Texas Fish & Game September 2018 by Texas Fish & Game

Catching Early Flounder Strange Bow Tricks That Work Return of the Croaker Run? 1809-September-CoverDIG.indd 1

Managing September 2018 | $3.95 Deer with Rifles www.FishGame.com 8/14/18 11:26 AM

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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

The Fish Rapper

PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

T SEEMS LIKE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. TECHNICALLY, IT WAS THE PREVIOUS century. Way back in the nineteen-nineties, before Wars on Terror, Great Recessions, and rabid non-debates on Gun Control, Immigration, Race, Religion, the Climate, the Kardashians and other grave topics, the world actually had a sense of humor. Back then, it was socially acceptable to laugh at the absurdities of life and poke fun at people and institutions that took themselves too seriously. The term “politically correct” was still more of a guideline than a rule. College campuses didn’t require Crying Closets® and Safe Zones. Apology Tours were unheard-of and unnecessary. In short, people could Take a Joke. And there was plenty of source material to work with. Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, Newt Gingrich, O.J. Simpson, Rush Limbaugh, Martha Stewart, Congress, Dead Elvis, Paris Hilton, Joe Camel, Dennis Rodman... a cast of real and fictional characters ripe for the ridiculing. Roseanne Barr was fat and liberal. Alec Baldwin was thin... and liberal. Ross Perot was still a household name. “Household names” was still a common phrase. In that climate of cooler heads and, well, cooler everything, where common sense still had a fighting chance, we launched “The National Fish Rapper.” Just for laughs. The Fish Rapper was conceived as a parody publication that poked fun at the fishing and hunting industries as well as at the world at large. It was mainly a way for us to blow off steam and exercise creative muscles not usually needed for covering the outdoors. It also gave us a clever way to raise funds for a scholarship fund tied to our FFA programs—by selling parody ads and selling copies on newsstands. Photoshop was a new toy and we went a little overboard with it, The Fish Rapper creating bizarre images and photos. In the first issue, we put Bill Dance’s face on Mount Rushmore. In later issues, we put a jockey on a whitetail buck running in the Kentucky Derby and a Cadillac pulling a bass boat in a NASCAR race. We had a 900-foot-tall Ray Scott (the founder of Bassmaster) wading across the harbor in front of the Statue of Liberty, and the Soviet-era MIR space station bouncing off the U.S. Capitol Dome as Newt Gingrich and Ted Kennedy fled into the foreground. Typical stories were “Militant Bassers Occupy Lake Palestine’s West Bank” featuring a Photoshopped image of LPLO leader “Yessir Whatabass” holding a lunker, and “Gingrich Works Off Dole Debt” with the recently dethroned Speaker of the House mowing Bob Dole’s lawn (as Dole supervised in his undershorts) to pay off a loan Dole had actually made to Gingrich to cover legal debts. We published six annual issues in all, from 1995 to 2001. Why did we stop? September 11, 2001. In the 2001 issue, our Photoshop antics got the better of us. In the most eerie coincidence of our lives, we created an image for the cover that—keep in mind, this was printed in June 2001—depicted two (yes, two) airline planes flying circles around the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The silly story accompanying the image had pilots of Trump Airlines (of all things) going rogue and “buzzing” the towers, alá Tom Cruise in “Top Gun.” Needless to say, when 9/11 happened, we were stunned by this unbelievable coincidence and we immediately had all the copies of the issue removed from newsstands. Despite the issue recall, it still prompted hundreds of calls from confused and angry subscribers, some of whom saw the issue and thought it had been freshly printed and that we were making fun of the attacks. We were even contacted by the FBI, who questioned the timing of the issue’s printing. We think they were satisfied with our explanation that it was a bizarre coincidence, but you never know. So that was the last Fish Rapper. We haven’t had the heart to resume publishing it after 9/11. But we miss it. Who knows? Maybe it’s been long enough now. For the moment, we have digitized some of the original issues and you can view them at FishGame.com/fishrapper.

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

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T E X A S

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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 STAN SKINNER LISA MOORE

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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 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 September 2018 | Vol. 35 • No. 5

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Hardcore flounder anglers get a jump on the fall flounder run.

BOWHUNTING SECRETS Strange bowhunting tricks that work on whitetails.

by Lou Marullo

BRIAN ROBISON: BASS VIKING Texan Brian Robison is starting his 12th season with the Minnesota Vikings, but he has just as much passion for bass fishing as he does for football.

PUNCHING BASS by Matt Williams

GUNS N’ ROSES Using rifles to properly manage deer herd numbers.

by TF&G Staff

CROAKER COMEBACK? Are the sand trout and croaker runs returning?

by TF&G Staff

DROUGHT LAKES by Chester Moore

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

COLUMNS

8 10 11 20 21 27 28

EARLY FLOUNDER by Chester Moore

COVER STORY

story & photos by Chester Moore

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FEATURE ARTICLES

Editor’s Notes

by CHESTER MOORE

Doggett at Large by JOE DOGGETT

Nugent in the Wild by Ted Nugent

Coastal Focus Columns

by Matt Williams

Texas Hotspots

News of the Nation + Texas HotShots

Sportsman’s Daybook

STUFF THAT BITES Ticks, mosquitos and other tiny terrors in the woods.

Texas Saltwater

DEPARTMENTS Fish and Game Gear

by CALIXTO GONZALES

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Texas Freshwater by MATT WILLIAMS

Texas Guns

by STEVE LAMASCUS

Texas Whitetails by LARRY WEISHUHN

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Letters

by TFG Readers

Texas Tested by TFG Staff

Industry Insider by TFG Staff

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Tides & Prime Fishing Times

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by TFG Staff

Texas Tasted by Bryan Slaven

Fish & Game Photos by TFG Readers

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LETTERS to the Editor Skunk Encounters THEY HAVE A BAD REPUTATION, but they are really docile animals. They won’t bother you unless they are attacked. When I was in the Air Force at Laredo AFB we would practice off road driving and the trucks would get really muddy. We would wash them off and there was a mama skunk with her kittens that would come out every night. It was like a duck with all her ducklings walking in a straight line behind her. From time to time we would feed them. They were as cute as can be. I think it would be a great to hear about the misconceptions about different critters. For example, the alligator gar. It is an air breather. It also will not attack people even though they have a mouth full of teeth. They go back to before the dinosaurs.

TF&G’s Editor-In-Chief took this photo nine years ago while collecting flounder with the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. It was an eight-pound class flounder. A flounder of this size turns heads. A 13-plus pounder is a true giant. There are likely fish that big out there especially with regulations giving them a chance to grow to maturity.

Alexander Reddit

ranch because they refused to kill javelinas. Seriously. They are a game animal and there is a bag limit. Our Guns columnist Steve Lamascus first brought this to our attention and wrote on the issue a few years back and I penned an editorial called The Texas Javelina Massacre on the topic in 2017. The bottom line is “managing” for deer has been bad for javelina. People should stop slaughtering them and obey the law.

Editor: I will have to write up something on animal misconceptions. It is something we try to put into many of our pieces but doing an indepth piece on the subject would be lots of fun.

Social Media Q&A HERE ARE SOME RECENT QUEStions Chester has answered on social media regarding the great outdoors and TF&G.

Q: Is it true there have been hyena sightings in Texas?

Q: What do you think is the least reported outdoor issue in Texas?

A: There have been reports of hyena typeanimals but there are very few hyenas in zoos and even fewer in private facilities in Texas, so it is doubtful there are escapees. I believe the animals people are referring to as “hyenas” are the same things getting labeled as “chupacabras”. They are coyotes with severe mange, which gives the animals a hyena like appearance although they are much, much smaller than a hyena. I got to interact with hyenas last year and they dwarf coyotes.

A: The wholesale slaughter of a native animal, the collared peccary, more commonly known as the javelina. Ranchers routinely tell people to kill all they see. According to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials their range has declined from the Red River in the 1930s to south of San Antonio now. If whitetail, mule deer, turkey or any game animal saw that kind of decline the hunting industry would be up in arms. But the javelina is decreasing dramatically and there is silence. I had someone recently share a story they were told they would not be invited back onto a 6

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Q: Do you think Texas will ever see the long-standing 13-pound flounder record |

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broken? A: Yes. I am pretty sure we will see that at some point. Current regulations allow more flounder to make it to spawning age and restrict commercial harvest, which means more opportunities for flounder to grow to maximum size. Q: What is the best part about working with Texas Fish and Game? A: The ability to actually cover the outdoors and wildlife scene with a journalistic perspective. We don’t just report on where to catch fish but why fish bite and why they don’t bite. And the conservation ethic of the owners giving much ink space to issues of at risk species and at-risk habitat is inspiring. Q: Do you think the price of deer hunting will ever go down? A: No and in fact it will continue to rise. I foresee a time when the average person will not be able to afford it at all. It is sad but true. There will of course be exceptions, but for the most part deer hunting access is decreasing due to finances.

PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

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PHOTO: CATHERINE RIOS

Catherine Rios captured this scene between Matagorda and San Jose Islands.

Wild Wildlife Sights in the Wake of Harvey AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY, MY daughter Catherine visited us from Colorado and we went fishing by airboat in

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Vinson’s Slough. We spotted this buck swimming between Matagorda and San Jose Island and Catherine snapped this picture. Nice catch—strictly catch and release.

Patrick Rios

Send Your Comments to: Texas Fish & Game 247 Airtex Drive Houston, TX 77090 editor@ﬁshgame.com

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

Honoring Outdoors Inﬂuencers

magazine and newspaper. With a jovial personality and a love for fishing and hunting, Billy Halfin is certainly someone that got Texas outdoor lovers excited about going to the field. He spent many hours pursuing game in Southeast Texas and beyond. Keith Warren is the name you will most likely know from this list. He was known early for his incredible fishing program, “The Texas Angler.” When I was 21 years old, I wrote him a letter telling him how much I enjoyed his perspective on the great outdoors. That began a decade of adventures in the field and on the water. Keith invested time in a young wildlife journalist and took me on many adventures, which he did not have to. A few years ago I ran into him at the SHOT Show in Vegas and he

CULTURE WITHOUT HONOR is a culture that will quickly crumble. Sadly, we’re seeing that all around us and the concept of honor is one that few people understand much less practice. I think we have all been guilty of it. We have entered an era where some of the most prominent outdoors ambassadors are not as well-known as they should be by the current generation. I want to change that the best I can with this column—at least from those with whom I have had some personal dealings. First off, I want to honor the late, great Ed Holder. Ed left us in 2005. He was the Outdoor Editor of the Port Arthur News for many years along with being an early leader in the Texas Outdoor Writer’s Association and a syndicated columnist. Ed was my mentor. From 1997 until his passing, he taught me so much about writing, photography and the way the outdoors business worked. We did not always agree on written style or delivery, but we always agreed that the outdoors should be for everyone to enjoy. We would both work hard to ensure that. Ed was also an activist who helped conserve much land and was deeply involved with issues involving Sabine Lake. I honor Ed for being a man of integrity and for paving the way for me as an outdoor writer. I would also like to honor Billy Halfin. Billy and I were never close. I did appear on his radio show around 22 years ago, but other than we have never spoken much. Billy however was a visible outdoor media presence in the area for many years with his weekly television appearances, radio program and various writings for |

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Some of the most prominent outdoors ambassadors are not well-known by the current generation.

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told a group of men he was talking to that, “I knew Chester Moore was going to be Chester Moore before Chester Moore did.” I will always love Keith. I also want to honor Capt. Skip James. Skip was (and is) a bit of a renegade. He did not always do things the easy way, but he was without a doubt one of my biggest career boosters. He freely shared with me information on the ins and outs of the outdoor business that put me ahead of the game. Without Skip James there is no Chester Moore. He had that big of a positive impact on me. I was loyal to Skip during rough times and Skip was always there for me behind the scenes and would show up in the middle of the night |

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to help me or my family if needed. I would not be where I am today without Skip’s friendship and advice. And the flounder recovery we have seen would not be here either. Skip and I become friends because of our love for flounders and concerns about their population. I had started writing about them intensely around 1995, and he had started lobbying for flounder conservation. I was able to take those early lessons in promoting conservation to a new level. To this day, I keep pushing for flounder conservation. Skip was the man who helped guide that goal in the early days and for that I honor him. He was the original “flounder man.” He is still by far the greatest flounder fisherman I have ever met. When I think about my relationship with Skip, I think about my favorite scene in my favorite movie—Tombstone. After a harrowing shoot-out that involved incredible heroics by Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday who in real life had tuberculosis starts violently coughing. “You ought to be in bed Doc,” said one of his compadres. “Wyatt Earp is my friend,” Holliday said implying he was sticking by his side until the end. “I’ve got lots of friends,” the compadre said. “I don’t,” Holliday said. That’s how I feel about Skip to this day— my friend. Honor is not about being right or wrong or agreeing on all points. It’s been recognizing people’s role in their calling in life. All four of these men did different things worthy of honor in the Texas outdoor scene. Who do you think is worthy of honor? We would like to know. Send us your letters at cmoore@fishgame.com, and we will publish as many as we can in a future letters section.

