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Best Paddling Trails in Texas

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Inside FISH & GAME www.FishGame.com Published by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. TEXAS FISH & GAME is the largest independent, family-owned outdoor publication in America. Owned by Ron & Stephanie Ward and Roy & Ardia Neves.

by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

ROY NEVES

Entering Our 35th Year

PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

OW. THIS MONTH MARKS OUR 34TH ANNIVERSARY, AND WITH THIS issue we begin Volume 35. They say the older you get, the faster time passes, and we cannot argue with that. When you think about it, the more days you wake up, and the more days you have to look back on, it makes sense that your perspective on those passing days would narrow. But, sheesh. It still doesn’t seem like that much time could have passed since we started this thing. Kids born the same year as TF&G will be eligible to run for president in the next election! In those 34 years, we have published—counting this one—382 issues. It took a lot of work from a lot of gifted people to make all those issues happen on a statewide scale. Looking back, our roster of contributors has read like an All-Star line-up of outdoor writers. And with the passage of so much time, too many of those names that appeared on our early mastheads now grace headstones. Russell Tinsley was a big reason TEXAS FISH & GAME got off the ground at all. Russ was the Outdoors Editor for the Austin American-Statesman at the time, but his name was known throughout the country from regular bylines in all the major national sporting magazines of the day, FIELD & STREAM, OUTDOOR LIFE, SPORTS AFIELD, even SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. When he joined our ranks as we prepared to launch FISH & GAME, he gave us instant credibility that helped build readership and get us across a lot of tall thresholds into the doors of major national advertisers. As Editor at Large, Russ wrote a monthly column and at least one feature article in every issue. Russ began to decline in the early 2000s, suffering from Parkinson’s disease. But he kept at it, contributing his exceptional writing almost until his death in 2004. Don Zaidle started working for the magazine in the mid 1990s as a freelance contributor. He steadily gained our respect as we heaped more and more assignments on him. Within a short time we added him to the permanent staff as Assistant Editor and ultimately handed him the reins as Editor in Chief in 2001. Don guided the magazine through challenging times, including the economic disasters of the late 2000s and the relentless onslaught of the internet/digital media monster. When he died in 2013, a gaping hole was left in the heart of our organization. Without the able hands of Chester Moore there to take a solid grip on the helm, the magazine would have certainly drifted into uncertain waters after Don’s loss. Bob Hood was another Texas legend of the outdoors we were lucky to recruit in our first months of publication. From his position as the Outdoors Editor for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Bob contributed features and Hotspot reports for a dozen or more years before assuming the role as our Hunting Editor. His passing in 2014 left another void that can never really be filled. Ray Sasser was never a staff writer for FISH & GAME, but in our early years we depended on his contributions on a regular basis for feature articles on both fishing and hunting topics. Another national name, Ray was the Outdoors Editor for the Dallas Morning News for decades. Ray passed away only recently, and our Freshwater Editor, Matt Williams, shares more on Ray’s work, his legacy and his recent passing in his column on page 18 of this issue. There were other members of our early staff line-up who are now deceased, among them Hal Swiggett, Byron Dalrymple, Gene Kirkley, and A.W. McGaughlin. As another anniversary passes, we’re thankful for the contributions of these departed pioneering talents, and for our current roster of contributors. Some, like Joe Doggett and Matt Williams, have also been with us from the start. But we are especially thankful for those who are really responsible for TF&G’s longevity: You, our readers and subscribers. You’re why we do this, and also why we’re still at it.

E-mail Roy at rneves@ﬁshgame.com and Ardia at aneves@ﬁshgame.com 2

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C O N T R I B U T O R S JOE DOGGETT DOUG PIKE TED NUGENT LOU MARULLO MATT WILLIAMS CALIXTO GONZALES LENNY RUDOW STEVE LAMASCUS DUSTIN ELLERMANN KENDAL HEMPHILL REAVIS WORTHAM TOM BEHRENS GREG BERLOCHER RAZOR DOBBS CAPT. MIKE HOLMES DUSTIN WARNCKE DEB COPELAND STAN SKINNER LISA MOORE

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SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR EDITOR AT LARGE HUNTING EDITOR FRESHWATER EDITOR SALTWATER EDITOR BOATING EDITOR FIREARMS EDITOR SHOOTING EDITOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR HUMOR EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR

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TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 247 Airtex Dr. Houston, TX 77090. ©Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Content is not to be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. The publication assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Subscription rates: 1 year $24.95; 2 years $42.95; 3 years $58.95. Address all subscription inquiries to Texas Fish & Game, 247 Airtex Dr. Houston, TX 77090. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for response. Give old and new address and enclose latest mailing address label when writing about your subscription. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TEXAS FISH & GAME, 247 Airtex Dr. Houston, TX 77090. Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 247 Airtex Dr. Houston, TX 77090. Email change of address to: subscriptions@fishgame.com. Email new orders to: subscriptions@fishgame.com. Email subscription questions to: subscriptions@fishgame.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX 77267-9946 and at additional mailing offices.

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Contents May 2018 | Vol. 35 • No. 1

14 20

COVER STORY

Texas has some spectacular options for getting away from it all.

by TF&G Staff

If it’s May, it’s time to join the CCA State of Texas Angler Rodeo, the biggest tournament on the coast.

THE KING OF TEXAS SNAKES

EXOTIC MYSTERIES A surprising number of nonnative species roam wild in Texas, and many can be hunted.

BEST PADDLING TRAILS IN TEXAS Four Hill Country trails t.

by TF&G Staff

by Chester Moore

The Texas black indigo is the undisputed champ of long snakes.

by Chester Moore

COLUMNS

Coveted by northern anglers, “Wallies” & “Smallies” can be found in Texas.

CAMPING IN THE WILD

TIME TO BE A S.T.A.R.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

8 10 12 18 19 27 28

TEXAS WALLEYE & SMALLMOUTH

by Chester Moore

story by Chester Moore photo by John N. Felsher

FEATURE ARTICLES

Editor’s Notes

by CHESTER MOORE

Doggett at Large

by JOE DOGGETT

Nugent in the Wild

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

Coastal Focus Columns

by Matt Williams

Texas Hotspots

News of the Nation + Texas HotShots

Sportsman’s Daybook

HIGH-TECH GAME WARDENS Using state-of-the art gear for game law enforcement.

Tides & Prime Fishing Times

by Ted Nugent

Texas Freshwater by MATT WILLIAMS

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Texas Saltwater

by CALIXTO GONZALES

Texas Guns

by STEVE LAMASCUS

by LARRY WEISHUHN

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Letters

by TFG Readers

Father’s Day Gift Guide

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Fish & Game Photos by TFG Readers

by TFG Staff

Texas Whitetails

DEPARTMENTS Outdoor Directory

T E X A S

Texas Tasted by Bryan Slaven

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LETTERS to the Editor Partially White Turkey Editor: In response to our article on white turkeys in the March issue reader Bob Noah sent in this game camera photo of a partially white jake at a feeder near Montague City. If you have any photos of white turkeys in Texas please email cmoore@fishgame.com.

Fishing Light Advice

Game camera photo of a partially white jake in Montague County.

MR. MOORE, I LOVE LISTENING TO your radio show on Friday nights. It means it is the weekend! My pier on the Colorado River in Matagorda County was washed away by Harvey and finally has been rebuilt. Now it is time for a fishing light. I plan to mount it on a one-inch pipe, because the pier doesn’t have any tall pilings; and if I put it on the bank, it would be too high and throw shadows into the water. Do you have any recommendations? Or, do you know of any studies about what works best? Right now, I am leaning toward a stage light can, with a 1,000 watt bulb. Last night, I went to the Houston Fishing Show and visited with a company. They have some LED lights that are more expensive. A while back, a vendor didn’t recommend an underwater light because, while I catch a lot of trout and redfish, it wouldn’t work as well in the brackish water. Several people tell me you don’t catch as many fish with underwater lights as you do with above water lights. Reading about fishing lights, I have learned a lot more than I thought I needed to know about lumens, candlepower, candelas, etc. And, still don’t understand it all. Writing this to you because I figure if anyone will know, it will be you. I can envision you scuba diving at night under various lights checking out which works best! Thanks!

Editor: It’s really a confusing issue because you would have to test all of them to have an idea. I think floating lights are probably the best in my opinion or lights positioned above the water. Seems to bring more fish, in my experience. Submerged lights can work great as well. It’s a thing of trial and error. One thing is for sure. You will bring in more fish with lights around your pier. It might just take some tinkering to figure out what works best.

What Scares You? DEAR CHESTER, ARE THERE ANY animals out there that you would be scared to interact with or that have scared you?

Donnie Mills Editor: I am not flat out afraid of any animal in terms of a phobia, except for rats. Not much on rats. Ha! Other than that I have great respect for many animals but there are a few that have and or would give me the creeps. Let’s take the Cape buffalo for example any animal that routinely beats down lions and charges vehicles, hunters and anything else it feels like is scary. They will actually lie in wait for the hunters who have shot them; and according to some professional guides, they

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have an uncanny ability to pick the shooter out of a group. I once had a run-in with a cape at a 40,000-acre game ranch in Central Texas. My wife and I were driving out of the ranch and spotted a herd of zebra feeding in a meadow, so I grabbed my camera and tried to sneak up for a closer shot. When I came up to a patch of cedar trees, I heard something moving through the brush toward me. I was hoping it would be a zebra so I could get a point blank shot, but as it turned out, the animal was a Cape buffalo! I had no idea they had any on the ranch, but I was looking at one at a distance of 10 feet and the car was about 75 yards away. I`m here to tell the story, so I obviously made it out safely, but the buffalo followed me toward the car and made me question my mortality. Scary, indeed! Ever heard the stories of the tiny catfish that can swim up a stream of urine into the bladder? Did you think that was a myth? Well, it`s at least partially true. There have been a number of documented cases of a tiny parasitic candiru fish entering both men and women through openings in the body. They can`t swim up a stream of urine but they can and do get into people`s bodies. The good news is they can`t survive long there. That is scary!

Email your comments to: editor@ﬁshgame.com

PHOTO COURTESY BOB NOAH

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EDITOR’S Notes by CHESTER MOORE :: TF&G Editor-in-Chief

How Bass Changed It All

bass,” I realized. From that day on, I made the connection between water quality and quality fisheries. It obviously wasn’t just me that had a similar epiphany. Just the catch-and-release ethic birthed by bass fishing alone has changed fisheries worldwide. “There is no doubt that live release of bass during tournaments has elevated the mindful conservation of fishery resources by anglers,” said Bassmaster Editor James Hall. “Before B.A.S.S. introduced the ‘Don’t Kill Your Catch’ concept in 1972, bass were filleted and donated to the local communities. “Once the mindset of catch and release became a part of the bass fishing culture, the management of the sport fish became a priority for both angler satisfaction and tourism industry,” Hall said. “Now, the same conservation ethic has been established with other species: walleye, redfish, etc. The angling public sees the benefit of returning fish to the water so they can be caught again.” Hall said working in the bass fishing industry has had a profound impact on his personal views of conservation. “Working closely with our conservation director, Gene Gilliland, as well as having relationships with fisheries biologists throughout the country, I have developed a keen interest in water quality issues,” Hall said. “I heard about the grass carp release at Lake Austin, which destroyed a killer largemouth fishery, and it makes me sick to my stomach. “The controversy between “Big Sugar” and the water quality issues they have created below Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades sets a dangerous precedent. And I see a lot of great things, as well, like B.A.S.S. Nation groups adding artificial structures to lakes to improve bass recruitment.” Pete Gluszek of The Bass University said their organization is focusing on environmental issues because they impact everyone. “It’s important that we utilize The Bass University platform to bring attention to issues related to the health and advancement of our fisheries,” Gluszek said. “There are all sorts of things from storm water runoff, pollution, watershed protection and habitat development, to name just a few that impact the resources that we depend on for great fishing.” That includes hiring Craig Durand as their environmental director. “I applaud Bass University’s vision and

HEY SEEMED A LITTLE OUT of my league. Pictures of famous professional anglers like Rick Clunn and Larry Nixon holding a beautiful, huge largemouth bass haunted my imagination. I thought the anglers I read about in the magazines were cool, but those bass they held were at another level. Those fish blew my mind. At this point, my freshwater fishing was limited to a gully down the road from my house. Other kids in the neighborhood and I had amazing times there catching garfish, grinnel and bullheads. That’s all we caught though. I brought down Creme plastic worms and Beetle Spins I bought at the local tackle shop but the only bites came from grinnel. None of us ever caught a single bass. One day while fishing that gully, the tide brought in purple water. And I mean solid purple. No fish bit that day. I found out that a local factory had been dumping plastic dye into the water along with other pollutants, and the oxygen levels in the system were very low. Most fish could not live there, and the bayou itself was named the most polluted in Texas. A few months later I ventured down a couple of miles from the house on my bike and came across a rice canal that pumped clean water from the Sabine River into local fields. When I crossed over the levee and saw the water, I was stunned. This water was clear like the footage I saw when TV pros Jimmy Houston or Bill Dance fished Florida. Swimming slowly along the shoreline was a largemouth bass. It was a four- or five-pounder. It looked like Moby Dick to me. As I pondered the amazing sight, something clicked. This water wasn’t dingy. It certainly wasn’t purple. It was clear. There was lots of vegetation growing, and it had bass. “There must be something to clean water and 8

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commitment to protect and improve the health of our lakes and rivers,” Durand said. “We all live downstream, we all cherish our waters, and I look forward to supporting Bass University’s mission to improve our fisheries through education and community involvement.” It’s a vision that virtually everyone in the bass fishing world has embraced, whether they realize it or not, and it has had a huge ripple effect. I got reconnected with my personal “green” revelation a couple of years back. I was asked to dive a private lake that had been fished only by family and inspect some of the deeper holes away from the shore. When I approached a huge log, something moved out of the murk on the bottom into the clear water above.

www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GannXghjIh8?ecver=2]

It was a 10-pound class bass you can see in the clip above. When I locked eyes with it, I was immediately transported back to that rice canal 30 years ago. For some reason it looked like the exact same shade of green as the one that impacted me so profoundly. After I shot a quick video, the bass disappeared. That encounter reinforced the importance of letting such a fish grow to maturity. It also reminded me that without clean water and healthy habitat no fishery whether in a private lake or in the Gulf of Mexico can be sustained. I have worked with numerous fisheries conservation projects, most notably southern flounder, but it all goes back to my first “green” encounter in a rice canal in West Orange, Texas. With the fishing industry focused more than ever on water quality and healthy fish bag and size limits, the future is bright. Maybe it would be more proper to say the future is bright green or better yet “bass green,” the true color of conservation.

Email Chester Moore at cmoore@ﬁshgame.com

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DOGGETT at Large by JOE DOGGETT :: TF&G Contributing Editor

Think Big, Rig Big to Catch Big

Unless you are fishing in the nearest swimming pool, a big largemouth is seldom far from the shadowed gloom of trouble. Surprise! Instead of a 10-pound black bass you now have a 100-pound brown log. This proximity to brush and weeds, more so than the size and power of the fish, enforces the use of a heavy rod, a strong line, and a big hook. The idea is to jack the fish away from trouble and keep it near the surface until you can put a net or a hand on it. As a rough guideline for a specialized bass outfit, a 7- or 7 1/2-foot medium-heavy rod is a no-nonsense ally. So, also, is a reel spooled with 20- or 25-pound mono (or 30- to 50-pound braid). Either way, you’re backed by stout line, so don’t give away cheap yards with a light drag setting. Twist that sucker tighter than normal, but don’t get carried away. The typical drill is to grab the line about a foot from the spool and pull, but remember that it requires more force to turn the drag off the rod tip. The star drag on a casting reel (especially an older or poorly maintained one) can be slow to start. Even a heavy line can snap on an aggressive hook set if the drag won’t release promptly and smoothly—trust me from soul-deadening experience. Without question, the high-percentage lure for really big bass is a large bottom bumper of some sort—a Texas-rigged plastic or a jig/tail combo. The potbellied sows tend to grump around near bottom, and they favor a real mouthful that’s easy to glom. I’ve caught several double-digit bass and a fair number of eight- and nine-pounders. Most struck big plastics. Incidentally, the largest (released without being weighed) was a thin fish, but it measured almost 27 inches. The second choice might be a large spinnerbait that can be slow-rolled and fluttered near the bottom. As a big plus, these lures sport large single hooks with wide gaps, ideal for slamming into a thick, rubbery maw and remaining faithful through whatever mayhem might occur. Also, the single hook is less apt than dangling trebles to snag in heavy cover.

HE LARGEST BASS I HAVE seen hooked probably weighed 15 pounds—maybe 16 if it took a deep breath. I believe that to be an honest estimate because I was a neutral observer. My companion sharing the small skiff stuck the monstrous largemouth. We were on Cuba’s Treasure Lake, the clear-water swamp lake that launched the big bass frenzy in that country back in 1976. My friend was casting a five-inch “thin minnow” plug along the edge of a thick weed mat. The balsa floating/diving design can be a killer for average bass, but the small trebles lack authority in a heavyweight bout. The fish surged from nowhere and snatched the lure about 15 or 20 feet from the boat. The fish turned just under the surface, heaving a thick boil, and we both got a serious eyeful of the broadside of green and gold in the dark water. The bass bore back into the rim of moss. The lure snagged, the fish twisted, and the small hooks opened—game over. That long-ago encounter remains a vivid reminder of a simple truth: The best way to catch a big bass is to rig for a big bass. The old adage about not toting a knife to a gunfight is worth thinking about when the water suggests that a career fish might be at stake. Frankly, as measured on the global scale, the largemouth bass is not a particularly tough or long-winded fish, but if given any glimmer of opportunity, it will cheat. In this commitment to chicanery, it is the soul mate of the mangrove snook. In other words, it will dive for thick tangles of cover rather than race across open water. 10

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Typical crankbaits and lipless swimming baits are very effective on, well, bass—but not what you really want on a career fish. The trebles on a 1/4- to 1/2-ounce lure usually are too small, and the suitable line (10- to 15-pound mono) is too light. Large topwater lures with strong hooks can work. Traditionally, they are best for huge bass on natural lakes with edges of grass and reeds (or on a shallow private pond known to hold jumbo bass). Based on documented returns, most of the double-digit bass from the man-made reservoirs in Texas are hooked from the “big bass belt” of, say, eight- to 15-foot water—maybe 20 feet. This is not prime topwater territory. On the plus side for the determined topwater chunker, the fight starts up away from the treacherous bottom. Although heavy bass are not noted for high-flying leaps, one might emerge in a gill-shaking, mouth-gaping wallow. You really don’t want to see this, especially if the hook is pinned to the membrane on the edge of the upper lip. A good tactic as the line angles up is to thrust the rod tip into the water and pull down and back, rolling the fish over. At least the fish is near the surface, so try to keep it there. The boater positioned in deep, open water can tire a big bass with a bit of give and take once the fish is off the bottom. However, if you’re a brush- buster amid thick stuff, you’re well-advised to horse hard and hope everything holds. To reiterate, this is a specialized outfit not intended for general use. However, serious bass anglers are noted for toting several rods to cover various circumstances. Keep the rhino-chaser rig close, and when conditions look really “fishy” stow the light tackle and take a few shots for the bass above all others.

