standards proves a bit more difficult for me than tracking the stats related to length, because I don’t have records as accurate on weight as I
do on length. However, a few known facts do support my preference for focusing on length rather than weight when contemplating whether a trout meets the objectively big standard.
I and my customers and friends have caught 3 times as many trout weighing at least 10 pounds as we have trout measuring 32 inches or more. The number is about the same if we change the standards to 9 pounds and 31 inches, and if we use 8 pounds and 30 inches. Significantly, many people use one of two standards when setting their sights on catching a trophy trout, either the 30-inch mark or the 10-pound mark. My records reveal the truth about these two standards–catching a 10-pounder is about 5 times more difficult than catching a 30-incher.
A 30-inch trout is a trophy, especially in some places, at least for some anglers, whether it weighs 10 pounds or 8. An 8-pounder rings a similar bell, regardless of length, especially considering the fact that CCA once used the benchmark as the minimum for qualification in the STAR tournament. A trout meeting or exceeding the 31-inch and/or 9-pound mark deserves status as a trophy, no matter when and where she’s caught. And obviously, all double-digit trout and all who stretch the tape to at least 32 inches rule trout-hunters’ dreams like celebrityqueens, regardless of whether they’re fat or skinny.
KEVIN COCHRAN
Kevin Cochran is a long-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has created several books and dvds on the subject.
Kevin’s home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut.
T ROUT TRACKER GUIDE SERVICE
Phone 361-688-3714
Email kevincochran404@yahoo.com
Web www.captainkevblogs.com
The captain points out how pictures can make trout look both bigger and smaller than they really are. View The Video Open Camera and hover over QR Code. When link appears at top of screen tap to open in YouTube.
Special circumstances can make even a 5-pound trout seem satisfyingly big.
Most people would think of a trout like this one caught by Beau Blackard as a trophy, despite the fact it fell just short of both the 30-inch and 10-pound marks.
The author, Wendy Ardis, and Valentin Castro celebrate a trophy-class Baja Rooster.
PartyCrashers
The steady rush of green water pouring through the jetties ushered in a healthy population of baitfish doing their best to seek shelter from the impending doom below.
My good friend Alex Sahliyeh and his father-in-law Dr. Paul McCormick were busy dissecting the granite boulders with sub-surface plugs and enjoying a very nice bite of quality speckled trout when the uninvited party guests made their first appearance.
Alex’s rod doubled over under the weight of the attacker and the drag began to scream as the fish abruptly headed for the short rigs, attempting to run away with all Alex’s line.
Immediately, we all shouted “Jackfish,” a bit unsure whether to feel blessed or disgusted at the interruption to our trout fishing. Luckily, Alex put on a masterful light-tackle demonstration and had the fish under control and boatside in a surprisingly short period of time.
Our perp was indeed an extremely healthy specimen of a Jack Crevalle, all forty-five inches of him. We all marveled at the fish while snapping photos and admiring the sight of such an efficient predator. I leaned over the gunwale to revive the big fish and it was gone in an instant to fight another day. With no further fanfare we went back to focusing on the speckled trout bite, but from time to time we would get back to admiring the Jack and the fight it provides. The Jack Crevalle gets a bad rap, but pound for pound, it more than holds its own as a great sport fish, especially on lighter tackle and fly gear.
As we worked our way toward a solid limit of trout we encountered a few more Jacks, and that brought up some interesting conversation that was truly thought provoking. We have all heard the saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and that’s exactly the case with the Jack Crevalle.
Think about this for a minute; what’s the difference between the Jack Crevalle, Roosterfish, and Giant Trevally? The Giant Trevally is one of the most popular and sought after fish on the planet right now and it’s nothing more than a bigger version of the Jack Crevalle that lives in beautiful water.
Same for Roosterfish, a very distant relative of the Jack Crevalle, but with a sexier paint job. Friends that I fish with down in Baja often refer to the Rooster as a disco jack, or a jack with a hat, in reference to the seven spine comb that the Roosterfish sports, instead of a single dorsal fin. There isn’t really a dime’s worth of difference in the fight these three fish put up and they are each as aggressive as it gets when it comes to their strikes. But for whatever unknown reason, Texas anglers look down on the Jack Crevalle and consider it almost a nuisance when, in fact, it should be completely the other way around.
Turning your nose up at the prospect of tangling with a top-of-the-line game fish is just mind-blowing, especially when it swims right here in our own backyard.
STORY BY CHUCK UZZLE
Now for years the offshore and nearshore guys have had their fill of jacks. The tarpon guides and folks shadowing the gulf shrimp boats as they cull their catches tell stories of being just absolutely covered in Jacks from time to time while pursuing other species. So much so that they’ve had to leave the area they were fishing because
there were so many of them present that nothing else could get to their baits. I guess the flip side to running away from too many Jacks would be actually taking a trip to target them exclusively, which is what some Florida anglers will often do.
There are plenty of folks who will come to Texas and Louisiana to chase big Jacks, and to be honest I can see why they do it. When you get a school of big Jacks fired up it’s one of the most visually satisfying bites you will ever encounter. The strikes are violent and angry as they destroy anything even remotely edible. I have had schools of Jacks along the beachfront feeding so aggressively it sounded like guns going off as they ran through wads of pogies, trying to get to them before the next Jack could. The only way to describe it when Jacks go on a feeding frenzy like that is just plain carnage.
Now it seems almost a waste of time to give advice concerning baits for catching Jack Crevalle because they will eat virtually anything as they are truly the epitome of opportunistic feeders. Pick a bait, any bait, and it will more than likely draw a strike from a hungry Jack.
Easily the most popular way to catch them is on topwater plugs as the strikes are as vicious as they are visual. Soft plastics, either on jigs or fished under a rattling cork will also take their fair share of vicious Jacks. Free-lining live bait such as mullet or big pogies along the rocks or near slicks along
Two faces only a mother could love; the author and a husky Jackfish. This one fell for a Z-Man Mulletron worked along the Sabine Pass jetty walls.
When you get down to the meat of the matter, the only real difference between a Rooster and a Jack are a sexier paint job and a crazy set of dorsal spines.
Alex Sahliyeh with the 45-inch Jack Crevalle that interrupted a great trout bite at the Sabine Jetties.
If trout and marauding Jacks at the jetties aren’t your cup of tea, September is a great time to chase marsh redfish.
the beach front is another great way to get your string stretched by a Jack as they rarely pass up an opportunity at a free meal.
The largest portion of all Jack encounters in my home waters will take place along the jetties, and that will happen to folks who aren’t even targeting them; they just happen to show up and the fight is on. Quite often these anglers will have to chase them down with the trolling motor to avoid getting spooled. It’s always fun to watch a boat hooked up on a big Jack work their way through the jetty traffic, kind of like a person in a packed movie theater returning to their seat…Excuse me, pardon me, sorry.
As we head into summer’s home stretch there will be ample opportunities to tangle with these hard-fighting fish as winds calm during the dog days and offer more angler-friendly conditions along the beach and nearshore gulf. Look for the big schools of pogies travelling along the beach and you will likely find the big Jack’s as well as the big, oversized redfish shadowing them.
Few things get as wild as a big school of frenzied Jacks and Bull Reds on a calm day in the gulf; it can be absolutely epic at times. If running the gulf is not your favorite thing then look no farther than
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the jetty systems because the Jack’s will be patrolling the rocks and looking for their next meal, so be ready.
I truly hope that each one of you gets an opportunity to tangle with these very underrated fish because they offer as good a fight as you will find anywhere. Hopefully, at some point, they will get the respect that they deserve. But until that happens, I for one will have no problem enjoying the chance to tangle with them when the opportunity presents.
As always, enjoy the resource responsibly and take a kid or someone new to the sport of fishing whenever you get the chance.
CHUCK UZZLE
CONTACT
Chuck fishes Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes from his home in Orange, TX. His specialties are light tackle and fly fishing for trout, reds, and flounder.
Phone 409-697-6111
Email wakesndrakes@yahoo.com
Website wakesndrakes.com
Trout Decline inTexas
STORY BY JOE RICHARD
Seatrout, easily the most popular coastal fish in Texas, are slowly being overwhelmed by growing fishing pressure. Evidenced by the recent daily bag limit reduction of three fish per angler, they seem to be fighting a losing battle against a growing, billion dollar coastal fishing industry made up of marinas, guides, boat dealerships, tackle stores, bait and ice, live bait, and so on.
Most anglers today don’t realize how many trout were out there years ago, and how few boats, however slow and small they were. When we moved to Port Arthur in 1967, there were no limits on any saltwater fish. We had no boat yet, but I was impressed that autumn when the local paper announced that two boats on Sabine Lake had both caught more than 300 trout in a single day. These were typical under-the-birds schooling trout of that era, of 2-4 pounds, not “pencils,” as smaller trout have been called.
Fast forward 50 years with coastal anglers increasing and the recent boom in boat sales, it seems the TP&W’s regulation of trout harvest has been chasing after the growth curve. More fishermen, not enough conservation, trout too popular, insufficient hatchery fingerlings, more guides, live croaker’s deadly toll, and too many tournaments targeting big female trout. There are lots of factors, and their combined toll has pounded the trout population. Thankfully, there have been only a few large-scale fish kills from freezes or red tides in recent years. But where is this trending?
Trout caught while wading shoreline.
I would like to talk with a state biologist over a beer and hear what they really think will happen with this downward trend of trout bag limits, but frank commentary from state employees these days, is an outdated concept. Today, one would have to go through a state “communications spokesman,” someone who carefully parses their language to avoid any… political entanglements.
I did talk to long-time friend and colleague Shannon Tompkins, retired outdoor writer from the Houston Chronicle, who has conferred with many biologists over three decades, and he didn’t mince words. “I think the degradation of the bay systems over the past 30-plus years, with multiple environmental disasters (human-caused such as the rape of the oyster fishery) and natural disasters from epic hurricanes, floods and droughts, combined with much-increased fishing pressure and advances in fishing-related technologies, has resulted in a much-less resilient fishery. Trout and other marine life can’t bounce back from population crashes as quickly as they could 35 years ago. Texas’ bay system health is compromised and the fisheries can’t recover as quickly…if, indeed, at all.”
raised annually in three coastal hatcheries, and transported to all Texas bays. One wonders how bad the trout (and redfish, for that matter) situation would be without these hatcheries.
So, bag limits across the coast have been whittled to an all-time low of three. Will people still fish? You bet. As one veteran angler on the middle coast put it, “the naysayers declared that a five trout coast-wide trout limit would put the kibosh on the inshore charter fishing industry. Well, it’s been several years since that was enacted and the [angler] numbers continue to climb. Now the question is whether the three-fish limit will slow it down.”
As a rare item on the plus side, a reported 10 million seatrout are
>Conservation. There are dedicated wade fishermen who target big trout, and it’s commendable they often release their big fish after a quick picture. These are female spawner trout that can spawn millions of eggs annually, which makes them a precious resource. Big trout are not exactly the tastiest fish in the sea, and I personally will not keep one bigger than 18 inches, which we consider an ideal size. Two of them makes a fried fish dinner for two, with leftovers the next day. Anything bigger than that, and they go back in the water. If one of my clients whines, I explain the trout situation.
In Texas with a permit, one can still keep a trout bigger than 30 inches. We can surmise these older trout have peaked with their egg numbers. Still, a fiberglass mount will last far longer than a skin mount, and even a few thousand eggs from a smart old sow trout is preferable to none.
A great many anglers visiting the coast are not after “trophy trout” and have no concept for conservation, they simply want fish dinners in a local restaurant or back home. With the price of everything these days, including guides and gasoline, people want fish for dinner to show for their efforts, and who could blame them. Trout are tops on their list, followed by redfish and flounder, and anything else (to
Fish kill in the Land Cut during the February, 1989 big freeze.
Trophy trout caught at the jetties, obviously full of eggs, promptly released.
Nice trout caught while wading shoreline at high tide.
them) is something of a mystery.
>Tournaments. There are now said to be hundreds of tournaments on the Texas coast with trout on top of the list. Angler effort is extreme during tournaments. Big female trout are the dream target and boats will race many miles to reach the best spots. One of the tournaments lasted some 31 years, before removing trout from competition after the 2021 winter freeze. It’s impossible to imagine the angler hours directed at trout during those decades. (Trout is the fish that launched a thousand boats, metaphorically speaking.)
Years ago I signed up, fearing the trout of a lifetime would grab on if I hadn’t signed up. (Fear being the greatest salesman). One day a big trout grabbed my MirrOlure, wallowing out there in whitewater. It looked huge compared to my normal catches. My boat was 50 yards away and I dutifully carried the fish back to measure it, knowing it would have to be 28 inches or longer to qualify. Instead, it was thick but only 26 inches long, and already expired in the summer heat. We dutifully fried it that night, including the almost-ripe egg sack eight inches long. The fish seemed tasteless and the fried eggs were worse, an acquired taste. I would have released that fish, except for the tournament. Multiply this anecdote among thousands of contestants, times 31 summers.
wiped out. There were no ship channels and deep water for them to seek refuge. The freeze lasted an estimated 21 days, according to one report. That’s weather difficult to imagine; we have nothing like it today.
>More fishermen. There is now something like a million licensed coastal fishermen in Texas. Boat sales skyrocketed during the Covid crisis in 2020, with buyers paying almost any price, and today there are a record number of boats available to chase seatrout.
>Guides. According to TP&W data, the number of Texas fishing guides increased by 25 percent in the past five years. Resident allwater fishing guides in Texas was 1,028 in 2010 and in 2023 that total was 1,720. On a coast less than 400 miles long, most are running big, fast boats tricked out with all manner of modern equipment, including side-scan sonar, big live bait wells, and double Power Poles that save time anchoring.