« Email Chester Moore at cmoore@ﬁshgame.com

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

Speckled Dreams

and stirring side-shore sediments. The “sweet southeast” that hits almost straight onshore tends to favor fishable clarity. Regardless of wind direction, a forecast calling for velocity of more than 15 or 20 miles per hour should be regarded with extreme suspicion. Sustained wind over whipping and popping flags will build the surf and almost certainly roil the inshore clarity. Too much breaking surf on the outside bar can be downright dangerous, but weak oneto two-foot surf can be a supercharger. The recurring lines of foam provide rolling “cover” and help oxygenate the water. These elements encourage roaming schools of fish to move tighter to the beach. Also important, the lines of small waves cresting and spilling, define the shallow bars (which typically run parallel to the beach) and serve as a roadmap to the soggy wader. That flat day that looks so inviting can fail to mark any abrupt “hat floater” channels. It all looks the same. Shallow fish become increasingly skittish on a calm, clear beach once the bright sun showers down. As another potential setback, the lack of wave action over a period of several days can promote stagnant water. Under super-calm conditions, early morning is usually best (especially during the heat of summer), and the first day or two of a run of “green to the beach” is prime. Moving tides is the second element for success. On a day of marginal surf clarity, a strong incoming flow might push offshore green water within reach of a long chunk with a desperate 52M MirrOlure. The parades of predatory species feel increasingly confident in the rising water level. Conversely, along the open beach, a sustained outgoing tide takes the bounty away (although good surf fishing can be had near the mouth of a free-running pass as bait is funneled through the channel from the nearby bay). The best surf fishing usually occurs during the two or three hours preceding the peak of the full tide. This window of “medium high” piles water onto the beach while providing sustained flow to keep roaming schools active. If this ice- cream period occurs an hour or

OMEWHERE BETWEEN THE outside hope of shimmering green and the inside sandbar of rolling surf runs a fleeting school of speckled trout. Intercepting such a bounty is the dream of every beachfront wader on the Texas coast. And late summer can be a great time to be there. Hitting a school of surf runners is exciting and inexpensive; no boats, no guides, no elaborate camps are necessary. The drive-to and wade-out potential is within reach of ablebodied anglers all along our crescent of barrier islands. I have waded the surf for more than 50 years, and this simple, elemental approach remains one of my favorite types of fishing—especially when “plugging” with levelwind tackle. The long cast and solid strike are all the richer by the uncluttered contact of the open Gulf. It’s a high quality experience, at least when conditions are right. Surf wading always is available, but sadly, not always good. The critical factors for bent rods out on the third bar are green water, moving tide, and concentrated bait. Getting all three to align in delicate balance isnever a “gimme.” However, barring the temporary disruption of a tropical storm, September and early October provide lingering weeks of promise. If nothing else, the gradually cooling temperatures are a break from the stagnant swelter of July and August. So also, are the pushes of rich Gulf water associated with the autumnal equinox (September 22). Water clarity is critical for plugging success in the surf. So-called “trout water” is murky green with a visibility of about two feet. “Mackerel water” is super-clear. The wader can see his boots scuffling along the waist-deep bar. Take your pick; what you don’t want is a sandy tide stirred by a mutinous south or southwest wind blowing right-to-left up the beach

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so after dawn, prospects don’t get much better. Late afternoons also can be good, especially as late-summer water temperatures start gradually dropping. The first two or three hours of outgoing tide certainly can be productive; but once the water really drains the inshore, conditions become increasingly stale. Green water and moving tide are critical components for a stringer of gleaming specks, reds and mackerel. However, the salty wader will scout for the presence of massed bait. An abundance of concentrated forage helps stack and hold restless predators along a given stretch of beach. Put another way, the absence of bait can downgrade even a green tide. Rudy “The Plugger” Grigar told me way back in the ’70s, “If I don’t see bait, I don’t stop.” The old man was right. Yes, a seemingly lifeless surf might yield the occasional fish, but the jackpot is the chain of life boiling within reach of the next cast. Drive the chosen stretch of public-access sand until you (hopefully) spot feeding activity. Rafts of nervous mullet or menhaden scattering through the lifting swells, or tight pinwheels of gulls and terns dipping and diving within reach of the outside bar are what you want. Failing these obvious indicators, a pair of binoculars can be a good ally to search for subtle signs such as popping shrimp or flashing minnows. Assuming these three factors align, the average angler with suitable equipment has a great chance of stringing at least a few fish. The simplicity of surf wading is one of its real virtues. So, too, is the satisfaction of whipping a long cast across the open shimmer and the excitement of feeling that abrupt jolt of life. As they say, “The tug is the drug.” The surf beckons but here’s one final observation: Be cautious around any free-running pass and always wear an approved flotation device amid the uncertainties of the outside bar. They don’t call it a “life jacket” for nothing.

Email Joe Doggett at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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

This Old Hunting Dog Can Learn New Tricks

WAS JAMMING AWAY ON MY Gibson Byrdland guitar again this morning after doing my chores, shooting a few arrows, running my varmint trapline and working my Labrador retrievers. Something very different happens musically when one comes straight from the enchanting Spirit of the Wild swamp directly into the guitar room with dirty, earthy essence of the wild under the fingernails. With Happy and Sadie all tuckered out resting on the floor, I turn up the amplifiers and unleash a flurry of exciting notes, patterns and licks that truly have a life of their own. Stream of swamp consciousness makes the best music ever! My adventurous near 70-year clean and sober being instinctively goes for sounds and rhythms heretofore undiscovered, and the sonic experimentation is thrilling beyond words. Not a jam session transpires where I fail to discover new, strange and always enticing licks and sounds, and the newness of it all inspires me even further into uncharted territory to seek notes and grooves that I have never attempted before. It is a lot like seeking and discovering new hunting grounds and ideas, and like everything worthwhile in life, variety is indeed the spice thereof and therein. Way back in the early years of my hunting adventures on public lands, I was always motivated to go far beyond my past explorations, looking for that magic piece of ground with more spoor, more critter sign and that mystical out of body sense that only a gung-ho deerhunter understands. Not having the faintest idea what I was doing, my mushy minded youth nonetheless was not afraid to stumble and fail, learning all I could along the way with the driving goal to

figure out just how in the hell a sneaky bowhunter could possibly penetrate the alarm zone of these miraculously evasive creatures. I learned a lot in those exploratory years and was blessed beyond measure to learn from the masters like Fred Bear, Howard Hill, Marv Leslie, George Nicholls, Ron Chamberlain and others. Just like my guitar dreams, my hunting dreams force me to try new ideas and never allow myself to stop learning or become complacent with anything resembling predictable status quo methodologies or procedures. In my recent writings I have mentioned a gentleman by the name of Tony Lapratt and his amazing Ultimate Whitetail Boot Camp. Last week I had the privilege to spend the day with this over the top, hardcore, gung-ho, obsessed deerhunter, and I am here to tell you that it was the most eye-opening day of unimaginable deerhunting lessons I have ever spent. Tony LaPratt is my new whitetail deerhunting guru, and I have been to the mountaintop! Tony, along with my son Toby and I walked our hallowed Michigan deerhunting paradise that is made up of the most phenomenal swamps, marshes, fens, bogs, lakes, rivers, streams, ridges, forests, groves, orchards and fields where Toby and I had figured we had a serious understanding of our deer and deer habits. Surely our annual sagging buckpole and endless flow of sacred backstraps indicate a reasonable grasp of deerhunting basics, but what we learned from Tony LaPratt that day had us doing a double take on heretofore presumed understanding of the most basic deerhunting truisms. We figured out scrapes and rubs and licking branches a long time ago, or so we thought! Tony educated us on an array of mindT E X A S

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dazzling details regarding these proven methodologies that really sucker punched our entrenched deerhunting beliefs. More and more hunters across America are getting more and more aggressive in their habitat manipulation to enhance and maximize deer holding conditions through agriculture uses, food plots, timber harvests and native grass restorations. It is true that not every deerhunter owns his own chunk of hunting land, but more pursue and do so each year. Tony conducts his amazing Ultimate Whitetail Boot camps across the Midwest and beyond, and the testimonies from his graduates can best be described as earth shattering! With 49 mature trophy buck bow kills to his credit, the exacting details of Tony’s boot camp education literally transforms a deerhunters grasp and understanding of buck and doe relationships to the lay of the land and how a hunter can take simple steps to create deer control zones that will hold more deer, and incredibly, more mature bucks than anyone would have ever believed otherwise. I was already anticipating the best hunting season of my life this year, but what I learned from my new best deerhunting friend Tony LaPratt has kicked up my excitement level exponentially and Toby and I are already implementing as many of Tony’s ideas and lessons as possible this summer. I couldn’t recommend more highly Tony LaPratt’s Ultimate Whitetail Boot camp for all my gung-ho backstrap BloodBrothers out there who want to increase the joys of deer season with more mature buck encounters and kills. There are myriad details involved in Tony’s lessons, so if you can possibly swing it, get ahold of this high-energy deerhunting strategist and prepare for the best deer season and fun of your deerhunting life! New tricks for old hunting dogs! Give Tony a call at 269.832.0990 and visit his website at www.tonylapratt.com

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Email Ted Nugent at tnugent@ﬁshgame.com |

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WHEN BRIAN ROBISON IS NOT training or playing with the Minnesota Vikings, he can usually be found flipping a Texas-rig around a dock or working a crankbait over deep structure. Robison is a bass fishing fan of the highest order. Football was a natural for a boy who grew up in Splendora, Texas and went on to play at University of Texas en route to the NFL but there has always been another passion his life. —fishing. “I grew up fishing in the pond behind my house and in the creek down my road. For my whole life, if I had a chance to fish, especially for bass, I did,” Robison said. Robison purchased his first bass boat in 2012 and its debut was made on a windy, drizzly day on Lake Fork. “As you can imagine the fishing wasn’t that great, but I was hooked,” he said. And he wasn’t just hooked on catching fish but also the competitive possibilities of high-level bass fishing.

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“Other players have gotten in the boat with me and thought it would just be a relaxing fishing trip, but that’s not really how it is with me,” he said containing laughter. Robison likes to put his angling skills to the test so in the off-season he fishes local tournaments and for regional organizations like Bass Champs and the Texas Team Trail. Every year his love for fishing and competition will come together for a good cause on Sam Rayburn reservoir. Robison and his wife Jayme are founders of the “Reel ‘Em In” Foundation (501 c3) and they will host an auction and tournament to raise money for K9s4COPS-an organization that helps police departments purchase K9s. “We saw a demonstration and were blown away,” he said. “Since my dad was a Houston cop for 29 years, it was a perfect fit for an organization to help out.”

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PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE; INSET COURTESY MINNESOTA VIKINGS

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TEXAS NATIVE BRIAN ROBISON: FLIPPIN’ JIGS AND TACKLING RECEIVERS story by CHESTER MOORE

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Watch the full interview with Brian Robison, at FishGame.com.

be our auction night where we have many pieces of memorabilia and other items up for live and silent auctions,” Robison said. “Our live auction includes an opportunity to bid to fish in our exclusive VIP tournament.

These highly trained dogs can make a big difference in the fight against crime. They save law enforcement lives, but they are very expensive hence the need to help out. “How we do this is the first evening will Robison was responsible for catching ﬁsh for this photo shoot. He came through, easily.

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We invite professional fishermen along with NFL football players and other notable celebrities to our event. “We then pair them by boats and auction them off. Whoever wins that bid, gets to fish with those two the following day. We’ve had names like Kevin VanDam, Brandon Palaniuk, Gerald Swindle and Jordan Lee paired with guys like Adrian Peterson, Terence Newman, Linval Joseph and of course myself. “The final day is our open tournament, and we have seen it grow every year.” Despite the extreme sports competition and passionate fundraising Robison, he goes back to a childhood favorite when things get tough. When asked if he could only fish with one lure the lifelong Texan said, “Something I can flip like a Texas Rig.” This was the first rig he learned as a youngster and it’s still a go-to when things get tough on his favorite lakes such as Fayette County and Sam Rayburn. Robison hopes others can tap into their love of fishing and support his and his wife’s foundation during their 2019 event. “It’s all for a very good cause,” Robison said. “There’s no better way to celebrate that than bass fishing on Sam Rayburn.” Having had the opportunity to spend time on the water with Robison, it is easy to see how his intensity translates to the water. “I’m definitely into fishing and approach it competitively,” he said. PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE

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Robison says good electronics are crucial to effective bass ﬁshing.

Finding bass for the photo shoot for this story came on a morning when a major thunderstorm system was headed right toward us. After watching him fish the first spot I knew we would get our fish. You can tell pretty quickly when an angler knows what he is

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doing and whether he or she is committed. There is no doubt Brian Robison is committed to bass fishing. It’s something he will likely be even more involved with as his NFL career winds down. In parting, Robison said “The great thing

about fishing it is something you can do your whole life. It’s certainly something I greatly enjoy doing.”

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ID YOU KNOW ONE OF THE BEST times to catch flounder is right now? Very few anglers other than we real hardcore flounder fans target them other than during the “fall run” which is the migration from the bays into the Gulf of Mexico. But according to my experience some of the best flounder fishing of the year is nearly two months ahead of the “run.” It is all about the stage of migration. Migrations do not happen instantaneously. Instead they occur in stages, and the first stage of flounder migration takes

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place in late August and early September. When the first cool fronts bring in large numbers of blue wing teal in the marsh, you can bet the flounder are biting. In my experience, flounder in the distant reaches of marshes move into the main channels and start staging toward the mouth. With each front comes more fish. If you play your cards right, it’s a wonderful time to score on big ones. When the first tiny cold fronts come through, the temperature drops from the upper 90s to the upper 70s for a day or two.

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Hardcore Flounder Anglers Get a Jump on the Fall Run story by chester moore COMPOSITE PHOTO: TF&G

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PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSHER

Two days after a front is prime ﬂounder time.

means a strong bite. That is why the day immediately following fronts is beautiful (clear skies with high pressure), but the fishing is subpar. Some suggest pressure over 30.20 is too high, and if it gets below 29.80 things can get a little shaky. If it is above 30 and falling you have ideal conditions. If you are fishing highpressure days, use light line, small lures and be ready for a soft bite. There is a reason the chances of catching a big fish is increased during this small window. There’s very little pressure on the fish, and the big ones that have been hiding away are moving in to key locations. You have a shot at catching them before other anglers do. Just remember to watch for tiny cool

This bite lasts about two weeks, and it can get a boost if another small front comes through. The day before a cold front usually features southerly winds and low pressure. If you can find protected water, these are great days to fish. The days before a front are slow, typically because of high pressure, which is our next step. Two days after a front is usually the premium time to fish during the fall period. Barometric pressure is probably the least understood aspect of flounder fishing and it is one I am continually exploring in relation to fishing around fronts. High pressure puts a strain on fish and typically makes them a bit finicky and sometimes not at all. Pressure that’s falling or is on a downward trend 18

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fronts blowing through and pay special attention to the teal migration. Shrimp, croakers and other baitfish are an all-important component of the flounder’s diet. However, menhaden, often called pogies or shad in Texas, are the prey source I focus on during this crucial period. At times the results are stunning. Eight years ago, my father, Chester Moore, Sr. and I watched flounder literally jumping out of the water. They were feeding on menhaden as millions congregated in a Sabine Lake cut during the storm tides spawned by Hurricane Alex. Another time I caught more than a dozen flounder in a spot the size of my desk because it was inundated with menhaden. Why are these fish so desired by flounder? It all boils down to opportunity. Of all of Texas’s bay dwelling sport fish, flounder are the most opportunistic. Due to their flat design, these fish are best suited as ambush predators and menhaden are easy to ambush. Menhaden spawn numerous times from late fall through spring. They produce numerous classes of juveniles that gather in schools, which sometimes number in the millions. These tiny fish often cannot swim well .so they are blown against leeward shorelines. This was the case with the example at the beginning of this story. Anyone who has attended my flounder seminars or one of my Flatfish University events has heard me talk about the importance of finding eddies (areas of slack water) in the bayous and along ship channels. The reason is the tiny menhaden we most frequently encounter in the spring cannot negotiate strong tides well and will often congregate in eddies. Flounder, being the consummate ambush predator, gather there as well and feed aggressively. The first spots I target are bayous, sloughs and other drains. That’s where I find concentrations of menhaden, and the first thing I look for is eddies. When these tides are running extra high, I seek flounder along the main shorelines of bay systems. Attacking vast shorelines would be a waste of time and end up in dogged frustration so you have got to have a strategy. Instead of looking over eight miles of shoreline, narrow your search down to an eighth of a mile. You must eliminate water to successfully bag spring flounder. The first step I take is to once again look for a shore-

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PHOTO: USFWS

Menhaden (shad, or pogies) are ﬂounder favorites.

line that has stands of roseau cane. Roseau cane has an intricate system that is somewhat like a smaller version of mangrove and it gives menhaden a place to linger, hide and dodge larger predators. It is best to fish these areas during the first couple of hours of a falling tide. As the water recedes, the menhaden are removed from their cover, and the predator/prey dynamic begins. The “first push” of flounder will only get headlines here in Texas Fish & Game.