« Email Joe Doggett at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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NUGENT in the Wild by TED NUGENT :: TF&G Editor-at-Large

I Just Wanna Go Huntin’

a life of its own way back around 1989, long, long ago! I don’t really write songs, I simply channel the music from deep within, stream of consciousness, unbridled torrent of spirituality if you will, much like a perfect, 2nd nature mystical flight of the arrow when everything is perfecto. Sitting around one of my gazillion campfires of yore with an acoustic guitar within easy reach, the earthly dynamics of a gung-ho hunting lifestyle will unleash and manifest with a life of their own if one’s soul has been adequately and fully cleansed by the Great Spirit of the Wild! Of course a steady diet of hard earned backstraps is the clincher! I think that particular song came to life around a very special Michigan swamp campfire on a day where my good hunting BloodBrother, baseball legend and die-hard bowhunter Kirk Gibson and I worked with the Detroit Police Department to bus a bunch of inner MotorCity kids out to my farm for a soul cleansing day of tree planting, archery, BB gun competition, nature adventure, wildlife identification, fishing and campfire fun. These kids had never been fishing before much less ventured beyond the concrete jungle pavement. I was born and raised in Detroit myself, but lucky, lucky me, my dad was a bowhunter and he taught me the ways of the wild. Even right there in the Detroit city limits, I had endless wild grounds along the mighty River Rouge to explore and stalk critters with my trusty little bow and arrow, homemade slingshot and Daisy Red Ryder BB gun. Without that important parental direction and critical discipline, we can clearly see where America’s youth went bad. These city kids were extremely resistant to our outdoor guidance and activities at first, but once they shot that first arrow, felt the tug of a fishing line, and roasted marshmallows over an open fire that they helped create, the transition was undeniable, powerful and effervescent. That life changing moment had a lot to do with the creation of our Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids 501C3 non-profit charity, and in 29

WAS ALWAYS DIFFERENT, nobody understood. I didn’t play follow the leader, cuz I was always in the woods. They hadn’t invented peer pressure yet, seems I stood alone. But My daddy had a vision; love, family and a home. Punks used to laugh at me, said how can you rock and not get high? But I just stood my ground and I watched those punks fall and die! Cuz I just wanna go huntin. It makes me feel so good. I just wanna go huntin, try to find me in the woods! Things get a little crazy, in this day and age. The concrete jungle warfare got everybody in a rage. I sure like rock and danger, and I love my rock-n-roll. When I get my limit, I know just where to go.I jump into four-wheel drive, load up the dogs and the family. I’m gonna feel alive, with the wildlife where I can breathe! And I just wanna go huntin. Makes me feel so good. I just wanna go huntin, try to find me in the woods.I’m slippin away, lookin for a new sunrise. I’m feelin ok, times like this makes me healthy and wise!I just wanna go huntin. Makes me feel so good. I just wanna go huntin, try to find me in the woods. God told me in the bible, He said “Go ahead and whackem Ted!” So I take my kids huntin, so I don’t have to hunt for my kids! I just wanna go huntin, it makes that feeling last.And if you don’t like my huntin, then you can kiss my ….! I’m slippin away, I’m feelin OK. Feelin better everyday. I gotta get away. Headin for a brand new day. Far, far away………..” Now that’s a love song! That little ditty came blazing out of me with 12

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years we have witnessed the life changing glow of more than 16,000 kids from across America come to cherish the Spirit of the Wild. Some of the parents of our recent Kampers were some of the first youngsters we hosted way back then. Amazing ain’t it! Just the other day, I again took my guitar to a nearby High School and did a presentation of hunting music and speech to a hundred or so young Americans that had the same impact it had 30 years ago. Music is surely the ultimate universal communication, and even though music styles and genres come and go and have changed dramatically over the years (and NOT for the better I might add!) young people can feel genuine passion and emotion in soulful music delivered with spirit and attitude. And when that music delivers a message like my “I Just Wanna Go Huntin’,” “My Bow & Arrow” and “Fred Bear” and others, the sparkles in the eyes and smiles on the faces tell you everything you need to know. As our dedicated army of volunteers gear up for another wonderful year of saving lives with our Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids charity in IA, NE, SD & CO, give it some though as to how you might be able to impact and connect with kids in your area with a positive, passionate, FUN message about the joys and sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that our hands-on hunting lifestyle can provide for anyone and everyone who gets into it. In this day and age of heartbreaking disconnect, soul wrecking political correctness and runaway fake news, those of us who know better have a duty to reach out and make a difference. With but a modicum of effort, we can sucker punch the lies of the nature haters and turn kids around onto a True North compassing setting. I don’t know about you, but I just wanna go huntin! It’s only rock-n-roll but I like it!

« Email Ted Nugent at tnugent@ﬁshgame.com

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ARGEMOUTH bass, channel catfish and crappie dominate freshwater fishing in Texas. Those are by far the most popular and abundant species on reservoirs, streams, creeks and rivers across the state but there is more. Did you know that Texas has good quality smallmouth bass and walleye fishing in numerous water bodies? Here is an in-depth look at both species in Texas and where you can catch them.

Smallmouth Bass Viable fisheries exist at Texoma, Amistad, Whitney, Canyon, Belton, Grapevine, the Devilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s River, Meredith, Stillhouse Hollow and portions of the Guadalupe River. 14

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Smallmouth bass stocking has been a part of Texas ﬁsheries management for decades, but it has slowed down some. In 2017 there were only 39,643 and they were all stocked in Meredith. There were none stocked in 2016 but 2015 saw 54,573 ﬁngerlings stocked at Lake Belton.

Compare this to 128,061 stocked in 1995 among Belton, Cisco, Georgetown and Whitney, and you can see overall stocking has declined greatly.

Much of the fishery suffered with golden alga blooms. Looking at the top 10 smallmouths in Texas you will see all of them were caught in the 1990s with Lake Whitney at that point, being the strongest fishery by far. Now anglers are reporting great catches on Texoma, Stillhouse Hollow and Canyon. Although it’s not clear whether Texas will see a smallmouth renaissance, there is no question the fishery seems to be on an upswing.

Walleye According to Texas Park & Wildlife Department officials, high summer water temperatures restrict walleye growth and

survival in much of Texas. “However, in the north Texas lakes, such as Lake Meredith, the species does very well,” TWPD said. “Six-to-eight pound specimens are common at times. The state record comes from Lake Meredith and stands at 11.88 pounds. Walleye is considered an excellent food fish from Texas to the northern states.” Walleye are present in Wheeler Branch,

Walleye stocking is on the increase in Texas. In 2017 5,105,992 fry were stocked in Greenbelt, Meredith and Wheeler Branch Reservoirs. In 2016 3,244,428 walleye were stocked in Fryer, Meredith and Wheeler Branch Reservoir. Another 1,331,375 were stocked in Palo Duro Reservoir, Theo at Caprock Canyon, Wheeler Branch and White Reservoir in 2015.

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Smallmouth bass are more widely distributed in Texas than most would suspect.

O.C. Fisher, Moss Creek, White River, Meredith, Mackenzie, Buffalo and Palo Duro Reservoir.

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Texas anglers do not have to travel great distances to catch the great northern fish they have read about in national fishing

publications. They can do it right here, and in some cases do it quite bigâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Texas style.

ÂŤ

4/10/18 4:17 PM

Texas FRESHWATER by MATT WILLIAMS :: TF&G Freshwater Editor

R.I.P. Ray Sasser

EXAS SPORTSMEN LOST A powerful and colorful friend on February 21 when veteran Dallas Morning News outdoor writer Ray Sasser passed away after a multi-year battle with lymphoma. He was 69. Well known as “Sasser” among his friends and colleagues, Ray was a masterful storyteller. He could string words together in a vivid, meaningful way like no other. He also had a nose for news, didn’t mind asking the hard questions and had the tenacity of a pit bulldog when it came to chewing through the fat to get to the truth. He was pretty darned handy with a camera, too. I always admired the guy, and so did a lot of others. It was not just because he was top-shelf journalist who loved his work and handled his influential post responsibly. Sasser was a straight shooter who didn’t mind voicing his opinion even if he wasn’t asked for it. He always looked out for sportsmen and saw his job as more of a privilege than anything else. If he was wrong, he wasn’t too proud to admit it. Hunting and fishing weren’t weekend hobbies or pastimes around Sasser’s household. They were his lifeblood, passions he shared afield with hundreds of partners from youths to blue-collar workers to billionaires. Through it all, his wife, Emilie, was his favorite partner of all. She joined him in all sorts of hook and bullet adventures during their 48 years of marriage. “Ray Sasser was the most wonderful man on the planet,” she told the DMN. “And nobody had a passion for the outdoors like him. He just loved it.” What many may not know about Sasser is that his big city career was actually rooted to deep East Texas. He grew up in the rural community of Pineland in the 1950s and 60s. It was a time when squirrel camps ruled, and it was somewhat of a shock to run across a white-tailed deer in the woods of Sabine County. “It stunned you when you did see one. It was 18

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almost like you’d seen Bigfoot or something,” Sasser said. “There probably weren’t 200 deer in the entire county at that time, and those were laying low for fear that somebody was fixing to fry them up.” After graduating high school, Sasser attended Stephen F. Austin State University. He worked at the Lufkin Daily News before moving to Port Arthur where he wrote full-time about the outdoors for the local newspaper. He later joined The Dallas Times Herald. In 1986, he started full-time at the DMN, where his Thursday/Sunday columns were destination reading for thousands for 29 years. When a retirement buy out took place in 2015, he continued writing part-time for the newspaper until Jan. 2018. His last column appeared on Jan. 21. Additionally, Sasser authored hundreds of magazine articles and nearly a dozen books that are just as informational as they are enjoyable to read. Sasser commanded strong respect within the outdoor industry across Texas and beyond. This became readily apparent as word of his death spread among friends, peers and acquaintances via social media and e-mail. Dr. James Kroll, professor emeritus for Forest Wildlife Management and Director of the Institute for White-tailed Deer Management and Research at SFA made a Facebook post holding Sasser personally responsible for his “Dr. Deer” nickname. “We had so many fine days afield, and I shall miss him!” Kroll wrote. “He was a scholar and a wordsmith.

He once wrote an article about a bird hunt we had that opened with this phrase: “The German shorthair was locked tighter than the lug nuts on a junkyard Chevrolet!” The world will never again enjoy such prose.” Dr. Dale Rollins, executive director of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, told about a spectacular quail hunt he and Sasser shared on a Coke County ranch. Rollins’ dogs pointed 28 different coveys of bobwhites in 3 1/2 hours that day. Sasser jokingly gave the hunt a 198 on a Boone and Crockett scale. “Ray has been called the ‘Dean of Outdoor Editors’…and rightfully so,” Rollins said in his Facebook post. “He was also one of the few outdoor writers (in TX anyway) whose passion for quail and quail hunting was omni-evident. Rest in peace, Ray. We in the quail brotherhood will miss your insight and abilities to paint those vivid mental images. Thanks for being our champion to the masses.” Sasser’s love for the sprightly little game bird led to his being named the recipient of the 2009 Park Cities Quail T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award. Not surprisingly, the wealthy Texas oil tycoon for whom the award is named had nothing but good things to say about his quail-hunting buddy from Meridian. “Ray Sasser was not just one of the greatest outdoor writers in Texas, he was one of the most respected outdoor writers in the country,” Pickens said. Sasser’s contributions to the fishing world didn’t go unnoticed, either. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department inland fisheries director Craig Bonds called Sasser a “true icon of the Texas Outdoor industry.” In June 2016, Sasser was inducted to the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Athens. Sadly, he was in the hospital and couldn’t be present for the ceremony, but his wife and two children, Jenny and Zach, were there on his behalf. His daughter read his acceptance speech. TPWD put together a six-minute video about Sasser prior his HOF induction. It can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ujALABPmWwwe. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ujALABPmWwwe RIP, Sasser. Your eloquent style, words of wisdom and friendship will be dearly missed.

Ray Sasser

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PHOTO COURTESY RON GARD

4/10/18 3:32 PM

Texas SALTWATER by CALIXTO GONZALES :: TF&G Saltwater Editor

HAVE BEEN A HUGE DEVOTEE OF jointed plugs (or broken-back, if you prefer) since I was a teenager, over grumble-grumble-grumble years ago. If you look in one of my myriad tackleboxes, you will find broken backs of all stripes. Jointed Redfins, Rapalas, Jointed Corkies, Mirrolure Snakedancers (I almost never use those; not because they don’t work for me, but because they have been extinct for over a decade), Bomber Long A’s, and a few models that I don’t even remember their names. I’ve caught countless fish of several different species on these jointed wonders. Trout, redfish, bass, snook, mangrove snapper, skipjack. I have a broken back Long A in Rainbow Trout that I’ve taken out of service because I caught my first and only tarpon, a 40 pounder, on it while making casts around the Brazos Santiago Jetties. I have it in its own box, right next to the box that holds the Snake Dancer that produced a flounder along South Beach’s mangroves. I love broken back plugs. Love, love, LOVE them. Call them what you will: jointed plugs, broken back minnows, segmented lures—Herman The Wonder Plug. There is no disputing the effectiveness of jointed lures such as the Jointed Red Fin, the Bomber Jointed Long A, or the Sebile Magic Swimmer. Segmented lures have been real fish catchers for decades. Through the 1980s, the ultimate big-trout killer up and down the coast, especially in Baffin Bay was the Red Fin in Pink back, silver sides, yellow belly, and the classic Texas Chicken. The redheaded jointed Long A ran a close second, and some anglers swore by the venerable Rapala (although until recently, you had to replace the wire hooks with stouter stuff). Broken backs were the king of wall hanger lures. Over time, the Spook-style top waters, and then the Corky, took over the spot that belonged to the jointed plug, and rightfully so. Both catch

“ Ironically, the jointed plug is still among the easiest lures to use.

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Liven up the Joint

A Red Fin is my go-to bait near docks and channel points in the Ship Channel, and I’ve often let one trail behind my boat during long drifts. They rarely fail to produce. On the occasions they DO fail, so has everything else I’ve used. The different applications speak to jointed lures’ versatility. The industrial-sized Long A is still a popular trolling bait for kingfish and dolphins along weed lines and oil rigs. Some surf anglers fling them off the point of jetties and breakwaters form Bolivar to Brazos Santiago. When redfish are schooling in bays in late summer and early fall to feed just before migrating, sling a Texas Chicken in their midst and hang on. It may seem mysterious why the jointed plug has fallen from grace after so long a run on top. The easiest explanation is the growth in popularT E X A S

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ity of saltwater lure fishing over the past 20 years. More effective artificial baits are on the market than a single angler could ever use in a lifetime of fishing. There are new designs and colors, each being the next ultimate fish catcher. Ironically, the jointed plug is still among the easiest lures to use. Much like the spoon—another lure that has fallen in popularity over the years (even though I know of at least two Captains, the Neu brothers in Port Mansfield, who swear by them as redfish killers). You can literally fish one out of the box without having to learn a new retrieve. You can literally cast and wind all day, and the inherent action of the lure’s design gives you a good chance of success. From there, you can begin experimenting with retrieve styles, whether it’s a pull-pause, or a slow-and-steady, or a frenetic fleeing-baitfish retrieve. The only thing that limits you is your imagination. A perk of the growth in the saltwater lure industry is that jointed lures have also benefitted from the explosion. Alongside Cotton Cordell, Bomber, and Sebile, companies such as Reaction Strike, Strike King, Rapala, Smithwick and Brown Lures have their versions of segmented lures. Some are designed with multiple sections, which have a slithering action that fish love. Try the pull-pause retrieve with a Magic Swimmer and see what happens. Z-Man, Sebile, and other companies have soft plastic baits that mimic the action of jointed plugs—with the added perk of suppleness and a softer action. When predators want a more subtle presentation, these lures are murder. Every so often, I take a look at that old Long A that got me that tarpon. It’s scratched up, the hooks are misshapen from years of being straightened and re-bent, and I doubt the split rings could handle a pinfish, much less another tarpon. It stays in my tackle box, however. Call it a joint resolution from the past.

plenty of big fish, and not just trout. What wasn’t replaced was the former king’s effectiveness. I have become a die-hard swim bait fan over the years, especially the newest swimbaits from Live Target, which are just remarkable. However, I still throw the broken back more than a couple of times each season. When snooks are chasing mullet along the mangroves in South Bay, I break out the Long A and let fly. The combination of heft (most are ¾ ounce) and thin profile allow me to make long casts, and linesiders can’t abide the erratic wiggle of a well-retrieved plug. They absolutely crush it.

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4/10/18 3:48 PM

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ROWING UP ON THE TEXAS COAST, I LITERALLY KNEW NO ONE THAT ATE gafftopsail catfish. Even the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department data on the species said, “The fish is edible, but difficult to prepare and not usually eaten by local residents.” They were too slimy (more on that later). Then about the time I started college, people started taking notice of the species. I saw my neighbor, who was a fairly picky eater of fish, out in his driveway with his pressure washer. He was pressure washing the slime off the fish. Seriously. “They’re great as long as you get rid of this stuff,” he said. People started talking about where to catch gafftops and they were gaining a bit of respect. What caused the change? The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) STAR tournament did, and it did so in grand fashion. Adult anglers can win a boat by catching the biggest gafftop. More important—kids ages 6 to 10 could win a $50,000 college scholarship and teens ages 11 to 17 can win $25,000 for their catches. It can actually pay and pay big to catch gafftops. For those who do not know the species, gafftops have extra-long dorsal fins that look like a sail on a boat, hence the name gafftopsail. They also have long, stringy whiskers. The fish average 2.5 pounds, but can get as big as 15 pounds. For anyone who has never caught a gafftop, all of the talk about slime earlier in the story might seem unusual, but it is true. These fish have more slime on them than any other fish in the sea. The slime actually finds its way up your line as you fight these fish. Gafftops make hard, determined runs, rubbing against the line and depositing the telltale slime. The stuff then oozes along the line toward the spool like an alien visitor from a 1950s science fiction movie. These fish are so slimy, they

PHOTO: CANSTOCK

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Time to be a S.T.A.R. GAFFTOP GET TO SHINE IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN THE S.T.A.R.

tournament, but other species get a lot of attention too. The CCA State of Texas Angler Rodeo (S.T.A.R.) begins at sunrise on Saturday, May 26th, 2018 and ends at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 3rd, 2018. In both length and scope (the entire Texas coast) it is the largest fishing tournament anywhere. The first five tagged redfish weighed in & certified, win a 2018 Ford F150 “Texas Edition” XLT Super Cab connected to a Haynie 23 Bigfoot with a Mercury 150 L Pro XS Optimax and Coastline Trailer. The next five tagged redfish win a Haynie 23 Bigfoot with a Mercury 150 L Pro XS OptiMax and Coastline Trailer.

play havoc with coastal anglers looking for other species. Feeding game fish such as speckled trout and redfish create oil slicks on the water. A fresh slick is a sure sign of fish feeding activity unless gafftops are in the area. They often create oil slicks just by being there. A big school of gafftops can create a slick big

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Heaviest Trout in three divisions (Upper, Middle, Lower) win anglers a Mowdy 22’ boat, motor and trailer and the heaviest flounder, sheepshead and gafftop win Shoalwater boat, motor and trailer packages. Winners in the offshore division win Polaris Ranger Crew ATVs with Trailers. Kids 6-10 can win $50,000 college scholarships in three divisions (flounder, trout and gafftop) and teens 11-16 can win $25,000 scholarships in two divisions (heaviest trout and heaviest flounder, gafftop or sheepshead).

enough to make any angler worth his salt do a double take. Gafftops usually hang out around fish passes, jetties, and offshore oil platforms, although they can travel far beyond the reach of saltwater. Gafftops are like their freshwater cousins in that they are suckers for chum and will hit

« just about any kind of bait. They will even hit soft plastic shrimp imitations designed to catch game species. The best gafftop day I ever had was with my friend Bill Killian. We caught dozens up to 10 pounds, but unfortunately for us it was two weeks before the STAR tournament started.

4/13/18 2:32 PM

Most of the fish Killian and I caught that day fell for free-lined chunks of cut mullet in a chum slick we created by throwing out mashed up pieces of menhaden, shrimp, and squid. When we first arrived at the spot, we did not get a bite for a good 30 minutes, but once we put the chum out, the fish immediately responded. It does not take long to figure out this pattern. Rigging up for gafftop is easy. For jetty or offshore fishing, a simple free-line with a 10/0 circle hook connected to 17-pound test or better is usually more than adequate. When pursuing gafftops in bays, use a typical fish-finder rig with a 6/0 wide-gapped hook. Hardheads are a different story altogether. Few fish are more maligned and dreaded than the hardhead. Part of the reason is that hardhead fins contain a powerful toxin that causes severe pain and might even send a person to the hospital. Hardheads do not seek out people to stick, but when they’re removed from the hook, they often flop around and sometimes fin the angler. Hardheads and gafftops should not be mistaken for one another. Gafftops have

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redeeming value. I would argue hardheads very well might not. Despite the talk of pressure washing gafftops to eat, that may not be the best idea in certain areas of the state. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has issued an advisory recommending limited consumption of spotted seatrout (speckled trout) and all catfish species in Galveston Bay. This advisory includes the following minor bays associated with the Galveston Bay system: Trinity Bay, Upper and Lower Galveston Bay, East Bay, West Bay, Chocolate Bay and contiguous waters. The same goes for gafftops in Sabine Lake and contiguous Texas waters in Jefferson and Orange Counties. This is because of the presence of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). For gafftopsail catfish, adults should limit consumption to no more than three 8-ounce meals per month. Children under 12 and women who are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant should limit consumption to no more than one 4-ounce meal per month.

According to TPWD, PCBs may affect the immune system, reproductive organs, skin, stomach, thyroid, kidney, and liver and may increase the risk of cancer. The types of PCBs that tend to concentrate in fish and bind to sediments happen to be the most carcinogenic components of PCB mixtures. PCBs or not, those areas of the Upper Coast have the biggest gafftops in the state, and thousands of anglers will be hitting the water beginning Memorial Day to seek them out. I have much respect for CCA for their amazing work with fisheries habitat and hatcheries. They also represent anglers in legislatures around the nation. But now I have a new reason to respect them. They made slime, cool. They also made the gafftop matter in Texas. They did so by investing in the future of young Texans, ensuring they would be able to get a college education. They will have to get a little slimy to do so, but I don’t think they will mind.

4/10/18 4:16 PM

Sika deer, native to Asia, thrive all over Texas, many ranging free.