Not all coastal guides are trout guides, but the majority certainly are, because that’s what the public wants. There are niche guides who fish for sharks, or specialize in jetty redfish. I know two in Port O’Connor who will stop and fish for an hour or two for slot-sized black drum, to supplement their catch. Jetty guides with the typical “six-pack” license can hammer the redfish, often bringing back to the dock their legal limit of 18 reds. But hatchery efforts have kept fishing pressure at bay on redfish, starting back in the late 1980s. Trout in hatcheries began later and haven’t kept up with an overwhelming tide of fishing pressure.
>Freeze events.
There have been annoying fish kills on the middle and lower coasts from winter freezes in 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2021. Not huge freezes, but the trout casualties add up. Very discouraging, when you’re trying to rebuild the trout population. The last one in 2021 hit hardest from East Matagorda Bay down to the Lower Laguna. Seatrout were the most impacted of all sport fish species. Lower Laguna had the highest trout losses, estimated at 104,000 fish. Combined with almost 39,000 trout dying in the upper Laguna, the two bays represented 89 percent of state losses. The upper third of the Texas coast (with deep ship channels) got off lightly by comparison.
Historically, Texas has seen far, far worse fish kills from cold fronts. Like Galveston Bay freezing over in 1886, when a bear was seen walking out on Trinity Bay near Anahuac. Millions of trout were
>Live croakers. The rise of croakers as bait is another cautionary tale. People will now pay up to a dollar each for small, live croakers, the go-to trout bait effective even in muddy water. And easy to use; a charter can pitch these baits out into milky water with relatively safe, single hooks, and patiently wait for a bite. Croakers are named for a reason, sending out a low-pulse distress sound that travels well underwater. There’s little doubt that millions of Texas trout have been caught with croakers. Years ago, anchored in murky surf, we watched a nearby angler with four kids in a 20-foot Wellcraft catching trout on every cast. The daily bag limit back then was 10 fish and they appeared to limit out. Meanwhile, our artificials landing close by caught nothing. Concerning trout, my only suggestion for now is the obvious: ‘Hey. People. Leave them trout alone.’ There are plenty of other fish species out there, many of them more tasty than trout. If you target big trout go barbless, treat it gently, get it back in the water quickly, and hold it upright until it swims away.
Recently a friend caught his lifetime trout. It was a thick and ponderous sow that fought like a redfish, measuring 32 inches in the water. He couldn’t easily weigh it or take pictures (he was in a kayak) and so that trout never qualified as an all-time record for his fishing club. He says that doesn’t matter; it was more important to see the great fish swim away.
JOE RICHARD
CONTACT
Joe Richard has fished the Gulf since 1967, starting out of Port Arthur, but his adventures have taken him up and down the entire coast. He was the editor of Tide magazine for eight years, and later Florida Sportsman’s book and assistant magazine editor. He began guiding out of Port O’Connor in 1994. His specialty is big kingfish, and his latest book is The Kingfish Bible, New Revelations. Available at Seafavorites.com
Big jetty trout, caught and promptly released.
Bag seines are an effective sampling method for collecting juvenile tarpon and associated species within the local ecosystem.
An Ecological Characterization of Tarpon Nursery Habitats in Texas
STORY BY JAMES SANCHEZ, M.S.
ANGLER ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR | CENTER FOR SPORTFISH SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION | HARTE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF GULF OF MEXICO STUDIES
Picture yourself transported back to the 1930s, standing on a dock in Port Aransas, the “Tarpon Capital of the World.” The morning sun is just rising, casting a golden glow on the water as you prepare to embark on a thrilling angling adventure. Your guide’s new Farley boat is waiting at the dock, a sturdy vessel designed for pursuing magnificent tarpon. Settling into a fighting chair on the boat, you watch as the town fades into the distance and the open gulf beckons. As you reach the south jetty, the perfect conditions reveal themselves – light southeast winds and a powerful incoming tide, setting the stage for an unforgettable encounter with tarpon. Suddenly, your guide points excitedly, “There they are!” That’s when you witness multiple tarpon slashing through schools of mullet, sending them showering above the surface. With your heart pounding, you grab hold of a stout rod and reel, ready for the challenge. A live mullet is swiftly secured to your hook as the boat maneuvers into position. As you cast into the school of tarpon, the bait drops into the water and is met with a powerful strike, nearly yanking the rig from your grip. As you reel in and struggle to set the hook, you witness a breathtaking sight – a massive tarpon erupts from the water, its silvery form glinting in the morning light. For the next 20 minutes, you battle the powerful fish, feeling your muscles strain and the adrenaline pumping through your veins. Finally, the tarpon comes into view alongside the boat, pulling it closer your guide gaffs the tired fish and struggles to haul the mighty fish aboard. As you admire it, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe and accomplishment.
Sitting back in the chair, wiping the sweat from your brow, your guide grins and teases, “Ready for another one?” Despite the ache in your body, you can’t help but stand up with determination, ready to take on another one.
Tarpon HisTory in Texas
The Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) is a synonymous species in the history of Texas sportfishing. From the 1920s to the 1940s, schools of tarpon numbering in the thousands would pass through not only Port Aransas but the entirety of the Texas coast. During this period, they supported an economically vibrant recreational fishery that drew in numerous tourists including a United States President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who fished with the late Barney Farley. The scale from the five-foot tarpon he caught and many others from previous anglers are still displayed at the historic Tarpon Inn. A simple reminder of what we once had. However, by the late 1950s and early 1960s, it became a distant memory as the once prevalent tarpon populations dwindled to the point of the fishery collapsing. Since then, anglers and scientists alike have been trying to answer the question, “What caused the decline of tarpon in Texas?”
Declining populaTions
organisms like blue crabs and shrimp, which juvenile tarpon predate on. Throw in multiple years of development which have caused the loss of suitable habitat, and you can see where they can have a hard time recovering after all these years.
Initially, the tarpon fishery collapse is primarily attributed to the overexploitation and mismanagement of adult fish. This is seen in historic photographs during the peak fishery where smiling anglers stand next to large tarpon hanging at the docks. Unless they were worthy of mounting, the majority were disposed of. In other countries, tarpon to this day, are still harvested to be sold in fish markets. Although it occurred nearly 75 years ago, the state’s severe drought during the 1950s set the stage for building damns and creating reservoirs to serve the needs of the people. It didn’t come without consequences that we still endure to this day. Simply put, freshwater is the lifeblood of Texas estuaries. Reducing freshwater inflow, nutrient reduction, and increased salinities affected important estuarine
An examination of fishing records of tarpon caught between 1908 and 1998 in Port Aransas, Texas indicated a lack of small fish caught after 1960 while large fish were still present. Scientists have speculated that the collapse of the tarpon fishery in Texas was the result of recruitment failure to the area. In fact, Winemiller and Dailey (2002) modeled population dynamics of tarpon using life history data and determined that small declines in juvenile survival resulted in marked reductions in the abundance of adults. Thus, the collapse of the fishery in Texas appears linked to the quality and availability of nursery habitats used by juvenile tarpon during the early years of life. Unfortunately, our understanding of basic habitat requirements of juvenile tarpon in Texas is very limited, precluding our ability to assess population trends and develop sound conservation strategies. With a quickly growing human population in Texas and many people living in or moving to coastal counties, there is concern that juvenile tarpon and nursery habitats could be negatively impacted by increases in development activities. The first step to addressing these concerns and uncertainties is to improve our ability to identify nursery habitats for these species and provide new information on their ecology in these habitats. These needs are currently being addressed by a new study at the Sportfish Center.
Juvenile Tarpon ecology
The purpose of the study is to provide new information on the ecology of juvenile tarpon occurring in nursery habitats along the Texas coast using standardized bimonthly field sampling, mark-recapture tagging, and validation of citizen science reports. The information provided by this project will fill severe knowledge gaps pertaining to the juvenile ecology and habitat needs of these species and provide managers with data needed to develop effective conservation plans for these important sportfish.
It is challenging to sample them, but young tarpon are known to live in roadside ditches. Research Specialist Jeff Kaiser (left) and Jason Williams (right) along with graduate student Isabel Tiller (middle) are shown deploying a bag seine.
Graduate student Isabel Tiller with the first juvenile tarpon captured in her study.
Research Associate Jensen Smith showcases a juvenile tarpon captured during sampling.
The specific objectives of the study are to:
1. Identify juvenile tarpon habitat, characterizing seasonal dynamics of the physical, ecological (e.g., community assemblage), and environmental (e.g., water quality) parameters of this habitat.
2. Document seasonal and interannual trends in the occurrence and abundance of juvenile tarpon within identified nursery habitats of coastal Texas.
3. Survey citizen scientists to identify juvenile tarpon habitats along the Texas Coast; ground truth a portion of these reports.
4. Collect fin clips and scales for future tarpon genetic and hatch date analyses.
The upcoming study will utilize bimonthly field sampling, PIT tag mark-recapture methods, and citizen science to gather new information about the ecology of juvenile tarpon and their nursery habitats in Texas. Sampling will take place at specific sites between Aransas Pass and Corpus Christi, Texas to identify and characterize nursery habitat. It will occur throughout the year to identify seasonal and interannual trends in the presence and abundance of juvenile tarpon. Bag seines and cast nets will be used to capture juvenile tarpon and characterize associated community assemblages in these habitats.
During each sampling event, habitat characteristics and water quality data will be recorded. Identified tarpon will be counted, measured, weighed, and tagged with PIT tags before being released. Additionally, potential prey items will be preserved, sorted, counted, identified, and measured on a monthly basis in the laboratory to determine what is available to these juvenile fish. The study will also attempt to estimate growth rates for this species from recaptures of tagged individuals. The estimated occurrence and abundance of tarpon will be associated with water quality measurements and sample site metrics using common fish-habitat modeling approaches.
To improve our understanding of juvenile tarpon nursery habitats, we will engage citizen scientists by conducting formal surveys, inperson interviews, and using message boards and social media to identify more nursery habitats across a wider geographic area. We have already created a survey for identifying juvenile tarpon habitats (https://bit.ly/3ISW9AF). Once we gather and summarize the survey
data, we will verify a subset of these locations in each region of the Texas Coast (if reports come from each region) to confirm the presence of tarpon and to ensure that they are indeed juveniles, using the same seine protocols we use at our fixed sites near Corpus Christi.
Finally, additional tissues will be collected to improve our ecological understanding of this species in future studies. For every captured juvenile tarpon, a small portion of the anal fin will be clipped and preserved for optimal DNA preservation. Scales will also be collected to evaluate their use as non-lethal ageing structures. These tissues can be used for future genetic analyses (e.g., effective adult population size, comparing Texas relative population size to the eastern Gulf of Mexico, etc.).
This ecological characterization will provide novel information on these species’ seasonal residency, habitat use, and the physical, biological, and environmental characteristics of these habitats. This project will allow interannual comparisons of juvenile tarpon abundance and habitat use, and validation of citizen scientistidentified nursery habitats. These data will ultimately aid resource managers seeking to identify critical habitat and improve conservation measures for these important species in Texas.
In the prologue of Hart Stillwell’s book Glory of the Silver King, he states from his stories, “You might even become interested enough to go along with me when I say that the tarpon can be saved, even though no efforts along that line are being made now. Why? Because he is not considered a commercial species, such as the weakfish and flounder and striped bass and channel bass and shrimp and oysters that marine biologists are struggling to save. If the tarpon is saved, this happy event will take place as something of a byproduct of our campaign to save the creatures we eat.”
He didn’t know it at the time, but I feel like through all the trials and tribulations these fish have been through, anglers and scientists can help save future populations of tarpon. It may seem farfetched now, but one day, maybe you and I could have the opportunity to relive history as described in the Glory of the Silver King.
Citizen scientists can take this survey to help the Sportfish Center identify juvenile tarpon habitat. This data will aid in shaping conservation strategies and ensuring better fishing opportunities for future generations.
Research Specialist Jason Williams is preparing to release a juvenile tarpon after it was measured, weighed, and tagged with a PIT tag.
Beyond the
A calm day with one foot swells every 10 seconds or so makes for an easy paddle out from the beach.
Breakers
STORY BY CORY BYRNES
Intro
I sang a little made-up sea ditty as I paddled my way out the Surfside Ship Channel with a friend. We were going beyond the breakers to chase big Jack Crevalle and King Mackerel on our kayaks. Since the surf was a little extra that day, we opted to go out of the channel to get to the green water about 1.5 miles out from the beach. At the end of the jetty, two competing currents created a choppy section of water we crossed before being greeted by big 4-foot rollers. Out there we bobbed around, bow into the swells, drifting mullet on kingfish rigs. Here is what you need to know to be safe and successful if you decide to make the paddle out beyond the breakers.
GettInG out there
There are only two ways to get out beyond the breakers on the Texas coast. There are the ship channels, which offer a bit of protection from the surf, but put you in the same water as large vessels. And there’s also the beach, which puts you paddling against the surf, but away from potentially dangerous boat and ship traffic.
To go out through the ship channel you will want to put in at one of the public boat launches. From there, paddle along the jetty walls, keeping tight to the rock walls. Doing this keeps you out of the much faster boat traffic. To launch from the beach you will walk your kayak out to about waist-deep water. Hold your bow into the surf and wait to be between waves before hopping on. When you hop on you will need to quickly paddle hard to keep your bow into the waves. Once you’re out beyond the breakers you can ease up.
Coming back in through the ship channel is much the same as going out. Although depending on the tide you may have to work a little harder for it. The beach route is always a little trickier. You will want to come in head-on to the beach while having the waves hit you in the stern. You will need to paddle hard. Think of when a surfer attempts to get up on a wave. You are more likely to flip coming in from beyond the breakers in my opinion than going out. Having all your gear leashed to the kayak is good insurance.