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However, right now is a great time to find big numbers of flatfish in our Texas bay systems. Oh, and one final tip for this relatively unknown time frame in the flounder’s life cycle. If we have a storm in the Gulf of any kind anywhere from the Florida Panhandle to South Texas, the flounder bite will turn on like you’ve never seen. You might be fishing in Matagorda as the storm hits Mississippi, but the high tides

coming with storms in September make flounder feed like crazy. Let’s pray we don’t get any big storms this year but a little tropical storm that simply brings up the tides a bit and dumps a few inches of rain can be a big bonus during this first push period.

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

Our Best Defense

I have never heard of an unjustified ticket. I even received a ticket from a warden (I left my boat registration card in—you guessed it—my truck). As much as I hated to pay it, I can’t dispute the writing of it. Honestly, I believe we all need to ease up on the job that game wardens do. Plenty of people seem to fail to appreciate what they do. These same men and women who catch heat for writing tickets for everything from short trout to missing floatation cushions are charged to enforce not just the game laws of the State of Texas, but ALL the laws of the Lone Star State. If they stumble on a meth lab while inspecting a deer lease, they make arrests. If they stumble on some fugitive with a felony warrant

N MY 20 YEARS AS AN OUTDOOR writer, one of my great pleasures has been meeting and getting to know the men and women who serve as wardens of the Enforcement Division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard fellow anglers complain and rail about their experiences with wardens. The talk of woe usually revolves around a spot check that a game warden conducts, and more often than not, it results in a ticket. “That trout was 15 inches when I put it in the cooler. He didn’t have to give me a ticket over a lousy ¼ inch.” “I didn’t know the kids had gotten at my fire extinguisher and used it up. He didn’t have to give me a ticket over an empty fire extinguisher.” “I don’t know how that extra red got in the cooler.” “My fishing license was in my wallet. I just left it in the truck.” The refrains are different, but the song is usually the same. Too many times, the recollection of the experience is not positive, and ends with a ticket. On a handful of occasions, an angler might say a few positive things about game wardens, some even shake hands when the boarding is over. More often than not, however, the storyteller closes with something along the lines of, “don’t they have better things to do than bother fishermen?” Humph. You’d think what they were doing was pretty important. The funny thing is, there is always a reason for the ticket, never a trumped-up charge (although there was the one wag who told me that a game warden took out a perfectly legal redfish out of the cooler and flexed and stretched it until it was an untagged 28 ½ inches long). |

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Honestly, I believe we all need to ease up on the job that game wardens do.

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while conducting a safety check, they make an arrest. If they happen upon some lowlife smuggling drugs along the Rio Grande, they make an arrest. They have the same duties as any other law enforcement officers, but they don’t seem to get the credit. Instead, all too often they get disrespect, criticism, and derision. Even so, they do their jobs with professionalism, aplomb, and tact. They behave just like every other officer of the law. They also bleed just like other officers. Since 1919, more than 20 Texas Parks and Wildlife agents have died in the line of duty. By anyone’s tally, that is still too many. These men had families and friends who mourned their loss. |

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To them, these weren’t nit-picking snoops who were looking for any reason to write a ticket. These were mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, best friends and confidants who paid the ultimate price while serving all of us. Like all others who dedicate their lives to public duty, their service can’t be measured, and no gratitude is enough. If the cold numbers don’t drive the point home, let me share a story relayed to me by a retired agent. He had been patrolling the back roads north of La Joya, Texas when he came upon a pickup truck parked on the side of the road. As he shined his light on the vehicle, he could see the driver moving around in the truck. That little buzz in the back of his head that every law enforcement officer has, began to ring. He drew his weapon and ordered the driver to stay in his vehicle with his hands out the window until backup arrived. An Hidalgo County Deputy Sheriff finally arrived. The warden and the deputy proceeded to order the driver out of the truck and to eat caliche. When the driver stepped out, a .45 automatic fell out of his lap. When the deputy searched the vehicle, he found an AK-47 with an extended magazine—a “Cuerno de Chivo”—in the passenger’s seat. Both the warden and the deputy surmised that he was waiting to pick up a load of narcotics when they happened upon him. The scary part, the warden said, was that the guy had him dead to rights. No windshield of a TPW vehicle is going to stop a .45 slug or a 7.62x39 fired from an AK. When he asked the suspect why he didn’t try and shoot it out, the man simply said that he was under orders not to shoot an American LEO. When we stop to consider what these men and women mean to us, it would be a shame to have to read a news story about a game warden being shot on some lonely ranch road. Or hear about a warden who drowned while coming to the aid of anglers in distress—a real shame.

Email Cal Gonzales at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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

All You Ever Wanted To Know About Alligator Gar

T WASN’T THAT LONG AGO THAT alligator gars were considered by many to be the ugly ducklings of the Texas freshwater scene—trash fish, so to speak. They weren’t of much use to anyone other than a bow fisherman looking for a challenging target on a sultry summer night. But that’s hardly the case anymore. The toothy critters are getting lots of love and attention these days. In fact, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s inland fisheries scientists have invested a considerable amount of time and resources in recent years. They are learning all they can about Texas alligator gar populations and what makes the prehistoriclooking fish tick. The research was spurred by earlier studies conducted by the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society. Those studies indicate the species is declining or has disappeared in many areas of the southeastern United States. Habitat alteration and overexploitation by commercial fishing are believed to be among the primary causes for the downswing. Luckily, however, that hasn’t been the case in Texas. ‘gator gars, which can live beyond 50 years and grow upwards of 300 pounds and longer than eight feet, are holding their own on many lakes and river systems across the state. Once considered a “rough fish” not good for much, the fierce-looking fish is rapidly gaining popularity as a target species with sport fishermen worldwide. Many of them visit wellknown hotspots like the Trinity and Sabine rivers as well as major reservoirs like Lake Falcon, Sam Rayburn, Livingston and Toledo Bend to go after the toothy fish with rod and reel or specialized bow fishing gear. In 2009, TPWD implemented restrictive catch limits on alligator gars statewide. The rule limits anglers to one alligator gar per day,

and encourages the catch and release of large fish. The only exception is Lake Falcon, where anglers can take up to five per day. Last April, TPWD took another big step in alligator gar management when it launched a new website (tpwd.texas.gov/texasgar). The site aims at educating more people about the fish well as updating findings on TPWD gar studies. The studies are constant work in progress. “There is a lot of misinformation floating around about alligator gars regarding their impact on other fish, where they are located throughout the state and population sizes of the gar that live in our reservoirs and rivers,” said TPWD research biologist Dave Buckmeier. “This website will provide Texans with a one-stop shop to find science-based facts and information about alligator gars and clear up some of the confusion surrounding this misunderstood fish.” One of TPWD’s most recent studies on alligator gars occurred in 2014 on Falcon Lake on the Texas/Mexico border. The purpose of the study was to learn more about what the fish were eating. It also was to determine whether or not the lake’s robust alligator gar population might be having a negative impact on the lake’s valuable largemouth bass fishery. Scientists examined the stomach contents of nearly 400 alligator gars they collected using nets, jug lines and other means. A March 2015 report in TPW Magazine stated that the study showed that “game fish made up 20 percent of what the gar had consumed, with largemouth bass accounting for only eight percent. Studies at six other Texas reservoirs, dating back to 1970, showed even smaller percentages of bass in the gars’ diet, and there’s no evidence that the big fish are having a significant impact on bass populations.” While scientists have learned a lot about T E X A S

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alligator gar lifespans, growth rates and spawning habits in recent times, they still don’t know much about the anglers that chase them. Last June, they launched a voluntary survey on the gar website in hopes of learning more on the topic. The survey, which was available through July 31, targeted anglers and non-anglers in order gain as much information as possible. The survey touched on a variety of topics, including preferred means and methods for taking alligator gars and whether more restrictive regulations should be imposed in the future on certain waters. “The goal (of the survey) is to gain a better understanding of who our constituents are, how our anglers like to fish, their harvest practices, and how they would like to see alligator gars managed in the future,” said Warren Schlechte, TPWD research biologist.

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Texas Gar Facts • There are four species of gar in Texas waters—spotted, short nose, longnose and alligator. • The alligator gar is the largest of the four species and ranks among the largest freshwater fish in North America. • The unrestricted state record for alligator gar is 302 pounds. The fish was caught on a trotline in 1953 from the Nueces River. The rod and reel state record was caught in 1951 from the Rio Grande River. It weighed 279 pounds. The state record bow kill of 290 pounds was recorded in 2001 on the Trinity River. • This fierce-looking fish has rows of sharp teeth, but they have never been known to attack humans. The greatest threat the fish pose to people comes when handling them, because of their needlepoint teeth and sharp scales.

« Email Matt Williams at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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DEER MANAGEMENT BY RIFLE TF&G STAFF REPORT THE WHITETAILED DEER IS A truly amazing creature. In 1900 there were only an estimated 500,000 whitetailed deer scattered throughout North America. Now three times that many inhabit the Edwards Plateau of Texas—alone. Good management of this resource goes a long way, but the fact is at some

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level we have managed deer into trouble. There are too many for the carrying capacity of the land in certain regions. We recently came across an interesting theory by Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences that details a method of deer management hunters can utilize and get behind. It’s called the “Rose Petal Hypothesis.”

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“Research in New York found that when a group of female deer were eliminated from a local area, this area had reduced deer densities for three to five years. Picture a dominant female in the center surrounded by her female offspring whose home

PHOTO: CANSTOCK

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A Gun for All Texas Big Game

N THE TEXAS LANDSCAPE, IT IS NOT JUST WHITEtails that need to be managed. Feral hogs and a growing number of exotics such as axis and sika deer need management. The CZ Ultimate Hunting Rifle (UHR) is a CZ 550-based rifle in .300 Winchester Magnum that comes in at eight pounds and includes a minute of angle accuracy guarantee to 600 yards. In other words, it will get the job done on deer, hogs or any shy exotic standing a little farther out than under the feeder. By maintaining quality control standards unheard of in the industry, the UHR delivers a level of accuracy formerly only available from high-end custom rifle gunsmiths. The UHR allows the hunter to realize the full potential of the components in their rifle system. By guaranteeing that the rifle itself is very accurate,

the only variables left in the system are the optics, ammo and ability of the hunter. Keeping in mind the UHR is the foundation of a shooting system capable of extreme precision; a new scope mounting system is included with the rifle that matches the capabilities of the rifle. When combined with quality ammunition, optics and practice, the UHR can significantly extend your range. Good quality ammunition is another piece of the precision puzzle. The UHR includes a set of 30mm aluminum rings precisionmachined to precisely align the scope and bore. For more information on the UHR, visit the CZ-USA website at www.CZ-USA.com.

CZ Ultimate Hunting Riﬂe (UHR)

is legal, it’s evident that honeysuckle is one such food for whitetails.” Mast crops, particularly acorns are important. They are a rich source of protein and carbohydrates for deer. When they begin falling, deer will flock to these spots and ignore other food sources. Which kinds of mast crops are best to hunt over is going to depend on your loca-

ranges overlap to some degree with their mother, like the petals of a rose.” “If you pluck one or more of these roses off the landscape, you can create an area of low deer density because of the very low female dispersal rate. No new females move into the area to ‘grow’ another rose.” Plucking a rose means killing deer, and you need to take your does early. Hunters often pass on does to wait on a big buck. However when it comes to managing for actual herd reduction, shooting does is what gets the job done. Here are some facts to consider when you choose to manage by rifle.

tion. Red oaks are the hot tickets in some areas, while white oaks are like drugs for deer in others. Still others prefer pecans and various kinds of other nuts. This will take some scouting to determine.

The Right Gun: If you don’t have the right gun for the job, managing deer will be a challenge to say

Honeysuckle, a late-fruiting natural plant, is “ice cream” to Texas deer.

The Right Foods Deer will hit their favorite natural foods before taking to feeders so it’s important to know what those sources are particularly on MLD lands where hunting with rifles is allowed in October. TF&G Hunting Editor Lou Marullo said a prime example is hunters not taking advantage of the late growing season in the region and focusing on honeysuckle, which fruits in September and October. In some areas, this is an “ice cream food” for deer. “Ice cream foods are the foods wildlife managers say that deer will eat before anything else,” Marullo said. “It’s not just a standard, it’s the top food. Talking to some of the guys who hunt public land where baiting 24

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PHOTOS: RIFLE, CZ-USA; CANSTOCK

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Shooting does is the key to managing for herd reduction.

the least. Contributor Razor Dobbs said he likes the CZ 557 in 30-06. “While hunting at Sandstone Mountain Ranch in Llano with guide and friend Chris Treiber, we came across a giant whitetail buck with a broken back leg,” Dobb said. “Despite the buck having snapped a femur he was still able to evade us by darting through the thick brush.

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“As we slowly stalked through the thick stuff, the buck jumped up to run. I quickly aimed and punched him in the shoulder with 3,138 foot-pounds of .30-06. He dropped immediately.” “There isn’t a deer in North America the .30-06 won’t kill and kill quick which is one reason it is such a popular caliber,” he added. Other killer calibers include .308 and .270 and many hunters in fact are choosing to

upgrade to .300 Winchester Magnum with models like the CZ Ultimate Hunting Rifle able to allow hunters to shoot deer farther out than perhaps their grandfather’s gun would allow them to do.

The Right Attitude As mentioned before, the key is to take out does early in the season. Of course, you can shoot them throughout the season, but

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A Cool Extra for Varmints

O REAL DEER-MANAGING HUNTER LIKES TO GO out without some kind of extra varmint shooting riﬂe. The CZ 455 Varmint features a heavier, stiffer barrel than did its predecessors in the 452 and 453 lines. The 20.5-inch long, .866-inch diameter cylindrical barrel gives the 455 Varmint an accuracy advantage across the wide variety of rimﬁre loads available today. Accessory barrels available for the 455 platform, include the American and Lux (open sights), as well as other varmintweight barrels in .22 LR, .22 WMR or .17 HMR.

These barrels can be easily swapped out because of the larger universal barrel channel of the Varmint model. An even more unique edition is the Tacticool. The Tacticool Suppressor-Ready sports a 16.5-inch varmint barrel with 1/2×28 threads. This makes adding a suppressor easy as can be and eliminates excess barrel length. The shorter barrel gives plenty of time for the cartridge to get a full burn while increasing the rigidity of the barrel. This results in a riﬂe that drives tacks—quietly.

CZ 455 Tacticool

deer at participating meat processors. The processors prepare the venison for distribution to local hunger relief agencies such as food banks and food pantries. By doing this, you can give hungry Texans a heart-healthy venison meal and let them know hunters care. According to Penn State there is a catch to the Rose Petal Hypothesis. “When deer densities are lower like in the Adirondacks where the Rose Petal Hypothesis was developed, there are fewer deer and limited female dispersal however, with higher deer densities there is simply too much female dispersal to ever create a local-

chances are if you do not get them early you might forego hunting them altogether. The hunting community is constantly talking about how it is pro conservation, and this is a chance to put it into action. Keeping deer numbers trimmed down to a healthy level is good for everything from the deer to the songbirds. In addition, taking extra deer can be a good thing for people in need, which we have plenty of in our state. You can consider supporting Hunters for the Hungry. Hunters for the Hungry has provided more than nine million servings of venison to

Listen to Chester Moore and Dustin Warncke discuss this story in more detail on the latest BEST OF THE OUTDOORS podcast at FishGame.com/podcast.