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4/10/18 4:13 PM

S I CRUISED DOWN HIGHWAY 12 between Mauriceville and Deweyville, my eyes were fixed on the woods as they always are while traveling areas such as this. Few things thrill me more than wildlife sightings, and this area is a great spot to see hogs, deer, coyotes and a host of other creatures. What I did not expect to see was a pair of sika deer bucks standing on the side of the road. Sika deer are a native of Asia. They are popular game on high fenced hunting ranches, but these were far from a high fence and standing on the side of the road, eating away. This was 24 years ago, and this was my first time encountering free-ranging exotics. I actually hunt the woods along that stretch of road now and have not seen any more exotics. Yet, 24 years ago someone’s sikas escaped. Exotics frequently escape high fenced hunting and breeding operations. This makes hunting or simply hiking in the woods interesting for Texans. Free-ranging exotics are considered legal game 365 days a year if you have the consent of the

landowner. It is always illegal to hunt animals in areas where you have no permission. However, if the managers of your deer lease give you permission to shoot exotics that cross onto the property, it is perfectly legal. Again, you must have permission, and it is best to have written permission. Many Texas hunters have reported taking freeranging axis deer on their Hill Country deer leases. My friends Rick Hyman and Nolan Haney both shot axis bucks recently on leases near Fredericksburg and Rocksprings, respectively. Axis deer are the most common Texas exotic. In some counties their populations number in the tens of thousands. Those include Kerr, Real, Edwards, Uvalde and Bandera. Aoudads from North Africa are also common beyond high fences, but they are rarely seen. Aoudads are super elusive and are more likely to show up on a game camera than in front of a hunter or photographer. Blackbuck antelope, fallow deer and the aforementioned sika deer round out the most common free-ranging exotics. Over the years we have published photos on these pages of red stags, Corsican sheep and other exotics taken by hunters. Now that we’ve gotten the unusual exotics out of the way, let’s talk about something really strange. There are snow monkeys (Japanese macaques) in South Texas.

A Surprising Number of Non-Native Species Roam Wild in Texas... and Many Can be Hunted Year-Round STORY BY CHESTER MOORE PHOTO: CANSTOCK

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According to the Austin Chronicle they had been brought to the South Texas Primate Observatory in 1972, in the first attempt at the relocation of an entire primate population. “The observatory’s ranch near Dilley, in Frio County, was much hotter than the macaques’ Japanese home, and at first many perished. But South Texas eventually provided the conditions the monkeys needed to thrive—a wild setting, water tanks, plenty of mesquite beans, cactus fruits, and lots of tall brush to climb around in. Things went very well—at least for the first couple of decades.” A number of these monkeys formed a wild population that still exists in some numbers to this very day. We have received several reports of hunters over the last few years who have run into them. In fact, one oilfield worker reported walking back to his truck after a day of work and seeing one sitting on the hood of his truck. The nilgai is a truly strange-looking creature that is common in the coastal areas from the Baffin Bay area down to the Mexico line. Imported from India decades ago, these huge antelope thrive on the King and Kennedy Ranch properties. Weighing upwards of 600 pounds, nilgais are huge and sport a super-long neck. The males have small upward-pointing horns and sometimes a beard like a turkey. Someone without knowledge of nilgai who runs into one in South Texas would be in for a big surprise. Although they’re not an exotic species, bears are an unusual sighting in Texas. Black bears are making a small, but meaningful comeback in Texas. Populations established in the Trans-Pecos are moving into South Texas and the Hill Country. In addition, East Texas has small numbers of bears. They are protected in the Lone Star State, so don’t get too excited about bagging a bear rug here. Consider yourself blessed to see one of these magnificent animals from a deer blind. Did you know Texas is home to the jaguarundi? This is a medium-sized cat with a mean body length of 102 centimeters for females and 114 for males according to Mexican researcher Arturo Caso. Other sources list them as ranging from 100 to 120 centimeters, with the tail making up the greatest part of the length. Most specimens are about 20 centimeters tall and sport a dark gray color. Others are 26

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Snow monkeys have established wild populations in South Texas.

chocolate brown or blond. Jaguarundis are known to range from South America to the Mexican borders of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. The key word here is “known.” That means scientists have observed or captured the species within those areas. However, they are reported to range much farther north in the Lone Star State and perhaps elsewhere. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials solicited information from the public and received numerous reports of the species in the 1960s, including sev-

eral sightings from central and east Texas. Additional sightings have been reported from as far away as Florida, Oklahoma, and Colorado. There is something exciting about encountering an anomaly in the wild. Seeing a deer is one thing, but spotting a monkey or bear in Texas is a whole ’nother thing. Texas is a land of surprises, so stay alert in the field, keep your eyes fixed on the edge of the wood line, and you might get a glimpse of one of these mysterious animals.

Jaguarundi have been sighted as far north as central and east Texas.

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PHOTOS: CANSTOCK

4/10/18 4:13 PM

Texas GUNS by STEVE LAMASCUS | TF&G Shooting Editor

FEW YEARS AGO I HAD AN old Remington Model 700 ADL .222 Remington rebuilt into a wildcat .222 Remington Magnum Ackley Improved. The gunsmith who did the work had no experience with wildcat calibers, but I looked over some of his work and decided to let him do the job. When I received the little rifle, it looked perfect, so I loaded some .222 Magnum cases with a proven load and began to fire-form the cases. When I fired the first round and took it out of the rifle to check it for defects, it wore a bright ring around the case just in front of the extractor groove. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this problem, the bright ring in front of the extractor groove, or even farther up the case, can be a symptom of incipient head separation. So I took a paper clip, straightened it out and then bent it to a 90 degree angle at one end. This left a short crook with which I could feel the inside of the case. Using this, I felt around the bottom of the inside of the case. Sure enough there was a ring-like depression inside to match the bright ring on outside. Had I not noticed the bright ring (I specifically looked for it), the next time I loaded the case it probably would have separated at that point and might have wrecked the rifle. What this problem meant was that the rifle was improperly headspaced. On a rifle chambered for an Ackley Improved (AI) cartridge, the headspace must be set for a slight crush fit when a factory cartridge or case is chambered. This gunsmith had never dealt with an AI cartridge, so he set the headspace as he would on a standard factory cartridge, thus leaving excess headspace for the wildcat. Knowing what the problem was, I loaded several cartridges with the bullets seated out

“ Do not try to reload those ﬁred cases, as head separation is probable.

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Handloading 201

When I loaded and fired the first rounds they showed excess pressure. This was puzzling because the load was a mild one. After some head scratching, I decided this was probably caused by one of two things. Either the brass was too long and was crushed against the end of the chamber, or the case necks were too thick, making the brass hold the bullet too tightly when chambered. I checked the cases and found the length to be correct. I then reamed the case necks slightly and reloaded them. Case solved. The rifle had a very tight throat, and the .30-06 cases, when resized to .25 caliber, were too thick in the neck area. T E X A S

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I once bought a new S&W Model 629 in .44 Magnum, one of the first with the little lock on the side. I loaded some light target loads and took it to the range for sighting in. I fired a few rounds with no problem, and the accuracy was fantastic. One of the groups measured just one inch at 25 yards. Then during one string the gun froze up solid, not allowing it to be cocked or the cylinder to be opened. I finally got the cylinder open by pounding it against the wooden table at the 25-yard line. I was upset because I thought the problem was with the newfangled lock. I loaded and shot several more rounds, then it froze up again. This time, after I got it open, I was smart enough to look at the bullet in the cartridge that was next to fire in the cylinder. When I looked at it I noticed that the very end of the bullet was badly deformed by opening the cylinder. Looking closer I discovered that the bullet had crept forward during the several rounds I had fired and had caught against the barrel when I tried to cycle the gun. All I had to do was to increase the crimp on the bullet. When I reset the die to crimp more of the cartridge mouth into the crimp groove of the bullet the problem was solved. All magnum revolver loads should have a heavy crimp to prevent this problem. Also, a solid crimp is a good idea on magnum rifle cartridges to prevent the bullet from being driven deeper into the case during recoil. The above shows that reloading is a continual learning experience. Generally it is a fairly simple and safe endeavor, but occasionally, especially when dealing with wildcat cartridges, it can require more esoteric knowledge. If you run into something that puzzles you, it is almost a certainty that someone has had that problem before you. If you know an old reloader, ask him about it. If you have any such questions, you can contact me at the email address below.

enough to firmly engage the rifling. This forces the base of the case back against the face of the bolt. When the rifle is fired, the headspace of the AI cartridge is correct, and no separation is imminent. This problem of excess headspace is, also, fairly common in older Winchester lever action rifles and some older military rifles. If you have an older rifle, and the fired cases come out of the rifle showing a bright ring near the base, this indicates a dangerous condition. You should have it fixed by a competent gunsmith. Do not try to reload those fired cases as head separation is probable. Many years ago, I owned a super-accurate .25-06. I had a bunch of .30-06 brass and to save a bit of money was resizing it to use in the .25-06.

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TEXAS WHITETAILS by LARRY WEISHUHN :: TF&G Contributing Editor

A Tame Buck, for Name’s Sake

develop a rack that may prove to be too tempting. I know we’ve got some new hunters coming in that have not been here to watch Ricky grow up.” I feared she might be right. I too, did not want anyone shooting Ricky on purpose or by mistake. I suspected by the time his antlers were fully developed that year, he would have a rack that would gross more than 170 B&C points—huge for a native Texas Hill Country deer. Over the years, I had often seen bucks totally change, from being visible daily until they turned four years old. Then at four, they’d seemingly disappear. Matter of fact, I had occasionally been accused of lying to hunters about the number of mature bucks on the property. (This was before trail cameras.) Once Texas bucks turn four, everything about them changes. They become extremely wary and almost totally nocturnal. I suspected Ricky might do the same. However, I was not going to take a chance. Beyond really liking the tame buck, I wanted to see what his antlers would turn into as a five- to eightyear-old buck in the presence of excellent daily nutrition. I devised a plan approved by the ranch owner, manager and his wife, the game department and the primaries that hunted the property. Shortly after Ricky shed his antlers and headed into his fourth antler-growing season, I caught him and ear-tagged him with big orange pendulum-type ear tags in both ears. I shaved his sides and applied a freeze brand, which would turn hair white when he put on his next coat of hair. I wanted him obvious to all, so there would be no excuse for someone shooting Ricky. The tame buck did not disappoint me in antlers. He again developed a basic 10-point frame, but this year had an additional eight, long kicker points. No doubt, his rack exceeded 170 Boone and Crockett points. Up until September Ricky was a typical tame buck. Then he changed dramatically. Possibly, he saw a reflection of himself drinking water from the stream and saw his big antlers. Everything about him changed, other than his love of Purina dog food, bananas and Dorito chips. By the first of October Ricky was no longer seen during daylight hours. The bowhunters never saw him during archery season. Gun season arrived.

DO NOT LIKE NAMING WHITEtail bucks, but I have to tell you about a buck called “Ricky.” Maybe what I learned about him will give you some insight on one that you may have hunted, or are hunting this fall. Ricky was picked up as a fawn by a local game warden and taken to the ranch manager’s wife on one of or the ranches I was managing intensively at the time for whitetail deer. He was essentially raised in their house and developed a great taste for Purina dog chow, bananas and Dorito chips. His first year Ricky had an eight-point rack with about a 12-inch spread. He was seen just about every day, including by the various hunters we had on the property. He showed no concern about hunting. A couple of times he had does shot next to him standing only a couple of feet away. The second year, the tame buck had a 10-point rack with about an 18-inch outside spread. The hunters knew him because most of them fed him bananas and Dorito chips when he visited them at their camp. Ricky roamed the 3,000 acre highfenced property and was seen pretty well every day by the hunters. The third year Rick developed a basic 10-point rack with three kicker points. He acted exactly like one would expect a tame deer to do. He walked up to hunters expecting to be fed bananas and Doritos chips. The hunters, as did I, saw him roaming throughout the property, occasionally chasing does, just about every day we hunted the property. He continued coming up to hunters for his chips and bananas, which they seemed to always have with them. He returned to the ranch manager’s house daily. On the back porch, he ate Purina dog chow pellets; and the manager’s wife made certain he got his daily ration of bananas and chips. As we headed into his fourth antler year the manager’s wife came to me and said, “I DO NOT want anyone to shoot Ricky. I fear this year he’ll

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No one saw Ricky. I started hunting him simply to see whether I could find him. I hunted areas others did not, crawling into thickets and hunting during mid-day— a time when I have taken some of my biggest whitetails. I could not find Ricky between first and last light. Had I not known what was going on at night, I may have thought Ricky had died or simply did not exist. Interestingly, when the tame buck disappeared during daylight hours the first of October, he still showed up at the ranch manager’s house every night, but not until a solid hour after dark. He would eat Purina dog chow, Doritos and bananas left for him on the back porch. He would lie down in the front yard under a nightlight and chase does during the rut. An hour before the first hint of the approaching morning, he would disappear and not be seen again until an hour after solid dark. He kept up this routine until the end of January. Then he would again be seen throughout the day, even to the point of coming to eat bananas and chips out of people’s hands. Ricky followed the same routine each year; acting like a “dufus,” being a typical tame animal until the first of October. Then he became totally nocturnal and was not seen during daylight hours again until the end of January. The property was intensively managed for native quality whitetail deer with many does and bucks shot annually. There were hunters on the property pretty much every day. On only few days it was not hunted by the owners or their guests. On those days I was usually on the property, often looking for the tame deer. All this happened before the advent of trail cameras. Wish we had had them back then for the purpose of trying to find out what Ricky did during daylight hours. I also wish I could have gotten a radio telemetry project set up around this deer to track his movement. Where Ricky went during daylight hours, and what he did during October through January, I will never know. You draw your own conclusions.

Email Larry Weishuhn at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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EED TO UNWIND from the stresses of modern American living? A trip to the wilderness is the best way to purge the negativity and get things back into focus. But are there true wilderness areas in Texas? You bet there are. Here are a few sites that qualify as wild—along with some requirements for primitive camping there:

Big Bend Ranch State Park This is one of the Trans Pecos region’s most beautiful properties, but this is not Big Bend National Park. Instead, it’s a property operated by the state. Highway-access camping areas are located along River Road (FM 170) at Arenosa, Lower and Upper Madera (Monilla) Canyon, and at Grassy Banks River Access. One campground is on the north side of FM 170 at the

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Contrabando West Trailhead, but this one does not have river access or a toilet facility. Self-composting toilets are at Colorado Canyon, Madera Canyon, Grassy Banks, and the Contrabando Movie Set site. State officials say visitors must place tents in designated areas only. Desert resources are fragile, you must haul out both your human waste and trash. You can buy a portable privy at all permit-issuing stations. Downed wood is critical to desert ecology. Gathering firewood is prohibited; you must bring your own. Charcoal cooking fires and containerized fuel stoves are allowed. Pack out your ashes or deposit them in the fire ring. The maximum stay per permit is 14 nights. Individual campsites have an

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eight-person and three-vehicle limit. Group campsites have a 12-person and five-vehicle limit. Equestrian staging campsites have a 24-person and 12-vehicle limit. There are no other facilities, water/electrical hookups, or dump stations available. Due to road conditions, motor homes and large recreational vehicles may not be able to enter backcountry park areas. Shower and restroom facilities are available at the Visitor’s Center at Sauceda Headquarters.

Davis Mountains State Park An equally beautiful piece of property, this state park has primitive campsites that

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source. “Cross-rugged terrain and enjoy views of the Davis Mountains. To camp, choose from one of six equestrian or six primitive campsites in this area.”

require a four-mile (minimum) hike up a mountain with an elevation change of 800 feet. No ground fires are allowed here. An equestrian site in the park has non-potable water (in a horse trough) and is located in the Limpia Canyon Primitive Area. “The 11 miles of trails take riders from 4,900 feet high at Limpia Creek to over 5,700 feet high at a scenic overlook,” says a Park Information

Big Thicket National Preserve Backpacking is permitted yearround in the Turkey Creek Unit and along the Woodlands Trail. It is permitted throughout the Big Sandy Creek Unit, Beech Creek Unit, and Neches Bottom and Jack Gore Baygall Unit outside of hunting season, which generally runs October through February. Camping is prohibited in some

areas of the preserve. This includes: • Kirby Nature Trail and all areas south of the bridge over Village Creek in the Turkey Creek Unit; • Hickory Creek Savannah Unit, including the Sundew Trail; • Sites posted as Day Use Areas; and areas open to hunting during hunting season. There are no developed campgrounds or designated campsites in the preserve. However, people may backpack into certain areas or camp on sandbars along the Neches River and Village Creek. There is no road or hiking access to sandbars. These are accessible only by boat. Check out these locations and consider a wilderness expedition to get away from it all. You’ll see the best of what Texas wild lands have to offer.

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EXAS HAS A growing number of official paddling trails for kayakers and canoe enthusiasts. These are great areas to simply get out and paddle but they also provide access to fishing in areas that would in many cases be off limits.

2 SOUTH LLANO RIVER PADDLING TRAIL

PECAN BAYOU PADDLING TRAIL

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LADY BIRD LAKE PADDLING TRAIL

NICHOL’S LANDING PADDLING TRAIL

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The following are some of the best paddling trails in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country courtesy of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD).

Bird Lake 1 Lady Paddling Trail (Austin)

The Lady Bird Lake Paddling Trail allows for a variety of paddling opportunities with loops from 3 to 11 miles long. This location has some phenomenal bass fishing opportunites with potential for Sharelunkers according to that programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s database. Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) is the easternmost of a chain of reservoirs on the Colorado River. This

Lady Bird Lake Paddling Trail

narrow lake runs through the heart of the city of Austin. Along this trail are numerous attractions and scenic treats, including Barton Creek, Red Bud Island and Zilker Park. Shuttles and canoe and kayak rentals are available at several locations on the lake.

Pecan

2 Bayou

Paddling Trail (Brownwood)

This 3-to-4 mile loop trail is on a peaceful stretch of Pecan Bayou, a slow moving body of water that can be paddled in either direction as a loop trail. This area has great fishing for bream and catfish. Anglers can also expect to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass as well as crappie. A 3.2 mile loop runs upriver and back, while a 4 mile loop runs downriver to the dam and back.

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Pecan Bayou Paddling Trail

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Combined, these two loops can be run as a 7.2 mile trail. Main access is at the Fabis Park Boat Ramp. Pecan Bayou serves as an overflow from Lake Brownwood, so the bayou is influenced by rainfall runoff that may create high flows and undesirable water quality conditions.

South Llano

3 Paddling Trail (Junction)

Experience quiet pools, gentle riffles and runs along sux miles of the beautiful spring-fed South Llano River out in the Texas Hill Country.

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Look for good number of bass including Guadalupe bass. This section of the South Llano River also supports catfish and several species of sunfish. The put-in for this paddling trail is located at the river crossing just inside the South Llano River State Park, five miles south of Interstate 10 on U.S. 377 in Junction. Take-out is at Junction City Park on the north bank of Junction Lake just east of the

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South Llano River Paddling Trail

bridge over the lake. The clean waters of the South Llano river are unrestrained by flood control dams or other man-made structures. There may be natural obstructions, especially during low water periods. Diverse plant and wildlife provide an excelent background to this paddling trail, with numerous birds including kingfishers, egrets, herons, wood ducks and migratory songbirds populating the shoreline. Paddlers may also encounter whitetail deer, rabbits, fox, beavers, bobcats and even exotic species such as axis deer and blackbuck antelope. Rio Grande turkey winter roost in the shelter of the sycamore, pecan, elm and oak trees along the shoreline. In addition to the state park and city park, this trail also has access to Kimble County Park on the south bank of the river.

Upper Guadalupe Nicholâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Landing Paddling Trail (above Canyon Lake)

This 9.9-mile reach of the Guadalupe River in Comal County is lined with an abundance of mature trees and a spectacular mix of limestone cliffs and shelves. Paddlers will enjoy a 3-6 hour ride on a variety of rapids between gentle stretches. This is another great bass fishing location with good numbers of panfish as well. The put-in for this paddling trail is located on Old Spring Branch Road, just 3 miles west of Hwy 281 N, off Spring Branch Road. You can take-out at the FM 311 crossing, 2 miles southeast of Spring Branch. The last public access site above the Canyon Reservoir is at the Rebecca Creek crossing. Go about 3 miles east on Rebecca Creek Road off Hwy 281. There are a number of rapids on the 10 mile stretch that demand careful inspection. Approximately 1.5 miles below FM 311 crossing a chute to the left of the island at

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Nichol’s Landing Paddling Trail

Mueller Falls creates an exciting fast water run. About 5 miles below FM 311, a chute to the left of Rust Falls provides another exciting passageway. Hazardous areas can be portaged. Except during extreme droughts, there is always sufficient water for recreational use. This rugged Hill Country river is known for clear-flowing waters and its extremely scenic beauty.