There is one other way… it kind of feels like cheating if you ask me, but you can mothership. Mother shipping for those who do not know is when a large boat takes out a smaller one. In this case your kayak. There are some obvious pros to doing it this way. You can get further out, and you can get dropped right at a reef where the best fishing is. You miss out on waves crashing over your bow and fighting to keep the kayak upright, which can both be quite beneficial.
Gear and tackle
Big fish big gear. This is what I use when fishing beyond the breakers. It is a suggestion and there is no hard set of rules. So, if you have a favorite gear for chasing Kings and Jacks that can be used in the kayak, then go for it. This is what I use:
1. The Penn Slammer Rod with Penn 320 GTI reel
2. 80-pound braided line topped with 10 yards of 50-pound monofilament leader
3. 3-feet of #7 wire leader to kingfish rig with 5/0 circle hook and #2 Treble
4. A balloon to keep the bait near the top and swimming.
For bait, you cannot go wrong with 8-inch or larger mullet. Set your drag light at first so the fish can take the bait and run a bit, giving you time to take control of the rod before increasing drag and putting pressure on the fish, more on that later. If the conditions permit while drifting a bait, I will cast a 2-ounce spoon, Rat-L-Trap, or other deepdiving lure to cover more water. My casting tackle consists of:
1. Penn Spinfisher VII mod-fast 8-foot spinning rod with a Penn Spinfisher 5500 reel
2. 30-pound braid with 100 yard topshot of 20-pound fluorocarbon
3. 18-inches #7 steel leader
I find two rods to be more than enough. It can become hectic in a hurry if you hook up on your bait rod so, most of the time, I work on just keeping my bow into the waves. The last thing I will say about gear; no matter what you decide to take out there you should invest in gear leashes. There are sets on Amazon for $20 that will save you hundreds if you end up flipping.
catchInG and FIGhtInG BIG FIsh
May through October, the Gulf of Mexico warms to 75° or more and Jack Crevalle begin to appear along the Texas coast. They herald the arrival of more palatable pelagic species like Kingfish, Spanish Mackerel, and on a rare occasion Cobia. Catching one of these on your kayak is a rush. It is why I make the long paddle. Fighting a fish out there though isn’t the same as fighting one inshore or on the lake; you have the waves to consider. On my most recent trip I hooked a 25-pound Jack about a mile and a half out. When fighting a fish of that size beyond the breakers you want to do a couple of things to keep from flipping:
1. Keep your rod pointed to the bow of the kayak. If you put the rod tip off to port or starboard it works as a huge lever, and you could end up rolling your kayak.
2. Put pressure on the fish slightly to port or starboard of your bow to keep the kayak steered into the swells.
3. Pulling the rod up and then cranking down quickly is the best way to gain line on a strong fish.
4. Lastly, hold on. You’re likely to go for a sleigh ride. My kayak is 90-pounds dry weight and I weigh 200-pounds, not including
Eight-inch mullet rigged for kingfish - Note the treble hook should be just behind the dorsal fin.
Cory Byrnes hooked up with a big fish. (John Adams Photo)
Cory putting pressure on the fish to steer bow of the kayak into the waves. (John Adams Photo)
gear. The Jack Crevalle I mentioned earlier dragged my kayak about a quarter mile in a big circle before I was able to land it. Landing a fish presents another set of challenges. Most of the fish I am chasing out there are too big for the net. I carry a Fish Bat to quickly dispatch the fish before tail grabbing and hauling them into the boat. You may also consider a small gaff.
saFety
You’re not in Kansas anymore Toto. This is big water, and small problems can become big very quickly. It is important you take the proper safety measures so that you get back safely to land. You need to plan your trip. Websites like surf-forecast.com, and saltwaterrecon.com provide up to 12 day forecasts and live video feeds of surf conditions. Do not go out when in doubt and never go alone on these types of trips – always go with a buddy.
other Gear
Your standard safety gear like a kayak flag and PFD are a given. Check out the April 2024 issue of TSFMag for the full rundown of basic safety gear. In addition to that, I would add a marine radio like the Cobra Marine HH350, a signaling mirror, a first aid kit, Dramamine (everyone has their wave, and a small boat can get you seasick faster than a larger one), and more drinking water than you think you will need for the trip.
The Cobra Marine HH350 will be your second most important safety gear, next to your PFD. It is waterproof and it floats. It will allow you to listen to the NOAA weather frequency WX CH 1-10 while out there. In the event something does happen, CH16 is the international distress channel. All ships plus the Coast Guard monitor that channel. The operator’s manual that comes with the Marine HH350 gives some guidance on how to issue a distress call. You can also find more information online. Be sure to know how to operate
your radio before you head out.
Float Plan
A float plan contains several pieces of key information that is left with someone on land. In the event that you either miss a contact time or you contact your landman via phone or radio in an emergency, the float plan can be used to help locate you. Searchers can take the information you have in your float plan and use weather information like water conditions and current information from buoys to narrow their search to the most likely area you floated off to. At a minimum, your plan should include the following:
1. Description of vessel:
a. Color
b. Size
c. Type of vessel
2. Trip details:
a. Departure and estimated return time
b. Launch location and approximate area you plan on fishing. Use Google Earth to provide estimated coordinates or use a nearby buoy. You can check out buoy maps online.
3. Additional safety gear you might have aboard; i.e. marine radio. You should constantly monitor CH 16 or WX CH 1-10 for NOAA Weather.
conclusIon
If you have the nerve and are looking for a little adventure, paddling beyond the breakers can yield great rewards and scratch that adrenaline itch. I encourage you to check out other resources like texaskayakfisherman.com and YouTube channels like 30miles Out, Field Trips with Robert Field, and Extreme Kayak Fishing TV Check the weather and watch the surf forecast for a calm day. Put your float plan together. Get your gear together and paddle out. Be safe and tight lines!
Big Jack Carvel in the boat! After a 30-minute fight, Cory Byrnes was able to land this nice Jack Carvel. (John Adams Photo)
Some additional gear you may consider – marine radio, Fish Bat, fishing gloves, and a drift sock. Drift socks can help control your drift on the water, and with an anchor trolley it can help you keep your bow into the waves.
Flounder hatch at about one-tenth of an inch in length and undergo metamorphosis when they are about a half inch long. Credit: Amanda Jacoby, University of Texas Marine Science Institute.
Molecular Pathways Leading to Malpigmentation in Flounder: Part Two of Three
STORY BY DR . LEE FUIMAN & SALLY PALMER
Abnormal pigmentation, known as malpigmentation, is an undesirable trait which has been documented worldwide in hatchery-produced flatfish, including southern flounder from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s marine fish enhancement program. In recent trials, we have seen an average of 30% of the flounder produced in hatcheries become almost entirely white (pseudo-albino) after their metamorphosis. As stealthy predators, flounder use their pigmentation for camouflage to prevent their prey from seeing them. That camouflage is also what protects flounder from predators.
The first installment of this series of articles (in the August issue of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine) described a research project at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute’s Fisheries and Mariculture Laboratory (FAML) designed to determine the causes of malpigmentation and to devise actions to reduce it in hatcheries, or to develop a method for early detection. Theoretically, malpigmentation could be caused by having pigment cells that are unable to produce the dark pigment known as melanin, or by the pigment cells not being present. With research funding provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dr. Lee Fuiman and Cynthia Faulk at FAML examined the activity of six key genes to identify the physiological pathway that might be responsible for malpigmentation and to pinpoint precisely when during development that pathway is disrupted in pseudoalbino fish. The experiments, however, had some unexpected results. Malpigmentation rates in the laboratory
early stages of development of pigment cells, and it was significantly less active in batches of flounder and halibut that had higher rates of malpigmentation. This indicates that the reason some fish are malpigmented is because many of their pigment cells do not develop. Importantly, the difference in activity of this gene occurred when the fish were five to six weeks old, which is several weeks before malpigmentation can be seen.
This new information is useful in several ways. It focuses further research on a specific physiological pathway –pigment cell development. And, it pinpoints the stage of life to study. Digging further into this physiological pathway at this stage of development is expected to provide clues to how malpigmentation can be reduced or eliminated
were always less than 15% and mostly less than 10%, much lower than in the hatchery. This made it difficult to find the differences in physiology that were responsible for malpigmentation. Nevertheless, there were some promising results, and those results needed to be confirmed by examining fish with higher rates of malpigmentation. So, Dr. Fuiman invited colleagues at the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) in San Diego, California, to help out. Researchers at HSWRI work with California Halibut , a close relative of Southern Flounder that has very high rates of malpigmentation in hatcheries (40% to almost 100%).
Performing the same analyses of genes on the halibut samples that they had done for flounder, the researchers got very similar results. They found one gene in particular that showed the same relationship to malpigmentation in both species. That gene plays a critical role in the
Activity of six key genes in flounder and halibut was measured using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay.
Credit: Amanda Jacoby, University of Texas Marine Science Institute.
The Fisheries and Mariculture Laboratory maintains about 100 adult flounder to produce eggs which are incubated and reared for research into malpigmentation. Credit: Fisheries and Mariculture Laboratory at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.
Fisheries and Mariculture Laboratory staff members examine an adult female flounder to determine her readiness for spawning. Credit: Fisheries and Mariculture Laboratory at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.
in hatcheries. The new information also suggests that it might be possible to use gene activity for early detection of malpigmentation. Having a means to determine early on that a batch of fish will have a high rate of malpigmentation several weeks later can help hatchery managers decide whether it is worth devoting more resources to rearing that batch and releasing it.
A new research project is already underway at FAML using funding provided by the Texas Legislature to the Texas Gulf Coast Research Center at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. That project is using carefully controlled experiments to test the effect of different hatchery practices – such as larval diets and lighting – on malpigmentation in flounder, and it is employing new and powerful molecular tools to investigate the physiological and developmental pathways. The ultimate goal of that research is to develop strategies that can be applied in TPWD hatcheries to reduce malpigmentation and improve the effectiveness of their stock enhancement efforts. Stay tuned to the next installment of the story for some of the initial findings from this exciting project.
Comparison of a normally pigmented Southern Flounder (left) and pseudo-albino Southern Flounder (right). Credit: Fisheries and Mariculture Laboratory at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.
California Halibut. Before and during metamorphosis, halibut have large pigment cells, which disappear after metamorphosis is complete. Before that happens, much smaller pigment cells begin to form in normal fish (left) but not in malpigmented fish (right). Credit: Ruairi MacNamara, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute.
FISH SMART: LEARN TO EXPLOIT OPPORTUNITY
Writing this in early August, we have thus far experienced three tropical weather events that affected the Aransas Bay Complex. These have been mostly tidal and rain events versus strong and destructive winds in our region. Two passed to the south of us, leaving Rockport on the northern or dirty side, while Hurricane Beryl drifted just far enough east and north to leave us on the calm side. Rain is always beneficial, even when we get a bit too much.
Besides the freshening of our bays, rain cools the surface water temperature and the higher tides have a very beneficial flushing effect that produces higher oxygen levels. The bays see increased growth in shrimp and crabs to name only a few species. Years with an abundance of rainfall have historically been better trout years, according to my records. With the peak of hurricane season still ahead I expect to see more tropical weather events impacting the middle and lower coast. We do not need nor do I want a hurricane, just more rainfall and flushing of our bays and estuaries.
I am seeing improvement in the overall numbers of trout in our bays in 2024. We still have a long way to go but with our new trout regulations and a little help from Mother Nature, how can keeping fewer fish ever equate to having fewer? I am a positive-minded guy and feel
that we have come a very long way in the promotion of catch and release of all species over the past several years. I am not a total catch and release person; I believe harvest of specific sizes and appropriate numbers is necessary to maintain a balance in our fisheries.
We depend on TPW and Harte Institute biologists and their field staffs to monitor and manage our fisheries. It’s a tough job and not one that I would want, nor do I participate in, which is perhaps bad of me. I have gained the opinion that TPW are not as proactive in their management practices as they could be, especially in their dockside creel survey methods. Though I participated in these for many years, I no longer do and the reason is very basic.
The only data they are collecting is species, numbers, and length of fish, hours spent on the water, county of angler residence, and the degree of trip satisfaction the anglers report. They do not weight or sex the fish, nor do they obtain otoliths for aging or examine stomach contents. To me, it seems the surveys are more about economics than collection of useful data. However, and having said all that, we have been releasing all our trout and nearly all we catch of other species…so they wouldn’t be able to get much data if we did elect to participate. For the record, I did participate for more
Alyson Donaldson with a nice summertime Aransas Bay trout – CPR!