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Plucking “roses” is good for the herd, and for other species on your land.

Texans in need. Through the program, hunters can donate legally tagged, field-dressed 26

ized area of low deer density. The roses just grow too darn fast.” For hunters with properties already being managed correctly, this should inspire you to take out even more does. For those in areas of Texas with “roses” growing everywhere this should give you license to focus the guns on every doe you can legally take for the sake of the land— and perhaps to help hungry Texans in the process. So, are you up for the challenge?

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PHOTO: CANSTOCK

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Texas GUNS by STEVE LAMASCUS | TF&G Shooting Editor

REMEMBER MY GRANDPA LaMascus telling me, when I was a kid, about a trapdoor Springfield .45-70 that he had for a while when the family lived near Tucumcari, New Mexico. Grandpa said he tried to hunt jackrabbits and coyotes with it, but it was so slow and trajectory was so high that he finally gave up and traded it for a .22 Long Rifle. “A jackrabbit could run a hundred yards,” he said, “before the bullet got to where it had been.” The trajectory really is high, but I think Grandpa LaMascus badly underrated the .4570. Also, I think he was more interested in shooting rabbits for food than shooting coyotes for sport. This was during The Depression, after all. When I was a kid, a lot of rifles for the older cartridges were still around. Such rifles as .3040 Krags, of which I owned a couple at various times, were common, as were .303 Savages, .32 Specials, .30 Remingtons, .32-40s, .38-55s, and many other cartridges of this general type. One day at the saddle shop in Uvalde a man tried to sell me a Savage Model 99 in .303 Savage. I was perfectly happy with my .270 bolt-action and declined. This was one of many deals I wish now I could do over. For instance, I remember one old gun trader in San Marcos who showed up one day in 1971, with a car trunk full of genuine Sharps rifles in various calibers—take your pick for $50. I was about to get married and didn’t even have $5 to spare, much less $50. I also saw many old lever-actions, mostly Model 92s and 94s, but also an occasional Model 73 in .38-40 and .44-40. Even after I had grown up and was working in a Gibson’s Discount Center in Uvalde, one of the old guns

“ The most long-lived of the bunch is the .45-70.

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Big, Old, Slow, Still Lethal

But all through this, like a golden thread woven into a tapestry, were the old cartridges that are still with us today. The most long-lived of the bunch is the .45-70. In spite of my grandpa’s opinion, this old soldier simply refuses to die. It was introduced in 1873 as the U.S. military cartridge for the trapdoor Springfield. Since that time it has been chambered in a plethora of firearms of the single-shot and lever-action types, and even in a few bolt actions. Since its introduction it has undoubtedly taken every type of big game in North America. Today it is still chambered in many different guns such as replicas of the 1874 Sharps, and Remington Rolling Block, and the modern Marlin 1895. I was just recently asked by a friend to look T E X A S

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over and appraise some old guns. When I got there they had several Model ’92 and ’73 Winchesters lying on his desk. The guns had been owned by the man’s father, but had been sold by his mother to another man. He was buying them back and wanted to know what they were worth. My mouth almost watered as I handled those old beauties. Not long ago I was in Oasis Outback, the big sporting goods store in Uvalde. In the gun shop I noticed a Model 71 Winchester on the rack. I looked at it, tried the action, looked down the barrel, and gently caressed it. It was in almost pristine condition. This was one deal I was not going to miss out on, so the horse-trading started. After the deal was done, I had traded a couple of nice guns for that old Winchester, but I think I got the better of the deal. After watching a friend of mine use the Model 71—which was only available in .348 Winchester caliber—on a deer, I was certain I had made a good deal. The deer, which was hit too far back with a 220-grain Barnes Original bullet, dropped like it had been brained. Yep, the old cartridges are still lethal. Just because the cartridge is not a modern high-velocity .300 magnum, does not mean it will not still get the job done. It may not have the range of a newer caliber, but if used within its limitations, it can be just as lethal as the new hotrods. I have killed deer with a .45-70, using 400-grain paper-patched lead bullets. Let me tell you, it is still a good deer cartridge. The game of the U.S. has not gotten one bit tougher than it was when Billy Dixon was killing buffalo with his “Big Fifty,” or when your grandpa was shooting deer with his .32-40. What has changed is that we are not the hunters they were. Maybe we should work on that instead of trying to buy some super magnum that might, or might not, make up for our ineptitudes. Think about it.

would pop up occasionally. One such was the Model 92 Winchester owned by the old man from Campwood who every deer season or two would come in and buy a box of .38-40s— one box. He said he had hunted deer with his Winchester for more than 50 years and never needed more. Even more interesting was the rare Model 1886 Winchester. There was on older gentleman who hunted on the ranch my brothers and I hunted outside of Uvalde. This was in the mid-1970s. His gun (and he was very proud of it) was a Winchester 1886 in .33 WCF. He was griping that ammunition was getting hard to find. At that time I thought he was a fossil and needed a better, more modern deer rifle. Now I wish I had a rifle just like his.

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

At Last... Fall

WO OF THOSE FOUR BUCKS look like they’re legal,” my brother Glenn said. “The eight-point on the right, when he looked our way, his inside spread is at least an inch beyond his ears. Probably a bit over 14 inches, beyond the required 13.” Glenn and I were glassing a small bachelor herd on our place west of Houston. The bucks were feeding on Japanese honeysuckle I had planted, then fertilized, the previous winter. “That ten-point looks about seventeen inches outside, he’s definitely legal,” observed Glenn. “He looks a whole lot like the brokenoff-both-back-tines buck we kept seeing last season. Glad we decided to pass him. He’s really got a nice rack this year.” I nodded in agreement. The other two bucks looked like two-year olds. Both had eight points with good tine length and nice mass. Both, too, had inside spreads right at the legal thirteen inches, based on ear tip to ear tip measurements of thirteen inches, the average for our area. Glenn and I decided they were too close to the line. They would be safe on our combined property. The two larger legal bucks looked older? The eight-point was likely three. The ten-point appeared to be a four-year-old. “I’ve got numerous trail camera photos of the ten-point. The big eight-point is similar in shape to a buck that showed up after the deer season closed.” Glenn continued, “Let’s stay here until it’s fully dark to see what comes in.” Then with a loud sigh he said, “Finally, it’s our time of the year once again!” I knew exactly what he meant. All summer we had patiently—well, not that patiently— waited as fawns were born and bucks developed their full complement of antlers. Now with the approach of autumn the mystery of what bucks would look like was solved.

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Before darkness brought an end to daylight we saw five more bucks. Three were forkhorns. The fourth buck was another legal eight point about 17 inches outside. Body size and confirmation suggested the buck might be five years of age. The fifth was another legal ten-point. On our way home we pulled memory cards from five trail cameras. Over iced tea we reviewed the photos. We found images of five more bucks, four eight points and one ten.

into ground until late September. “Austrian winter pea and triticale, but then also I want to do some over-seeding with wheat and oats,” I told him. “Then I’ll plant some small plots of various blends to see what will grow in the tighter soil and what deer will eat. If I find something that grows well and the deer really like, I’ll plant more of it next fall. What about you?” “Thinking the same. Bought a bunch of oats and wheat seed to use on my place on the

Three of those bucks were easily legal. Our game plan for the fall is for us to take a total of four bucks, two by him and his family, two for me and my family. We also plan on taking six does during the bow season. “What are you planning to plant?” asked Glenn, knowing we would not be putting seeds

prairie—planting the bigger fields more for cattle than deer. I’ll do some Austrian winter pea over-seeding along the tree and brush lines specifically for deer,” he continued. “I’ll bring my bigger tractor from the prairie for us to use to plant. When are you going to be gone?”

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I explained that I planned to spend most of my time in Texas and surrounding states this year to film hunts for our DSC’s Trailing the Hunter’s Moon television show which airs year-around on Pursuit Channel. “Not hunting Europe this fall, so September is pretty open. I’ll start getting serious on mountain hunts and whitetail hunts out west during October.” “Tomorrow I’ll check deer blinds for wasps. Later this month, I’ll hang an old coat or shirt in them so deer get used to movement and

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someone being in the blinds. I’ll also leave a pair of dirty socks each time I get back here so the deer get used to human odors around the area of the stands.” I was thankful that after many years of living more than four hours away from my property, I was now living within 30 minutes. I was thankful, too, that I had been able to lease the hunting rights on the property adjoining mine and my brother’s—property I had hunted in my early youth.

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“I’ll be back tomorrow. Need to sight-in my Ruger .300 Win Mag and my old Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter pistol in .44 Mag. I’ll grab some Hornady ammo for those and your .270 as well.” Indeed it is “Our time of the year!”

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Email Larry Weishuhn at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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EFORE YOU START TO READ this story, allow me to make a few suggestions. Grab a pen and paper to take down a few of these ideas for a quick reference so you do not forget any of them. Also, empty your bladder now so there are no “accidents” from laughing your head off. Strange as some of these may sound, they do and have worked for me in the past. You may not believe I tried some of these tricks, but take my word for it, I field-tested them all (mostly out of frustration) and they worked like a charm.

Antler Dance I always thought that I was, without a doubt, the craziest hunter out there, but I was mistaken. My good friend, Tom (whom I frequently talk about in my monthly column) has a day job at a desk overlooking a few students as they work on certain projects. Consequently, he has a lot of extra time on his hands. This gives him time to think of weird things to try for hunting success. Once, after the morning hunt was over, Tom and I met up in the woods before heading to his house for some much needed coffee. We looked out in the field adjacent to the woods. There, feeding on some soybeans, were three nice-sized does. 30 |

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Walk Like a Deer

F YOU WANT TO FOOL THAT BIG BOY, THEN TRY WALKING to your stand with a broken rhythm. Have you ever heard a squirrel when he prances around gathering his food? Three or four fast steps…stop…five or six fast steps… stop… and so on. Now, I do not expect you to close the car door and then take two or three steps and stop. But once I get 100 yards or so from my tree stand, I stop and let the other hunters with me continue walking to their spot. Once the woods have quieted down, which usually only takes about five minutes or so, I walk

came to pick me up, and we started back to the main gate. As we drove by a firebreak between two woodlots, I saw four of the beautiful white deer feeding. My driver stopped the vehicle, but I told him to keep moving which he did. After another 100 yards, I told him to let me out. I grabbed my bow and nocked an arrow. Then, I asked him to back up and once he saw the deer to keep backing the vehicle up. As it moved slowly along the tractor path, I stayed on the opposite side of the vehicle and anxiously looked through the windows. When I saw the deer, I stopped, and the vehicle kept moving. All four deer kept their eyes glued on the car and none were on me while I drew my arrow and released. What a day that was!

Step Out of the Vehicle A similar thing happened when I had a chance to hunt the world-famous white deer at the Seneca Army Depot in Sampson, NY. My guide took me to a tree stand in the pre-dawn darkness and told me to stay there until he picked me up. Although I did see some white deer, they were all off in the distance and none offered a good shot. Late that morning, my guide S E P T E M B E R

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« waited a while, and it had become full dark before we began to track it. Tom shined his high-powered flashlight in the direction the deer had traveled, and there was his arrow shining like the morning sun. It was on the ground off the beaten deer path. Had it not been for the reflective tape, we might have walked right past it. We would have missed all the information the blood on that arrow told us.

We decided that since we had a few doe tags to fill, to try our luck with something outrageous. We put our heads together (so to speak) and came up with something that even I thought I was absolutely nuts, but I agreed to try it. I handed Tom my rattling antlers and he held them on his forehead, crouched down, and with me bent over behind him, we proceeded to walk slowly right out into the field where the deer were. I was carrying my bow to my side. As soon as we stepped in the field, the three does, although at least 100 yards from us, immediately looked our way. We continued walking. Every once in a while, Tom would stop and move the antlers from side to side, then we would start up again. Closer and closer we got until we were well within my accuracy range. Although the deer started to act a little nervous, they let us get within 20 yards. That was when Tom stepped to one side still bent over as I came to full draw and shot a nice doe at 20 yards.

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like a squirrel that last 100 yards. I know you are saying to yourself, “Come on… isn’t that a bit much?” To be honest, after proofreading this, I must admit it does sound like the lights are on but no one is home I can only tell you that it has worked for me and it has worked more than once. As a matter of fact, one time I was caught still getting in my stand when a huge buck walked right in on me. My trick worked so well, he had no idea I had invaded his turf.

Reflection in the Dark My buddy Tom came up with this one as well. He put some reflective tape on the back of his arrow between the fletching and the nock. When I first saw this, I thought this was a wasted effort. Then he shot a deer. We’d |

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Dummy Stand-In Here is another one that worked like a charm for me. Now, you better sit down for this one. I would hate to have you fall down laughing. One Halloween, I saw a friend’s spooky display. In that array of horrors was a dummy he had filled with straw. It was sitting in a chair on his front porch. A light bulb blinked on in my head. I went home and fashioned my own “Halloween” dummy. The following summer my masterpiece was ready. I dressed him in camo and took him in the woods to my deer stand. I strapped my new hunting buddy up in the stand and left him there for the deer to see. The whitetails soon got used to seeing that dummy. On opening morning; a different dummy was up there. This one could draw a bow and take a deer. I was amazed at how well this worked. Pretty cool huh?

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I RECENTLY RECEIVED AN email from a reader who said they caught what they thought at first was a decent speckled trout but when they took it out of the net they realized it was a huge sand trout. I caught some that size recently under the birds in the East Pass area of Sabine Lake fishing a Gulp! Swimming Mullet under a popping cork. Sand trout are back in big numbers and size thanks to nearly two decades of bycatch reduction in the shrimping fleet. Sand trout were caught to the tune of hundreds of millions in shrimp trawls Gulf-wide according to federal research. Now with low shrimping effort and the remaining fleet much more bycatch conscious, we are seeing tons of sandies. Ditto for large croakers.

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Growing up I heard about “bull croakers” but never saw one until two years ago when I caught one that weighed 2.5 pounds, once again under the birds in Sabine Lake. One study showed nearly a billion croakers caught in trawls Gulf-wide annually in the ’90s. With bycatch reduction efforts, we are seeing more and bigger croakers as well. According to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials, Atlantic croakers “croak” by vibrating their swim bladders with special muscles as part of their spawning ritual. “A swim bladder is a pocket full of air inside the fish that helps keep it afloat and facing upright,” the officials said. “This behavior attracts females. Along the Gulf Coast, they reach sexual maturity at about one year old. This varies

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in other areas. Spawning season is in the fall, with a peak between August and October. During spawning season, females will release between 100,000 and two million eggs, each about 0.35 mm in diameter. After hatching, the larvae (immature stage) drift toward land. They are abundant on soft bottoms, such as mud, where there are large amounts of detritus for them to feed on. The Atlantic croaker’s diet includes shrimp, crabs, and detritus (dead and decomposing plant and animal matter).” This spawn period is often called the “croaker run,” and it is used to be a popular event at areas like San Luis and Rollover Pass where anglers could catch hundreds a day. Not many anglers seek out croakers on purpose anymore, but the run still exists. Although it is not as great as it used to be, there are more croakers than a decade ago. That’s a good thing for anglers who like to catch and eat these overlooked saltwater panfish.