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TPWD RECOMMENDS angelrs using common sense and advise not dragging out more gear than necessary for your paddle, but be prepared if you plan to paddle in an isolated area. Required safety equipment includes a personal flotation device (PFD) for each paddler (children under 13 must wear their PFDs when their boats are not beached, tied-up or anchored), an efficient soundsignaling device such as a whistle or air horn, and — if paddling after dark or in reduced visibility — a 360-degree white light. While not necessarily required equipment, you will also want to remember your keys — a great paddling trip can be spoiled when you realize that your keys to your car are in another vehicle at the put-in. Anglers are reminded to stay on the river. “Respect land owners and don’t trespass onto private property. The banks are generally privately owned, and while landowners are happy to say hello, please respect their

privacy. If you need to stop to rest or eat, use an island or gravel bank.” “As part of the navigation right, one may use the bed of a navigable stream, however, climbing out onto the banks can be considered trespassing. Criminal trespass occurs when one goes onto property after receiving notice not to enter.” “Notice includes verbal notice, a fence, sign(s), the presence of purple paint on posts or trees, or the visible presence of crops grown for human consumption. When encountering an obstruction in the riverbed, one has the right to portage around the obstruction, but take a direct path around and return to the streambed without lingering on the banks.” Obey the laws and stay on the trails and you will have an amazing time in some of the most beautiful scenery in the state and you might just catch a few fish.

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EXAS HAS SEVERAL VARIETIES OF KING SNAKE. THESE ARE generally accepted by ranchers and farmers because they eat other snakes including venomous ones. There is a snake however in Texas that is king even over the king snake and it too eats other snakes. I am talking about the Texas indigo snake. A threatened species, this is the largest serpent in the United States, attaining verified lengths of up to 8.5 feet. A South Texas deer rancher, however, told me of having one get stuck in his high fence on this deer ranch due to its girth. They freed the snake and said it was in the 10-foot range. Stories of even larger ones are out there but because of habitat changes in South Texas the snake is difficult to find in many areas. I spotted two near Moore in 1995 as they were wrapped together in a mating ritual beneath my bowstand on a warm October day. Those snakes were in the seven-foot class. My girlfriend (now my wife) was in the stand with me. Although the snakes had already disappeared into the brush, she jumped from the second rung of the ladder and ran down the trail toward the truck. I saw an even larger one crossing a sendero near Freer in 2013. The Texas indigo snake extends its range well into Mexico, and its fame as a killer of rattlesnakes is well known. Numerous YouTube videos of these huge serpents show them impressively overpowering big rattlers. Snakes such as the indigo have an impressive ability to swallow creatures close to their size. When a snake eats a large prey item, it has to relax for a while and let it digest. If we ate a live five-foot-long rattlesnake, we might need to relax too. The indigo snake is unique in that I have never heard of a hunter, rancher or farmer intentionally killing one. As previously mentioned, the idea of them killing rattlesnakes has earned them allies, but I think there is more to the story. These gorgeous, elusive and huge serpents stir the imagination. They remind us just how wild the brush country of South Texas remains despite highways, high fences and cities. There are still wild things out there and some of them happen to slither. If you see one, consider yourself blessed. The indigo snake is one of Texas’s most amazing creatures.

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PHOTO: TPWD

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’VE ALWAYS BEEN SOMEWHAT INTRIGUED BY

the job Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens do. My respect for the men and women who drive the green trucks is immense, but not just because they are the ones out there watching over our stuff. There are no set hours and very few boundaries when the duty bell rings for game wardens. They are out there day and night—amid fair weather and foul, on big water and small, in tall woods, in wide open prairies, and in extensive bay systems that gobble up more real estate than some states. They are often times alone in remote areas while in pursuit of brazen criminals with no concept of the law, let alone any respect for it. Donning the silver and blue badge is an inherently dangerous gig. However, advancements in technology have helped make the job safer than it used to be. This provides wardens with some nifty tools to catch bad guys, nip dangerous situations in the bud, and save lives. “Back when I became warden in the 1980s, we didn’t have anything compared to what our game wardens have today in the way of technology,” says Donnie Puckett, a retired Captain game warden from Lufkin. “Thirty-five years ago the only red light we had on our trucks was a spotlight with a red lens on it,” he said, “and the light didn’t even blink. We were issued a pistol, shotgun and a pair of binoculars and told to get ‘em. “Things have changed a lot since then,” Puckett added. “We’re in a high-tech age, and it’s great that so many useful tools are available to our wardens today. You’ve got to use everything you can get. It can save lives on both sides of the aisle. That’s a good thing.”

High Tech Cowboys

REPORT: NEWS 42u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

HOT 42u TEXAS SHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

44u TEXAS COASTAL FORECAST

by Capt. Eddie Hernandez, Capt. Mike Holmes, Mike Price, Capt. Chris Martin, Capt. Mac Gable, Tom Behrens, Capt. Sally Black and Calixto Gonzales

54u TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

64u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

Game wardens throughout Texas make use of a wide variety of high-tech tools and instruments in the field. At no other place in the state does modern technology play a more vital role in routine operations than it does with those who patrol the Texas coast. Actually, Texas coast isn’t a place. It is a sprawling complex of sandy, soggy land mass studded with a host of brackish estuaries and massive bay systems that collide with the fish-rich saltwater giant that is the Gulf of Mexico. Spanning more than 360 miles, the Texas coastline is the sixth longest in the nation. The vast waters that join it pump hundreds of millions of dollars annually into the state’s T E X A S

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Story

FEATURE economy through commercial fishing, sport fishing, hunting and other recreational activities. Roughly half of the seafood consumed in the United States comes from the Gulf with more than $400 million in shellfish and finfish passing through Lone Star ports every year. Texas game wardens stationed along 16 coastal counties have a huge responsibility policing all of that. That’s not to mention performing search and rescue, natural disaster relief and working tirelessly to corral the Mexican longliners who frequently poach our waters. Additionally, they are also called upon to assist partners such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and others in heading off drug smugglers. They assist as well in countering the threat of radiological or nuclear material smuggling into the U.S. waters. Luis Sosa knows all about the trials of being a game warden along the Texas coast. Sosa began his career in Willacy County before transferring Cameron County. There, he became a sergeant and for two years ran the Capt. Williams, a 65-foot crew boat the department uses for patrolling offshore. Today, he heads up the department’s Maritime Tactical Operations Group (MTOG) This is a specialized unit of highly trained officers who respond during critical waterborne incidents or special maritime details. Not surprisingly, MTOG makes use of all sorts high-tech gear during the course of duty. To find out more, I asked the department’s law enforcement division for a rundown on some of the equipment and how it is used. Sosa, Cody Jones, TPWD Assistant Commander for Marine Enforcement and Brandi Reeder, TPWD Assistant Commander and Fisheries Law Administrator, offered up the following list and descriptions:

• Thermographic Cameras (Handheld/ Vessel Mounted): Unlike NVGs, which use some sort of levels of light to produce images, thermographic cameras use infrared radiation to form an image known as thermography. The higher an object’s temperature, the more infrared radiation it emits. Game Wardens along the coast are equipped with handheld thermographic cameras. In addition, Game Warden vessels classified as mid-range patrol vessels are all equipped with vessel-mounted thermographic cameras. Unlike NVGs, these cameras can detect any heat source, human or animal, that may conceal a person and/or evidence that could be missed with NVGs. • Radar: Radar uses radio waves to identify an object and determine its distance. Game Wardens along the coast rely on radar to identify possible fishing vessels offshore and for navigation when visibility is poor. Radar equipment provides a real time display of what lies around whether it is a vessel, a navigational aid, or land mass. This, in combination with a chartplotter/GPS system, can avoid vessel accidents during nighttime, thick fog, or any other condition causing poor visibility. Game Wardens are able to use radar to scan open bodies of water, such as the Gulf of Mexico, for several miles, seeking possible targets of interest that may be engaged in recreational or commercial fishing. • Chartplotter/GPS: Chartplotters/ GPS devices are used for navigation. These devices provide Game Wardens with global positioning, heading, speed, and charts or “maps” of the area they are patrolling. As mentioned earlier, this device compares the chart “picture” of the layout of the land with real time images provided by radar to navigate safely. Chartplotters/GPS units provide an exact global position to: navigate from origin to destination, report a Game Warden’s whereabouts should he need assistance. It can also capture the location of violations for evidence documentation and court proceedings. • Side-Scan Sonar: Used on most TPWD

• Night Vision Goggles: NVGs are optoelectronic devices that allow images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness. Game Wardens along the coast use NVGs to help them move around their rural environments undetected while identifying or watching potential violators in the act. 40

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vessels, this sonar system is used to create images of the seafloor. Side-Scan emits acoustic pulses toward the seafloor, receives the reflections of the seafloor, and forms an image of the sea bottom. It is used to gauge water depth, detection of hazards, and/or detection of objects of interest. • Radiation and Nuclear (Rad/Nuc) Detection Devices: Game Wardens are the first layer of security with the capability to detect and assess unauthorized attempts to import, possess, and/or transport nuclear and radiological material. They rely on several devices to do it, including personal radiation detectors, Rad/Nuc detection backpacks and Radiation Isotope Identification Devices (RIID). Personal radiation detectors are pagers worn on the duty belt. Rad/Nuc detection backpacks are capable of scanning large open areas, and the RIIDs are capable of isolating the direction of a radiating source. In addition to these devices, the long-range patrol vessels along the coast are equipped with vessel-mounted Rad/Nuc Detection Devices. Every Rad/Nuc detector deployed by Texas Parks and Wildlife is capable of detecting Rad/Nuc activity, identifying the source, and generating a spectrum sample. This can be submitted to the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office for further examination and enforcement action. • Vessel Entanglement System: This is a non-lethal, air-compressed weapon assigned to the Marine Tactical Operations Group (MTOG). This system deploys a net capable of stopping small vessels by entangling the vessel’s propeller with the net. MTOG members train with this equipment to be proficient with it should it be needed during Harbor Security details and/or vessel pursuits and interdiction. • Aerial Drone: Used in search and rescue missions. The department’s drone is equipped with a camera that transmits a live video feed to the operator. This drone can assist officers in gathering Intel in certain large-scale search and rescue areas. • Body Worn Cameras: Records audio and video of the interaction between our Game Wardens and the public to gather video evidence at crime scenes and provide CONTINUED ON PAGE

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The NATIONAL

TPWD Approves Changes to Fishing Regs for 2018-19

News of TEXAS

porated into this year’s Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Outdoor Annual: Change from 16-inch minimum largemouth bass length limit to a 14-inch minimum length limit. Daily bag will remain at five fish. Lakes affected include: Lake Granbury (Hood County County) Possum Kingdom Reservoir (Palo Pinto County) Lake Ratcliff (Houston County) Change from 18-inch minimum length limit to a 14-inch minimum length limit. Daily bag will remain at five fish. Lake Bryan (Brazos County) Cooper Lake (Delta County) Old Mount Pleasant City Lake (Titus County)

THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE Commission adopted a suite of changes to this year’s fishing regulations that includes standardizing harvest regulations for largemouth bass to the statewide limits at 12 lakes and increasing the daily bag limit for commercial and recreational take of king mackerel from two to three. The Commission adopted the following changes to the 201819 Statewide Recreational and Commercial Fishing Proclamations, the details of which will be incor-

Change from 14- to 18-inch slot

length limit for largemouth bass to a 14-inch minimum length limit. Daily bag will remain at five fish. Lakes affected include: Lake Bridgeport (Jack and Wise Counties) Burke-Crenshaw Lake (Harris County) Lake Georgetown (Williamson County) Lake Madisonville (Madison County) San Augustine City Lake (San Augustine County) Sweetwater Reservoir (Nolan County) Change from 14- to 18-inch slot length limit and five fish daily bag limit for largemouth bass to no minimum length limit and a bag limit of five fish (only two may be less than 18 inches).

GROUPER

WHITETAIL

Corpus Christi

Anderson County

Andrew J. Stensland was ﬁshing near a wreck offshore, out from Packery Channel, Corpus Christi, when he caught this beauty of a grouper.

Gourtney Gehrmann bagged this main frame 12-point buck while hunting in Anderson County. The buck scored 205-1/8.

Visit FishGame.com to upload your own TEXAS HOT SHOTS and LIKE your favorite photos. 42

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FEATURE Story

Lake affected: Grapevine Lake (Tarrant County) Change from 14- to 24-inch slot length limit for largemouth bass to a 16- to 24-inch slot length limit. Daily bag will remain at five fish (limit of only one bass 24 inches or larger). Lakes affected include: Fayette County Reservoir (Fayette County) Gibbons Creek Reservoir (Grimes County) Lake Monticello (Titus County) Change from catch and release with an exception allowing for possession and weighing for largemouth bass 24 inches or greater for possible submission to ShareLunker program to a 16-inch maximum length limit and five fish daily bag with the ShareLunker weighing and possession exception for bass 24 inches or greater. Lakes affected include: Purtis Creek State Park Lake (Henderson County) Lake Raven (Walker County)

t CONTINUED FROM PAGE

Management System used to create offense reports, document field contacts, share law enforcement data with other officers, or search for data by other Texas Game Wardens. • Hunter/Boater Education Mobile Apps: Used for verification of hunter or boater education course completion. • Fisheries Enforcement Mobile App: Used for capturing the patrols, inspections and enforcement actions taken during the course of the day on federal waters. The data allows the department to generate a report documenting the state’s enforcement as per our Joint Enforcement Authority agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. • Daily Activity Report: Used for recording patrols, enforcement actions, and expenses during the course of the day while working federally funded operations.

officer and/or public accountability. • Laptops/IPad/IPhone: Every warden is issued a laptop, IPad, and IPhone with connectivity to the department’s intranet and various mobile applications. They use a variety of software and mobile applications to access, send, and/or store information crucial to the enforcement of the state’s laws and the prosecution of those who violate them. Software and Mobile Apps used for enforcement and data storage: • Pocket Cop: Used for access to the Criminal Justice Information System data sources to include local, state, and the National Crime Information Center. This data gives Game Wardens a quick snapshot of whom or what they are encountering, whether they are wanted, and whether there is any criminal history. • Interact: Allows access to a Records

Change from an 18-inch minimum length limit and five fish daily bag for largemouth bass to a 16-inch maximum length limit and five fish daily bag with an exception allowing for possession and weighing for bass 24 inches or greater for possible submission to ShareLunker program. Lake affected: Lake Bellwood (Smith County) Change from 14- to 18-inch slot length limit and five fish daily bag limit for largemouth bass to a 16-inch maximum length limit and five fish daily bag with an exception allowing for possession and weighing for bass 24 inches or greater for possible submission to ShareLunker program. Lake affected: Davy Crockett Lake (Fannin County) Increase daily bag limit for commercial and recreational take of king mackerel from two to three. The changes to the 2018-19 Statewide Recreational and Commercial Fishing regulations take effect on September 1, 2018.

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Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Late Spring Tactics for Sabine Success

everything is biting is icing on the cake. The semi-consistent jetty bite always seems to step it up a notch during this month. It can, and usually does go from fair to fantastic at some point this month. Bring your entire arsenal of baits because the fish will seek and destroy everything from soft plastics to topwaters. If the real thing is your tactic of choice, simply anchor off on a rock pile or washout. Use a fish finder rig or popping cork with about three feet of leader and cast toward the rocks. A 3/0 Kahle hook should be perfect for this setup. Chances are you won’t have time to set your rod down, but if you do, make sure it’s secure in a rod holder. Don’t be one of the many people, like me, who have lost expensive gear to these cold-blooded thieves. Anglers who choose soft or hard imitations

HE MONTH OF MAY HAS arrives in full force, and every major bay system along the Texas coast should welcome it with open arms. Anglers will reap the benefits of ever-increasing water temperatures and stable weather conditions as spring has definitely settled in. Summer is knocking on the door. This is the month that gets the ball rolling. May sets the wheels in motion for coastal fishing patterns that will be our bread and butter for the next few months. With the wind finally starting to settle somewhat, and the mercury continuing to climb, the fishing just keeps getting better and better. Being able to plan a fishing trip knowing the conditions should be favorable, is enough to get anyone excited. The fact that

should do well by trolling down the wall. Cast as close as you can to the rocks and work your lure all the way back to the boat. Vary your retrieve so you can determine whether the fish are deep, suspended or near the surface. Don’t forget—if you fish anywhere on the east jetty, including the channel, you’ll need a Louisiana fishing license. The action in the lake should be equally as good. The rocks on the north revetment of Pleasure Island are a good place to start. Throwing topwaters early on calm mornings can result in some serious action. Incoming tides should be your best bet, but as long as you’ve got moving water you should be in business. Bone or pink Skitterwalks and She Dogs are tough to beat as topwater choices. Also, a three-inch Gulp! Shrimp in new penny or white rigged under a popping cork can be a deadly combination for specks and reds. Another proven late spring area for trout and reds as well as some bonus flounder is the shoreline from East Pass all the way to Willow Bayou. Soft plastics rigged with 1/4 ounce or 1/8 ounce lead heads (as well as topwaters and soft plastics under a cork) will get the job done. Again a moving tide will work in your favor. Glow and glow/chartreuse soft plastics are hard to beat in clear water. If it’s murky, darker colors such as Morning Glory and Texas Roach will get better results. Good topwater colors are black with a chartreuse head and bone. If you want to get serious about flounder, key on the bayous and cuts on the Louisiana shoreline. Work these areas over thoroughly as you slowly work your way down the bank. The stretch from Johnson Bayou to Garrison’s Ridge is prime real estate for flounder in May. Mud minnows or Gulp! Swimming mullet should be all you need for a good excuse to fire up the broiler.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: North Revetment (Pleasure Island) SPECIES: Trout, reds, ﬂounder, BAIT: Soft plastics, topwaters, mud minnows BEST TIMES: Early and late with moving tides

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4/16/18 3:12 PM

Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt. MIKE HOLMES

No MAY-be’s About It, Time For Fast Fishing! to offer, and some of the top spots are best reached by boat. For anglers without boats, this is a time of the year that can be your best bet. Jetties and piers offer fishermen on foot a chance to venture a short distance from shore to cast baits and lures beyond the surf zone.

“ True spring can be hard to nail down.

LOCATION: The surf always issues a siren call in early spring, but deeper areas in bays and shallow bay reefs as well as natural and man-made passes will harbor fish. SPECIES: Reds usually show up first, followed later by speckled trout and flounders, then other warm water denizens.

Beachfront rock groins are simply smaller versions of jetties, and also pull in fish. These features are unique in being “vehicles” to help fishermen reach deeper water for more and bigger fish. They also function as structure that attracts and holds bait species as well as the larger gamefish that feed on them. The surf itself is beginning to present itself as a prime fishing area this month. Specks are either already feeding along the bars, or will be shortly. Reds—and this includes big “Bull” reds—are roaming the beachfront bars and guts as well as along the jetties. “Fresh dead” bait (and some that may not be) will hook quite a few of these fine fish. However, I have always had better “luck” with live mullet—from finger mullet-sized to even large baitfish. The larger mullet are often most productive with the tail cut off to allow some bleeding. I know some successful bull red anglers who remove both head and tail of T E X A S

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THE BANK BITE

“

VEN THE MILD WINTERS WE normally experience along the upper Texas coast have a negative effect on most saltwater fishing. Cooler water and lower tides reduce successful options to catch full stringers of sporty and edible fish—and to do so in comfortable temperatures. True spring can be hard to nail down. Not every year warms from winter into spring on the same timetable, May is pretty much as consistent as we get for a true beginning of stable warm weather fishing action. Bait is more plentiful now in most areas and this brings good numbers of sport and food fish. Surface water temperatures in bays and the surf are still a bit cool most days to enter without waders. However, there will always be days sunny and warm enough to leave them on the shore. Sportfish such as speckled trout and redfish will leave the deeper holes they sought in winter and start to roam shallower flats, sandbars, and shell reefs. New crops of shrimp are available to fish and fishermen alike, and baitfish of all common species have returned to inshore waters. Good action for reds and trout, as well as flounder, might be found in back bays and bayous. Yet, perhaps the best plan is to intercept them as they move back in from deeper Gulf waters. Fishing from boats can work at San Luis Pass and the Galveston Jetties. Deeper water is still available there to “shelter” fish from the occasional cold snap. Of course, sand bars and other bottom formations on the bay side of passes are also good spots to try. The length of the Intracoastal Waterway as it travels through West Galveston Bay offers many fine spots to intercept feeding fish. The shoreline of the bay side of Galveston Island also had a lot

decent sized mullet. At this time of year, a hook in each end of these larger baits for bull reds is often the best tactic. Smaller hooks are better than the 7/0s to 9/0s anglers often use. Some anglers prefer small, but stout, treble hooks on one end of the bait—as a “stinger.” I like circle hooks for their selfsetting ability. Single strand stainless wire is an excellent leader material for the surf, but there are times when monofilament of 60- to 80-pound test brings more strikes. Of course, when using mono leaders, one should always hope a school of hungry Spanish mackerel doesn’t invade the surf. Or if they do, that you thought to bring along some lighter tackle along with silver spoons to throw their way.

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BAIT: Mullet might be the top choice, in various sizes, but mud minnows and shad or menhaden will produce, and are easier to ﬁnd than live shrimp right now. Artiﬁcial lures will need to be worked slowly and carefully if they are to produce. BEST TIME: During a moving tide is best. Although the best spot might vary a few feet either way, there won’t be that much difference between a a rising or falling tide. More noticeable will be the difference in success between a large tidal change and a slight one. Days with multiple tide changes are always the best.

Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com |

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4/16/18 3:12 PM

Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

Turn a Hit into a Catch

FOUND FISH IN A FOUR-FOOTdeep trough that was up against the side of a bayou in the backwaters of East Matagorda Bay. The opposite side of the trough came up to a foot of water that covered an oyster reef. Using an H20 shrimp, I felt a bite and left it. When the fish started swimming, I set the hook

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and caught a 15-inch flounder. A short time later, I felt another bite and did nothing except make sure the line was taut. The fish did not swim, but still, I did nothing. Finally I pulled slightly and got an opposite reaction, so I set the hook. This was another 15-inch flounder. That is what some flounder do, hit the bait, and hold it. If you set the hook as soon as you feel the hit, most likely you will lose the fish, because it does not have the hook in its mouth, just the lure’s tail. That’s why when you fish with soft plastics, you retrieve only half a lure, or the lure is pulled off the retainer on the hook. Then, using the same lure, I hooked a redfish in the hefty category, but the leader broke. Of course this happened because, on previous casts I had felt my lure coming in contact with

the oyster reef, but I had not run my fingernails over the leader line to find the nicks. I knew the fish were turned on and did not want to take time to put another leader and lure on, so I switched to my other rod that was set up with a chicken on a chain colored (green and white) Bass Assassin. I caught a 20-inch redfish with that lure, and then the bite stopped. The bite happened at 8 a.m., within 45 minutes of a “minor” period according to the Sportsman’s Daybook tables published in Texas Fish & Game. While you’re fishing, you can do a few things to ensure that once you get a good hit, you will land the fish. Checking the leader for nicks is one. Checking your hook for sharpness is another.

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When you hook up to an oyster reef or rock, you might dull the hook if you try to set it. Run the hook over your fingernail to see if it makes a scratch. If it doesn’t scratch your fingernail, contact with the rock or oyster has dulled the hook, and it should be sharpened or replaced. Have a net handy, especially with a flounder. Many times when I put a flounder in the net, the hook fell out. This happens because flounder have a boney mouth and sometimes the hook does not penetrate the soft part of the mouth. If you’re fishing with a hard plastic lure that has multiple hooks, you don’t want to use a net. Otherwise, you’ll spend too much time untangling your hooks from the net. So, carry a gripper and keep a tight line. Work the fish up to you and wear it down some, then grip the fish’s mouth. If you intend to keep it, make sure the pointed metal part of your stringer is sharp so it easily slides through the soft part of the mouth. Using a checklist before you leave home will also help you land fish. I was getting ready to wade-fish at Boiler Bayou on the south side of East Matagorda Bay when I realized that I had forgotten my net, pliers, and stringer.

I got pliers from the truck, borrowed my dog’s leash for a stringer, and went without a net. I caught a feisty 21-inch trout and an 18-inch flounder, and the dog leash worked pretty well. Now I go through the checklist and put my eyes on each item, never assuming it is there. Rig your rod at home, so that the precious time on the water is spent fishing, not rigging.

THE BANK BITE CHINQUAPIN: This town lies between Sargent and Matagorda on the north side of East Matagorda Bay. To get there, turn south off FM 521 onto FM 262 and then turn right on FM 237. The distance from FM 521 to the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is 10.3 miles. You can bank ﬁsh in several places on the ICW. Kayak ﬁshers can launch near a bridge nine miles from FM 521. Stay to the right, and after a 15-minute paddle, you will get to the channel which leads to Lake Austin on the left, and the ICW on the right.

The Surf The water temperature in the surf from middle to late May is usually above 80°F, a comfortable temperature for wade fishing. Plenty of fish are in the surf in May. So, if you come to Matagorda on a day when the sea is calm and clear, give the surf a try. A few years ago, on two days in early May, I witnessed large trout feeding on shrimp in the surf near the jetties and between the jetties. This happens every year, but the specific days vary. One way to find out if you have arrived on those special days is to go to the Matagorda Bay Nature Park parking lot. It’s located where FM 2031 meets the Gulf of Mexico. Focus your binoculars on people fishing the

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jetty. You will know whether the big trout are there, because every other jetty fisherman will be hooked up.

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« Email Mike Price at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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4/16/18 3:12 PM

Coastal Focus: MID COAST :: by Capt. CHRIS MARTIN

May’s Situational Trout

If that sounds like just a lot of office talk, back up a minute and read it again. This time try to apply the meaning of the message to you and any other avid Texas coastal angler who inherits natural change at seemingly every approach to their fishing goals. In reading it for a second time, did it make sense to you. Were you able to figure out how this might apply to you in your quest for success in speckled trout fishing? There’s a close connection between this office jargon and our sport of coastal fishing. Here are a couple of examples of why this is so. Summer months along the coast present warmer water temperatures, and the month of May is generally the first in a list of hot months yet to come. It’s this time of year when many coastal anglers are sometimes walking in neck-deep water as they try to place their next cast into the lower, cooler portion of the water column. Why? Because experienced trout anglers recognize that speckled trout prefer a cooler environment during the warmer months of the year. Even though the trout will pursue the coolness of depth during summertime, coastal anglers need to remember that speckled trout are simply another link in a seemingly endless food chain. The trout, too, have their own feared predators. The warmer months commonly produce saltier bay waters, which attract larger marine life—natural trout predators such as porpoises and sharks. Next time your deep-water efforts have suddenly become non-productive, try investigating nearby shallows. You might just discover that the trout have made a hasty retreat to avoid becoming the “catch of the day.” Over the years you may have taught yourself to accept the need for change based upon the conditions at hand. The circumstances referred to here are those days that you might have spent the majority of the morning (or entire day) surrounded by truly perfect trout conditions, but with few results. The water is clean and clear. You’ve managed to wade well-protected shorelines, out of the way of a howling wind. Sporadic

HOSE EXPOSED TO TODAY’S corporate America know that anyone who is considered a leader in dealing with ambiguity is one who can function effectively in vague, unexpected, or changing conditions—such people are quick to recognize situations or conditions where change is needed.

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groupings of baitfish are present, but none are notably active. It’s time for a change, so you raise the Power Pole and you’re on your way. It isn’t until you happen upon an unprotected shallow body of water that you see any noticeable signs of life. The shallow leeward shoreline is being pounded by the wind. As a result, water clarity is equal to that of a root beer and icecream float, but baitfish are popping . What to do, what to do! The conditions may tell you that any attempt to fish productively in such an area is a waste of your time. However, the hours you spent wading in textbook conditions have left you little to write home about. You decide that you are ready for a drastic change in strategy, so over the side you go with topwaters loaded. After spending a couple of hours sight-casting to frenzied mullet, you manage to end the day with extraordinary results. You realized beforehand that it was contrary to all popular belief that such conditions would ever prove productive for you. However, you had also determined you were strong enough to accept change in the face of the requirements. Now that temperatures will soon get hot enough to bake a pizza on a flat rock, anglers need to take caution in the approach of the extreme summertime heat.This time of year can be hazardous to your health, literally! Remember to protect your arms and legs with long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Protect your exposed skin with sunscreen during the day and reapply multiple times throughout the day. It is of utmost importance for you to hydrate regularly by taking in plenty of nonalcoholic fluids. Also, remember to eat when you get hungry, you’ll be glad you did! Until next time, have fun out there and be safe!

« Contact Capt. Chris Martin at bayﬂatslodge@gmail.com or visit bayﬂatslodge.com

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4/16/18 3:12 PM

Coastal Focus: ROCKPORT :: by Capt. MAC GABLE

Drone Fishing

HE TITLE MAY SOUND LIKE something from Star Trek. Yes, I am a bit of a Trekie ... BEAM ME UP SCOTTY! —well, the old versions anyway. We don’t have to wait for the future to see technologies effect on our fishing and hunting sport. My granddaughters and grandsons have flabbergasted me with some of the “toys” they now have. I guess I am showing my age; but honestly, my seven-year-old grandson Quincy makes me look like a Neanderthal just out of a cave using, say, a cell phone or an iPad. When I ask what he’s doing on his latest toy he, in a matter of fact way, says things like “I’m snap chatting” or rapping or crapping or whatever the correct term is. “Grandpa,” he says, “we can snap. Let me see your phone.” I am thinking the only snapping I ever done is with green beans, but kept the thought to myself. Having waded into this water I determined I was already head deep and could drown, so decided to stay tight-lipped. I presented my camo-taped phone to him, and he got an embarrassed look on his face. “Wow I’ve never seen one like that,” he said. “What does it do????” “Well, you talk on it” I said. “Any gaming?” “No, a phone is for communicating, you know, like talking.” “We don’t do that much anymore,” he said. “Oh yeah, you text, right?” “Nooo… we Snapchat” and some other terms I can’t remember. “I can Minecraft, Slitherjo, AgarJo, and I like Pokémon” he went on to say. “Ah, yes, Pokémon, I can do that,” I proudly announce. “Not on that,” he said, as he pointed to my duct taped, eight-year-old phone. “Let me see it Grandpa.” Like Spock at warp speed, he whizzed through my phone and grinned. “This is obsolete. You can’t

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I exclaimed “Wow!”, mostly out of fearful astonishment. “You need a toy.” she said. “No more tools, no more purposeful gifts, you need a fun gift, and I thought this would be fun for you.” She was and is a heartfelt giver. So, I have a drone. I have flown a drone. I fly a drone and am scared most of the time I do it, but I must admit it’s a scared-kinda fun. You can imagine my thoughts when I got a call from a client who wanted to know whether I fish with drones. “They can fish?” I asked. “Well, yes and no,” the not-to-be client said. “I want to bring my drone and spot reds with it and have you move in for the catch.” I’m thinking the only techo-kinds of stuff I have on my boat is my eight-year-old cell phone and a 15-year-old Garmin depth sounder with GPS, which I am just now really learning how to use. “No, I don’t drone fish,” I said, probably rudely. “Further, I’m not sure it’s even legal?” “Oh, it is” he said. “For years, Red Fish Tournament contestants have used planes to locate schools of reds and then communicate that to the anglers.”

do anything on this. Does the tape hold it together!!!????” “It’s waterproof” I proudly announce. “Yes, they all are now, pretty much.” He shrugged. “Hmmmm!” I respond, defeated. To their credit his parents, my son and daughterin-law, keep a very tight rein on what he can and can’t do on these toys. That bodes even worse for me. I can’t imagine what else I probably am not up to speed on. I ask my wife “Do I look old?” “No, you do not!” “I feel old.” “Did Quincy blitz by you with his techo skills?” “Oh, no. I got it,” I lied. For my 61st birthday my wife handed me a birthday gift, and like a kid I tore into to it. To my delight, I saw the blade of what I believed to be a wind meter (anemometer). This one, however, had four blades. On closer inspection, I could see what it really was. Panic gripped me. Technology had now been gift-wrapped and was immediately in front of me. “It flies,” she said. “It’s a drone!” she happily announced. Not being one to be rude, especially to my wife who was experiencing much joy at her giving.

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Forecast: ROCKPORT The FAA sees these toys as aircraft, and for all practical purposes that’s what they are. Kites have long been used in the fishing industry for bait presentation, so with a little imagination you, no doubt, can see the applications for drones will take a similar track. The term “hunting” here is of much importance. As defined by the Parks and Wild Life code, hunting includes fishing. That’s right, fishing! However, using a drone to randomly place a bait is not considered hunting, if it’s not specifically locating a fish or group of fish. If you’re not taking this seriously by now, then I am missing the mark. If so try this on: Federal law (The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956) prohibits the use of aircraft to hunt, capture, harass fish or any other animal without the proper permits. Please focus on the word harass in the above regulation. Harassment can be defined as: a means to disturb, worry, molest, harry, torment, rally, concentrate, drive, or herd. So, as an example, let’s say I’m flying my drone for the joy of flying and harass, unintentionally, a whooping crane. This is a federally protected bird and could violate the Endangered Species Act, punishable by fines up to $100,000 per individual and up to one-year imprisonment. Few state parks and wildlife refuges allow drone flying, so check before you lift off. Technology and its rapid progress comes with a warning. With capability comes responsibility. We humans seem to be strong in the capable, but weak in the responsible. As we advance our toys and gadgets in the hunting and fishing sport, our natural resources will not, do not, and cannot keep pace. I won’t try to answer the moral or ethical questions for these approaches. I will say we seem predisposed with the “could we do it” and not “should we do it.” A special thanks to Scott McLeod and Ellis Powell of the Texas Parks and Wildlife for their discussion and pertinent data on this subject. What’s that drumming I hear!? It’s not the Rockport band percussion section, and it’s not the Nuge and Cat Scratch Fever. Nonetheless it’s music to my ears. It’s croaker season, and it’s what a lot of guides can’t wait for. Trout and reds can’t resist these golden wonders. They ain’t cheap, but the fish action can be off the charts. A few words of advice—keep your live well water fresh and well oxygenated.

Why would anyone want to win that bad? was my thought. Weeks later an acquaintance called and wanted to talk to me about drone-hunting predators and get my thoughts. He was working on a projectile that could be used on a drone for the purpose of eradication. My curiosity was now tweaked. Even though I thought it was a long shot, I called a friend and Game Warden and was almost embarrassed to ask the question. His response floored me. “Yes, it’s happening, and we get more and more calls about drones, but mostly it’s more of a hunting question and not so much fishing. “Further, most hunters want to use the drone to locate wounded deer etc.” TPWD has tried to address the drone in their hunting rules and regulations, but as one reads it, the interpretation creates a lot of grey areas, even for Game Wardens. The regulation is pretty definitive in its literal definition. Its application, however, like some other regulations, can be troublesome for wildlife officers. The regulation states: “Except with permits issued by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the use of drones to hunt, drive, capture, take, count or photograph any wildlife is unlawful. This includes locating wounded animals as well. Permits required from our department are an Aerial Management Permit (AMP) and a Land Owner Authorization (LOA). Department rules are adopted under the framework and guidelines of the Federal Airborne Hunting Act. Under federal law it is a violation to use an aircraft for any of these activities unless a permit is issued by the respective state. Federal guidelines specify the states may only issue these permits for the management of wildlife such as Trap Transport and Transplant (TTT) or depredation species and certain predator species. At no time would recreational or sport hunting be lawful and violation of these rules is a Parks and Wildlife Class A misdemeanor and under certain instances may violate the Federal Lacy Act.” The regulations go on to define crisply what it means to hunt, trap, capture, take, kill or even attempt to do the same. The word “attempt” is important. If you’re trying it, you’re guilty. Further, the FAA has regulations for drone use, and they again are evolving as this rapidly growing industry takes root. Commercial use has different regulations from those that apply to hobbyists. Drones over a certain weight require registration. This too, will change, in my opinion, as the technology (lighter, cheaper, faster, better) advances. 50

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••• COPANO BAY: Most debris from Harvey has been marked, but caution is still advised. I do as |

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well on free-lined shrimp here as any bait. Match the hook to the bait (meaning too large a hook and not enough action by the shrimp, too small and the hook will miss the fish). The area just off the west shoreline near Mission Bay is a good spot for reds and trout. Again, free-lined is the trick. Reds like Red Fish Point this time of year. The trick is to work the shrimp on the deep edges around this point. ARANSAS BAY: Nine Mile Point is a good place for black drum and a few flounder. Peeled shrimp and mud minnows work well here. This was a high debris area, so proceed with caution. ST. CHARLES BAY: A trolling motor works well just off Big Sharp Point. This is a good place for reds using cut mullet under a bubble cork. The area off Meile Dietrich Point is a good spot to set up for reds using finger mullet on a light Carolina rig. CARLOS BAY: Some good black drums are hanging in the area off Cedar Reef. Peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig works well here. Wades in the Cedar Point area are good for trout and reds using mud minnows or finger mullet free-lined. MESQUITE BAY: The shallow reefs near Bludworth Island are good for trout and some flounder in the early morning. High tide is best here. Mud minnows free-lined is the ticket. The east shoreline near Brays Cove is a good spot for trout and drum. Use live shrimp for trout and peeled shrimp for the black drum on a light Carolina rig. AYERS BAY: The trout action can be good here in the later days of May. Croakers work well free-lined. Target the east shoreline but stay well off the bank in the deeper water. Some black drums may be found on Ayers Reef using shrimp under a popping cork.

THE BANK BITE WADES TO NEWCOMB POINT are good for trout using a rattle cork and shrimp. This area is best ﬁshed with a south wind. Stay as far off the shoreline as possible, then cast back to the bank.

Contact Capt. Mac Gable at Mac Attack Guide Service, 512-809-2681, 361-790-9601 captmac@macattackguideservice.com

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4/16/18 3:12 PM

Coastal Focus: ARANSAS/CORPUS :: by Contributing Editor TOM BEHRENS

N MAY A LOT OF DIFFERENT locations along the mid coast are holding fish. It’s a transition period from spring to summer, and the fish are going to be moving a lot; same with the anglers who fish for them. The coastal waters of Rockport, Aransas, Redfish Bay and all the other bays get much more traffic, especially on the weekends. This year the numbers could be even greater. One guide pointed out that a lot of construction workers who also like to fish are present, rebuilding what was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. To put it simply…it’s crowded. It’s time to talk about road rage on the bay…waders, boaters, “pot lickers” and boat ramps.

Waders The numbers of anglers wade fishing will increase with the warmer waters. One thing you don’t want to do is start cruising down close to the shoreline in your boat. Eventually you will drive right up to, around, or right in front of somebody wade fishing. One of the guides who primarily guide wade-fishing trips, Captain Kendall Kersh, offered that boaters should try to keep at least a thousand yards off the shorelines. “That way you are not taking a chance of running over somebody wading,” he said. “They are hard to see sometimes, people out in waist deep water, just their upper portion sticking up out of water. It it’s foggy or cloudy, it can get kind of dangerous. I’ve had several people almost run me over. You start waving at them, trying to get their attention because they can’t see you.”

Boating anglers On the opposite side of the debate are the boating anglers. They are working the shore-

Capt. McCune and non-guide anglers all say the same thing, “I don’t like crowds. I hate being on fish and then three or four boats come up around me.” McCune said you should have a buffer zone for every boat, not for just that one pothole. “Let’s just say I’m on Estes flats, and I know I will catch fish on this certain part of the flats. I’m not only going to want to fish the pot hole I’m fishing, but the pot holes next to it, maybe two, three, four potholes down from it, catching fish from the different locations. You work an area. Somebody sees you catch the first fish and then they are unknowingly in the second, third potholes you are working toward, or driving across the areas where you are going to fish Then you are blocked in.”

“

The coastal waters of Rockport, Boat Ramps Aransas, Redﬁsh One of the biggest complaints on using boat ramps are anglers who get their boat on Bay and all the the ramp and then stop and load up the boat others get much with all their gear. All of this should be done in the parking lot before you are in line for more trafﬁc. launching.

I saw one time where an angler forgot to put the drain plug in his boat. He backed the boat into the water, pulled off the trailer, and then discovered the water coming in. To make matters worse the motor quit. He then had to use his trolling motor to get the boat back to the trailer still sitting on the ramp, and get help loading the boat back on the trailer. No lie, it actually happened. Remember … everybody is out there to have fun, relax and catch a few fish. It can be aggravating, we know that. Everybody has to work together. Maybe the answer is to pull up and fish another spot.

They will be 500 to 600 yards up and down the shoreline.” Along St. Joe Island is a popular place for both waders and boaters. Sometimes there can be huge schools of redfish. By one count, at times there can be 30 guide boats, 15 other boats following the guide boats and waders in the middle fishing for trout. “Some of these guys are literally wading almost up to their shoulders,” said Capt. Scott McCune. “I’m three-quarters of mile off the shoreline or more, and I see this head in the water. I say to myself that’s dangerT E X A S

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‘Pot Lickers’

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Road Rage on the Bay

ous. They are wading way deeper than they should be.

line also. If you want to be a purist and get out to wade, find someplace where no one else fishes was one response on the wader/ boater situation. Don’t fish the shoreline where there are going to be 30 boats going up and down the shoreline, fishing grass beds. One boating angler got right to the point. “The waders think they own the water. They will take up a mile of shoreline. It’s like camping out on the highway with cars going by. Go to Cedar Bayou. The waders set up on the very, very popular spots that we fish. They will literally hop out of their boats and wade over and cast the same holes I’m casting to.