Don Thrasher – early morning success – CPR!
than 30 years. I do not target undersized trout and try to stay away from areas that are known to produce large numbers of them. Instead, I use my past years of fishing experience and knowledge to concentrate on areas that I have discovered to produce more mature trout. Over 47 years of guiding daily, I have meticulously recorded details of each day on the water. Stored on numerous thumb drives, I now have 12,455 days of catch data, much of which is recorded in wadeby-wade detail. In addition to numbers and size of fish caught, I have also logged water and air temperatures, weather and water conditions, along with the solunar details for the day. Which, incidentally, I kept track of for years before most folks ever heard of the solunar tables. Other details are the types of bottom structure fished and the top three producing lures used that day. Lastly, now that we have cameras on our cell phones, I have also included actual fish photos of the day’s catches. It’s all good stuff and incredibly valuable to me as a guide. Believe me when I say that I still reference all these data often to formulate fishing plans according to weather patterns, tide levels, and seasonal influences. It is amazing how fish will show in areas where they have not been seen for years when the seasonal conditions become favorable. My webmaster, Ken Vestal, created a search function for my fishing club members long before Google Search. We just called it SEARCH. I tell you all of this so that you might begin to record your own experiences and begin to build a fishing log of your own. Today’s fishing world is changing by the minute. Get lazy and it’ll pass you by and leave you wondering what happened. I find myself more dedicated to changing and adapting today than ever in my career. Let’s talk now about actual fishing. I have a strong tendency to stay shallow and fish areas with various types of scattered structure. Honestly, it does not matter to me what type of bottom structure I have to work with, so long as it’s scattered, shallow, and catches some wind to move the water when tidal movement is not happening. The hottest time of the year is upon us and we must work smarter versus harder. Working harder is easier than smarter, yet smarter is what usually produces the best results. Working hard is a great quality and aids in many aspects of life, but it can be too physically demanding to do it all day when fishing. Years ago I coined the phrase FISH SMART in a video I made and it kind of stuck with me. With fishing pressure at an all-time high, fishing smart has never been more important than it is today. In my opinion, the smart approach right now is to seek out barrier island shorelines and spoils that offer slightly deeper areas of
scattered grass beds. The more scattered, the greater the potential of attracting and concentrating the quality of fish that I seek daily.
Just today I had a group of young anglers seeking to increase their skills on fishing smart. I explained to them how to read the water and why we were focused on the smaller areas of scattered grass structure during midday hours. “Look at how the bait fish are reacting when they come in contact with the grass beds,” I told them. “Notice how the bait rises to the surface as they pass over the beds. Why? Because they are totally aware of the areas where predators will be staged at this time of the day.”
So many times anglers will overlook smaller areas of scattered grass in search of the larger areas, which are quite often more plentiful. I believe I am accurate in saying that at least four of my top five career trout have come from areas of small structure such as I am describing here. Aim small miss small always comes to mind when I am trying to explain my structure theories.
I remember an afternoon at Port Mansfield during the winter of 2021, prior to the big freeze. I had four anglers spread over a large area of small scattered grass beds. Small bait fish were plentiful all across the area. We had the beginning of a moonrise minor with a strong cold front due to arrive in a few hours. A perfect setup as far as conditions are concerned, but I coached them about how we were still going to have to do our part and put the lure in front of the fish.
It’s seldom magic, like some would want us to believe. We discussed how critical it is to be able to make accurate casts to the available structure and also to know exactly where the lure is located at all times during the presentation. This is especially true as the lure approaches the targeted structure. It’s also important to understand where the strike zone will most likely be and when to anticipate the strike.
Lots of moisture in the atmosphere from tropical weather systems –gorgeous sunrises!
Shawn Dinwiddie was the first to strike a blow and then it was Adam Todds’ turn; both catching fish in the 28-inch class. Texas Custom’s Double Ds were in play because I wanted the guys to be able to swim or bang the lure down into the lower part of the water column and then allow it rise slowly as it approached the grass patches being targeted. I was next and went on a run with a pair of 28- to 29-inch fish, and then another that bumped 8-pounds on the Boga. Chuck Boorman was next with a 29-inch personal best.
What was so cool about that afternoon was that we had talked about making a move, but we all believed the fish we wanted to catch were present and just not yet ready to play. As the wade progressed we entered an area where heavier grass and sandy potholes gave way to scattered grass and larger areas of sand with small grass patches. On several occasions I saw the gills of the large trout flare just before feeling the strike. An incredible thing to experience; I promise you.
It was literally one the of the most rewarding afternoons I have ever experienced because we were able to decipher what we were seeing and put a plan of action into play. To be able to coach
Open Camera and hover over QR Code. When link appears at top of screen tap to open in YouTube.
the group through the two hour period that we caught fish was one of the best teaching and learning opportunities that I have experienced in a long time. It helps to have attentive students and students capable of taking the instructions and then building on the opportunity.
I hope this long and detailed story helps you understand the importance of fishing scattered bottom structures, as well as the more traditional types of structures that I often talk about. I also hope that it allows you to see the many skill sets that are necessary to allow you to be successful when faced with opportunity. Fishing is hard, and attention to detail along with strong work ethic and fishing smart will enable you to become the best you can be.
Try to put some of the tips in this month’s article to use on your next trip to the water. I think you will discover that fishing smart works.
May Your Fishing Always Be Catching! -Guide, Jay Watkins
Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 45 years. Jay specializes in wading yearround for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay.
Telephone 361-729-9596
Email Jay@jaywatkins.com
Website www.jaywatkins.com
View The Video
DAVE ROBERTS
SHALLOW WATER FISHING
LOVE FOR OUR COASTAL RESOURCES
Texas is indeed a one-of-a-kind place. You can go nearly anywhere in the world and when the conversation turns to where you are from, Texas is arguably more recognizable than America. Maybe that last statement is just my state pride showing a bit but I feel that I’m treated differently amongst the residents of other states and countries; especially when I tell them more specifically where I’m from in Texas. I love this state! Texas is big and broad and includes some of nearly every geographical characteristic within her borders. We have the gulf coast, high plains, rolling savannahs, mountains, desserts, large forests and expansive marsh areas. Scattered throughout the state, there is plenty of wild game that can provide someone with recreational opportunities and tasty meals.
Living on the gulf coast is a great example of that. People have been living here many thousands of years and I completely understand why. As they say, the sea will provide and one can always catch, trap or harvest something for dinner. Even though survival these days is much different than for the people who lived in this place before us, the Texas coast always has and hopefully always will be a great place to live.
During my childhood I was blessed to have been born to parents that loved to be at the beach. My grandparents built a cabin at Gilchrist back in 1957, near the old Rollover Pass, where we spent nearly all our summer weekends. The cabin itself was crude, never had hot water, no private rooms, and no air conditioning. It was pretty much a square wooden structure 7 feet off the ground on
piers, with large shuttered windows all around for ventilation.
Far from the beach homes built today, we sweated at night, swatted mosquitoes, and took cold showers. Despite the less than favorable conditions, we always begged our parents to go there. We would crab all day, swim and fish at the beach, play in the sand, and repeat. It didn’t matter if it was hot, cold, rain or shine – we would have a fresh seafood gumbo, fish fries, boil crabs and shrimp, and enjoy the resources that Texas provided us. These are some of my first and fondest memories that have led me to love our coast.
Fast forward to the present, I have been very fortunate to see and fish some incredible places in this world. Every time I fish a new place I always think to myself how beautiful the area is and how incredible the fishing can be. I sometimes daydream about how I could retire there one day. After mentioning to my guide or whomever about the kind of fishing that I am blessed to experience back home, they often ask why in the world am I there.
Of course we both know that answer but on a serious note, why would you ever want to fish somewhere else? On the upper coast we can fly fish for redfish while the middle coast and lower coast provides arguably the best big trout fishing in the world. On top of that, there are endless flats from one end to the other and this is without mentioning the offshore opportunities. We truly have it all!
I have been on a flight arriving to Houston from a fishing trip and the captain comes over the PA system and says it’s a bluebird day with winds 0-5 mph out of the north. Arriving at the gate and retrieving my bags,
I’ve headed straight home, hooked onto my boat and headed out to go fishing – never even stepped inside my house. Thats how much I love our Texas coastal resources. When it comes down to it, Texas has given every angler and resident of her coast more than we could ever ask for. That is why I believe it is high time we give back to her when we can.
A few years back I was listening to the CCA Coastal Advocacy podcast and one of their guests was Captain Billy Sandifer. He told a story of a couple from out of state he took on a beach fishing charter. One of their primary reasons for being down there was to find an area to buy a beach home they could enjoy during retirement. He asked them if they liked what they saw and their reply left him baffled.
They said they would not be coming back because the beach was horribly littered with trash. He then realized what sad shape the place was in and how it had been overlooked for so many years as trash washed ashore and collected on the beaches. Right then and there Billy decided to take it upon himself to do something about it. He organized a small group of volunteers to clean a couple miles they call the Big Shell Beach that year.
From that fledgling effort the Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach Cleanup has continued to grow and has actually outlived Billy. Held annually in late February, it now attracts as many 1500 volunteers at each event. The typical haul of trash removed from 20 to 25 miles of beach can sometimes weigh upwards of 40 tons.
That incredible story has stuck with me and serves as a reminder that we have to take care of what is ours. A few years back I was driving down our local beach and realized that it was filthy. Seeing the need to do something about it, I brought the idea up to our local CCA chapter. We organized, picked a date, and decided to do our own cleanup on McFaddin Beach. Initially, I thought if we could get 20 volunteers I would consider it a major victory. To my surprise, we had around 70 people show up the first year and over 100 last year. On top of that, the normal beachgoers that didn’t know we were doing a cleanup stopped by, grabbed a bag, and cleaned up their area where they had parked. It was almost contagious!
That said, I would like to invite everyone down to McFaddin Beach on September 21, 2024. We will be set up at the entrance to the public beach and the work hours will be from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.. Our goal is to clean a mile of beach and we have hit the target both years with hopes to do it again.
Thanks to industrial leaders of our area, we will provide trash bags, gloves, trash grabbers, water, food and everything you will need for the morning. Once the hard work is done, we eat and begin to have some fun and enjoy our newly cleaned beach. We urge everyone to bring a rod and reel as we will spend the rest of the day fishing. Bring the whole family and let your kids develop a love for our coast.
As I mentioned earlier, Texas has given us more opportunities than any of us could ever dream of or ask for. I think it is time that we all start giving back and getting involved a little more to show pride in what we have been given. As a Texan, I know we all have a lot of state pride and now is a great time to show it.
CONTACT
Website: www.TexasKayakChronicles.com View The Video Open Camera and hover over QR Code. When link appears at top of screen tap to open in YouTube.
Dave Roberts is an avid kayak-fishing enthusiast fishing primarily the inshore Upper Coast region with occasional adventures to surf and nearshore Gulf of Mexico.
Email: TexasKayakChronicles@yahoo.com
McFaddin Beach Clean Up— COME JOIN US!
By Shane Bonnot
TPWD CELEBRATES MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT
On July 31, 2024, a grand celebration was held as current and former Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, elected officials, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) representatives, and distinguished guests recognized a monumental conservation achievement: The release of over 1 billion fingerlings into Texas bays and estuaries!
Since 1983, TPWD has been diligently releasing red drum, spotted seatrout, and, more recently, southern flounder fingerlings along the Texas coast. These efforts aim to bolster the natural recruitment of these economically valuable fisheries and support a thriving recreational fishery. While each stocking event varies in species, location, and number of fish released, the unwavering dedication of TPWD staff, across numerous careers, and the steadfast support from CCA have culminated in this remarkable feat of 1 billion fingerlings stocked over the 41-year timeframe.
The saltwater hatchery program began with a vision to revive the red drum population after decades of over-exploitation from commercial fishermen and rogue poachers. Initially named the John Wilson Marine Fish Hatchery, the CCA Marine Development Center in Flour Bluff was the world’s first red drum hatchery, a testimony to the power of partnerships and a shared vision by a state agency, a nonprofit conservation group, and a
utility company. The Gulf Coast Conservation Association (GCCA) raised $1.4 million to construct the facility, Central Power and Light of Corpus Christi provided the construction site at its Barney M. Davis power plant, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) contributed staff and expertise. Critically, TPWD utilized broodstock conditioning and hatchery culture techniques developed by The University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas and refined by TPWD’s marine research station in Palacios.
Today, the CCA Marine Development Center in Flour Bluff, Sea Center Texas in Lake Jackson, and the Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station in Palacios collectively supply an average of 25 million fingerlings annually for stocking in Texas bay systems. This continuous success relies heavily on ongoing partnerships and collaborative efforts.
The GCCA, which evolved into today’s Coastal Conservation Association, began in Texas when a small group of recreational anglers grew concerned about overharvest in coastal fisheries. Since its inception and at the core, CCA’s mission has been to ensure the health, sustainability, and habitat of marine resources, while also protecting the interests of recreational anglers. Now a national advocacy group with chapters in 17 states, the CCA has numerous conservation
Dr. Robert Vega (Former Stock Enhancement Director for TPWD Coastal Fisheries) and his grandson, Noah, with “Billy” the one-billionth fish.
David Yoskowitz, Cody Vasut and Jeff Hildebrand speaking about the significance of the event and the importance of fisheries conservation.
An early pioneer of red drum hatchery and larvae production, Dr. Connie Arnold, gazing at red drum broodstock in his research lab at University of Texas Marine Science Institute so many years ago.
achievements to its name. Fifty years ago, many believed the resources within the Gulf of Mexico and its bay systems were inexhaustible. However, declining populations, especially of red drum, became evident by the mid-1970s, prompting significant regulatory changes and conservation efforts.
Under the leadership of Walter Fondren III, the GCCA successfully lobbied for the Red Drum Conservation Act of 1977, which tightened commercial licensing requirements and set an annual harvest quota. In 1981, the GCCA secured the classification of red drum and spotted seatrout as game fish, ending commercial fishing for these species in state waters. This bold measure, followed by similar steps in other Gulf states and the permanent closure of the fishery in the federal exclusive economic zone in 1987, marked significant progress in fisheries conservation. Understanding early on regulations alone may not be enough for an expedited recovery, TPWD and GCCA began looking elsewhere for other fishery management tools.
During the mid-1970s, scientists at TPWD’s Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station and the University of Texas Marine Science Institute pioneered the rearing of red drum in captivity to replenish wild populations. Researchers identified the temperature and lighting conditions needed for laboratory spawning and perfected the timing for moving larvae to rearing ponds. By the early 1980s, all the necessary elements for a successful production hatchery were in place and the stockings began in 1983 with 7 million red drum fingerlings released coastwide.