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ON LAKES WITH AN ABUNdance of grass (hydrilla), it is not uncommon for thick mats of the green stuff to mats to form on the surface during late summer and early fall. Lake levels are typically at their lowest now, which naturally makes it easier for the grass to inch towards the surface at the end of a long growing season. Bass will sometimes bury up beneath the canopies, often times in muck so thick that the only way to get at them is to punch straight through it using a specially designed grass jig, Texas rig or punching skirt rig matched with a heavy duty flipping hook and some sort of plastic like a beaver or craw. Heavy jigs and/or weights weighing an ounce or more rule punching arenas. It’s tight quarters fishing where the bait presented so it falls vertical in the

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water column relatively close to the boat. The heavier weight allows for easier penetration through the surface mat, helps the bait get into the strike zone quicker and ultimately adds up to optimum efficiency. Bass typically bite out of reaction when the bait comes racing by on a vertical fall. It is not uncommon to snatch multiple fish—big ones—from an area no bigger than a dinner table when you stumble across a really sweet spot. Seasoned flippers often refer to this as getting into a “scrape.” If you’re planning a trip to a good Texas grass lake like Kurth, Sam Rayburn, Nacogdoches, Pinkston or Amistad this fall or looking to try the

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technique for the first time, here are a few tips to keep in mind: • GO BIG ON GEAR: The chances of closing the deal on a big grass bass are slim if you don’t use the proper gear to help get the upper hand quickly. You need a stout, heavy power rod; good quality reel; and strong, braided line. This will help you turn a big fish fast and wrestle it out of the thick cover, ideally before it wraps you up. One of the big advantages of using a good quality braided line such as Yo-Zuri Super Braid, over fluorocarbon

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Tips for Plowing Through Thick Cover for Summer Bass story by MATT WILLIAMS or monofilament is the braid will actually slice through the vegetation like a knife. The grass will ball up around fluorocarbon and mono. • TUNGSTEN ALL THE WAY: Tungsten slip sinkers are heavily preferred over lead for several reasons. For starters, tungsten is heavier than lead. That means a one-ounce weight made from tungsten is significantly smaller in size than a lead weight of equal size. The smaller weight penetrates through heavy cover easier than a big one. Plus, tungsten is much harder and louder than lead. It makes a “thunk” when it hits hard bottom, rock or a limb. That will sometimes trigger those reaction strikes. Not all tungsten weights are created equal. Some are equipped with inserts

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to prevent line wear; others aren’t. If you use a weight without an insert, make sure the edges around the top and bottom holes are smooth and rounded, or it could cut the line. • PEG IT: It’s always best to peg the weight against the head of the plastic. • THE BEST GRASS: The best grass for punching and flipping is the stuff that’s walled off in water at least 10 to 12 feet deep with a distinctive outside edge to mark the location where shallower water meets with deep. These types of places are frequently associated with creek channels, points, humps and ridges. Sweet spots or “magic stretches” within a grass mat are sometimes found around small guts, indentions, points

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or other “oddities” that might indicate a change in water depth. • STAY TUNED IN: Most strikes will occur as the bait is falling. Stay tuned in to what the bait is doing as it falls. Be ready to react quickly if you feel a slight tick or notice that the line has gone slack before it reaches bottom. When in doubt, set the hook! • PEG IT: Always use a rubber bobber stop to hold weight snug against against the head of the plastic. This prevents separation on the fall and promotes better penetration. Some anglers prefer to use a stop beneath weights larger than 3/4 ounce to help protect the knot.

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Angler Austin Terry caught this Twin Buttes Sharelunker in four feet of water.

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OR THE FIRST TIME IN more than 28 years, Twin Buttes Reservoir near San Angelo has produced a Toyota ShareLunker largemouth bass exceeding 13 pounds. On March 14, Austin Terry of San Angelo caught the 13.4— pound, 25 ¾—inch Legacy Class lunker on a Santone spinnerbait ½—ounce Red River Special. The big fish was caught in less than four feet of water. “One of our struggles in West Texas is chronic drought,” said Lynn Wright, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries District Supervisor for San Angelo. “But despite the low water levels, the bass populations are doing great out here, as evidenced by that ShareLunker. I think a lot of people are going to take notice, and we may see an uptick in fishing pressure up here in West Texas.” At the time of this writing the following lakes in Texas were undergoing the impact of drought. That doesn’t’ mean the fishing is bad. In fact, when droughts cease,

the fishing typically gets better than ever on reservoirs. These are the lakes a minimum of 30 percent below pool level as of July 27, 2018: • Abilene—36.7 percent full. • Amistad—64.5 percent full. • Champion Creek—49.9 percent full. • Choke Canyon—25.2 percent full. • Colorado City—32 percent full. • Elephant Butte—7.1 percent full. • E.V. Spence—10. 5 percent full. • Falcon—29.5 percent full. • Greenbelt—22.2 percent full. • JB Thomas—37.9 percent full. • Mackenzie—13.2 percent full. • Meredith—37.9 percent full. • O.C. Fisher—8.3 percent full. • O.H. Ivie—14.3 percent full. • Palo Pinto—69.1 percent full. • Proctor—59 percent full. • Red Bluff—57.8 percent full. • Sweetwater—14.6 percent full. • Twin Buttes—4 percent full. • White River—14.7 percent full.

up to pool level “new lake effect” occurs. The ecosystem for several years becomes super—rich in habitat and nutrients because of the vegetation that grew on the lake bed during the drought. The lakes become red hot for a season or two for producing monster bass. Three years ago, Lake O.H. Ivie near San Angelo was going through one of these production spikes. It produced more ShareLunkers than any other lake in Texas during 2010. In fact, one angler caught two on the same day and then after the season closed, caught another weighing more than 13 pounds. As you can see most of these lakes are in West Texas or in the Panhandle. Once that region gets more rain, expect some big bass to turn up in big numbers. Twin Buttes is already showing promise. It would not surprise us to see the other lakes kicking out some lunker bass—dry or not.

Savvy bass anglers know that when reservoirs undergo prolonged drought and then go back

Dry or Not, Some West Texas Lakes are Still Lunker Likely story by Chester Moore PHOTO: CANSTOCK; INSET, TPWD

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ENTURE OUTSIDE DURING LATE SUMMER or early fall and you are sure to come in contact with a wide variety of insects. It makes no difference if you are working on tackle in the garage, wetting a line, pulling maintenance on deer stands or taking a leisurely stroll down a big city sidewalk. There are always going to be bugs to contend with, some of which bite or sting. Although some insect bites will make you itch, others could lead to some nasty diseases such as Lyme disease and West Nile Virus or cause potentially dangerous that allergic reactions that warrant prompt medical attention. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans and animals by tick bites. It is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. Several types of ticks are prone to carry the disease. In Texas, the primary carrier is the blacklegged deer tick. The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) lists findings of these ticks in dozens of Texas counties spanning all ecological regions of the state. Often times, a human that is bitten by an infected tick will develop a bullseye-shaped rash around the bite. The disease can cause terminal arthritis and a host of neurological problems such as numbness, poor motor coordination, memory loss, difficulty with concentration and heart malfunction. Although Lyme disease can usually be treated in a few weeks using antibiotics, it is best to avoid it if you can. Probably the best preventative measure is to avoid frequenting places where ticks live—a virtual impossibility for those who spend much time outdoors in Texas. The next best line of defense is to use a good insect repellent such as Deep Woods OFF. Spray all your clothing liberally. It is also a good idea to wear boots and seal off pants legs at the ankles by wrapping them with masking tape. This forces the ticks to crawl up the outside of your pants, thus increasing the chance of you seeing the tick before it bites you. Always inspect yourself and your children thoroughly after visiting a suspect area. Look for ticks around the waistline, groin, base of the scalp, navel, armpits, head and behind the knees and ears. In the event you are bitten by a tick, carefully remove it using tweezers. Grasp it as close to the head as possible and pull gently until the tick releases from the skin. Follow up by swabbing the bite with alcohol. Place the tick in a small container with a moist paper towel and store it in the refrigerator. If suspicious symptoms follow, the tick can then be tested to determine whether it was carrying a disease. You should take similar precautions to avoid contracting another nasty illness called West Nile Virus, a potentially fatal disease that is transmitted to humans,

REPORT: NEWS 44u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

HOT 44u TEXAS SHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

46u 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

56u TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

66u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

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birds, dogs, horses and other mammals by mosquitos. The disease originated in Africa in 1937 and made its way to Texas around 2002. Between 2002 and 2011, there were 2,200 WNV cases involving humans reported statewide, according the U.S Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2012, a severe outbreak of 1,900 cases was reported in Texas. Anyone bitten by an infected mosquito can contract West Nile, but some may never even know it. People beyond the age of 50, or those in poor health with weakened immune systems are the ones at highest risk. These groups might develop the most serious problems such as encephalitis or swelling of the brain; and meningitis, swollen tissue around the brain and spine. I witnessed how debilitating the disease can be when my late brother-in-law, Don Dunavant, contracted it in 2006. His early symptoms were classic West Nile. It started out feeling like the flu—a persistent cough, achy muscles, stiff neck, headache and a low-grade fever that eventually escalated to extreme nausea and muscle fatigue. Dunavant first visited a local clinic, where he was misdiagnosed with pneumonia. Days later, emergency crews carted him down the sidewalk and loaded him in an ambulance. Within 24 hours he was relying on a respirator to keep him alive. He even-

tually experienced some paralysis and never fully recovered before he died of esophageal cancer in 2010. The best insect repellents to use against ticks, mosquitos and other biting insects are those that contain DEET. Different insect repellents contain varying levels of DEET, which can alter the longevity of protection. Repellents that contain higher percentages of DEET will last significantly longer. OFF! Deep Woods Sportsmen contains 98.25 percent DEET and is advertised to last up to 10 hours. Good insect repellents also provide some protection against chiggers, no-see-ums, flies and other biting bugs that can make life your life miserable. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to do much when it comes fending off wasps, yellow jackets and bees, which sometimes seem to attack for no apparent reason. The same could be said for fire ants.

Bites or stings from encounters with any of those insects can cause some reactions that are no fun to deal with. However, they typically are not serious unless anaphylaxis occurs, which is a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms of such a reaction include difficulty breathing, skin hives, swelling of the face, throat or tongue, difficulty swallowing, a rapid pulse, dizziness or sharp drop in blood pressure. In severe cases a victim could experience shock, cardiac arrest or fall unconscious. It could turn fatal without prompt medical attention. Another type of bug that nobody likes is spiders. Texas has a bunch of different kinds, but the two to avoid are the black widow and the brown recluse. Both are highly venomous and are found indoors and out throughout the state. Although neither spider is aggressive, they will bite when threatened. This sometimes causes severe systemic reactions that could warrant medical attention. The best way to deal with insects that bite or sting is to avoid coming in contact with them whenever possible. You should take the necessary precautions avoid getting bit when in mixed company. It’s their world out there. We’re just living in it.

Tips for Avoiding Tick & Mosquito Bites

ERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO MINIMIZE THE chance of being bitten by ticks and mosquitos:

• Tuck your pants leg into your socks and your shirt into your pants. This precaution will help keep them outside your clothes where they can be picked off before they bite. • Wear light colored clothing. Dark ticks are more easily spotted against a light background. • Inspect clothes often for ticks. Have a companion inspect your back. • Apply repellents according to label instructions. Applying directly to clothing is most effective. • Inspect your body thoroughly when you get in from the ﬁeld.

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Have a companion inspect your back, or use a mirror. • Inspect your children at least once daily for ticks. When in heavily infested areas, inspect your children every three to four hours. • When you’re hiking, stay in the middle of trails. • Mosquitos are most active late in the evening and early in the morning. Apply an insect repellent with a high DEET content when venturing outside. • Empty the water out of buckets and other outside containers. These are kinds of places where mosquitos will breed.

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Safari Club Supports Endangered Species Act Proposals

News of TEXAS

to provide more flexibility to the management and recovery of threatened species and to modify how the agency establishes the “foreseeable future” when making threatened listing decisions. Under one proposal, the USFWS would decide on a species-by-species basis what, if any, ESA prohibitions would apply to each species listed as threatened. The ESA itself applies these prohibitions (e.g., regarding take and import) only to endangered species. Congress envisioned that the USFWS would decide individually what prohibitions applied to each particular threatened species. But the USFWS long ago adopted a blanket rule that the statutory prohibitions would automatically apply to all threatened species, unless the USFWS adopted a “special rule” specific to a particular species

SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL SUPports major proposed revisions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to its Endangered Species Act regulations. “At long last, we have leadership that recognizes the importance of flexibility in the conservation of federally listed wildlife and the recognition that different approaches, including sustainable use, can be used to recover and sustain the world’s wildlife,” said SCI President Paul Babaz. Of the many proposed changes, SCI generally supports the proposals

that spelled out what restrictions applied. The USFWS’s sister agency in implementing the ESA, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), followed Congressional intent and did not adopt the blanket rule. The USFWS’s proposal would align it with NMFS and Congressional intent. The USFWS’s proposal would ensure that, moving forward, all threatened species receive the level of protection that is appropriate for each species. This approach will free-up limited resources for more targeted and efficient recovery of threatened and endangered species. SCI also supports the USFWS’s consideration of revisions to how it estab-

STINGRAY

WHITETAIL

Matagorda

Where

Derrick Bertrand caught this four-foot, 100-pound southern stingray in the surf at Matagorda. It took 20 minutes to bring it in. Derrick let the ray go after everyone had a chance to see it.

William Jackson, age 14, of Dallas with his ﬁrst buck, taken while hunting with his grandfather. He took this nice Zavala County deer with his 30-06 at 100 yards.

Visit FishGame.com to upload your own TEXAS HOT SHOTS and Vote for our next Winners 44

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lishes the “foreseeable future.” The ESA defines a threatened species as one that is likely to become an endangered species within the “foreseeable future.” Under the proposed change, the foreseeable future would extend only as far as the agency can reasonably determine that both the future threats and the species’ responses to those threats are “probable.” Although refinement of this proposal may be necessary, SCI hopes that whatever the USFWS adopts will help avoid future threatened listings such as the unwarranted listing of the polar bear, which used an excessive 45-year foreseeable future. Other proposed changes include streamlining critical habitat designations, modifying ESA consultation requirements for other federal agencies, and clarifying how the agencies make decisions to delist species. —TF&G Staff Report

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Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Gains Steam A LANDMARK CONGRESSIONAL conservation proposal is gaining traction nationwide and in Texas, with more than a half dozen Texas co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle. The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, H.R. 4647, would bring an estimated $63 million per year to Texas, part of $1.3 billion nationwide from existing energy and mineral development royalties on federal lands and waters. A companion Senate bill, S. 3223, was introduced July 17. The proposal is backed by The Alliance for America’s Fish & Wildlife, a national grass roots coalition with a sizeable Texas chapter. Supporters include government, business, industry, education and conservation leaders united to combat the decline of native species and natural habitats, a problem that affects people and the economy as well as fish and wildlife. Scientists estimate that one-third of

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America’s wildlife species are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered unless their populations and habitats are stabilized. That includes more than 1,300 nongame fish and wildlife species in Texas. The act would not require taxpayers or businesses to pay more, but would direct existing funds to invest in fish and wildlife conservation. The House bill includes $1.3 billion in automatic annual funding. The Senate bill uses the same funding mechanism but requires annual approval by Congress. Allocations would follow a formula based on a state’s human population size and land area. Texas would receive the maximum allowed, 5 percent, or $63 million. “For Texas, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would mean transformative change for people and wildlife, the kind of breakthrough that comes once in a generation,” said Carter Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department executive director.