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Email Tom Behrens at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com |

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Coastal Focus: BAFFIN BAY :: by Capt. SALLY BLACK

Bafﬁn Shines in May

ever so slightly in front of their face. Stop and wait. Tails up means they’ve got their prey. Set the hook and hang on. With their big side fins, it’s like pulling up a Thanksgiving platter, sideways. Sight casting to black drum is one of the most under-rated fishing games on the coast. Catching redfish on a fly is an addiction. Black drum and redfish tend to hang out around the same places. However, redfish are swift feeders that will chase the fly and pin it to the bottom with a vengeance. In Baffin Bay, the redfish are big and fat and will take a fly fisherman into the backing in a hurry. Fighting these redfish requires an eight- or nine-weight, good quality rod. Any reel with a decent drag system will do, but the rod is the most important component. A good line such as an Orvis Saltwater “All-Rounder” can get the job done casting to targets either close or far. But really, get the fly close to the fish, and the game is on. For either a beginner or advanced fly fishermen, a redfish chase is both cathartic and addictive, beware! Other awesome adventures in May include a flounder run on Baffin Bay that is a well-kept secret. Last May, the flounder chase was in a specific place that has big, giant sand pockets. Tossing into the potholes with a Gulp Swimming Mullet plastic on the Black’s Magic 1/32-ounce jig head was a 100 percent success. After the trout bite and before the redfish stalk, working the big sand spots over for flounder was a great diversion from the usual. Limits of flounder were easy and it’s great to see that the TPWD rules change for flounder has made such a massive improvement. The secret flounder spot should be all of that for 2018 as well. Never, ever forget about those big trout that lurk shallow, lying in sand pockets, waiting for a meal. Singles or doubles will swim slowly in the shallow water and usually fool the shallow water angler. Around Baffin Bay they are called “Big Black Logs” because they lie on the sand. Sometimes they don’t

FTER THE BIG TROUT FRENzy of the early spring, Baffin Bay settles down to a great early summer pattern that makes everyone

happy. Most anglers are still stalking big trout shallow, albeit post-spawn fish that are not as heavy, but still trophy-sized. The main game is an early morning wade or drift for easy limits of mid-sized eating trout until about 10 a.m. on either top water lures or plastics, depending on the conditions of the day. This is when the month of May really shines. When the sun is at the right spot in the sky, mid-morning, the sight casting game begins. Early summer is the prime-time for fly fishermen and conventional tackle sight casters. All of this begins in knee-deep or less water, either walking or drifting down long shorelines of mixed grass and sand. These areas of Baffin Bay become infested with big reds and clouds of black drum, all meandering in the skinny water in search of the easy meal. Shrimp and crabs are the main dish for all shallow water feeders at this time. Black drum will eat all of the above. Plus, they dot the bottom with their open mouths, sifting around for tiny crustaceans. Tails up means they’ve got their prey. So, keeping this in mind, the presentation of the fly or lure, has to be about the same. Unlike reds, trout and flounder, they don’t usually chase their prey, but instead, like to find it as they mosey along, looking down at the bottom. Toss the fly across their path and let it sit. When the black drum wanders near, move it 52

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even look like a fish. They are big, they are elusive, and they sometimes burst out of the shallows, swimming by to give the angler “the fin.” Dial in to that shape and color for a few casts at really big trout. The shorelines of Baffin Bay and beyond are almost untouched. Most of the fish that feed there are relatively easy to sneak up on, because of the lack of boat and fishing pressure. Long, slow wades are mesmerizing. Even the birds and the wildlife are a huge part of the adventure. Baffin Bay is truly “The Last Best Place on the Texas Coast,” and the guides and clients at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun get to be a part of its wonder on a daily basis. Please come and see it for yourself by booking a trip with Marcie, our booking manager. Her phone number is 371-720-9394. The lodge can accommodate 20 anglers. Our chef and staff have customer service down to a science. Check out our new website at www. BaffinBayRodandGun.com for all of our information. The lodge is dog and family friendly. The outdoor areas include a beautiful swimming pool, a huge veranda with a bar, television and comfortable seating. Baffin Bay Rod and Gun lodge is also Orvis Endorsed for Fly Fishing and Wingshooting, meaning it has met the high standards that the Orvis Company demands. All of us are very blessed on Baffin Bay, in so many ways. Please come and experience it yourself, with your family, friends or co-workers. You’ll make great memories that last a lifetime.

Contact Capt. Sally Black at 361-205-0624 Email: Sally@CaptainSally.com Web: www.BaffinBayRodandGun.com Facebook: Baffin Bay Rod and Gun Twitter: @CaptainSally Instagram: baffin_bay_rod_and_gun

G A M E ®

4/16/18 3:13 PM

Coastal Focus: LOWER COAST :: by Saltwater Editor CALIXTO GONZALES

Beach Brawl

AY IS WHEN THE SOUTH Texas coast ends its brief spring and starts settling into summer patterns. Warm southeaster lies, puffy white clouds, and clean water in the bay and surf are the rule of the season. Anglers can really start getting into some great action in May. Plenty of coastal anglers don’t own boats, whether by circumstance or design. Plenty of anglers just can’t afford or justify the expense of a boat. Some simply subscribe to the idea that “BOAT” is an acronym for “Bust Out Another Thousand” and refuse to pull the trigger on the purchase. Even so, these anglers want to fish and succeed when they do. The Gulf of Mexico shoreline of South Padre Island offers options to fulfill the piscatorial goals of the shore-bound angler. When water warms and southeast winds begin pushing warm water along the beach, baitfish and predators alike find new territory to roam in over the bars and in the guts of the SPI shoreline. Speckled and sand trout, redfish, whiting, Spanish mackerel, and even tarpon and snook late in the month are all present to satisfy fishing appetites both subtle and gross. The lucky angler who catches four or five different species in one trip should not be surprised. Perhaps the most underrated species that roams the suds and sand of SPI is the jack crevalle. “Jackfish,” are true hoodlums who look for every opportunity to wreak havoc and chaos among hapless baitfish and anglers. The smaller species— three- to eight-pounders—storm the beaches in schools and rip into schools of baitfish with malicious abandon In the 2008 feature “Brute Thugs,” I likened a school of jacks attacking a school of bait akin to a drive-by shooting. They attack quickly, everyone scatters, and when it’s over there are no witnesses to recount the ordeal.

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hovering or swimming. A seagull or pelican swimming in the gut is a sign of a milling school of bait. Where there is bait, Blackjack Crevalle is usually lurking. As stated earlier, jackfish aren’t the only fish you will find in the May surf. Once the water reaches above 70 degrees, speckled trout and redfish also move along the beach to forage. These trout are nice tide runners who seldom need to be measured to determine whether they’re legal. Real trophies are a bit rare, but most of the fish are solid two- to four-pounders. The redfish can range from barely keepers in the 20-inch range to some thugs over 30 inches that can give the jackfish a run for its money. It’s a good idea to use a short wire leader on any of your tackle, especially if you are going to make casts out into the second gut and beyond. Spanish mackerel are ever present in the spring and on into summer, and they can winnow down a lure selection in a real hurry. If you want to target these speedsters, which include some line-peelers stretching to 24 inches, the afore-mentioned Johnson Sprite or Acetta Spoon in gold or chrome are great choices. Change out the treble with a #1/0 Sproat or O’Shaugnessy hook and a red plastic curlytail to facilitate easy hook removal. Smacks rarely jump, so you can even pinch down the barb to make hook removal even easier. Most of the fish you encounter in the surf do have a habit of making long runs, so equip yourself accordingly. A 3000 or 4000-sized spinning reel loaded with 30-pound braid and a 7½-foot medium-action rod is ideal. You can use extra line capacity if a big jack or red grabs your hook. The question is do you have the heart for a good brawl.

The big ones—beasts that can reach 30 bruising pounds—live the solitary life of a rogue and inflict their antisocial behavior on anything that can fit into their mouths. Many a beach angler has tossed a soft plastic or spoon into the breakers or guts and has almost had his rod torn out of his hands in a wrenching strike. Then he watched helplessly as line was ripped of his reel in spasms until all he has left are a bare spool and broken heart. Jackfish lack the table qualities of a redfish or trout. In fact, you’d have to be pretty desperate to choke down a bloody, coarse chunk of jack (and don’t believe what Andrew Zimmer tells you as he pops a piece of one of those gnarly boogers in his mouth; he’ll eat anything). But what the fish lack in food quality, they make with availability. In May, jacks may only be surpassed by whiting in how plentiful they are in the surf. When the trout and redfish are scarce and the smacks are beyond casting range, the jackfish will save the day—unless you want to catch a bucket full of whiting, and that’s okay, too. The angler who decides to tackle a beach bully like the jack needn’t worry about lure selection. Much to a more discriminating angler’s chagrin, the jack will hit the same array of soft plastics, plugs, and spoons that more desirable game fish like. Still, the most productive lure, perhaps because of the relative durability of the product, is the classic Mirrolure. The ageless 51-M is a very good choice. Spoons such as the Tony Acetta or Johnson Sprite are also effective. and can be cast more effectively into the wind when Southeasterlies are gusting. Drive down the beach and watch both the water and the shoreline. If you encounter an area with heavy shell on the beach, pull over and make a few casts. Start in the first gut—especially on high tide, when the water can be up to three feet. Work your way out to the second gut if there is no reaction. Don’t hesitate to turn around and make some casts behind you. I latched into a 30-pound jack once that was closer to the beach than I was. Then it about knocked me over when it stormed by me. Also watch the water for jumping bait or birds F I S H

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THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Convention Center Shoreline SPECIES: Speckled trout, redﬁsh TECHNIQUES: Wade to the sand/grass line and cast either live bait or soft plastics.

Email Cal Gonzales at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com |

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Saltwater: n Upper Coast n Mid Coast n Lower Coast Freshwater: n Piney Woods

Strike Gold with West Mat Specks

Freshwater: n Prairies & Lakes n Panhandle n Big Bend n Hill Country n South Texas

GPS COORDINATES are provided in two formats: “Decimal Degrees” (degrees.degrees) and “Degrees and Minutes” sometimes called “GPS Format” (degrees minutes.minutes). Examples (for Downtown Austin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777, W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N30 16.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manual for information speciﬁc to your GPS device.

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Golds Bayou GPS: N 28 35.328, W 96 2.286 (28.5888, -96.0381)

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: North Jetty GPS: N 29 21.352, W 94 43.15 (29.3559, -94.7192)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Small soft plastics in a translucent color CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-1871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventures.com TIPS: During the month of May Capt. Kersh is wading two to three feet of water looking for trout. LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Deep Reef GPS: N 29 30.802, W 94 40.581 (29.5134, -94.6764)

led Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, live croaker or live Piggy Perch CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 ﬁshing@pdq.net www.galvestonﬁshinguides.com TIPS: Fishing the jetties: “Free line a live croaker or piggy perch. Add a small split shot weight. Upgrade your hook to a #4 or #6 treble hook. LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Dollar Reef GPS: N 29 26.339, W 94 52.356 (29.4390, -94.8726)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, live croaker or live Piggy Perch CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 fishing@pdq.net www.galvestonfishinguides.com TIPS: “There should be some outstanding fishing around the reefs the around the water flowing in from around the jetties…the near entrance reefs. Use a popping cork with live shrimp under it.” Capt. Williams

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LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: San Luis Pass Flats GPS: N 29 04.584, W 95 07.131 (29.076405, -95.118847)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, live croaker or live Piggy Perch CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 ﬁshing@pdq.net www.galvestonﬁshinguides.com TIPS: Capt. Williams prefers the Bass Assassin soft plastics in a pink/pearl, chartreuse/pearl, or chartreuse// gold along with a 1/8 oz. jig head. LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou GPS: N 28 31.094, W 96 12.617 (28.5182, -96.2103)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Small soft plastics in a translucent color CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-1871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventures.com TIPS: “Focus on ﬁnding bait activity…no activity you usually are not going to catch any ﬁsh.” Capt. Kersh LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Maverick Bayou GPS: N 28 34.592, W 96 3.625 (28.5765, -96.0604)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Small soft plastics in a translucent color CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-1871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventures.com TIPS: Capt. Kersh’s favorite soft plastic color is the Down South White ice. “I use something a little more translucent keying in on the grass. Use a 1/8 oz. jig head.” LOCATION: Sabine HOTSPOT: Jetty Tower GPS: N 29 39.314, W 93 49.872 u TAP FOR (29.6552, -93.8312) ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, live croaker or live Piggy Perch CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260

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ﬁshing@pdq.net www.galvestonﬁshinguides.com TIPS: Silver or gold Johnson Sprites and either the 51m704, 51m54 or 51mshp MirrOlures will take their share of trout in May.

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Play the Top 40 for Specks & Reds

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: Copano Bay HOTSPOT: 40 Acre Reef GPS: N 28 4.543, W 97 11.209 (28.0757, -97.1868)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Cut Mullet CONTACT: Capt. Scott McCune 361-563-8862 Scott@fishintexas.com www.thesaltwatercowboy.com TIPS: “Early in May if we can find live shrimp, we will be fishing shrimp in the potholes.” Capt. McCune LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: South Bay GPS: N 27 54.282, W 97 3.254 (27.9047, -97.0542)

4/16/18 3:13 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Cut Mullet CONTACT: Capt. Scott McCune 361-563-8862 Scott@fishintexas.com www.thesaltwatercowboy.com TIPS: If it’s not windy I will be in deeper water areas going for trout, and redfish second. LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Corpus Christi Bay Wells GPS: N 27 44.764, W 97 11.141 (27.7461, -97.1857)

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Cedar Point GPS: N 28 14.184, W 96 39.659 (28.2364, -96.6610)

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LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Yarborough Flats GPS: N 27 18.447, W 97 26.293 (27.3075, -97.4382)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Daniel Land 361-876-7610 rdhunting16@yahoo.com TIPS: “Gulp, free lined along the ﬂats will also work for the redﬁsh.” Capt. Land

LOCATION: Redﬁsh Bay

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Nathan Beabout 210-452-9680 nmsaguide@gmail.com nmsportsmansadventures.com TIPS: Capt. Beabout’s favorite soft plastic colors are Strawberry Wine and Pumpkin Seed fished with a 1/8 oz. jig head. “Vary the retrieve until you find what the fish want.”

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Cut Mullet CONTACT: Capt. Scott McCune 361-563-8862 Scott@fishintexas.com www.thesaltwatercowboy.com TIPS: Heavy winds: “I’d be fishing for trout first on windy days, unless I’m on a big redfish school.” Capt. McCune

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Cut Mullet CONTACT: Capt. Scott McCune 361-563-8862 Scott@fishintexas.com www.thesaltwatercowboy.com TIPS: Capt. McCune’s go to bait in May is live croaker, but if he is on a good redfish bite, he will use dead mullet.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Cut Mullet CONTACT: Capt. Scott McCune 361-563-8862 Scott@fishintexas.com www.thesaltwatercowboy.com TIPS: Capt. McCune is Carolina rigging croaker or shrimp, consisting of a small sliding egg weight and a Kahle hook. LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Lydia Ann Channel GPS: N 27 51.11, W 97 3.298 (27.8518, -97.0550)

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HOTSPOT: East Flats GPS: N 27 48.991, W 97 7.139 (27.8165, -97.1190)

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Bafﬁn Bay Teaming with Trout

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Kennedy Shoreline GPS: N 27 14.567, W 97 25.459 (27.2428, -97.4243)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Live Shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Daniel Land 361-876-7610 rdhunting16@yahoo.com TIPS: “The trout will start feeding on live croaker in May. Hook the croaker by the anal ﬁn. Live shrimp under a popping cork over deep rocks works well.” Capt. Land LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Kieberg Point Rocks GPS: N 27 17.337, W 97 35.202 (27.2890, -97.5867)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Live Shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Daniel Land 361-876-7610 rdhunting16@yahoo.com TIPS: “Freeline the croaker using a Bay Finger Chatter weight.” Capt. Land usually has a foot-long leader under the cork, but it all depends the depth of the water being ﬁshed. “You want just enough leader length to keep the bait off the bottom.”

LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: South Shore Rocks GPS: N 27 14.436, W 97 33.568 (27.2406, -97.5595)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Daniel Land 361-876-7610 rdhunting16@yahoo.com TIPS: “Berkley Gulp, white, under the popping cork will work if live shrimp are not available.” Capt. Land

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GPS: N 27 12.779, W 97 23.85 (27.2130, -97.3975)

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LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: The Badlands

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Daniel Land 361-876-7610 rdhunting16@yahoo.com TIPS: “I typically use 6/0 Mustad croaker hook when using croaker. Give a spot about 15-30 minutes. If you don’t have a taker by then move on.” Capt. Land

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Fork Bass Take a Coffee Break

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Coffee Creek GPS: N 32 56.6039, W 95 30.3606 (32.9434, -95.5060)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures: frogs. popping type baits, Zara Spooks CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: May is a great time to ﬁsh top water baits on Lake Fork. Baits like frogs, popping type baits and spooks will catch those big bass as they feed up after the spawn. This is my favorite time of the year to catch bass on Lake Fork. The baits with white a belly will work the best. The shad are trying to spawn this time of the year and the bass are feeding on them in the shallow water. The lily pads will be about the size of a pancake in May and will be loaded with bass. Glade, Burch, Little Caney, Running and Coffee creeks will be great areas to ﬁnd top water action. Give me a call or text 940-902-3855 to set up your trip or check our www.lakeforktrophybass.com website for booking details. I furnish everything for your trip.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Goose Prairie and Sand Island GPS: N 32 42.078, W 94 6.7979 (32.7013, -94.1133)

GPS: N 30 24.607, W 95 34.890 (30.410114, -95.581501) u TAP FOR ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Watermelon swim baits, swim jigs, big Texas-rigged worms CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakeﬁshing.com TIPS: Fish the open grass and lily pad ﬂats in these areas with the swim jigs and swimbaits. Fish your large 8-10-inch Texas-rigged worms on the cypress trees in 3’-5’ of water in the main areas. The bass in May will be in both spawning and post spawn stages. LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Lewis Creek

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows and crappie jigs CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-661-7920 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: “The crappie will be finished spawning and move out to the brush piles this time of year. I like to focus on brush in 12 to 14 feet of water early in the mornings and as the day wears on move out to the 16- to 20-foot brush piles. I like using minnows rigged up on a slip bobber with a bobber stop tied to my line, so I can adjust the depth so my minnow swims just above the brush. This method has proved itself over several years and helps you avoid snagging in the brush. When I use a jig I always know the shallowest point of brush and use the countdown method: 1001,1002 and so on. This keeps

my bait where I want it without hanging up. The kicker to the whole thing is if you get distracted you will probably hang it up. For jig ﬁshing I like using a 6- to 8-pound line so there is not much room for error. Good luck and good ﬁshing! Bank Access: Stowaway Marina” LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 52.962, W 95 36.558 (32.8827, -95.6093)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures (poppers and frogs), crankbaits CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: “May on Lake Fork one of the most action-packed months by far! Bass are nearing the end of the spawn

4/16/18 3:14 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS cycle and are eating to replenish, and they are all running on a high metabolism. Mother Nature starts the shad spawn at this time to feed the need (perfect timing by the way). So early top water lures and crankbaits on windy points are a great place to start. Then it’s time for more top water action. Fish poppers on calm wind days around edges of grass and stumps. Topwater frogs up in the grass make for some exciting ﬁshing.

LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: The Lump GPS: N 30 41.172, W 95 5.658 (30.6862, -95.0943)

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SPECIES: White Bass & Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Jigging white slabs, Tsunami Zombie Eyes, trolled Pet Spoons on downrigger CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: “White bass will migrate back to the mid-lake and lower lake humps and ridges in early May. Look for days when the wind will be blowing less than 10 mph here. Fish the slope of the drop off 11’ to 15’ deep. White’s will push shad up on the ridges in a feeding frenzy. When you get on them here you can load the boat. Feel for strikes on a falling jig. Bounce or “”yo-yo”” the jigs off the bottom. Also keep an eye out for the birds working, indicating schooling whites on the surface. LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: The “Snake Pit” GPS: N 31 45.786, W 93 50.8739 (31.7631, -93.8479)

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SPECIES: Bream BEST BAITS: Crickets, earth worms, meal worms CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: May is the month to take a kid fishing and the best way to get a kid hooked on fishing is to take him bream fishing. In May the bream will be on the beds in shallow water. Cruise the shoreline and look for honeycomb circles along sandy banks. Once you find a bed, pick off the fish from outside to inside so you don’t spook the fish. The White Bass will also be ganging up on the north end sand bars.

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The Lake Granbury Striper Lowdown

by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Lower End Near Dam GPS: N 32 22.659, W 97 42.009 (32.3777, -97.7002)

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SPECIES: Striped bass BEST BAITS: Live shad, Willow shaped Slabs, bucktail jigs with a curly tail CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 TIPS: Live shad worked near feeding flats. Downrigging jigs near channel ledges near baitfish can help locate active fish. Live shad fished on a Carolina rig fished 15 to 25 feet down is hard to beat. LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 51.1859, W 96 52.014 (32.8531, -96.8669)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Bass: spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps | Crappie: minnows and jigs CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: For bass, throw spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps along the weed lines. Bass ﬁshing is especially good at the dam, by the banks and near the timber under the bridge. Crappie are under the bridge at night this time of year. Minnows and jigs are your best bet right now.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake and South Main Lake GPS: N 32 14.3159, W 96 7.1339 (32.2386, -96.1189)

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SPECIES: Hybrid Striper and White Bass BEST BAITS: Slabs CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: This month we are “slabbing” for white bass and hybrids. Fish all points and humps mid-lake and south with slabs. Focus on 8’ to 16’ and bounce the slabs along the bottom. Remember, many ﬁsh like to hit on the fall of the slab.