The need for additional facilities quickly became evident, and a new corporate partner quickly stepped in to join the cause – Dow Chemical Company (Dow). Dow’s involvement began in the 1980s after severe winters killed millions of fish in Texas bays. To diversify hatchery locations, Dow built red drum rearing ponds in Freeport at its Plant A location, stocked by TPWD with excess larvae from the Flour Bluff facility. Between 1985 and 1995, these satellite ponds produced over 45 million fingerlings.
and organizations have all contributed as conservation partners to achieve the common goal of making fishing better. CCA remains a strong conservation partner for the hatchery program, which includes funding research, hatchery equipment, and conservation projects across all three facilities. Dow continually assists with SCT operations by supplying water through a pump station powered by their own electricity generation. Universities, marine scientists and students utilize the TPWD marine hatcheries and facilities for research projects and academic credit, advancing the science of conservation and stock enhancement efficacy.
While acknowledging the collective efforts of conservation partners is essential, the true credit for this monumental achievement belongs to the men and women who have devoted their careers to fisheries enhancement. Maintaining hatchery facilities in a corrosive saltwater environment, caring for broodstock year-round, timing spawning events, conducting hatchery culture, harvesting ponds and releasing fingerlings is not easy work. Long hours, arduous physical work, and harsh conditions are the norm. A billion things could go wrong throughout the process. Sometimes they do. Fortunately, thanks to the perseverance and dedication of TPWD staff and continued support from CCA and other partners, there are a billion reasons to be grateful. A billion opportunities for recreational anglers to enjoy
This success led to plans for a full-scale hatchery and education center in Lake Jackson. Dow donated 60 acres of land and CCA raised construction funds, supplemented by matching funds from the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program. Lake Jackson residents approved a bond to build infrastructure for the site. Today, Sea Center Texas occupies 75 acres and attracts over 60,000 visitors annually while serving as a hub for research and education.
CCA, Dow, academic institutions, and a host of other companies
By Alicia Walker | Coastal Ecologist | Ecosystem Resource Assessment Team
NAVIGATING THE BLUE HIGHWAYS: SEA TURTLES AS VITAL MOBILE HABITATS AND NUTRIENT TRANSPORTERS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
Widely known as a majestic icon of marine conservation, the ecological roles that a sea turtle plays can be critical for other forms of marine life. In Texas waters, there are five species of sea turtles. The Loggerhead, known for its robust jaws and reddish-brown shell, is often observed foraging at oil rigs and along artificial reefs. Green Sea Turtles, prefer coastal and shallow waters, feeding on seagrasses and algae. Kemp’s Ridley Turtles, the smallest and most endangered, utilize the Gulf’s beaches for synchronized nesting events known as arribadas. Hawksbill Turtles, with pointed beaks and vibrant shells, thrive in coral reefs, feeding on sponges. Lastly, the largest of all sea turtles, are the Leatherback Turtles.
With its expansive coastal habitats and rich biodiversity, the Gulf of Mexico is a haven for marine life of all shapes and sizes. Sea turtles are a keystone species meaning their actions have a significant impact on maintaining
ecosystem stability and supporting species diversity. All species of sea turtles roam the Gulf waters and beyond, migrating long distances in search of food, mates, and nesting grounds. In the vast open ocean, life teems in abundance, but survival is a constant challenge. Sea turtles play a lesser-known role as mobile habitats, providing shelter and sustenance to a diverse array of fish, crabs,
Green Sea Turtles are found around the world and all sea turtles species are protected by the Endangered Species Act in the United States (Source: Canva generated photo).
Sea Turtles act as mobile habitat for a number of small fish and invertebrate species (Source: Canva generated photo).
and other invertebrates. In addition, few realize that sea turtles also help move nutrients and other creatures across the open sea, bolstering the balance and vitality of marine environments.
Sea turtles provide structure in the seemingly endless expanse of open ocean known as the pelagic zone, creating a unique mobile habitat that attracts predator and prey species, acting as a fish aggregator. Barnacles, algae, crabs, and small fish find sanctuary on the backs of sea turtles, utilizing them as mobile platforms for feeding, reproduction, transportation, and protection. As turtles move through the water, small organisms and baitfish accumulate around the turtles, attracting larger and larger fish such as migratory species like Yellowfin tuna and Atlantic Bluefin tuna. Anecdotal evidence suggests that tuna may use sea turtles as navigational aids, especially during migration, potentially helping them navigate to productive feeding grounds or breeding areas. These relationships are not only a testament to the adaptability of marine life but also a central component of ecosystem dynamics in the Gulf.
Remoras clean and remove parasites from sea turtles and the turtles provide transportation and shelter forming a symbiotic relationship between the
Sea turtles not only provide refuge but transportation for less mobile species. Planes crabs, also known as “Pilot fish crabs,” form a fascinating symbiotic relationship with sea turtles, utilizing them for various aspects of their lives. While hitching rides, these crabs scavenge for food scraps on the turtle’s skin, effectively acting as cleaners, removing parasites and algae. Additionally, the turtles inadvertently aid the crabs in finding mates by bringing them into proximity with other turtles during mating seasons and migration. This mutually beneficial alliance highlights the intricate interconnectedness of marine ecosystems, where even the smallest creatures rely on larger species for survival.
In the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient cycling is key to the health of coastal ecosystems, the presence of sea turtles serves as a necessary link in the chain of life. As sea turtles migrate across vast distances, they accumulate nutrients within their bodies through the consumption of prey in various locations. When they return to nesting beaches to lay their eggs, they transfer these nutrients from distant feeding grounds to coastal ecosystems, enriching the soil and supporting the growth of vegetation. This process, known as nutrient deposition, helps to maintain the productivity and resilience of coastal habitats in the Gulf.
Despite their ecological importance, sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico face numerous threats, including habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and incidental capture in fishing gear. By addressing these challenges through collaborative research, policy initiatives, and community engagement, we can ensure the continued survival of sea turtles and the preservation of their critical ecological functions in the Gulf of Mexico. From coastal restoration projects to sustainable fishing practices, every effort to protect sea turtles contributes to the health and resilience of marine ecosystems in this iconic region.
In conclusion, sea turtles are not only charismatic symbols of marine conservation but also indispensable components of Gulf of Mexico ecosystems. As mobile habitats for fish and other organisms and agents for nutrient transport amidst the ever-changing currents and tides, sea turtles help to shape the dynamics of marine life in these waters by fostering biodiversity and supporting the delicate balance of life in these waters. The significance of sea turtles extends far beyond their individual presence in the Gulf of Mexico. These ancient mariners are integral components of marine ecosystems around the world,
shaping the distribution and abundance of organisms and influencing the flow of energy and nutrients throughout the food web. From the sandy shores where they lay their eggs to the deep-sea currents they navigate on their migratory journeys; sea turtles leave an indelible mark on the marine environments they inhabit. By recognizing their importance and taking action to conserve them, we can ensure a future where sea turtles continue to roam the blue highways of the Gulf, safeguarding for generations to come.
The C.A.L. family of lures offer a wide variety of lure shapes for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. From small ponds to deep jigging ocean reefs, D.O.A.
C.A.L. 4” Shad Tail C.A.L. 3” Shad Tail
(Source: Canva generated photo).
KAYAK FISHING & SHARKS FROM THE SAND
BREEDING RAYS & THEIR MORTAL ENEMIES
These days, anglers all over the world can target, hook, fight and conquer many impressive species of fish. For over a century, people have been obsessed with conducting battles with aquatic beasts, using rods and reels as weapons. Some of the most famous and epic duels in angling history have been conducted in the deep waters of our seas.
The majestic black marlin of the Pacific and the behemoth bluefin tuna of the Atlantic, among other oceanic giants, have played memorable roles in some of these events. Our passion for the sport partly
springs from our awareness of the exploits of some of angling’s legendary figures. Zane Grey pursued the world’s largest gamefish for decades and essentially defined the term sport fishing. Ernest Hemingway’s imaginative mind created a world in which he encountered titanic opponents on the open ocean. More recently, here in Texas, a rejuvenated interest in land-based sharking has created a context for some truly noteworthy fishing battles.
Shark fishing is a way of life for many Texans, some of whom learned from earlier generations of sharkers in their families, others who are self-taught thrill seekers. Luckily, all of us who love to chase sharks in Texas can do so year-round. On any given day, sharks prowl the shallow waters fronting our long coastline. Our most common sharks, the blacktips and bulls, are mediumsized species that call our waters home throughout the year. Because the blacktips are so abundant here, Texas sometimes seems like the blacktip capitol of the world.
During the doldrums of summer, other more significant monsters make their way into the waters within reach of our beaches. They come in search of easy meals. The clear and calm waters often present mid-way through the year invite pregnant female southern and roughtail stingrays into our surf-zone, where they drop their pups. These giant rays remain inshore for a couple months; some become prey to their mortal enemies –massive, leathery-skinned, toothy predators.
Two primary shark species feed on southern and roughtail rays. The majestic tigers rank high among the
Ashley Meadows – first-ever hammerhead, just prior to release.
Oz releasing a big hammerhead. Every second is vital, and keeping these sharks in the deepest water possible during handling greatly increases their chances for survival.
oceanic world’s apex predators, taking rays, turtles, birds and most any other creatures they can reach. They attack at night, when the big, pregnant rays are most vulnerable. Because they find them so tasty, the flesh of stingrays is the best bait one can deploy when targeting tigers; the vast majority of my catches of these brutes have been made using some part of some type of ray for bait.
The fresh, bloody wings of most any ray make a great choice, and whole cownose rays attract bites from these striped critters like some kind of irresistible candy. Cownose rays inhabit all kinds of salty waters, appearing everywhere from shallow, grassy bays to nearshore and offshore locations. Unlike other stingrays, they gather in massive schools in the middle parts of the water column, rather than staying on or near the bottom. Their flesh is soft and oily, making them delectable to the tigers and other sharks that feed on rays.
Hammerheads also prey on breeding rays. Here in the Lone Star State, three different species of hammerheads swim in our coastal waters, including the great hammerhead, the undisputed king of all sharks targeted from Texas beaches. No shark tests anglers’ gear and mental capacities more thoroughly than huge hammers will. In terms of length, hammerheads are the largest sharks we can catch from the beach. Multiple specimens over 14 feet in length have been landed by Texas anglers, including my personal best, which stretched the tape to 14 feet 8 inches.
These impressive beasts display almost mythical levels of power and prowess. From the moment they pick up a bait, these agile creatures race off with seemingly unbridled speed, their wide heads helping them execute swift, sharp turns, confounding the efforts of anglers to control them. Eons of evolution have made these beasts into perfect fighting machines.
Just like tigers, mature hammers come into the Texas surf in summer looking for stingrays, their number one food source. It’s not uncommon to encounter a big hammer with several stingray barbs impaled in its jaws and snout. While the tigers prefer to use stealth to ambush rays under the cover of darkness, the hammers will attack them in broad daylight. Their physical design makes hammerheads a natural menace to all stingrays, allowing them to successfully kill such large prey during the day. Their improbably wide heads serve as their most effective tools, helping them chase rays down and pin them to the bottom, while they take massive bites of flesh. Depending on the size of the ray, a great hammerhead might devour it whole, or in several large chunks.
I run a variety of big baits when targeting great hammerheads. When using cownose rays, I either rig a half or whole ray on a Catch Sharks Viper 24/0 circle hook. When using a wing from a large southern or roughtail ray, I like to cut a giant strip and rig the 24/0 circle hook in one of its ends. Great hammers have the smallest mouths out of all our giant shark species, so when rigging baits for them, I try to keep everything as streamlined as possible. This helps ensure the shark finds the hook when it eats the bait.
No sensation in Texas sharking quite matches the feeling of a giant hammer picking up a bait and starting a fight. They rip line off the reel, which starts to scream, making the man in the strap feel helpless. This merciless fish defines the word combat in the angling world where man tests himself against monster. Colossal hammerheads stress tackle more than any other species, capable of spooling the largest reels we use. Turning their wide heads requires applying tremendous drag pressure. I’ve personally fought mega hammers for over 2 hours in some cases, but I’ve also been involved in short fights, when the brute on the other end of the line bolted right into shore. Either way a battle plays out, all hammers display incredible power and speed.
All anglers lucky enough to land a great hammerhead should act quickly when releasing it. One sad and notorious aspect of these great fish is their willingness to fight to the death, so it’s crucial to land them while they still have enough energy to allow them to recover. Smaller specimens survive pretty well after such fights, but great hammers measuring more than 10 feet prove difficult to revive and release after they’re wrestled into the shallows.
Every second matters. A release accomplished in a timely manner increases the odds in favor of the shark’s survival. Leaving the fish submerged in water and removing or cutting the hook out as fast as humanly possible are critical steps toward success. All anglers who succeed in catching and releasing great hammerheads measuring more than 12 feet will likely earn enough respect and admiration for the species to last a lifetime.
For the past decade Eric ‘Oz’ Ozolins has been promoting shark catch and release and assisting various shark research programs. Eric offers guided shark fishing on Padre Island National Seashore. Also renowned for extreme kayak big game fishing, Eric is the owner of Catch Sharks Tackle Company.
Christian Halterman assisting with release of epic 14-foot hammer.
JAKE HADDOCK MOSTLY SIGHT-FISHING
SOMETHING IN THE AIR
It’s always a very welcome feeling, stepping outside when the first breath of a dry north breeze hits the Texas coast. Even though the first cool front of the season won’t knock the temperature down very much, the significant drop in humidity is enough to make me giddy. It’s the feeling of knowing you’ve made it through another brutal Texas summer and some of the best days of the year are on the horizon.