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—TF&G Staff Report

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Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Fall is on the Horizon

will be lots of nice limits taken. We are not quite through fishing the ship channel and jetties though, because that bite is still going strong. It is nice, however, to slip into the lake on a good calm September morning and get a little taste of what is right around the corner. Have a good pair of binoculars handy and cruise the lake looking for working gulls and slicks. They may be north, south or anywhere in between, but when you find them, it will be worth your trip. Kill the big motor well upwind of the school and drift or troll until you get into casting range. Morning Glory, Roach and Glow soft plastics rigged on ¼-ounce lead heads work well, as do black with chartreuse and bone colored topwaters. Other good bets are ¼-ounce Rat-L-Traps in chrome/ black and chrome/blue. The future of our redfish is also looking bright as the marsh and shorelines are loaded with juveniles as well as nice slot fish. Coaxing them into a game of potential life or death tug ‘o war is relatively easy as they

ISHING SABINE LAKE IN SEPtember is exciting for several reasons. With the hot summer months ever so slowly fading away, it signifies the very beginning of what is a transitional period for us. We gradually begin to shift our focus away from the jetties and the Gulf and concentrate more on fishing the lake. Although there are still fish to be caught south of the Causeway, fall is on the horizon, and for us that means fishing Sabine Lake, the bayous, and surrounding marsh. The fall flounder run is in its primary stage. Shrimp are beginning to make their way out of the marsh and bayous, where big schools of trout and reds are there to greet them. Over the next few months, seagulls and slicks will lead us to these schools, and there

are not scared to eat live or dead bait, plastic or metal. In the lake, you should have little problem locating them along the eastern bank from East Pass all the way south to Blue Buck Point. Troll down the shoreline in about two to five feet of water and tempt them with soft plastics, topwaters or gold spoons. Some excellent choices as far as plastics are concerned are Zoom Super Fluke, Norton Bull Minnow and GULP! Shrimp in Hudini, Glow and New Penny. Pearl or pink Skitterwalks and black with chartreuse She Dogs are a couple of hard to beat topwater choices. If you prefer the real deal, anchor or power pole down on the points on either side of the mouth of the bayous. Use a fish finder rig with a 3/0 Kahle hook. Live or cut mullet and croakers, fresh dead shrimp and cracked crab fished either on the bottom or under a popping cork will work well. On calm afternoons you can also expect to find big schools of reds roaming the mid lake area from Johnson Bayou to the Intracoastal Canal. These massive schools shouldn’t be hard to find or to stay with when the wind is calm and the lake is smooth. There is a good chance you’ll also encounter some giant clouds of shad throughout the system this month. If you do, fish the perimeters with gold spoons, Hoginars, or shad and mullet under a popping cork and make sure your drag is set. I hope to see you here on Sabine in September.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: North Revetment (Pleasure Island) SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redﬁsh, Flounder BAITS/LURES: Live Shrimp, mud minnows, D.O.A. Shrimp BEST TIMES: Early and late with moving tide

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Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt. MIKE HOLMES

A September to Remember? reds, jacks, sharks, and stingrays. A live mullet would be the preferred bait when fishing from a boat. However, beach anglers may find a large mullet with its tail clipped to allow for bleeding to be as productive as they need. Big sharks hunt the surf at night during this time, and large bait beyond the third sandbar has a good chance of being taken. Tackling these big boys requires specialized

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LOCATION: From back bays and tidal streams to the surf and beyond, there will be good ﬁshing activity for at least some species most of the time—and a bit more pleasant working conditions than in late summer.

Water temps will still be warm, so the increase in tidal activity is sometimes the key to good ﬁshing.

SPECIES: All the more popular coastal species will be found in inshore waters and close offshore habitats, with larger and more exotic game available farther from shore. BAIT: All types should be common, and available. Live bait is almost always best, but when not available, fresh dead cut bait can sometimes be just as good. Shrimp, squid, mullet of various sizes, and other small baitfish are all good, as are artificial lures that imitate them. BEST TIME: Somewhat cooler temperatures will make daytime more productive, but early and late are still best. Night fishing may be the best time period of all—but check the tide schedules.

tackle and terminal equipment such as gaffs, but I have taken and helped take sharks of close to 200 pounds. This was after long and careful battles on standard tackle intended for bull reds, usually a 14-foot, heavy-action rod and a reel loaded with 30-pound mono. Inside the passes, bay fishing should be good for reds and trout, and also pan fish, such as croakers. Flounder can be good, especially on live shrimp or mud minnows. Night T E X A S

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LTHOUGH SEPTEMBER IS “officially” the beginning of the fall season, most years on the Texas coast it tends to be simply an extension of the August heat. To be fair, though, we do have a few weak “cool fronts” in the month that make open water more bearable, temperature-wise. Mostly, the best we can hope for is milder winds and predictable tide schedules. When the air temperature DOES cool off some, so does the water. This gives us the double blessing of being more comfortable to the fishermen, and also jump-starting the feeding activities of the fish we pursue. Water temps will still be warm (just, hopefully, not too hot), so the increase in tidal activity is sometimes the key to good fishing. Normally, the activity of a rising or falling tide is best. However, a high water mark that holds for a period of time can also keep fish feeding in areas that might be a bit shallow for them at dead low tide. This advice applies to bay areas and coastal streams, but in the past I have seen some good activity in the surf on a low tide—particularly with “bull” reds. These fish were probably following the various forms of food being taken out by the tide. They were still hungry when the current slacked prior to changing directions and started the whole hunting/feeding process all over again. Speckled trout fishing is also often very good on September tides along the beachfront, and this is the month to begin scouting for tarpon activity in the surf. The big silver kings will be crashing through rafting mullet. Yet, when the mullet seem to have moved on and surface activity has calmed down, fish might be feeding off the “left-overs” of the tarpon’s sloppy dining habits. This could include a still-feeding tarpon,

fishing under lights on piers, docks, or from a strategically placed boat can be very good anywhere from the back bays to the surf. Offshore in September, spots in state waters will hold some red snappers, and trolling in the same depths might well produce catches of Spanish mackerel. Farther out will be kings, bonito, and ling—the last being more common around various forms of structure. Bottom structure such as rocks and reefs draw and hold fish of many species, as do oil production platforms. Farther out there is always decent fishing for tuna, wahoo, and even various billfish, for those with enough time and boat to participate in this fishery.

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Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

Schooling Matagorda Flounder and Redﬁsh

ETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1 AND September 30 daylight hours shorten by 50 minutes. This change, and the water temperature change from 85°F to 81°F, will trigger fish to move and feed. I was kayak fishing in late September on the east shore of West Matagorda Bay, working a five-inch Saltwater Shad Bass Assassin close to the shoreline, when I felt a strong thump. Automatically, I moved to set the hook. The fish pulled hard and then showed its large brown (flounder) side, but then, let go. I know that flounder, unlike redfish and trout, bite the tail end of a soft plastic. I

should have had the presence of mind to let my line go slack—let the bait die. Then the flounder would have turned the lure around in its mouth and eaten it, but I set the hook too soon. You would think I had learned my lesson, but it happened five more times, and I missed all of them. Certainly this demonstrated that in late September, flounder move along shorelines in schools. Learning from that experience, I now use a short lure to hook a flounder such as the Sparkle Beetle from H&H Lure Company, or a flounder pounder, a lure with hooks near the tail. In middle September, redfish start moving in schools as well. I was about 50 yards off

the shoreline over a flat on the south shore of West Matagorda Bay when loud, excited laughing gulls started diving to the water and coming up with shrimp. This was a sure sign that fish were pushing those shrimp to the surface. Redfish showed their dorsal fins as they aggressively attacked the shrimp, and they hit my soft plastic lure with equal aggression. In late September, feeding fish tend to be found on the north sides of both East and West Matagorda Bays. One of my favorite drift fishing spots on the north side of West Matagorda Bay is: Half Moon reef. It is located a half mile south of Palacios Point and usually holds trout. The Surf My first choice for September fishing is in the surf. You can fish the surf without getting tumbled by waves when the wind is less than five mph. If the wind is from any direction other than north, and is blowing more than five mph, the wave movement will most likely

A plump 18-inch ﬂounder that was on the shoreline.

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be strong enough and erratic enough to make the fishing challenging. You can see where the waves are breaking, by going to: http://www.gomatagorda. com/matagorda-beach-webcam/. Another way to check the wave movement is to look at offshore buoy 42019 (you want to see two feet or less): http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/ station_page.php?station=42019. You can get days in early September when everything lines up, a light north wind, low humidity, incoming tide, and clear blue water up to the beach loaded with baitfish. On one of these rare days, I drove down the beach before daybreak to a spot that I had fished previously, which was a cove carved out of the beach. Small waves were breaking on the first sandbar, except for the break in the bar that allowed current to pass in and out. On the beachside of this break in the sandbar, was an eddy (a circular water movement), and that is where predators were looking for prey. My first cast was near one of those corners and a 15-inch trout hit it. Catching a fish on the first cast pumped me up.

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A couple of guys had anchored their boat just offshore and were throwing up against the ocean side of the second sandbar using live shrimp under popping corks. Fish like the ocean side of a sandbar because water movement pushes bait up against it. The guys in the boat and I caught three trout between 17 and 21 inches. You can catch a variety of fish in the surf. One day my wife and I got into 12-inch crevalle jacks. Jack fish are super hard fighters and even though these fish were juveniles, they were great fun to catch and release. On another day, Jeff Wiley and I hooked up with sand trout on every cast. Jeff took several home, as they are good to eat if cooked fresh. Lady fish are an annoyance, they bite your soft plastics in half. Gafftop sailfish are good to eat, but you have to be careful of the spines on their fins. I carry a gripper to hold gafftop sailfish steady while I remove the hook with needle-nose pliers. Redfish and flounder tend to seek out deep spots between the sandbars.

THE BANK BITE NIGHT FISHING: LCRA Nature Park at the beach in Matagorda has two lighted piers for night fishing. One is located in the Old Colorado River just north of the RV Park. The other pier goes into the Gulf of Mexico. Lights go on at sunset and stay on all night. Air temperatures are at their peak in early September, so fishing from a lighted pier at night is cooler. In addition, lights attract baitfish, which in turn, attract predator fish. When you fish from either pier, it is best to have a net that is made for pier fishing. This type of net goes under the fish, is on a long line, and allows you to bring the fish up to the pier. If you are fishing the Gulf of Mexico pier, you may want to fish with live shrimp under a popping cork. On the river pier, live shrimp is a good choice for bait, but you will need a weight, which is heavy enough— one to three ounces—depending on the strength of the tidal flow, to keep your bait on the bottom in a moving current.

Email Mike Price at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

8/9/18 6:00 PM

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

September Sustenance

foliage will be turning vibrant shades of red and orange, and there will be a noticeable newness and freshness to the air that’s unsurpassed by any other time of the year. For our southern portion of the country, however, this is when we look forward to relief from summer’s relentless heat, and we welcome some of our initial encounters with the year’s coolness. If you’re one of those southern anglers who likes to hunt redfish with artificial lures, then the end of August and the beginning of September is a great time of the year for you along the Texas Gulf coast. Historically, the redfish action increases this time of the year, providing some of our anglers with personal-best catches. These fish are often located in the upper water column above grass patches in the sand in one to three feet of water. The bait of preference is the smaller-sized top water lures, such as the junior size Top Dog, Super Spook, or Skitter Walk baits. By the time you read this article, some of the year’s most awesome fishing for reds may have already begun. Each passing day will bring reduced winds, with some of those being out of the north. These light winds will tend to flatten both the bays and the surf. You can’t help but experience some fast action during the low light conditions associated with the first two hours of daylight in the fall. So make your plans accordingly. The September forecast for Texas coastal fishing is looking favorable as long as we’re not dealt another extreme tropical weather system. However, a hurricane in September wouldn’t be too unusual for this time of the year, as some of the worst Texas hurricanes have decided to make landfall later in the month of September. We’ll keep our fingers crossed in hope that we experience a somewhat minimal storm season this September. Regardless, locating both trout and reds this month will continue to include the necessity of first locating active mullet. September anglers should run across redfish feeding in knee-deep water along leeward

HIS YEAR IN THE NORTHERN Hemisphere, autumn begins on September 23, 2018. For some, it’s a time that’s both pleasant and regretful, but for others it’s their favorite time of the year. It’s the beginning of fall, when baseball season is coming to an end, and when football season is just getting underway. Temperatures will start to lower, and nights will begin getting longer. To our north, the

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shorelines of Espiritu Santo and San Antonio Bay. Within those schools of reds should be some really nice trout ranging from three to five pounds. The taking of these nice trout, however, could prove to be a hit-or-miss opportunity for most of us. Hot summertime temperatures will have already placed us in a pattern we have gotten familiar with. We fish deep during low tides during an outgoing current, and fish tight to the grass during periods of higher tides during an incoming current. Given these circumstances, anglers could certainly continue to recognize spectacular trout and redfish catches in adjacent bays like that of West Matagorda Bay, as well as Mesquite Bay. Sand flats surrounded by grass beds should also become most productive for the redfish. Although deeper shell located between waist and shoulder depth may possibly prove to be the ticket for picking up most of this month’s trout. Southeast and southwest winds will start producing somewhat higher water, which will only become more predominant later in the month. This will boost bait activity along grassy shores where both trout and reds will begin to feed more regularly throughout the entire day. The fish will once again begin lurking in camouflaged locations that were previously uninhabitable because of low tides. This includes places such as back lakes, marshes, sloughs, and coves. So, before you spend an enormous amount of time and effort wading up to your neck out deep, think about all the possibilities of the shallows first. It was just a short time ago that we took the majority of our fish out of waters that were no more than two feet deep, and the bite was on from early morning through late afternoon. Good luck out there, and have fun!