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LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: 300 Yards North of Dam GPS: N 32 52.709, W 97 27.951 (32.8785, -97.4659)

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SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Slab with a ﬂy 12” above the slab CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnysguideservice.com johnnystevens@1scom.net TIPS: This area just north of the damn is a series of humps and ridges. This area was created to supply the dirt to build the damn. Use your electronics to check the slopes and humps. When you locate the ﬁsh anchor on them and use a vertical jig method on them. If you prefer to cast to them. Use a slab and jig combo and let it go to the bottom and hop it back to the boat.

LOCATION: Fayette County Reservoir HOTSPOT: Main Point Flat GPS: N 29 56.616, W 96 44.694 (29.9436, -96.7449)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Fish have spawned. The south wind is blowing bait into this point, so prospects are good here. Anchor 4 feet deep and fish toward the shore but not too close to shore. Tight lines are best here.

4/16/18 3:14 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Reservoir HOTSPOT: Hot water Discharge Shoreline GPS: N 30 38.2559, W 96 3.1739 (30.6376, -96.0529)

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Elm Creek Park Area GPS: N 33 8.3339, W 96 26.16 (33.1389, -96.4360)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: The power plant is shut down until June. Shallow water next to deeper discharge water will hold shad and thus fish. Use slip cork to suspend bait above fish here. LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 42.348, W 97 20.8799 (30.7058, -97.3480)

SPECIES: White Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: White Bass: top water plugs, Coho Minnow lures | Crappie: crappie jigs, live minnows CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Sandies will be out of the creeks and hunting the shallows for spawning shad. Fish top water plugs or cohos. Crappie will still be spawning here and there. Fish in depths of 2-15 ft. with a crappie jig or minnow. LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Flat Creek GPS: N 32 12.996, W 95 32.9999 (32.2166, -95.5500)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/32 or 1/16 oz. crappie jig CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: “Right now, the crappie are coming off the spawn and are very hungry and aggressive. They have used lots of energy in the spawn and are feeding like no other time of the year. You are wasting time to use minnows at this time of year. All you need is a 1/32 or 1/16 oz. jig of any kind and the crappie will tear it up. If you want to get the best results you need to tip the jig with a Berkley PowerBait Crappie Nibble. I like the white color, but all colors will work as good as the next. I use white because it doesn’t stain the boat carpet as bad as others. Find any artificial or natural brush in 6 to 15 feet of water and vertically fish the jig. You should get action everywhere, but some spots will hold larger fish than others. Just keep moving until you find the spot with the big ones.”

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: White Shimmy Shakers, Big Eye Jig in black/blue and chartreuse/white spinnerbait, long jerkbaits CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com rickysguideservice.com TIPS: “Bass fishing prospects are good this time of year. Fish are being caught up to the 10-pound range on white Shimmy Shakers, Big Eye Jigs, spinnerbaits and long jerkbaits. Best depths are 2-6 feet. Work the back of Flat Creek, concentrating on the flats with flooded grass.” LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Dam Rock Island GPS: N 30 18.66, W 96 32.604 (30.3110, -96.5434)

T E X A S

F I S H

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SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut Shad, CJ’s punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Fish are spawning around the rocks in this area. Fish the rocks along the shoreline using slip corks to suspend your bait. LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: The North End & Washita Point GPS: N 33 52.296, W 96 41.514 (33.8716, -96.6919)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad jigs, top water plugs, live shad CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: “May is most fishermen’s favorite month of the year on Lake Texoma. Most of the stripers are finished with the spawn and are roaming the lake. Large schools of post spawn fish are hungry and will strike on artificial lures and live bait. Cast Pencil Poppers and big Chug Bugs on the shallow banks early in the mornings. After the top water bite, switch to 1 oz. white Sassy Shad jigs or live shad. Work the jigs on main lake ledges to 30’ depths. Drift or anchor with live shad on the same ledges. Limits of the fish are common, and May is an exciting month on Lake Texoma. Bank Access: Plater Flats, Washita Point” LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Whitney Hump GPS: N 31 54.672, W 97 20.868 (31.9112, -97.3478)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: “The edge of Whitney Hump can be awesome this time of year for big stripers. Look in 18’ to 24’ of

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FISHING HOTSPOTS water along the edge of the hump and drop live shad on a Carolina rigs straight down to the bottom and reel up 3 turns off the bottom. Stripers are coming off the hump and also in the deeper water alongside the hump. Keep a good set of binoculars handy and watch the shallow water between Towash and Whitney Creeks from the hump. If you see bait fish flipping and birds lining the shallows, go run the shallow flats and throw top water baits like pencil poppers and Zara spooks for great top water action. STRIPER POINT: Some mornings the cranes and blues herons are lined up on the shoreline feeding on the shad. If you see that anchor out in 18’ to 20’ of water and cast live shad on a Carolina rig up shallow and hang on! Let the fish run for a second then cross their eyes with a solid hook set! If there are no birds along the shoreline, then back off to about 30’ and use live shad on a Carolina rig and fish between 18’ to 21’ below the boat. BANK ACCESS: LAKE WHITNEY STATE PARK” LOCATION: Ray Roberts Lake HOTSPOT: Main lake Brush Pile GPS: N 33 23.392, W 97 3.126 (33.3899, -97.0521)

TIPS: May is undoubtedly one of the best times to be on the water. Nice weather and both the white bass and crappie are as consistent as they come. Most of the fish have spawned and are heading back to the main lake with a few still hitting the creeks and they are hungry. Look for the white bass in large schools feeding heavy in early mornings and evening. I start my search around main lake points starting out deeper 25’ to 30’ and working my way shallow depending on where the bait fish are at that particular time of day. Slabs work very well when they’re in the deeper water and any shad colored, or flashy lure will work when they’re shallow. Crappie can still be found in the creeks this time of year depending on the weather but also held tight to main lake structure. I like to bounce around quite a bit directing my focus to trees and piles close to creek channels and occasional shallow rocks early and late in the day. Fishing jigs or minnows underneath a slip bobber is your best bet as these fish can change depths throughout the day just like the whites. LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: 309 Flats GPS: N 31 59.094, W 96 8.0099 (31.9849, -96.1335)

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SPECIES: Crappie/White bass BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs and slabs, ﬂashy or shad colored shallow baits (crankbaits, roadrunners) CONTACT: Justin Wilson 214-538-2780

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CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: “May is my FAVORITE MONTH of the spring as the warmer temperatures have arrived, much of the early spring rain is gone and the white bass fishing is as good as it gets. While you may experience a little bit of top water action, most fish will be caught on the humps, points and roadbeds on the main lake on 1 oz. silver slabs. Check out the always reliable 309 Flats in the 20-30-foot range. Watch for the birds and bait and load the ice chest!”

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Dam Good Bass Action on Henry

by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Dam Area GPS: N 33 3.702, W 101 3.192 (33.0617, 101.0532)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: RSR 1 oz. silver slabs, Rat-L-Traps, Sassy Shad, Lil’ Georges SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Bass jigs, worms (like Senkos), shakey head jigs rigged with a worm, top water lures CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net http://www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: “May on Lake Alan Henry will find the bass in full spawn. In the clear water you can find lots of bass on the beds. These bass will hit a worm or jig while guarding the bed. Fish can be caught in the dingy water by just fishing with jigs or worms such as Senkos, shakey heads with a worm, and some will hit a top water lures. To find the bedding bass, just go to any clear water area, get on the bank, and look for the beds. Clear water will mostly be found toward the dam. Dingy water will be up river and in some of the creeks.”

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4/16/18 3:14 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Lake Cisco HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 26.375, W 98 59.849 (32.43958, -98.997489)

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SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, umbrella rigs, jerkbaits, crankbaits, worms CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr., TPWD 325-692-0921 TIPS: Lake Cisco is a great reservoir for largemouth bass fishing. The clear water makes it an optimal place for using flashy lures such as spinner baits, umbrella rigs, as well as bright colored jerk and crank baits. Texas-rigged or whacky-rigged worms or crawdads in watermelon, white, bubblegum should yield a bite when fishing off shoreline structure.

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LOCATION: Lake Stamford HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 2.9099, W 99 36.534 (33.0485, -99.6089)

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SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Slabs, spinnerbaits, live minnows. CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr., TPWD 325-692-0921 TIPS: May is a great time to land white bass at Lake Stamford. Early morning and at dusk, ﬁshermen can often ﬁnd white bass shoaling at the surface while feeding on bait balls. Lures such as white or chrome colored slabs, 1/8-1/4 oz. spinnerbaits (white and/or chartreuse), as well as live minnows may yield a successful catch. During the day, slabbing mid-water column may be the best technique.

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Harris Bend GPS: N 32 51.705, W 98 25.896 (32.8618, -98.4316)

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SPECIES: Striped bass/Hybrids BEST BAITS: Jigs, crankbaits, soft plastics CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: May is one of my favorite months. Weather has ﬁnally settled and water temps are hitting the 70s. So, ﬁshing is great! This is the time for just about anything matching the actions of a wounded shad. When downrigging, we use jigs tipped with Mister Twister curly tails. They are deadly on hybrids and stripers. Trolling big hard baits and soft plastics works, too. Even crankbaits and RatLTraps.

4/16/18 3:14 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Harris Bend GPS: N 32 51.705, W 98 25.896 (32.8618, -98.4316)

Canyon Striper, Whites & Crappie

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by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Evans Creek GPS: N29 30.22296, W100 55.6938 (29.503716, -100.928230)

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Buzz the Points for Coleto Bass

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Ridges and Humps - Upper Half Lake GPS: N 30 51.096, W 98 24.972 u TAP FOR (30.8516, -98.4162)

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 28 43.41, W 97 10.2359 (28.7235, -97.1706)

SPECIES: Striped Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad and slabs CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@gmail.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Striper and white bass fishing action is excellent this time of year. Fish live bait drifting or anchored or use jigging slabs in 20 to 30 feet. Concentrate on ridges and humps in the upper half of lake.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Buzzbaits in black or white, Zoom flukes in pearl white CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: May can be a great month for bass fishing as there are a lot of fry in the water. On Coleto I like fishing up in the rivers. It all depends on the water level on the days I fish. I usually always throw my Zoom pearl white split tail fluke dipped slightly in chartreuse and rigged weightless. Early morning, they will hit it top water style but then, as the sun comes up, I let it sink about a foot. Buzz baits are fun this time of year also. I throw a 1/2ounce Lunker usually white or black and retrieve it as slow as I can around hydrilla. Anywhere from 1 foot to 4-5 foot deep water.

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LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Dam Area GPS: N 30 45.3899, W 98 25.3679 (30.7565, -98.4228)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Threadfin shad CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: The striper maybe heading to the dam. It depends on if we have had a warm Spring or not! If it stayed cool, we will be catching them around the windy points where the threadfin shad are on their spawning run. Threadfin shad will spawn up to 6 times a year so throughout out the year you can catch them. Stripers, hybrids, white bass, etc. love to eat threadfin shad!

ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, swimbaits, topwaters, plastic worms CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648, stan@amistadbass.com, amistadbass.com TIPS: The bass will be in all phases of the spawn. Some will be caught on topwater lures shallow. My favorite is to ﬁsh the deeper points near creek channels slow-rolling spinnerbaits or on crankbaits. Some bedding ﬁsh can be seen on non-windy days.

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SPECIES: Striped Bass, White Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Hogies 4” Super Shad pearl/black back CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 capt.steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com http://www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Look for the striped bass to be shallow (20-40 feet). They will be suspending over the river channel and feeding on the point in this area. Fishing the Super Shad close to the bottom produces fish in this area. Tight lines and fish-on!

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Amistad Bass in All Phases of Spawning

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Canyon Park Point GPS: N 29 53.2559, W 98 13.638 (29.8876, -98.2273)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Slabs, cut shad CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: Slabbing structure is a quick way to fill your limit for a fish fry, and fresh dead cut shad is also the ticket. Start shallow, about 10 feet, and work your way out of coves, off points and move out until you hit a breakline or find fish. Repeat exactly what you did to catch the first fish and continue. Before you know it, you’ll have your limit.

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T E X A S

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4/16/18 3:14 PM

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

MONDAY

30 l

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:13 AM 11:59 AM 4:15 PM 11:19 PM

1.55 ft. 1.04 ft. 1.24 ft. 0.02 ft.

8:00 — 10:00 PM

FEET

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:38a Set: 7:53p Moonrise: 8:43p Set: 7:18a AM Minor: 6:04a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:28p PM Major: 12:16p Moon Overhead: 1:34a Moon Underfoot: 1:58p

May 1« High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

7:07 AM 12:48 PM 4:25 PM 11:54 PM

PRIME TIME 1.57 ft. 1.15 ft. 1.25 ft. -0.00 ft.

8:30 — 10:30 PM

FEET

Sunrise: 6:37a Set: 7:54p Moonrise: 9:38p Set: 7:56a AM Minor: 6:54a AM Major: 12:42a PM Minor: 7:18p PM Major: 1:06p Moon Overhead: 2:21a Moon Underfoot: 2:45p

Low Tide: High Tide: FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

12p

12a 12a

WEDNESDAY

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

8:02 AM 1:48 PM 4:15 PM

1.56 ft. 1.24 ft. 1.26 ft.

9:00 — 11:00 PM

FEET

12p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 6:36a Set: 7:55p Moonrise: 10:32p Set: 8:38a AM Minor: 7:46a AM Major: 1:34a PM Minor: 8:10p PM Major: 1:58p Moon Overhead: 3:09a Moon Underfoot: 3:34p

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide:

12:32 AM 8:59 AM

0.02 ft. 1.53 ft.

5:00 — 7:00 AM

FEET

Sunrise: 6:35a Set: 7:55p Moonrise: 11:24p Set: 9:22a AM Minor: 8:39a AM Major: 2:27a PM Minor: 9:04p PM Major: 2:51p Moon Overhead: 3:58a Moon Underfoot: 4:22p

Low Tide: High Tide:

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

9a M A Y

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T E X A S

12a 12a

F I S H

12p

12a 12a

G A M E ®

4/17/18 12:18 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

FRIDAY

54p 56a : 12:42a : 1:06p

55p 22a : 2:27a : 2:51p

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide:

1:13 AM 10:00 AM

0.08 ft. 1.50 ft.

12:00 — 2:00 AM

FEET

SATURDAY

Sunrise: 6:34a Set: 7:56p Moonrise: None Set: 10:08a AM Minor: 9:33a AM Major: 3:21a PM Minor: 9:57p PM Major: 3:45p Moon Overhead: 4:46a Moon Underfoot: 5:11p

Low Tide: High Tide:

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12p

1:58 AM 11:02 AM

0.17 ft. 1.47 ft.

12:30 — 2:30 AM

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

PRIME TIME

12a 12a

Sunrise: 6:34a Set: 7:57p Moonrise: 12:13a Set: 10:57a AM Minor: 10:26a AM Major: 4:14a PM Minor: 10:50p PM Major: 4:38p Moon Overhead: 5:35a Moon Underfoot: 5:59p

12p

12a

SUNDAY

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide:

2:49 AM 11:58 AM

0.26 ft. 1.44 ft.

1:00 — 3:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:33a Set: 7:57p Moonrise: 12:59a Set: 11:48a AM Minor: 11:18a AM Major: 5:06a PM Minor: 11:42p PM Major: 5:30p Moon Overhead: 6:23a Moon Underfoot: 6:46p

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

READING THE GRAPH

FEET

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Day’s Best Score

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon

l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter

= First Quarter

«= Good Day by Moon Phase 12a 12a

12p

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F I S H

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4/17/18 12:18 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

MONDAY

7 »

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide:

3:46 AM 12:41 PM

0.36 ft. 1.42 ft.

11:30P — 1:30A

FEET

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:32a Sunset: 7:58p Moonrise: 1:42a Set: 12:40p AM Minor: ----AM Major: 5:56a PM Minor: 12:07p PM Major: 6:19p Moon Overhead: 7:10a Moon Underfoot: 7:33p

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:48 AM 1:13 PM 8:55 PM 11:06 PM

0.45 ft. 1.39 ft. 1.04 ft. 1.06 ft.

12:30 — 2:30 AM

FEET

Sunrise: 6:31a Sunset: 7:58p Moonrise: 2:23a Set: 1:34p AM Minor: 12:31a AM Major: 6:42a PM Minor: 12:54p PM Major: 7:06p Moon Overhead: 7:57a Moon Underfoot: 8:20p

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

12p

12a 12a

WEDNESDAY

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:51 AM 1:37 PM 8:20 PM

0.53 ft. 1.37 ft. 0.94 ft.

1:30 — 3:30 AM

FEET

12p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 6:31a Sunset: 7:59p Moonrise: 3:01a Set: 2:28p AM Minor: 1:15a AM Major: 7:27a PM Minor: 1:38p PM Major: 7:50p Moon Overhead: 8:43a Moon Underfoot: 9:05p

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:45 AM 6:50 AM 1:57 PM 8:15 PM

1.11 ft. 0.61 ft. 1.35 ft. 0.79 ft.

2:30 — 4:30 AM

FEET

Sunrise: 6:30a Sunset: 8:00p Moonrise: 3:37a Set: 3:24p AM Minor: 1:57a AM Major: 8:09a PM Minor: 2:20p PM Major: 8:32p Moon Overhead: 9:28a Moon Underfoot: 9:51p

13 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

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12a 12a

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

FRIDAY

t: 7:58p 34p : 6:42a : 7:06p

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:59 AM 7:44 AM 2:15 PM 8:29 PM

1.21 ft. 0.70 ft. 1.32 ft. 0.60 ft.

9:30 — 11:30 AM

FEET

SATURDAY

Sunrise: 6:29a Sunset: 8:00p Moonrise: 4:13a Set: 4:21p AM Minor: 2:38a AM Major: 8:50a PM Minor: 3:01p PM Major: 9:13p Moon Overhead: 10:14a Moon Underfoot: 10:38p

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12p

3:02 AM 8:36 AM 2:32 PM 8:56 PM

1.33 ft. 0.80 ft. 1.31 ft. 0.39 ft.

5:00 — 7:00 AM

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

Sunrise: 6:29a Sunset: 8:01p Moonrise: 4:49a Set: 5:19p AM Minor: 3:19a AM Major: 9:31a PM Minor: 3:43p PM Major: 9:54p Moon Overhead: 11:01a Moon Underfoot: 11:25p

PRIME TIME

12a 12a

12p

12a

SUNDAY

t: 8:00p 24p : 8:09a : 8:32p

13 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

PRIME TIME 4:01 AM 9:28 AM 2:48 PM 9:29 PM

1.46 ft. 0.92 ft. 1.31 ft. 0.16 ft.

11:00A — 1:00P

Sunrise: 6:28a Sunset: 8:02p Moonrise: 5:26a Set: 6:20p AM Minor: 4:01a AM Major: 10:14a PM Minor: 4:26p PM Major: 10:38p Moon Overhead: 11:50a Moon Underfoot: None

FEET

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

READING THE GRAPH

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Day’s Best Score

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon

l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter

= First Quarter

«= Good Day by Moon Phase 12a 12a

12p

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MONDAY

14 l

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

4:58 AM 10:19 AM 3:03 PM 10:07 PM

1.58 ft. 1.05 ft. 1.32 ft. -0.04 ft.

12:00 — 2:00 PM

FEET

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:27a Sunset: 8:02p Moonrise: 6:06a Set: 7:23p AM Minor: 4:47a AM Major: 11:00a PM Minor: 5:13p PM Major: 11:26p Moon Overhead: 12:42p Moon Underfoot: 12:15a

15 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

PRIME TIME 5:56 AM 11:12 AM 3:17 PM 10:50 PM

1.68 ft. 1.18 ft. 1.35 ft. -0.22 ft.

12:30 — 2:30 PM

FEET

Sunrise: 6:27a Sunset: 8:03p Moonrise: 6:49a Set: 8:29p AM Minor: 5:39a AM Major: 11:53a PM Minor: 6:06p PM Major: 12:20p Moon Overhead: 1:36p Moon Underfoot: 1:08a

Low Tide: High Tide: FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

12p

12a 12a

WEDNESDAY

16 «

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:55 AM 12:09 PM 3:30 PM 11:36 PM

1.74 ft. 1.29 ft. 1.38 ft. -0.33 ft.

1:30 — 3:30 PM

FEET

12p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 6:26a Sunset: 8:04p Moonrise: 7:37a Set: 9:34p AM Minor: 6:36a AM Major: 12:22a PM Minor: 7:05p PM Major: 12:51p Moon Overhead: 2:34p Moon Underfoot: 2:05a

17 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

PRIME TIME 7:57 AM 1:14 PM 3:39 PM

1.77 ft. 1.38 ft. 1.41 ft.

8:00 — 10:00 PM

FEET

Sunrise: 6:26a Sunset: 8:04p Moonrise: 8:31a Set: 10:38p AM Minor: 7:39a AM Major: 1:24a PM Minor: 8:09p PM Major: 1:54p Moon Overhead: 3:34p Moon Underfoot: 3:04a

Low Tide: High Tide:

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

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FRIDAY

t: 8:03p 29p : 11:53a : 12:20p

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide:

12:26 AM 9:01 AM

-0.37 ft. 1.75 ft.