The redfish also take notice when this change takes place. It’s at this time when the winds swap to a light north, usually dropping the tides to slightly below predicted levels. It’s just enough to give us a taste of schooling fall redfish action. Redfish aren’t the only ones that take notice, there will be other signs of a seasonal change as well. One of my favorites being flights of blue-winged teal cutting around
the marsh. They migrate down every September without fail and are a sure sign that fall is approaching. So, what does all this mean in regard to fishing? Well, in short, it means it’s a good time to go. Days are getting shorter; water temperatures are beginning to cool and there’s plenty of forage in shallow flats and marshes. Hungry fish won’t be far behind them. It’s a sight-fisherman’s favorite time of year. This is confirmed every year by the number of inquiries I get for trips in the fall season. August usually starts to get pretty quiet as the heat is typically quite brutal, but as soon as we get a couple of fronts the phone starts to ring. I’m not sure if that’s because people don’t want to be out on 100-degree days or they just know the fishing can be better when the water cools slightly. Either way, it works out. September is just a taste of fall
Author with a solid red on a beautiful fall morning, taken by sight-cast from shoreline in background.
Screen shot from San Luis Pass station; note the wind direction and actual versus predicted tide.
Keith surveys flooded grass that was recently dry land during Galveston tournament, patiently awaiting another target!
weather though, and more days than not the fish still beat to their summer drum. You must take your strategy day by day this time of year. For instance, a typical fall pattern for me would be fishing around marsh edges in secondary lakes looking for schooling reds, a strategy that usually works best with lower-than-normal tides. However, in September we’re still susceptible to tropical weather systems and tidal surges. During swollen tide conditions redfish can be displaced into areas that are typically sheet water or dry land. So, fishing your fall go-to spots will likely yield little success as the fish may have been scattered.
While participating in this year’s Galveston Classic Fly Fishing Tournament, a tropical storm had made its way into the gulf, swelling the tides by nearly 4 feet, a level I had never fished before. Scrapping all previous plans, we scrambled for water shallow enough for sightfishing. Finally, we found some sand outcroppings along Matagorda Island with clean water. I parked the boat and within a few minutes spotted a “backing” redfish and in we went. One good heave of the push pole and my Sabine skiff slid into the flooded spot. My client Keith and I probably boated 10 redfish in that one small area – the most gorgeous waters we had seen in two days. The fish weren’t big enough for us to win, although making the top ten felt like quite an accomplishment on such a crazy tide.
The moral of the story is you must follow the water to find the fish. Yes, September means we’re due for a front and lower water levels at some point, but we’re also due for a flood tide before month’s end. Staying alert to actual water levels versus predicted tides is a must if you consider yourself a sight-fisherman. The best way I have found to keep up with this data is with NOAA stations saved to my Smartphone. Go to tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov and click on your state and a map pops up. The pins colored yellow and red are typically the stations with a live reading. Then click on station home and a live graph should pop up. The red line on the graph is the actual water level in real time. The blue line being the predicted level. Our tides here in Texas are strongly influenced by wind. So, it’s critical to keep tabs on the actual water level as weather patterns are changing.
When the water level is running at normal levels my game plan
will include searching open grass flats. Obviously, this pertains mostly to the middle to lower part of the coast. Late summer transitioning to fall, I can typically locate large schools of horse mullet on deeper flats. Deeper meaning 2-4 ft range. What does this have to do with gamefish, you may ask? Well, redfish and trout will often be found lurking among or near these larger mullet and can be picked off with a well-placed cast.
Blind casting into these areas with a topwater plug may be more productive than waiting to cast to a single target, but not as much fun, in my opinion. Sometimes, the fish may be swimming with the large strings of mullet, and other times may be lying motionless beneath them. Moving the boat very slowly is highly recommended. First, it will give you more time to spot the fish, and second, the slower you move the fewer mullet you will spook, which in turn spooks the fish you’re trying to catch. Stop the boat at a distance before moving into an area you think may be holding fish. Look for large active mullet on the surface and then slide in to investigate.
hovering above
I’m looking forward to the fishing this fall more than ever. It has been a challenging year condition-wise, and I can’t wait for the consistency the fall season can bring. We have received copious amounts of rain of late, especially on the upper coast, and the marshes are already teeming with shrimp. While the long stints of rainy weather have been trying at times, I know we will be rewarded soon.
Jake Haddock grew up in the back bays of Port O’ Connor where he developed a great passion for saltwater fishing. In his younger years he was a youth writer for this publication. In present day he enjoys guiding light tackle and fly clients in Galveston and occasionally Port O’ Connor.
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HIGHLIGHTS
The Classic by Shallow Sport Boats
Ready to push the limits of fishing shallow? Look no further than the Classic! Available in 20 and 24-foot lengths, the sportier flush deck sits on our time-tested Quadrahedral Tunnel Hull and boasts unparalleled stability and efficiency. Sophisticated yet simple, this fishing machine has exceeded all safety expectations since its inception over 40 years ago. It has surpassed all the U.S. Coast Guard’s tip test studies and deemed one of the most stable boats they’ve ever tested. The Classic Line has stability like that of a floating dock and performance like a race car. Families love the flush deck for easy boating of fish and trips to the beach. If your goal is light weight, shallow draft, easy maintenance and large payload, this is your boat. www.ShallowSportBoats.com
Z-Man PrawnstarZ
A remarkable live shrimp clone, the Z-Man PrawnstarZ™ is exceptionally durable and perfectly balanced to maintain an authentic posture as the bait freefalls and sits on bottom. Designed for shallow sight-casting for redfish, drifting / freelining for seatrout, dragging bottom for flounder, or simply fishing under a popping cork. The PrawnstarZ leans on an optimized blend of its durable, buoyant ElaZtech body and precision-balanced weight structure to retain a natural, horizontal, shrimplike posture. For enticing underwater movement, the bait’s tail fan, antennae and swimming legs pulse, quiver and “crawl.” An internal glass rattle adds sound attraction. Twelve true-to-life color patterns authenticate the illusion. Armed with heavy-duty 2X strong 2/0 (3.5”) or 5/0 (5”) Mustad® UltraPoint hooks. Available in 3.5”, 3/8-ounce (2 per pack) and 5”, 1/2-ounce sizes, MSRP $8.99. ZmanFishing.com/blogs/news/a-prawnstarz-is-born
Abu Garcia
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Matagorda
Bink Grimes is a full-time fishing and hunting guide, freelance writer and photographer, and owner of Sunrise Lodge on Matagorda Bay.
Trout, teal, dove, redfish – what to do in September?
The first north breezes of September could slice overnight mercury readings by 5-10 degrees. Those cooler nighttime temps do wonders for coastal fishing, knocking water temperatures down at least a couple of degrees. It may not seem significant, but there is a big difference in 78° and 80° when it comes to coastal fishing. A couple of degrees of difference puts life in a stagnant fishery. But, then again, it could be just as hot or hotter than an August summer pattern. It is a wait and see game.
September’s higher tides encourage waders in East Bay to return to the shorelines for larger trout. Muddy bottoms on Brown Cedar Flats and Catch-All Basin are prime locales to toss a topwater for gator trout. These are also solid spots for reds as well.
With high tides expect redfish to fill the back lakes and grassy shorelines and readily eating small topwaters and weedless soft plastics. We often find large schools of redfish on the north shoreline.
Live shrimp, mullet and topwaters work well. Back bay areas like Oyster Lake, Crab Lake and Lake Austin hold healthy populations. Don’t be surprised to see birds working in the back lakes on calm days as shrimp begin to leave the marsh.
Wading the mid-bay reefs in East Bay produces throughout the year. With higher tides, the muddy bottoms around Brown Cedar Flats hold both trout and redfish for waders and drifters. The far east end of the bay gets really good this time of year.
Grass beds on the south shoreline of West Bay will continue to hold trout and redfish for anglers tossing topwaters and soft plastics.
Since tides most often are higher than normal, expect those fish to be tight to the shorelines.
Reefs along the north shoreline of West Bay hold trout, redfish and black drum on live shrimp. Shell Island, Twin Island and all the points along the north shoreline are littered with shell. Redfish have been known to school in large numbers in late September in these locales.
Teal season runs Sept. 14-29 and we will be ready to hunt every morning and fish the afternoons. Most of our mornings are done with plenty of time to get a bite to eat before hitting the bay before noon. If you are not a hunter, we will have boats available for a morning session.
A wetter than normal summer has our coastal marshes in great shape. To date, we have had close to 40 inches of rain in 2024. That helps balance the brine in our marshes and encourages growth of profuse amounts of aquatics that sustain our duck populations through the winter.
It also does wonders for the fall white shrimp crop that is growing and maturing in our marshes now. These shrimp will begin their exodus in Oct-Nov from the marsh to our bays and eventually to the Gulf. Wet years like 2024 normally produce excellent fall bird action compared to the past two falls when we were experiencing droughtlike conditions and bird action was fair at best.
Freshwater brings life to all things. The last quarter of 2024 should be the best of times for hunters and fishers in Texas. Please continue to practice sound conservation and release more than you take. Catch and release is cool.
Call or text Sunrise Lodge and Properties for hunting, fishing, lodging, vacations rentals or coastal and farm and ranch real estate opportunities.
Port O'Connor Seadrift
Captain Shellie Gray was born in Port Lavaca and has been guiding in the Seadrift/ Port O’Connor area full time for the past 22 years. Shellie specializes in wading for trout and redfish year round with artificial lures.
I get excited when September rolls around because I know that the fall weather I have been yearning for is right around the corner. This summer heat has been rough and I am ready for some cooler weather and all that it brings with it. While I am aware that we probably won’t feel a significant temperature difference any time soon, it is usually later in the month that we get our first official “cool” front. Will it change the fishing very much? The short answer is probably not.
We will still be in summer fishing patterns most of the month due to the water temps still hovering in the low to mid-80s. If and when that first cool front arrives, about the only thing that will change that might affect some of our favorite summertime locations will be the direction of the wind. As of late, I have been spending most of my days along the south shorelines of Espiritu Santo and San Antonio Bay.
If you have never ventured farther south than Cedar Lake; all I can say is you are missing out. This entire shoreline has firm, sand bottom and abundant guts that run parallel to the shoreline. However, don’t look to fish the drop-off along this shoreline. The bottom tapers very gradually and the drop-off lies a considerable distance from shore.
While I love the many parallel guts and grass beds found in them, it is the “wash outs” created by Hurricane Harvey that make this shoreline so attractive. What began as narrow breaches in the shoreline between the bay and nearby backwaters have grown to become more numerous and deeper over the years. Some of these may be only a few feet deep while several others are 5 to 6 feet. Think of them as highways for fish traveling in and out of the backwater flats.
fish are using the deeper sides of the reefs to keep cool while ambushing bait that uses the shallower crowns of the oyster beds as protection.
Most days when I am fishing the reefs in San Antonio Bay, the best bites happen closer to the bottom than near the surface. The Bass Assassin 3.5-inch Lit’l P&V rigged on 1/8-ounce jigheads has become my go-to lure of late. This is a scent-infused twitchbait with a very erratic action that seems to trigger reaction strikes, even in the heat of the day. I have confidence in two colors, usually letting the fish tell me which one they prefer. Salt and Pepper Silver Phantom with chartreuse tail and Slammin’ Chicken seem to work best.
While the reefs hold plenty of speckled trout they are not known to hold strong numbers of redfish. Preferred habitats for slot-sized reds are grass beds, shoreline guts, and shallow flats. The west shoreline of San Antonio Bay along the Aransas Wildlife Refuge is an excellent area with plenty of grass beds and numerous guts that hold a healthy population of everything redfish love to eat, from mullet to small blue crabs, and grass shrimp. As of late I have been encountering many small schools of redfish but I look for these to combine into larger schools as they usually do in fall. It’s still very hot and so is the water in the bays. Unfortunately, there have been some recent cases of Vibrio along the Texas coast. Always keep your cuts and nicks cleaned with a good antiseptic cleanser like Hibiclens. I always keep this on my boat no matter the time of year. To be better prepared and avoid dangerous infections, I think it would be wise for all anglers to educate themselves on what to watch for and the early symptoms of Vibrio.
I like to start my wade about fifty yards from these openings, working my way towards the nearest point. These points are usually where the magic happens; trout and redfish alike stage near them for easy picks as various bait species swim through on the currents. Lately, we have also been catching a few flounder, which is always a nice bonus. Use caution if you decide to wade up into the back lakes though, many of them have extremely muddy bottoms which can make for a very difficult wade.
The reefs in San Antonio Bay continue to be excellent places to target. The water is in excellent shape and most of the oyster reefs seem to be thriving. Trout numbers have been very good with many slot-size fish being caught, with quite a few small ones in the mix, as we normally expect. Fishing the reefs with the steepest and deepest drop-offs has been most productive due to the elevated water temperatures. These
Fishing the points on both sides of washouts and sloughs can yield big rewards.
This flounder was a pleasant surprise for angler David Dittrich.
ESCAPE
YA RD WO RK
On Texas’ only tropical island, anglers can catch their limit from the jetties, in the bay or out in the Gulf. Scan and plan your escape today.
Upper Laguna/ Baffin
David Rowsey has 30 years in Baffin and Upper Laguna Madre; trophy trout with artificial lures is his specialty. David has a great passion for conservation and encourages catch and release of trophy fish.
I say it every year, and every year it means even more to me, but as fanatical as I am about speckled trout, I absolutely love September and the beginning of gun sports, dog work, and the company of friends I haven’t spent much time with in nearly a year. Besides the aroma of trout slicks as I run behind Tide Gauge Bar, assuring me that trout are feeding out front, the smell of burning gun powder on the first flight of doves every year is about as pleasurable to me as anything in my whole universe. We are so blessed to live in Texas, where so many outdoor opportunities exist. Let’s never forget that.