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

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Coastal Focus: ROCKPORT :: by Capt. MAC GABLE

Getting ‘Fresh’

HE DISTURBANCE HAD come off the coast of Africa. That’s not unusual for this time of year, and in years past would not be given a second look. This hurricane season, however, any cloud larger than a city block seemed to garner much attention. The storm followed the same track as the hellacious Harvey, so even those who didn’t know the difference between weather and whether, had now become storm watch fanatics. Ominously, the now growing tropical depression made its way across the Yucatan Peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico as all eyes in Rockport watched with dreaded anticipation. Fortunately, the conditions that revved Harvey up were all but nonexistent. We were in for some rain, but little else. The Rockport and surrounding area folks breathed a deep sigh of relief, wiped their brows and went back to work. The prediction was rain and a lot of it, up to 9 or 10 inches. A welcome relief to the heatwave which had now spread across most of the nation, and rain it did for four days, pretty much nonstop. The rain system would progress northward and into the area rivers which feed into our bays, the result being a washing effect for our bay systems. Experienced guides knew this meant lean times ahead, for the influx of lots of fresh water can all but shut fishing/the bite down for weeks to come. St. Charles Bay and Aransas Bay looked like large fresh water lakes. The ominous light brownish tint of fresh water was literally everywhere. A day after the rains, my phone started ringing, mostly guide buddies and anglers trying to figure out what was up. Fishing hot spots were now dead areas and soaking a bait or chunking a lure for hours

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In past articles I have talked about salinity levels and how paying attention to them can make you a better angler, but again, what impact do fluctuations in salinity levels have on those fish we so desperately love to catch? When huge amounts of fresh water from rain or fresh water rivers inundate our bays, three things happen to fish stock: they migrate out of the area into higher salinity areas, they stay in the area and lethargically try to survive, or they die. Why? It’s important to understand fish cells are semi-permeable, meaning some elements can pass through them. In a chemical process known as osmosis, water in saltwater fish is continuously pulled out of their bodies into surrounding water because their bodily fluids require lower concentrations of salt. Much like us, too much salt can make them unhealthy and sick. Since fresh water is always moving through their bodies, saltwater fish drink constantly. Their kidneys process and retain water, then expel the remains (which is largely salt) in their urine. Because the saltwater species physiology is to drink constantly, if placed in a freshwater dominant environment, their cells will not filter fresh water in the same manner. Instead of out, the water now moves in to the higher salt concentrated areas of their bodily fluids. The fish is now retaining water it does not need and becomes over hydrated, or water intoxicated. Electrolytes are pushed outside livable limits, and the fish will become sick. If not remedied with acceptable levels of saltwater, the fish will die. For fresh water anglers, this process is reversed for fresh water fish. Put a fresh water species in saltwater and it becomes desiccated (meaning to remove moisture/fluids) or dehydrated. “Now hold on!,” some reading this are saying. Some of you have heard or have caught saltwater fish in fresh water lakes. Yes, it is true, in some Texas lakes like Lake Braunig and Lake Calaveras, the Texas Parks and Wildlife have for years stocked millions of redfish. These fish are put and take

produced little more than sore shoulders and sun burnt arms. “The fish are all gone!” “I can see them but they won’t bite!” was the argument at a local bait stand. “What can we do to get them to bite?” One bait stand owner replied, “Sprinkle some salt on their tail?!” “Here we have the mighty voice of wisdom with some smart aleck comment when what we need is some real advice!” “He’s not too far off the mark,” I piped in as the newbie guide looked my way. “AH yes, the OLD MAN IN THE SEA is now going to enlighten us” came the comment. “Are you from around here?” I asked. “No,” the newbie quickly responded. “But I’ve been here for about three years.” “Then you know just about enough to get yourself in trouble,” I told him. The bait stand owner started laughing. “I’m not saying I know it all, but I would like to know what happened. I’ve been slamming the fish for weeks. Now my last two trips were big zeroes,” the young man said. “See that bait filter screen over there?” I pointed, “and all the dead bait in it?” “Yes,” came the response. “Now open this freezer. See all that fresh dead bait?” “Yes sir.” “It’s dead, as most of this bait is going to be, because, and I’m putting it simply, it drowned due to lack of salt.” The newbie just walked off, shaking his head, none the wiser. “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink,” the stoned-faced bait stand owner commented as the young man drove away. “Sorry about your bait” I said, “I wish I could help.” “Gotta a salt shaker?” he quipped. So, what really happens to fish when the salinity levels change drastically, and how can an angler who has to fish in these conditions make the most of it?

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Forecast: ROCKPORT Fresh mullet cut in sections or menhaden can serve you well and it can usually be found pretty easily without getting up at 3:30 a.m. to procure. This is slow pace bottom fishing and can be enjoyed while you sip your favorite cold beverage.

only, meaning they must be stocked and do not reproduce in the fresh water lakes. Some of these fish, because they don’t reproduce, can weigh 40 pounds. They taste a bit different in my opinion than a saltwater red as well, but are still very tasty. It is important to note black drum seem to be more adaptable to the fresh water inflows here than just about any species. Again the science is there to back that up, but that’s an article for another day. Where to fish? is the question when you’ve been “freshed.” When fresh water is prevalent, I highly encourage my clients to pick another day a few weeks out, but one cannot always do that. If that’s the case I put all my WHERE knowledge away, and I hunt for saltwater lines. If you can’t tell the difference between saltwater and fresh water, look for color changes in the water. Usually, but not always, this means a light brownish color with a transition to a greenish color. Many times, the fish will move just beyond the brown color only far enough to stay away from the fresh water (brownish color). A salinity refractometer can be used as well that tests saltwater levels if you want to get scientific. I do not recommend tasting the water as some have seen me do (do as I say, not as I do). You get a gut full of bay bacteria, which could include Vibrio vulnificus, and you’ll wish to God you’d listened. Or, if you happen to know where the saltwater congregates on these fresh days, that’s the place to be. A good place is where fresh gulf water enters our bays such as jetty systems or areas far away from the mouth of fresh water inflows, such as rivers. Keeping bait alive can be a challenge as well. I seldom turn my circulator pump on unless I know I have saltwater around the boat. Freshest is not always the bestest, but look to add saltwater as a spice to your fishing recipe and there are fish to be caught! As we envision cooler days ahead after a long hot summer, it’s still plenty warm, so shorter days on the water is usually the right approach. I like to keep it simple this time of year and often opt for cut bait, the fresher the better. |

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COPANO BAY: Shell Bank Reef is holding some keeper trout with free-lined croaker being the preferred bait. The shell reefs adjacent to Hannibal Point are a good place for reds using free-lined finger mullet. Cast the bait on the shallow tops of the reef and be patient. There are also some trout in this area.

ST. CHARLES BAY: Some reds may be

“ If you can’t tell the difference between saltwater and fresh water, look for color changes in the water.

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silver colors. Scotch Tom Reef is a good spot for trout using croaker free-lined. CARLOS BAY: The west shoreline just off Dunham Island is a good spot for reds using cut mullet on a light Carolina rig. This area is best fished on a high tide late in the evening. Cedar Reef has some keeper black drums with peeled shrimp under a popping cork being the best choice. MESQUITE BAY: Drifts across Bray Cove is good for trout and a few flounder using free-lined live shrimp jigged across the bottom. Some keeper reds are just off the shoreline of Roddy Island. Finger mullet works well here free-lined. AYERS BAY: Wades on the east shoreline using a popping cork and shrimp are good for trout and some keeper black drums. The Second Chain Islands are a good place for reds and trout using croakers and live shrimp. Free-lined or a light Carolina rig works best.

THE BANK BITE THE SOUTH END OF THE LBJ CAUSEWAY is a good spot to wade for reds and trout. A bait bucket with live shrimp is a good choice here. The trout tend to be on the east side of the causeway and the reds, the west side. Early morning is best.

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

found in East Pocket on high tide. Mud minnows or finger mullet on a very light Carolina Rig works well here. McHugh Bayou is a good place for reds and a few black drums on a high tide using live shrimp. Free-lined is best here. ARANSAS BAY: The shoreline of Blackjack Point is a good place to wade for reds and trout. Spoons in gold and red colors work well here. This is also a good spot for top waters in bone and white or electric blue and |

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8/9/18 6:00 PM

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

EPTEMBER, ACCORDING TO the calendar, is when we begin to catch a break now and then from the Texas Coastal hot summers. That’s not to say that you will need a coat, but a drop of just a couple of degrees is welcome both to angler and fish. This summer could be called the year of the shark as numerous small to larger sharks have been caught along the coast, intentionally or not. Capt. Brandon Kendrick who does a lot of fishing from the Upper Laguna Madre said he recorded 47 sharks caught, with 23 over 100 pounds. He had a 140pound plus fish that took about an hour and a half before it made it to the boat. “The sharks come in to breed and stay behind the shrimp boats,” said Kendrick. “We were catching them in 10 feet of water.” In September, the speckled trout and redfish action should be good providing we don’t get any late summer interruptions with hurricanes or other tropical disturbances. In the Upper Laguna Madre, Kendrick’s clients will be throwing the normal go-to baits, live croakers, top waters or soft plastics. “We will be fishing underwater grassy shorelines for trout, if we are wade fishing,” said Kendrick. “More than likely, we will be fishing grass flats at the edges of sand, throwing for the deep guts. If we are fishing from the boat, we will be looking for shell reefs. “Most of my clients are fishing with croakers, free-lining. During September the croakers are usually bigger, probably three to four inches.” If Kendrick gets to choose croaker sizes he likes the 2 ½- to 3-inch croaker. “In soft plastics we use a lot of Gambler four- or six-inch flapping shad. Favorite colors are plum/chartreuse or purple with white tail.”

“ This summer could be called the year of the shark as numerous small to larger sharks have been caught along the coast, intentionally or not.

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School In Session

your success. A lot of people will pull up on a slick and cast right into the middle of it. If a slick has lots of ripples on the surface, and doesn’t increase in size, it’s probably an older slick. The fish could be 200-300 yards upwind of the recognizable slick. Guides and seasoned old pros recommend checking water movement. If the fish are staying together, probably the next slick will pop up in front of the last known location. Fish in front of the slick movement.

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Capt. Kersh likes to tie on something heavy, like a ½- or 3/8-ounce jig head with a soft plastic. “I try to pick a durable soft plastic. Down South lures makes some great ones.” His lure of choice is the Saltwater Assassin. Why a “durable” soft plastic? “You can throw out, catch a fish, unhook it, and throw back out again with the same bait, without having to tie a new bait on.” Capt. Carlos Garcia likes Berkley Gulps in September when catching redfish. “By the 15th the oversize redfish are moving into the bays,” he said. “The oversize redfish are moving to feed and forage before they drop their eggs and go back offshore. We do a lot of sight casting, usually fishing from the boat, drift fishing. They love Berkley Gulp, the stench of it. They are in the feeding mode. “The Gulp really gets their attention,” continued Garcia. “I use it under a popping cork; they come up and get it. Live mullet works good. Soft plastics with a chartreuse tail work really good.” Garcia’s favorite soft plastic is the HomeRecker, “a funky tail that paddles really good. They love it.” Garcia likes to fish drop-offs along the different islands. “There’s a lot of fish backed up there at this time of the year, just an abundance of redfish, from September 15 all the way up through October.” Fall is in the air. It sure doesn’t feel like it, but any drop of one or two degrees feels good to fisherman and fish alike. Remember back in the early spring when we mentioned an increase of one or two degrees in water temperature would get the fish moving? Now it’s a drop of one or two in a different direction.

Slick magic… If you see slicks on top of the water, with diving and circling birds overhead, the fish are “burping” after enjoying a shrimp meal. You are in the right area. When the fish are feeding like that, you can throw just about anything and catch fish. The biggest mistake an angler can make in working a school of fish under birds is getting too close and spooking the fish off. Being able to cast a long distance is really a big key to

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« Email Tom Behrens at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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8/9/18 6:00 PM

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

Bafﬁn Back to School

ning to grow. That’s heaven for the masses of redfish and black drum that call Baffin home. Most anglers don’t think of Baffin Bay as a Mecca for fly-fishing, but that could not be farther from the truth. No boats running the shoreline, the grass flats and the sand means that the big predators are comfortable. They’re feeding at will when Mother Nature gives them the go-ahead. Fly-fishing and sight casting both are addictive games, and lots of anglers realize that the time to pursue this sport is the summer and fall. Stable weather, super clear water and hungry fish give even beginners a solid chance for bent-rod success. Orvis has endorsed Baffin Bay Rod and Gun for fly fishing and wingshooting, so the

FTER THE LONG SUMMER of really “hot” action, anglers on Baffin Bay begin keying in a several factors: Friday night football, deer lease fix-up, getting kids back in school or college dorms. It all adds up to one thing—very few people and boats on the water, fishing. With all this space, peace and quiet, anglers have it made. Sight casting and fly fishing in the super shallow water is one of the highlights, but lots of folks don’t know that big trout have a fall spawn. It starts when the water temperature begins to drop a little from its summertime highs. Baffin Bay has been producing impressive trout all summer long, some into the nineand-a-half-pound range. With those numbers, looking into the early fall; optimism is high for double-digit trophies to be caught and landed. Big trout have been hanging out with the shallow water, redfish most of the summer. Knee-deep water is a good place to start predawn and the entire bay system is completely packed with food. Baffin Bay has made a transition this year and has produced lots of grass on all shorelines and sandbars. This really gives the little critters a place to stay. The rocks, of course, are another gathering place for all things food. They act more like a coral reef, which attracts the little food, the bigger food and the really big food. In turn, this attracts all of the predators that feed there. With all the rain the bay has received this summer, it has a bumper crop of crabs begin|

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Big trout have been hanging out with the shallow water, redﬁsh most of the summer.

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pursuit of shallow targets has continued with a vengeance. If you don’t need another sport addiction, then don’t try fly-fishing; you will be hooked in no time. Trophy trout seekers, however, are already addicted and early fall gets them back in the game. The fall spawn is not as evident as the late spring spawn, but it’s happening nonetheless. With this summer’s track record of big trout, Baffin will be prime for a really big girl |

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this fall. The State Record should be in jeopardy here, especially in areas like the Cayo del Grullo and Alazan Bay. The summer, as usual, has passed too quickly. The next big event in the South Zone is the opening weekend of dove hunting. This year it is a weekend earlier, beginning on September 14, 2018. Getting the shotguns out of the closet and refreshing that camo sends all the labs, and other retrievers into a tizzy. Start working with those couch retrievers to get them acclimated to the heat and exercise before the day they are asked to bring back several limits of dove. Keep a close eye on their behavior and make sure they don’t become over-heated. Lots of water and a little rest in the shade between retrieves will keep them in good condition—and everyone happy. Everyone loves watching those dogs do the things they love to do, and it’s the best part of any hunt, be it dove or ducks. All of us at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun are living the dream. Big trout, fly-cast reds and drums, along with bonus fish such as flounder give us the fix that we have been living for most of our lives. The best lodge, the best guides and an adventure that includes fish, dove, ducks and dogs—who could ask for anything more? Join us here at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun for a five-star adventure and experience for EVERYONE—seasoned outdoorsmen or rank beginner. How lucky we are to live in harmony with all of God’s creations, enjoying the peace and serenity that only the outdoors can give. Hope to see you soon.