9:00 — 11:00 PM

FEET

SATURDAY

Sunrise: 6:25a Sunset: 8:05p Moonrise: 9:30a Set: 11:39p AM Minor: 8:46a AM Major: 2:30a PM Minor: 9:16p PM Major: 3:01p Moon Overhead: 4:35p Moon Underfoot: 4:04a

Low Tide: High Tide:

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12p

1:22 AM 10:04 AM

-0.33 ft. 1.71 ft.

9:30 — 11:30 PM

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

Sunrise: 6:25a Sunset: 8:05p Moonrise: 10:33a Set: None AM Minor: 9:53a AM Major: 3:38a PM Minor: 10:23p PM Major: 4:08p Moon Overhead: 5:35p Moon Underfoot: 5:05a

PRIME TIME

12a 12a

12p

12a

SUNDAY

t: 8:04p 0:38p : 1:24a : 1:54p

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide:

2:21 AM 11:03 AM

-0.22 ft. 1.64 ft.

10:00P — 12:00A

Sunrise: 6:24a Sunset: 8:06p Moonrise: 11:38a Set: 12:35a AM Minor: 10:58a AM Major: 4:44a PM Minor: 11:27p PM Major: 5:13p Moon Overhead: 6:34p Moon Underfoot: 6:05a

FEET

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

READING THE GRAPH

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Day’s Best Score

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon

l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter

= First Quarter

«= Good Day by Moon Phase 12a 12a

12p

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MONDAY

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

3:26 AM 11:52 AM 7:20 PM 8:56 PM

-0.06 ft. 1.56 ft. 1.08 ft. 1.09 ft.

11:00P — 1:00A

FEET

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:24a Sunset: 8:07p Moonrise: 12:42p Set: 1:26a AM Minor: 11:58a AM Major: 5:45a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:12p Moon Overhead: 7:29p Moon Underfoot: 7:02a

22 º

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:37 AM 12:32 PM 7:23 PM 11:21 PM

0.14 ft. 1.47 ft. 0.88 ft. 1.05 ft.

7:30 — 9:30 PM

FEET

Sunrise: 6:23a Sunset: 8:07p Moonrise: 1:45p Set: 2:11a AM Minor: 12:27a AM Major: 6:40a PM Minor: 12:53p PM Major: 7:06p Moon Overhead: 8:21p Moon Underfoot: 7:56a

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

12p

12a 12a

WEDNESDAY

PRIME TIME

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:53 AM 1:04 PM 7:48 PM

0.36 ft. 1.38 ft. 0.65 ft.

1:30 — 3:30 AM

FEET

12p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 6:23a Sunset: 8:08p Moonrise: 2:46p Set: 2:52a AM Minor: 1:17a AM Major: 7:29a PM Minor: 1:41p PM Major: 7:54p Moon Overhead: 9:10p Moon Underfoot: 8:46a

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:07 AM 7:09 AM 1:30 PM 8:17 PM

1.12 ft. 0.56 ft. 1.31 ft. 0.42 ft.

8:30 — 10:30 AM

FEET

Sunrise: 6:22a Sunset: 8:08p Moonrise: 3:44p Set: 3:29a AM Minor: 2:01a AM Major: 8:13a PM Minor: 2:25p PM Major: 8:37p Moon Overhead: 9:58p Moon Underfoot: 9:34a

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK

FRIDAY

t: 8:07p 11a : 6:40a : 7:06p

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:33 AM 8:21 AM 1:52 PM 8:48 PM

1.23 ft. 0.75 ft. 1.26 ft. 0.21 ft.

4:00 — 6:00 AM

FEET

SATURDAY

Sunrise: 6:22a Sunset: 8:09p Moonrise: 4:42p Set: 4:05a AM Minor: 2:43a AM Major: 8:55a PM Minor: 3:06p PM Major: 9:18p Moon Overhead: 10:44p Moon Underfoot: 10:21a

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12p

3:45 AM 9:27 AM 2:12 PM 9:20 PM

1.34 ft. 0.91 ft. 1.24 ft. 0.04 ft.

5:00 — 7:00 AM

FEET

+3.0

12a 12a

Sunrise: 6:22a Sunset: 8:10p Moonrise: 5:38p Set: 4:41a AM Minor: 3:23a AM Major: 9:35a PM Minor: 3:46p PM Major: 9:58p Moon Overhead: 11:30p Moon Underfoot: 11:07a

PRIME TIME

12a 12a

12p

12a

SUNDAY

t: 8:08p 29a : 8:13a : 8:37p

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

4:46 AM 10:28 AM 2:29 PM 9:52 PM

1.44 ft. 1.05 ft. 1.23 ft. -0.08 ft.

11:00A — 1:00P

Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:10p Moonrise: 6:34p Set: 5:16a AM Minor: 4:04a AM Major: 10:16a PM Minor: 4:28p PM Major: 10:39p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:53a

FEET

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

READING THE GRAPH

Moon Overhead

+3.0

Moon Underfoot

+2.0

Day’s Best Score

Fishing Score Graph

+1.0

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Days Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon

l = Full Moon » = Last Quarter

= First Quarter

«= Good Day by Moon Phase 12a 12a

12p

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MONDAY

28 «

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:39 AM 11:26 AM 2:43 PM 10:23 PM

1.51 ft. 1.15 ft. 1.24 ft. -0.15 ft.

11:30A — 1:30P

FEET

TUESDAY

Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:11p Moonrise: 7:30p Set: 5:54a AM Minor: 4:47a AM Major: 10:59a PM Minor: 5:11p PM Major: 11:23p Moon Overhead: 12:16a Moon Underfoot: 12:39p

29 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

PRIME TIME 6:28 AM 12:24 PM 2:51 PM 10:56 PM

1.54 ft. 1.22 ft. 1.25 ft. -0.17 ft.

7:00 — 9:00 PM

FEET

Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:11p Moonrise: 8:24p Set: 6:34a AM Minor: 5:33a AM Major: 11:45a PM Minor: 5:57p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 1:03a Moon Underfoot: 1:27p

Jun

Low Tide: High Tide: FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

12a

12p

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WEDNESDAY

30 l

PRIME TIME

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

7:14 AM 1:41 PM 2:33 PM 11:31 PM

1.55 ft. 1.26 ft. 1.26 ft. -0.16 ft.

7:30 — 9:30 PM

FEET

12p

12a 12a

THURSDAY

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:12p Moonrise: 9:17p Set: 7:16a AM Minor: 6:22a AM Major: 12:10a PM Minor: 6:46p PM Major: 12:34p Moon Overhead: 1:51a Moon Underfoot: 2:15p

31 « High Tide:

PRIME TIME 7:59 AM

1.53 ft.

8:00 — 10:00 PM

FEET

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:12p Moonrise: 10:07p Set: 8:02a AM Minor: 7:14a AM Major: 1:01a PM Minor: 7:38p PM Major: 1:26p Moon Overhead: 2:40a Moon Underfoot: 3:04p

Low Tide: High Tide:

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

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Special SECTION

A FATHER’S DAY Gift Guide

F DEAR OLD DAD LOVES the great outdoors—and if you’re reading this right now we figure there’s a pretty good shot he does—what could be a better Father’s Day gift than fishing, hunting, or camping gear? Nothing! Here are a few top gift ideas that

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are sure to put a smile on your favorite father’s face. BINOCULARS — What outdoorsman wouldn’t be stoked to unwrap a new pair of binoculars? Just make sure the model you get matches the activities dad enjoys most. Hunters,

by Lenny Rudow

campers, and others who spend most of their time on dry land can use more magnification (the first number used in a binocular’s rating) and a lower field of view (the second number). But anglers who fish from a boat need no more than 7X or 8X magnification unless gyroscopic stabilization is part of the mix. They also need a wider field of view,

4/10/18 4:03 PM

Fish Game DADS

The author and his son, Max, with a nice ﬂounder on a father and son ﬁshing trip.

with 30 to 50 usually considered about right. Otherwise, the motion of the boat

makes it impossible to focus on a far-off item. No matter what the binoculars will

be used for, consider it a plus if they’re waterproof, nitrogen-filled (which prevents fogging from abrupt temperature changes), and have a shock-absorbing rubberized armor. FISHING RODS AND REELS — These are rather intimate items to an angler, so before you go shopping make sure to inspect the rods and reels dad currently has in the garage and match them as best you can. If his arsenal is chock-full of spinning gear make sure to get more of the same, for example. Also check to see if your loved one prefers braid line or mono, and have his new reel spooled up with an identical type of line. JUMPER PACKS — Does dad still have a set of jumper cables in his truck or boat? If so, a great gift would be a new jumper pack. Thanks to recent advanced in lithium-ion batteries, you can now get a power pack small enough to fit into your pocket, but potent enough to crank over a car or an outboard — without needing PHOTO: LENNY RUDOW

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Fish Game DADS the assistance of another vehicle. Added bonus: these little wonders can also be used to juice up a dying cell phone, camera, or any other electronic device charged via a USB port. LURES AND TACKLE — If dad’s an angler he surely needs more lures and tackle. But don’t just go to a tackle shop and start buying; every angler has his or her own preferences when it comes to what they cast. Instead, go through his tacklebox. Ignore all the shiny stuff and look for well-worn lures with rusty hooks, which are a sure sign they get used. Then snap off a cell phone pic or three, and you’ll be able to match them perfectly. Also look for soft plastics, because these

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PHHOTO: LENNY RUDOW

Fish Game DADS

Lenny and Max after bagging a couple of snow geese.

get torn up by the fish and are in need of constant replacement. Finally, nearempty jars of artificial bait are another item he’ll be on the lookout for. If you’re still unsure, a gift card to your local tackle shop is always a safe bet.

pre-dawn hours, he’d surely love to have a night-vision scope. And while these used to be prohibitively expensive, today you have several brands to choose from with pricing all the way down to just a few hundred dollars. They’re available in both hand-held and rifle-mounted versions, plenty of models are waterproof for marine use, and some can even take and save snapshots of the thermal images they spy.

NIGHT-VISION SCOPES AND MONOCULARS — If dad stays out in the woods after dark or leaves the dock in the 82

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Fish Game DADS OUTDOORS ACTION-CAMS — Taking video of the big catch, the hunt, or any other exciting outdoor activity will help your favorite father share the action with family and friends. These days you have a number of them to choose from, including some that are designed to be worn on hats or helmets, others with multiple mounts and cases, some that can capture 360-degree footage, and some that are designed to be rigged in-line on fishing gear to capture underwater views. You can now control these cameras from your cell phone and even live broadcast your video back home or to the world at large. SATELLITE COMMUNICATION DEVICE — Nothing says “we love dad” like a safety device that could save the life of a boater, backpacker, hunter, or anyone else who enters the wild. In remote areas cell phones don’t always work, and there are several satellite communicators available these days which cost just $150 to $300. Some put out an SOS with exact location data, and more advanced ones also allow you to send simple text messages from anywhere on the face of the planet. SOLAR CHARGERS — If the man you’re shopping for likes taking extended excursions into the backcountry, his gizmos are sure to run out of power. That problem is easily solved by gifting him a solar charger. Look for models that fold up for easy storage and transport, have internal lithium-ion batteries (so they can store the power they gather for later use after the sun has gone down), and mul84

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Fish Game DADS tiple USB ports so he can feed more than one gadget at a time. SUPER-COOLERS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Every outdoorsman needs a good super-cooler to take on hunting or fishing trips and camping excursions. While there used to be just one dominant brand there are now many to choose from, and most are built to last for many, many years. Plus, pricing for these incredible iceboxes has come down in recent years. TRUCK ACCESSORIES â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Every outdoorsman loves his truck, so help him jazz it up a bit. Rugged floor mats, fishing rod racks, gun racks, off-road lights, tool

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Fish Game DADS boxes, and bed liners are just of the few things that should put a smile on dad’s face. You say he drives a Yugo? Then this might just be the year to give him the Father’s Day gift of the century — you

know what to do!

sport, and need a constant resupply (just be sure to match up your gift exactly to

HUNTING GEAR — One thing about hunting: you can never have enough gear. That’s partially due to the fact that hunters use ammunition up as they enjoy their

Affordable Dad’s Day Quests I KNOW MANY OF US WOULD like to be able to bless our fathers with the outdoor quests of their wildest dreams. But reality is that some of us can barely afford to buy them a card, much less an overseas excursion. This year I decided to have a little fun with this and suggest some quests that might not by be so glamorous, but won’t Chester break the bank Moore either. POOR BOY’S BIG FIVE The African Big Five consists of an elephant, rhino, Cape buffalo, lion and leopard. That’s several hundred thousand dollars in hunt fees and taxidermy bills. So, here is another angle on the concept. Watusi bulls are a great elephant replacement. They are from Africa and have huge horns not unlike the elephant’s tusks. Believe it or not, numerous Texas ranches offer Watusi hunts. Imagine the thrill as you approach the massive Watusi bull in the brush as it chews its cud. You get closer, and it still chews its cud. Your professional hunter (who is really your teenage son in khakis) hands you your double rifle, which is actually Grandpa’s double barrel 12 gauge with slugs. You get even closer, and the cudchewing is halted as the bull defecates.

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the specs of the ammo he already uses). But it’s also because hunting dads just At this point, you realize you are close enough to this deadly creature to touch it. Then the moment of truth arrives. It looks you square in the eyes. You raise your rifle in fear, and it walks right up to you to get a scratch under the chin. Riveting stuff. For the rhino, I searched high and low for a stand-in. I thought I would bring back my childhood of shooting at insects in the backyard. Dad could break out the Red Rider BB gun, head to the thickets of East Texas and hunt the legendary rhinoceros beetle. Sure, they’re tiny; but considering size, their horn is huge. With a Red Rider you would have to get within five yards to kill it, so there is your challenge. Now that I think about it, it’s probably more challenging than driving around in a jeep looking for a rhino to shoot. You wouldn’t even have to pay a taxidermist to mount it. Just let it dry in the sun a few hours, and there you go. It’s not politically correct to kill lions anymore, right? So, what if we created a catch-and-release challenge? In place of killing a lion, Dad has to catch a thickfurred, tawny-brown feral house cat by hand, then take it to the vet to get it neutered. That’s the thing to do these days. Then he can do what all-animal rightists love—release the cat back into the wild. You know, right where it continues eating native songbirds and small mammals by the hundreds. That’s going green in style, right there. By the way, there’s a bonus if Dad gets clawed or contracts cat scratch fever. After all, lion hunting is supposed to be dangerous. What’s a safari without some human bloodshed? A black Angus bull could replace the

plain like stuff—slings, holsters, camo, decoys, scopes, rangefinders, gun cases, camping gear, boots, you name it. And if there’s any spare room in the gun safe, well, we hope you choose a gift that can fill the gap.

Dear Mom and kids: if you find this section of the magazine sitting open on the kitchen table with any of the above items circled, underlined, or highlighted... Hint, hint.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u

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Cape buffalo. Sure, you probably won’t get that infamous charge, but the beef industry has been telling us for the last decade that certified Angus beef is the only variety worth eating. This way, you get the big black bull and some great hamburger meat. You might even get one to charge you if you shake a feed bucket just right. We go Cajun for the leopard replacement. That’s right we go out with a gig to seek out leopard frogs in the coastal brackish marshes. Wait, they are too small for gigs, so Dad has to catch them by hand. He’ll be ok as long as he doesn’t accidentally grab one that’s in the grip of a cottonmouth. THE BROWN WATER ROYAL SLAM The IGFA recognizes six fishing slams where anglers have to catch a number of recognized species in a given category. The most prestigious is the billfish slam. With trips to exotic locales, this slam is as much about living a lifestyle that Robin Leach would have reported on in the ’80s, as it is about catching fish. Your Dad deserves something more attainable, so I have created the Brown Water Slam. BOWFIN: Also known as choupique, grinnel, mud fish and mud marlin, this fish fights hard and jumps when caught. That makes it a great marlin replacement. Any fish that can literally be found in sewage ditches is worthy of pursuit. Everyone wants to catch a survivor like that. Bullhead: Also known as a mud cat, these fish bite when nothing else will and where nothing else dares to swim—well, except maybe for the bowfin. The rule in this slam is the bullhead has to be caught in a bar ditch. A creek won’t do. This is the brown water slam and murkiness is our vibe. GASPERGOU: Talk about prestigious. Any fish called “goo” is something anglers around the world dream about. Uglier than a bullhead or a grinnel, these fish are found in major rivers and reservoirs 90

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in the state. They tend to congregate where the water is a little more brown, than clear. BUFFALO: Yes, they are nearly impossible to catch on a rod and reel. Sure, they have more bones than a carp and taste half as good, but the buffalo gets huge.

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Saltwater TV legend Mark Sosin might tangle with a broadbill swordfish, but has he ever caught a buffalo? My friend Mark Davis of Bigwater Adventures has caught more sailfish than the speckled trout I’ve caught, but has he

tangled with the suckerfish of Texas? Forget the champagne and caviar. Pass the Dr. Pepper and Moon Pie, please. After all, Dad deserves a Father’s Day gift he will never forget.

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Texas TASTED by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Corn and Crab Bisque SOMETIMES ON THE WEEKEND, WE like to make up some type of a soup, or a gumbo and just kind of graze on it all afternoon with a good cold and relaxing cocktail. This is a recipe I found while searching for something fresh and flavorful that I could prepare at an invitational cook-off on a friend’s ranch in Schulenburg. Well, it turned out so good, that I felt I had to share it with all of my loyal readers. I hope you enjoy this as much as we have! This recipe is by Chef John Folse, of Lafitte’s Landing Restaurant in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, and of the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It’s a gold medal winner in culinary competition. I made it for a soup cook-off on a ranch in Schulenburg, Texas. They all loved it, and I hope all of you guys will, too. It takes a little time to prepare, but the results are well worth the effort. I added a little zesty flavor with my spice, but otherwise it’s awesome! 2 teaspoons Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice Salt and white pepper to taste Make a stock with the corncobs and 5-6 cups water, reducing until 4 cups remain. In an 8-quart stockpot, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the corn, onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic. Sauté for 5-10 minutes or until vegetables are wilted. Add the flour and whisk until a white roux is achieved. Do not brown. Add the stocks, one ladle-full at a time, stirring constantly until all the stock is incorporated. Bring to a low boil, reduce to a

3 cups fresh-cut whole kernel corn, plus milk from cobs 1-pound jumbo lump crabmeat 1-cup butter 1-cup onions, diced small 1-cup celery, small dice 1 cup red bell pepper, small dice 1/4 cup minced garlic 1-cup flour 5 cups crab or fish stock 4 cups corncob stock 2 cups heavy cream 1/2 cup sliced green onions 1/2 cup chopped parsley 92

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simmer and cook for 30 minutes. Add heavy cream, green onions and parsley, and cook an additional 3 minutes. Gently fold in the lump crabmeat, being careful not to break up the lumps Season to taste with salt and white pepper. YIELD: 12 servings Bon Appetit!

« Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com

PHOTO: BRYAN SLAVEN

4/10/18 3:57 PM

Outdoor DIRECTORY Guides & Outfitters

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TEXAS FRESHWATER

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HUNTING SOUTH TEXAS

DFW METROPLEX MID TEXAS COAST

NEW 2018 EDITION LAKE LIVINGSTON

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

www.FishandGameGear.com T E X A S

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REDFISH Galveston Bay Nine-year-old Madeline Alvarenga reeled in this bull red while ﬁshing on Galveston Bay. The bull gave her a ﬁght, but she kept strong.

SPECKLED TROUT Port Mansﬁeld Caitlyn Lyssy caught this 25-inch speckled trout while ﬁshing at Port O’Connor.

SPECKLED TROUT Upper Laguna Madre Brittany Herrera with her ﬁrst keeper trout caught while wade ﬁshing. She caught the 4-pound, 24-inch trout just of bird island in the Upper Laguna Madre.

BLACK DRUM San Luis Pass C.J. Knight with a 32-inch, 20-pound black drum caught in the surf at San Luis Pass.

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SEND YOUR PHOTOS TO photos@FishGame.com For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital ﬁles only, please.

Also Enter our PHOTO CONTEST: FishGame.com/texas-hotsots-upload No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

REDFISH Undisclosed A beaming Justin Trevino shows off this 40-inch redﬁsh, the biggest saltwater ﬁsh of his career.

REDFISH Palacios Axel Hyde of Palacios, four years old at the time, caught this redﬁsh while ﬁshing with his dad Bradley near their home. Dead shrimp did the trick.

WHITETAIL

CRAPPIE

Menard County

Lake Fork

Ryan Sanchez took this buck on the Henderson Ranch in Menard County. He was six years old at the time and it was his ﬁrst deer. He’s been around hunting since birth.

Rusty Signor of Austin caught this white crappie while ﬁshing with Ricky Vandergriff of Ricky’s Guide Service on Lake Fork.

SPECKLED TROUT Nueces Bay Michael Garner caught these two specks, 20 and 23 inches, while ﬁshing on Nueces Bay.

SPECKLED TROUT Indianola Konnor Oliver and Jacob Tice caught their ﬁrst keeper speckled trout while ﬁshing at Indianola.

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