Thinking about this summer and how wonderful the trout action has been during this hot season; I cannot help but feel completely optimistic with the approach of the fall months.
Alberto’s storm surge delivered a much-needed influx of clean gulf water to our bay system. We really welcomed it due to brown tide blooms that had almost completely taken over and this was the flushing we needed to breathe life back into our waters.
Besides the great improvement in water clarity, the tidal surge also delivered a significant drop in bay water temperatures. Like a solid one-two punch, the combination has turned the trout bite into more of a catching situation versus just fishing. To say that we have been experiencing hundred fish days would be an understatement. Mind you, not all these fish are measuring fifteen inches or longer, but that is just fine by me. My excitement lies in what I see for the future. The number of 12- to 15-inchers right now is pretty staggering, and that bodes well for the future of our fishery. Being on the water daily, I’m witnessing a once great fishery on a solid rebound.
TPWD had to make some tough decisions regarding bag and slot limits this year; if the spotted seatrout fishery was ever to be able to sustain itself in the face of mounting sport fishing pressure, guides running multiple trips per day, and the ever-looming threat of freezes and other natural events.
Following the February ‘21 freeze, TPWD enacted an emergency three fish bag limit with a 17-23” slot. With the sunset of that measure came a short window of the old five fish bag limit coming back into play. After much scientific study, public testimony, surveys, etc., the long-overdue decision to permanently reduce bag and slot limits was enacted in March of 2024. Now, effective September 1, 2024, the final version of these regulations will become law – daily bag limit three fish, 15- to 20” retention slot, with the ability to retain one fish longer than 28” with a trophy tag, similar to what we’ve had for years with redfish. You will never be able to please all the people. There are lots of guides and old schoolers that disagree with just about every aspect of
the new laws, and I get it; not many of us like dealing with changes in our lives. But the truth is the fishery will benefit immensely from these decisions and that is what TPWD had to consider, given the number of people from all walks, utilizing and taking from the resource. It was a tough decision, no doubt, but one that had to be made and is applauded by roughly 80% of fishermen launching a boat or just walking in from the road to catch a trout.
If you are catching a lot of trout right now, they did not just magically appear. They are a direct result of tighter bag and slot limits following the ‘21 freeze. I am completely sold that the release of all those 20 to 28” prime spawners under the new regulations will have a profoundly positive effect on our fishery from this point forward.
In closing, a great migration of baitfish will begin this month and continue into October. This is not a time to be a “favorite spot” fisherman. Trout and reds will be in the line with their food supply. Spoil islands, tight bottlenecks created by bars and shorelines, deep grass lines and gulf passes are about to get real hot with action. Be on the move with the bait and willing to adapt from day to day. Trust your eyes before you get off of the boat. Small adjustments will be necessary to do more catching than fishing.
Remember the buffalo! -Capt David Rowsey
Open Camera and hover over QR Code. When link appears at top of screen tap to open in YouTube.
View The Video
Joe Celaya traveled up to Baffin from the Rio Grande Valley to catch his lifer trout that weighed 8.25 pounds on a hot summer morning. Alewife Bass Assassin for the win. Released to spread its superior genetics. Congrats, Joe!
Port Mansfield
Captain Wayne Davis has been fishing the Lower Laguna-Port Mansfield for over 20 years. He specializes in wade fishing with lures.
Telephone
210-287-3877
Email captwayne@kwigglers.com
WAYNE’S Mansfield Report
Greetings from Port Mansfield! It has been an exciting summer, and although it is still scorching out there, summer will soon begin fading away. This summer started off hot; if you recall bay water temperatures were already into the 90° range in June. There was a little relief back in late-July when we had quite a bit of rain and days filled with heavy cloud cover. This kept the water cooler than expected and, just as you might think, the fish responded accordingly. The lower water levels and light winds had redfish tails waving above the water’s surface as my anglers tossed tops and plastics at them. We had challenges, simply because during that period the reds loved thick grass and our lures did not. Precision casting was key and you either needed a 1/16-ounce jig or even a weedless set up. We could get some on top, but sight casting with plastics was the better option.
The winds and heat eventually returned, which helped us catch more fish because they were not as spooky. With the wind blowing, and slightly off-colored water, we could make longer casts and cover more water, thus producing more fish. Our redfish are still podding up quite well and I have even run across several schools on the flats. No doubt, the schooling redfish pattern will continue to unfold as fall approaches.
Our trout population is pretty darn good as we are catching a good spattering of all sizes, ranging from ten inches to some close to thirty. The big trout are not consistent in any one specific area, with one caveat, I have noted they are not concentrated in that shallow, calf-deep stuff I am used to. I have been venturing out into the thigh-deep where I find bait and that is also where we are finding the best trout. I also know guys that are drifting and others wading in 3- to 4-foot depths that are also catching solid fish. That deep stuff simply does not work for me like it used to, although if I am forced, I will go; but that is like Plan #7.
casting between the rows of grass, but that does not always work because of crosswinds or poorly aimed casts.
What I have been noticing lately, and many of you probably have as well, are current lines. If you pay attention there is usually a strip of water within the range of your fishing area that may be clean. It happened to me this morning. We were struggling to work through floating grass and I was reluctant to leave because we had active bait present, and were catching a few fish. I noticed about one hundred yards to my west a distinct current line and could see the current was moving the grass eastward. I gathered my anglers and repositioned just on the west side of the current line, which was one solid line of grass. Once settled in I noticed the water was a little cooler and slightly off-color. My first cast with a Mansfield Knocker tossed into that “grass free” zone produced a nice redfish. Now, this is not always the case, but it happens more often than we likely pay attention to. Keep this in mind whenever you are in a similar situation.
This month will springboard us into fall fishing and hopefully there will be a little less pressure on our bay. The opening of dove season usually provides some relief in this regard. All species of fish will inherently become more active, and the flats will be more consistent for the next few months. It will be a pretty simple approach as fall develops; topwaters will be my number one pick as I ease out of my SCB Recon to start my morning wade. I have also been field testing a Fishing Tackle Unlimited G2 prototype topwater-specific spinning rod. So far, all I can say is, Wow! Stay tuned…
If you have fished Mansfield recently you certainly have noticed a lot of floating grass, and yes, it is pretty bad this year. However, you can work around it with a couple of approaches. One, you can obviously throw a weedless set up, such as a KWigglers Willow Maker jighead paired with a Wig-A-Lo. This is probably the most versatile set up regardless of floating or suspended grass. Next, you can consider
Stay safe out there and remember, fresh is better than frozen. View The Video
Jim Simpson, retired San Antonio police officer with nice firstever snook – tagged for Harte Research Institute and released!
John Mills, another retired San Antonio police officer, with a dandy summertime trout – also tagged for Harte Research Institute and released!
Science Sea and the TM
Bulkhead & Seawall Repair
The
New Species Galore!
With thousands of species of the world’s organisms yet to be discovered, it’s not unusual for scientists to discover several new ones on a lengthy oceanic expedition. But it’s far less common for a single expedition to discover more than 100 new species, as one group estimates it did earlier this year while exploring seamounts along the west coast of South America.
Many new species, such as this squat lobster, were documented during recent explorations of seamounts off the coast of Peru and Chile. Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute, CC BY-NC-SA
An expedition from the Schmidt Ocean Institute investigated the Nazca and Salas y Gómez Ridges in January. These are two underwater mountain ranges that stretch over 1,800 miles from the coasts of Peru and Chile out into the southeastern Pacific Ocean to Easter Island. The scientists used an underwater robot that could descend to 2.8 miles below the sea surface to collect data from ten of the seamounts. Each of those seamounts was home to its own unique ecosystem, consisting of dozens of species never before identified. The new species included various deep-sea corals, glass sponges, sea urchins, squat lobsters, amphipods, and more.
The team set out a second time in February on a 40-day expedition along the Salas y Gómez Ridge. This time they identified at least 50 more species they believe to be new to science, and they found another 160 species that hadn’t previously been documented in that area before. They also discovered the deepest ever-recorded animal in the world to rely on the sun for energy, a wrinkle coral called Leptoseris It will take several years to catalogue all the species and get a precise count of the new ones.
Arroyo Colorado to Port Isabel
A Brownsville-area native, Capt. Ernest Cisneros fishes the Lower Laguna Madre from Port Mansfield to Port Isabel.
Ernest specializes in wading and poled skiff adventures for snook, trout, and redfish.
Cell 956-266-6454
Website www.tightlinescharters.com
SOUTH PADRE Fishing Scene
Humans can travel anywhere in the world. Some places we choose are far away, and some are close to home. It’s no different for fish, except humans do it for business or pleasure; fish do it for survival. As hot as it’s been, we are still seeing fish up in the shallows, but only in early morning. As the sun gets high, the fish retreat to deeper water. But the following day, they’re right back where they were the morning before. To me, this confirms that their movements are based on survival; feeding shallow and then passing the hottest part of the day in greater comfort and safety.
Consider the snook. Their quest for ideal wintering and spawning habitat can span thirty to forty miles or more, or maybe only a short trek of seven to eight miles. Fish movements are driven by seasonal needs; which include spawning, avoiding fishing pressure, tidal levels and movements, and environmental factors like water temperature, wind, and salinity. To succeed in your fishing endeavors, understanding movements and migration patterns will help you find them on all or most of your fishing trips. Remember though, just because you find them doesn’t mean you will catch them. That’s a different story but seeing them first will allow you to present something that may catch them. Where do the redfish, trout, and snook go in September? Let me share what I’ve experienced over the years.
September is traditionally our wettest month on the Lower Laguna, so water levels tend to be higher than usual, and salinity levels will drop because of the abundance of rain. Higher water levels will move redfish to back bays, shorelines, and recently inundated flats where they feed on tiny crabs, shrimp, and other crustaceans. You will notice that redfish will feed more actively for longer periods this month, a product of slightly reduced water temperatures, providing them more oxygen and energy than the 90plus water temps of August. With the added energy, redfish will undoubtedly be more willing to crush topwaters than in the hotter summer months.
The ZMan Kicker CrabZ mimics small, live crabs perfectly, and it tends to stay low in the water column, which you want when redfish are on the feed in shallow water. Their Salty Ned ShrimpZ is another proven bait; it’s a perfect size for imitating bay shrimp that reds are known to gorge on.
lots of slicks and I expect this will continue through the month of September. Trout were plentiful in the deeper waters of the ICW, given the elevated water temperatures throughout the summer months. I expect that with slightly cooler water this month we will see them beginning to venture to adjacent flats and holding there for longer periods.
There will be lots of small ones, and larger fish will tend to be skinny, but that will be changing soon as the waters cool and they feed more actively, adding weight. Topwater action will improve but there is still lots of floating grass; I recommend single hooks to combat that problem.
ZMan unveiled a new bait at ICAST recently called the Big Ballerz. I have been fooling redfish, trout, and snook for over a year with prototypes of this lure. It has excellent action and has been very effective on skittish trout that shy from other lures in shallow water. They are available in four and five-inch models in a range of colors. Rigging on a Texas Eye Finesse jighead is an excellent choice when targeting trout in heavy grass.
Snook fishing last year was the best in ten years, but so far this year the big ones have been eluding us. The big snook bite last September was unbelievable and I’m praying we will see it returning. Boat traffic and fishing pressure tend to be lighter in September and these shy monsters like solitude. Higher water levels and stronger tidal flows means more big snook on the prowl. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
I have reason to believe September is going to be a great month. Slight cooling of air and water temperatures, along with reduced boat traffic have traditionally provided excellent fishing. It’s also cast and blast season; another great way to enjoy the outdoors. Keep an eye on the weather!
Look to the sandy eastside flats of the Lower Laguna when the tides rise higher than normal. Redfish often travel to the sand to escape fishing pressure and usually fall back to deeper water once the sun gets high.
Our trout fishery continues to improve. We are currently seeing
View The Video Open Camera and hover over QR Code. When link appears at top of screen tap to open in YouTube.
Shane Schlemeyer fooled this nice Texas snook.
Steve Solis with a flounder that couldn’t resist the new Big Ballerz from ZMan.
FISHING REPORTS AND FORECASTS from Big Lake to Boca Chica
Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James Plaag Silver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242
James says the fishing in the Galveston Bay complex is overall better this year than last. “We’ve had a good topwater bite lately, fishing almost exclusively out of the boat. We’re catching good numbers of trout and getting 50 or 60 bites a day. Some of the fish are pretty big, not like the old days, but improving. The action has been best in lower parts of the bay, close to the ship channel. This is because we still have so much freshwater in Trinity Bay and Upper Galveston Bay, also East Bay. I was just in there today, looking around, and the water’s pretty dang fresh. This is likely to remain true through at least September, so people who have some knowledge about the structures close to the channel will have an advantage over those who don’t. We should also see a good run of fishing for bull reds along the beachfront in September. It’s spawning season for them. I will be fishing for silver kings, mostly. I’ve personally seen quite a few fish already, and I’ve gotten reports from others who’ve seen some too. Some Septembers are outstanding for those of us who love to catch tarpon.”
Jimmy West | Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054
Jim mentioned he’d had some good topwater action for trout in the surf when he fished on the days just prior to giving this report. “We had a really good run for a while, then the two-tide days kinda messed things up for a bit, but the bite is back on in the surf now. When we have fourtide days and calm winds this time of year, the water gets nice and clean on the beachfront, and the fishing gets easy. We’ve had lots of shrimp, sometimes big ones, in the surf, when conditions are right. And the trout are biting topwaters as usual. Moving into September, with so much freshwater in the bays, I expect the fishing to remain best in the surf and around the jetties. When this is true, fishing can be great, but not when strong winds, especially easterly winds, get going. I’ll be heading into the fields to hunt doves and teal by the time this magazine hits the shelves. Dove season might be hit or miss, with all the rain we’ve had. But I’ve got plenty of water in the fields where I hunt the teal. We should have lots of birds to work with.”
West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate Bays
Randall Groves | Groves Guide Service
979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323
Like many other experienced captains, Randall likes targeting redfish more than targeting trout as the calendar moves out of summer and into autumn. “Fishing for trout can be good this month, with the right conditions in play. If we get some calm weather, and the surf is pretty, we do well catching trout on topwaters and tails out there in September. Other than that, fishing for trout can be pretty unpredictable this month. Redfish save the day, though. They’re schooled up and aggressive this time of year. We often find them by searching for big schools of menhaden. When we find the reds chasing the shad, the action is often fast and furious on topwaters like pearl Skitter Walks, which can be worked fast and with lots of unpredictable movements. Sometimes, soft plastics like Norton Sand Eels in light colors like pearl/chartreuse work better. In either case, working the lures fast, with lots of starting and stopping gets the attention of the reds better than a slow, steady retrieve. If we continue to have lots of freshwater coming in from the
bayous, we’ll have stained water. When this is true, the orange and gold lures often work better than the white ones.”
Matagorda Bays | Capt. Glenn Ging
Glenn’s Guide Service - 979.479.1460 www.glennsguideservice.com
September brings us the last of the summer heat. It can be a somewhat tricky month for fishing the coast. We’d like for it to be fall, and we want to start fishing the fall patterns we all look forward to, but it still fishes much more like summer with the heat and high water temperatures. In September, I’ll spend a bunch of time drifting the shell in East Matagorda Bay with live shrimp under Coastal Corks and with soft plastics, which are always a good choice in the hot months. I’ll also target redfish in the back-lakes off the ICW and on the shallow, muddy flats and grassy shorelines in West Matagorda Bay. Live shrimp under popping corks is a great option for the reds, but soft plastic paddletails and topwaters work great at times too. Wading mid-bay reefs in East Bay is another excellent option. Over in West Bay, the wading action is usually better around the grass beds and sandbars close to the south shoreline. With any luck, the surf will give us a few more good opportunities in September. I like to work the beachfront with Bass Assassins and topwaters, but live bait works great too.
One of the wettest summers I can remember has us fishing in brackish water chasing redfish and drum lately. We’ve been focusing on finding the saltiest water we can over the shell and that seems to be the best bet in these adverse conditions. Fresh dead and peeled shrimp have worked much better than live shrimp in the muddy waters. We’ve been rigging the baits about a foot under popping corks for best results. Fall fishing should be fantastic with the bays getting a good flush. I look for redfish to be schooling on area shorelines soon, chasing hatches of grass shrimp and small shad. We always pay attention to egrets walking the shorelines to help us locate fish. Trout fishing should be good once the salinity rises in the bays and there are plenty of shrimp and shad for them to eat. Shorelines holding good shell and hard, sandy bottom under three to four feet of water should be optimal areas for the specks. Flounder fishing ought to be getting right as soon as we get better water in the bay too. We’ll target them around small drains and ditches on a falling tide with live shrimp or mud minnows.
Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith
Back Bay Guide Service - 361.935.6833
Lynn is likely to keep fishing patterns similar to the ones he’s fished all summer, once September arrives. “We still keep our eyes on the surf this month. If we get consistently calm weather, the fishing for trout is always best along the beachfront this time of year. In the bays, with a typical high tide and continued hot water, trout fishing can get pretty tough this month, especially for people who like to throw lures. If I can’t get in the surf, I like to fish places with shallow, sandy, grassy flats close to deep channels, where the water moves well, and where fish can escape the heat by going into the depths once the sun climbs high in the sky. This time of year, like all summer,
the fishing on lures is usually best in the morning, during the coolest hours, especially if an incoming tide is bringing in clean, cool water from the Gulf. We do have excellent action at times for redfish in some of the coves and back-lakes this time of year. It’s one of the best months of all to catch reds on topwaters. We do best on small ones worked pretty fast and with erratic action.”
Rockport | Blake Muirhead
Gator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894
Blake says the fishing in the Coastal Bend has been outstanding most of the summer, and he expects the action to remain steady in September. “We’ve have good fishing in the parts of the bays close to the passes connecting them to the Gulf lately. Topwater bite has been great at times. The trout have been biting best in the surf, and we’re catching plenty out there when conditions are right. The reds have been schooling already on flats close to both the Lydia Ann and La Quinta channels. We’re able to catch ‘em pretty easy on small chrome topwaters when we can see lots of nervous bait in the area. The bite is steadier on soft plastics with bright tails when we don’t see as much moving bait. As we head into September, the redfish bite should remain steady as the fish concentrate in areas close to the Aransas Channel. Of course, this time of year, I start thinking about hunting, too. I expect to be in the fields, looking for doves and teal come September. Like everyone else in the state, we’ve had lots of rain lately, so dove hunting might be unpredictable, but the water should create excellent teal hunting.”
Upper Laguna Madre - Baffin Bay - Land Cut
Robert Zapata | rz1528@grandecom.net - 361.563.1160
“In September, with lots of people headed out to hunt doves and teal, the boat traffic on the Upper Laguna Madre and in Baffin Bay usually thins out, making things pleasant for those of us who love to fish. With slightly cooler, longer nights, the water cools down more, and the trout and redfish show up reliably in the shallows for a while early in the mornings. This month is a great month to target both species in sandy potholes on the King Ranch Shoreline, and on grass beds and rocks sitting atop the sand bars and rock formations in Baffin. I like to throw She Dogs as the sun is coming up. On the best days, when winds are light, we catch lots of solid trout and reds on them. Catch 5s also work well this time of year. I prefer ones with some chartreuse on them. If the floating grass makes throwing topwaters and twitch baits too difficult, Bass Assassin soft plastics in natural colors work better. Once the air and water heat up, the action is usually better in the deeper potholes and around rocks in deeper water. Soft plastics work better than the other lures then.”
Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez - www.sightcast1.com - 361.877.1230
“In September, fishing for reds can be fantastic in the Corpus Christi area. By this time, we normally have plenty of schools moving into the waters not far south of the JFK Causeway, coming from areas farther to the south, headed toward the Gulf. These schools usually include lots of fish in the upper part of the slot and lots of oversized fish, up to about 35 inches. Locating them is easiest early on calm mornings. Boat traffic usually has them pushing wide wakes. Once we find them, we like to work upwind and ease toward them using the trolling motor, then make long casts with paddletails and spoons to target them. Lots of reds will also be caught in places like Shamrock Cove and East Flats this time of year too. The fishing over there is better when winds are blowing pretty hard out of the east and southeast. The water in those places remains clear and beautiful long after it’s a mess in most parts of the area. Another overlooked spot for reds and sometimes fast fishing for trout also is the Boat Hole area. The fishing can be great in there when the tide is moving.”
P.I.N.S. Fishing Forecast | Eric Ozolins
361.877.3583 - Oceanepics.com
Scattered patches of sargassum and sauerkraut weed continue to wash onto Texas beaches. Coming into September, large masses of dusky anchovy baitballs will begin making their way along the beaches. When they do, skipjacks, mackerel, tarpon, and sharks will all be attacking them. The speckled trout bite has been above average this year in the surf. Many have been caught on topwaters and soft plastics. Expect that bite to continue through October. With more and more species coming in to feast on the anchovies and migrating mullet, targeting the trout will become tougher. Late in September, jack crevalle will be moving along the beach in good numbers. Spoons and large topwaters work well to target them, and they also provide a chance at tarpon. September may perhaps be the peak time to target tarpon from the beach. They’re sometimes seen feeding in pods. When surface action is spotted, acting quickly and casting large lures into the fray sometimes draws strikes. Slot reds can be targeted with spoons or mullet. When the baitballs move in close to shore, the sharks will be moving closer and cruising throughout the day. Be careful and alert for both sharks and rays in the shallows.
Port Mansfield | Ruben Garza
Snookdudecharters.com - 832.385.1431
Getaway Adventures Lodge - 956.944.4000
Dove season is here and that means lots of Cast-N-Blast opportunities on the flats and fields near Port Mansfield. Those outings are really fun. Redfish will begin gathering in larger schools. Good places to start looking for them lie along the east side of East Cut. Lots of lures will get their attention; I prefer topwaters. It’s fun to watch them fight over the lures on the surface. South of East Cut, the Pipeline area holds plenty of reds. Farther north, they can be found from the Cut all the way to Butcher’s Island. The jetties is another popular area in early-fall; redfish, jack crevalle, Spanish and king mackerel, and occasionally tarpon are players there. Wire leaders are recommended for the toothier critters. Early-fall trout action is usually reliable in the Saucer area and in West Bay. Up north, I like the area from the Weather Station all the way up to Butchers Island, targeting the trout in potholes in thigh to waist-deep water. My go-to trout lure this time of year is the KWiggler’s Ball-tail Shad rigged on an eighth-ounce jighead. Favorite colors are Mansfield Margarita, bone diamond, coastal candy, and the old standby--plum-chartreuse.
Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port Isabel Aaron Cisneros | tightlinescharters.com - 956.639.1941
Both the water temperatures and the fishing action in the Lower Laguna Madre have been hot lately. With the fish feeling the high temperatures, most of them have been hanging around the deepest water in the area, which is, of course, the Intracoastal Waterway. We’ve been finding plenty of trout and redfish lurking on the drop-offs of the sand bars lying adjacent to the ditch. A key factor has been keeping the Z-Man StreakZ in redbone color close to the bottom. To do this, we’re rigging them on a quarterounce Trout Eye jighead most of the time. The heavier than normal head keeps the plastic down in the strike zone better than the lighter ones. Trout of all sizes have been schooling together because they all want the cooling effects of the relatively deep water. Redfish have begun schooling up around the passes leading into the Gulf, and in the deep water of the ICW, moving onto the shallows briefly, early and late in the day. Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ in redbone have been working well to draw strikes from the migrating herds. Rigging them on quarter-ounce heads facilitates longer casts and keeps the lures right down in the cooler water.
Dylan David Aransas Bay- 23” first keeper red!
Kinsley McGhee Galveston Bay - redfish
Luke Davis redfish
Larry Miller 27” 7 lb flounder
Perry & Kenneth Baumann Aransas Pass - 25.5” redfish
Doug Davis Port Mansfield - 24” trout
Elizabeth Beard POC - 6.24 lb trout
Katie O’Connor black drum
First come – first published! Photos are judged on artistic merit and sporting ethic displayed. No stringer, cleaning table, or hanging board images allowed. Digital images only. Adjust camera to high or best quality. All images become property of TSFMag. Email to: Photos@TSFMag.com Include short description of your catch with name, date, bay system, etc.
Photo
Ian Chavarria Port Mansfield- redfish
Bill Barwick West Matagorda Jetties - 40” red
Paul Cooper West Matagorda Jetties- bull jack
Richard Gonzales Port Arthur - 38” bull red
Sebastian Guerra North Packery Channel Jetty - 40” red
Nate Wilson Sayulita, Mexico- yellowfin tuna
Eric Lugo North Jetty- 37” North Jetty
Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share?
Email them to pam@tsfmag.com or send by fax: 361 792-4530
Gulf Coast
Stuffed Flounder
Thank you, Barbara Stumfoll of Bernie’s Boats in Victoria, TX for sharing this wonderful recipe with us! Believe me, this is the best I have ever prepared and served to my family! Barbara’s method of skinning the flounder goes like this: Remove the stomach and gills and rinse well. Use a fillet knife to loosen a small flap of skin near the head on both sides. Cover tightly in Saran wrap and place in the freezer on a baking sheet. When the flounder is frozen, remove and store in a vacuum bag for later use, or proceed straight to cooking. When ready to cook, remove from freezer and place in a pan of warm water for about five minutes. Strip all the skin from the flesh on both sides using pliers.
INGREDIENTS
1 medium to large flounder –about 18-20 inches
1/3 cup onions - chopped
1/3 cup green pepper - chopped
1 cup melted butter
1 ½ cup crab meat
salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup parsley – chopped
2 Tbsp lemon juice
dash hot sauce
PREPARATION
After skinning the flounder, use a fillet knife to slice lengthwise, down to the backbone, from head to tail. Next, with fillet knife canted at an angle, carefully work each side of the fillet away from the bones toward the fins, but leaving it attached along the edge. Repeat on bottom side.
Sauté onion and pepper in butter, cook until tender. Remove from heat, add crab meat, parsley, salt and pepper, lemon juice and hot sauce, mix well together.
Stuff flounder with mixture and brush flounder with butter, and then add some sauce to cover stuffing to prevent drying while baking.
Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, or until flesh is white and flaky.
SERVE
Plate stuffed flounder, ladling generously on top of fish with sauce mixture. Place any remaining sauce in a bowl, most folks enjoy adding extra to their serving.
Fish Stock and Sauce can be made a day ahead.
FISH STOCK SAUCE
2 cups fish trimmings
4 cups water
½ cup sliced carrots
1/3 cup sliced onions
1/3 cup celery
1 bay leaf
½ tsp dried parsley
¼ tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
Combine all ingredients in saucepan. Simmer for 30 minutes, reducing to about 3 cups. Strain and reserve liquid.
6 Tbsp butter
6 Tbsp flour
3 cups of fish stock
¼ tsp salt
1/8 tsp of pepper
1/3 cup chopped shrimp peeled and deveined
1/3 cup crab meat
Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat, add flour and whisk constantly until smooth.
Add 3 cups of fish stock gradually until fully combined and smooth. Cook until thickened.
Add shrimp and crab meat and simmer for 3 minutes.
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