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

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8/9/18 6:00 PM

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

September Rocks

T’S BEEN A TYPICAL SOUTH Texas summer. It’s hot, the winds have either disappeared altogether or make you feel like you’re in a bamboo steamer. Laguna Madre water has been in the mid-80s since mid-May, and trout and redfish have disappeared from the flats. There doesn’t seem much an angler can do in September, except get up at oh-dark-thirty to try to get a few fish, then had back to the dock for the teeth of the day. September fishing can be tough sometimes. Fishermen can take heart, however. The jetty systems of Brazos Santiago and Mansfield passes provide some excellent (and sometimes better) fishing for a variety of fish. Some of these are highly desirable among even the most discriminating anglers. Some of the most underrated summer fishing in South Texas takes place along both sides of the Brazos Santiago Jetties. The two jetties bookend the pass by the same name, which feeds in and out of Lower Laguna Madre. They are accessible from land—the north jetties from South Padre Island, and the south jetties from Brownsville via SH 4, and then a left turn onto Brazos Island (known locally as Boca Chica Beach). They offer excellent fishing for everything including the four parts of the “Texas Slam” (trout, redfish, flounder, and snook), mangrove snapper, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, and even Kingfish for the properly equipped. Certainly, the most sought-after species are speckled trout and redfish. Both fish can be caught from the jetties on the same trip, but different techniques are called for. Speckled trout will usually hold closer to the rocks and cruise up and down the gut that runs parallel to the jetties. This is especially true on the north jetties, where prevailing

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sort of tackle needed for the jetties. Honestly, your traditional inshore 10- to 12-pound tackle is enough, but if you hook into a big red or snook, you are going to be in trouble. Upping slightly to 14-to 17-pound tackle is a safer bet to handle just about anything that swims the suds around the pink granite. It also gives you a little more power in reserve if Mr. Big comes calling. My preferred rig is a 7½-foot medium action casting rod with a Curado 300-e loaded with 10/40 Power Pro braid. This outfit will tackle pretty much any fish you might run into on the rocks—unless a 150-pound tarpon grabs your plug; then, all bets are off. If you feel a little ambitious, walk all the way to the end of the jetties to take a shot at a kingfish or tarpon. Tarpon prowl the currents and eddies on the channel side of the jetties when the tide is running. Mullet-imitators such as a large Rapala, Bomber Long A, or a Berkley Power Mullet are the best bets to get a poon’s attention. Fly fishermen can use a large Tarpon Bunny or Chicken Feather-type fly on an eight- or nine-weight fly rod. Calm days bring blue water right up into the rocks, and kingfish follow bait into casting range. Use a Magnum Rat-L-Trap in Chrome/blue or a fresh ribbonfish on a classic kingfish rig. Large menhaden (pogies) are best if you can get some that are fresh. Upgrade to a surf rod and high-capacity reel. You never know what may show up to rock your world.

currents create gentler eddies and currents that, on an outgoing tide, push water and bait against the surf-side of the rocks. Redfish will prowl the surf away from the jetties and in the guts that intersect them. An incoming tide sends fresh water in from the Gulf and lay swells down to make early mornings magical off the rocks. A fisherman can do well throwing live bait under a popping cork near the rocks for trout—and mangrove snappers, which almost become a nuisance with their abundance. Or you can toss a Carolina rig out in the surf for redfish. The bait bucket, however, isn’t necessary. Bring a box filled with chugging topwaters such as the Storm Chug Bug, Pop-A-Dog, similar such popper, a couple of pink/polkadot Rat-L-Traps, a ½ silver spoon or two, and a collection of your favorite plastic tails in red/white, or chartreuse patterns and some 1/8 ounce jigheads. The lighter heads are less apt to snag up and are perfect to keep you mobile. If the wind is straight from the south, you can still fling topwaters parallel to the rocks. In fact, the trout seem a little more aggressive in the more active water. Start an early morning expedition on the jetties by casting back toward the corner where the rocks meet the beach, then work the lure back along the bottom. Trout should be there, but a few big flounder may be waiting in ambush. From those casts, expand out into the guts and cast parallel to the beach for redfish. It doesn’t hurt to take a few wire leaders in your tackle box. This time of year, there are schools of Spanish mackerel that tear into bait balls in front of the jetties. They aren’t discriminating, and can clean you out of tackle in a hurry. On the South jetties, the surf is a bit rougher, and the rocks are not laid as smoothly, but the presence of snook in the suds more than makes up for the tougher work. These fish will attack the same trout and redfish lures with abandon, and they offer some gillrattling jumps for your thrills. The question always comes up about the F I S H

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THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Coast Guard Station SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Flounder TIPS: Wade ﬁshing with live shrimp/soft plastics under a Mauler.

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

Chin Up for Reds and 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

CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-1871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventures.comm TIPS: “Shrimp migration begins in September which in turn causes the ﬁsh to school up and the birds will start working…biggest thing we are looking for.” Capt. Kersh LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Brown Cedar Flats GPS: N 28 43.847, W 95 42.66 (28.7308, -95.7110)

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Chinquapin Reef GPS: N 28 43.994, W 95 47.954 (28.7332, -95.7992) SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-1871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventures.comm TIPS: “Slicks … don’t cast right into the middle of the slicks. Fish could be 200-300 yards upend of the slick.” Capt. Kersh LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Drull’s Lump GPS: N 28 42.354, W 95 47.37 (28.7059, -95.7895)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-1871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventures.comm TIPS: “If you can catch a slick when it’s small, and it’s getting bigger, those ﬁsh are generally going to close to the slick.” Capt. Kersh

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Boggy Cut GPS: N 28 44.043, W 95 49.658 (28.7341, -95.8276) SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-1871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventures.comm TIPS: “If the slick is not getting bigger in size, it’s probably and older slick.” Capt. Kersh LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Helicopter Pad GPS: N 29 26.41, W 94 48.9 (29.4402, -94.8150)

(29.4820, -94.7276)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut Bait, Live Mullet or a gold spoon CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “The trout should be found in 4-6 feet of water; redﬁsh will be up shallow.” Capt. McParland

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Boyd 409-789-6225 boydgw1@comcast.net www.boydsguideservice.com TIPS: “Open reefs, but all the ﬁsh are moving back into East Bay, a little shallower” Capt. Boyd

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Brown & Root Flats GPS: N 27 51.164, W 97 5.812 (27.8527, -97.0969)

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Artiﬁcial Reef GPS: N 29 30.733, W 94 39.9 (29.5122, -94.6650)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Boyd 409-789-6225 boydgw1@comcast.net www.boydsguideservice.com TIPS: “Before transitioning ﬁsh are on oil well pads, some in East Bay and some in lower Galveston Bay.” Capt. Boyd LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Old Pilings GPS: N 29 25.06, W 94 48.48 (29.4177, -94.8080)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Boyd 409-789-6225 boydgw1@comcast.net www.boydsguideservice.com TIPS: “Paddle tail soft plastics with either a 3/8 or 1/2 oz. lead head…bounce it off the shell. The sound helps draw the ﬁsh.” Capt. Boyd

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut Bait, Live Mullet or a gold spoon CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Free line around the islands with a piggy perch. LOCATION: Redﬁsh Bay HOTSPOT: Dagger Island GPS: N 27 50.102, W 97 10.266 (27.8350, -97.1711)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Boyd 409-789-6225 boydgw1@comcast.net www.boydsguideservice.com TIPS: Capt. Boyd’s favorite color in soft plastics is something having chartreuse in it.

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Corpus Reds & Specks on Shamrock

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut Bait, Live Mullet or a gold spoon CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: If Capt. Jack is using soft plastic he prefers a strawberry bait plastic. “I don’t normally use the strawberry colors until fall.”

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Shamrock Cove GPS: N 27 45.369, W 97 9.733 (27.7562, -97.1622)

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef GPS: N 29 28.92, W 94 43.656 T E X A S

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Spoils along the Intracoastal GPS: N 27 33.684, W 97 16.759 (27.5614, -97.2793)

BEST BAITS: Shrimp under a popping cork or free lining live croaker CONTACT: Capt. Adam Doelle 361-649-6509 adoelle@hotmail.com TIPS: Later on in the day he will focus on deeper water, targeting the drop-offs. LOCATION: Redﬁsh Bay HOTSPOT: Estes Flats GPS: N 27 56.541, W 97 5.944 (27.9424, -97.0991)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Shrimp under a popping cork or free lining live croaker CONTACT: Capt. Adam Doelle 361-649-6509 adoelle@hotmail.com TIPS: Capt. Doelle will be ﬁshing along the edges of sand or grass drop offs in waist deep water using free lined live croaker.

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by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Holly Beach GPS: N 26 4.83, W 97 14.87 (26.0805, -97.2478)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut Bait, Live Mullet or a gold spoon CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “I free line cut bait in sand pockets. If I do live ﬁnger mullet, I rig it Carolina style so it can’t swim off.” Capt. McPartland

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: King Ranch Shoreline GPS: N 27 29.134, W 97 21.108 (27.4856, -97.3518)

Holly Jolly Lower Laguna Action

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwater artificials or soft plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Carlos Garcia 956-433-6094 texasredfish20@gmail.com TIPS: “If you prefer to free line live shrimp, rig with a split shot, a treble hook and just let it glide into the current.” Capt. Garcia LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Rocky Slough GPS: N 27 9.903, W 97 26.716 (27.1651, -97.4453)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redﬁsh

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Shrimp under a popping cork or free lining live croaker CONTACT: Capt. Carlos Garcia 956-433-6094 texasredfish20@gmail.com TIPS: “September starts the migration of redfish moving up shallow. Look for school of reds.”

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Tide Gauge Bar GPS: N 27 18.109, W 97 28.051 (27.3018, -97.4675)

GPS: N 26 15.812, W 97 17.166 (26.2635, -97.2861)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwater artificials or soft plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Carlos Garcia 956-433-6094 texasredfish20@gmail.com TIPS: Speckled Trout lure picks: Super Spook in bone white. “I use a nice irky jerky retrieve…walking the dog.” Capt. Garcia

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Shrimp under a popping cork or free lining live croaker CONTACT: Capt. Adam Doelle 361-649-6509 adoelle@hotmail.com TIPS: If ﬁshing live croaker, move the bait every couple of minutes to keep it from moving into the grass.

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LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Stover Point GPS: N 26 12.191, W 97 17.702 (26.2032, -97.2950)

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Toledo Bass South of the Bridge

LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Alligator Bayou GPS: N 32 43.164, W 94 5.424 (32.7194, -94.0904)

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Pendleton Bridge Area and South GPS: N 31 26.754, W 93 45.234 (31.4459, -93.7539)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish BEST BAITS: Topwater artificials or soft plastic tails CONTACT: Capt. Carlos Garcia 956-433-6094 texasredfish20@gmail.com TIPS: Redfish lures: topwaters, soft plastics, something with a nice red glitter in it.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures, Rat-L-Traps, Texas rigged 10-inch worms, heavy football jigs, crankbaits CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxﬁshingguide.com TIPS: Toledo Bend in September is kind of the end of summer and start of fall. There will be some schooling activity with top water lures and Rat-L-Traps mostly in the south below Pendleton bridge. Also there will most likely be some really good bass action early, and I mean EARLY, on main lake points. I’m talking 5:30 am til 8:30 am and then it’s over. There will be lots of big schools of offshore bass including some giants, but you need to know and trust your electronics. The good news is if you ﬁnd one of those schools they should be dependable all through the month. Try a Texas rig 10-inch worm, heavy football jigs and crankbaits that will run to 20+ feet deep.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Cullen Bay Channel

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: V&M J-Bug, crankbaits, 6” straight tailed worms, surface poppers CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakeﬁshing.com TIPS: Fish the edges of this creek with Texas-rigged soft plastic worms and creature baits in watermelon, junebug, and black/blue colors. Watch for schooling bass in the curves and throw small topwaters and crankbaits when active. Punching heavier weighted soft plastics into the heavy grass areas can catch some larger sized bass this time of the year. LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 25.02, W 95 34.224 (30.4170, -95.5704)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS but have my best luck around Ray Branch, Dale and Little Caney.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Pop’r, Zara Spooks, spinnerbaits, crankbaits CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-661-7920 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: “With the first cold fronts of the year beginning to move in, the bass will begin to feed on shad in preparation for the cold weather when they will begin to selectively feed. This is good for fishermen who love the aggressive strikes that a spinnerbait can bring. If you’re on the water this time of year immediately after a cold front (up to the 3rd day after) and it is at daylight or an overcast day, locate the rip rap rock around the lake and start by throwing a small single blade spinnerbait at the rocks then retrieving it back at a very fast rate where the bait is waking the surface. This is a very productive and very fast way to catch a number of fish that will attempt to pull the rod out of your hand. The next thing to try would be a Pop’r or a Zara Spook work these baits in the same areas and alternate between the spinnerbait to determine which they want on that particular day. Later in the day move out to offshore structures and throw crankbaits around them!” Bank Access: Stowaway Marina

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Double Branch GPS: N 32 55.8239, W 95 38.526 (32.9304, -95.6421)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures, small crankbaits, Texas-rigged worms, Carolina-rigged Grandebass Airtail Rattlesnakes, Victory Jigs with a Mega Claws trailer CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: The dog days of summer are coming to an end. The key to finding bass in September is to find the shad. Oxygen levels in the lake dictate where the shad will be at this time of the year. If the lake is turning over, shallow grass will hold bait and bass. If the lake is not turning over, the deep bite will be good on points and road beds. Good fishing to all!

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Ray Branch GPS: N 32 48.6, W 95 34.302 (32.8100, -95.5717)

LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: Dam Area in Deep Water GPS: N 30 37.974, W 95 1.5059 (30.6329, -95.0251)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/16 oz. jigs in Electric Chicken color (pink/chartreuse), minnows CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: September is a very good month to fish for crappie on Lake Fork. I love the crappie fishing just due to the fact the bigger crappie decide to bite as the water temperature starts to cool off, headed towards fall. Fish know that cold weather is coming soon and will start feeding up for the winter and that is what the crappie start doing. I have many brush piles all over the lake and we will be hitting them to catch our limit using jigs and minnows. My piles are located in 18-26 feet of water and the bait fish and crappie love them also. My best color jig going into the fall months will be the electric chicken (pink/chartreuse) on a 1/16 oz. jig head. I fish both the east and west arms of the lake

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(31.1801, -94.2137)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad, 1 ¼ oz white slabs, spoons, Tsunami Holographic 4-inch Swim Shad in hot pink/gold CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: “Bounce baits off the bottom and look for strikes on falling baits. Troll Tsunami Swim Shad behind a #10 jet diver.” BANK ACCESS: Browders Marina

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Senkos, chatter baits, squarebill shallow crankbaits. CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxﬁshingguide.com TIPS: September at Sam Rayburn is one of my favorite months. The bass will be active all over the lake. There should be lots of surface schooling activity. Try shad colored top water lures with propellers on one or both ends. The water temps will be starting to drop a little and the shallow bite will pick up around grass beds and secondary points. LOCATION: Toledo Bend North HOTSPOT: “The Mound” GPS: N 31 42.426, W 93 52.884 (31.7071, -93.8814)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, tail spinners, slab spoons, shallow diving crankbaits CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: The summer is winding down and the whites are starting to migrate back to the north end of the lake. Use your electronics to locate the baitfish on the old river channel sand bars. Use Rat-L-Traps or shallow diving crank baits when the fish are breaking the surface. When they go down, switch to a slab spoon or drag a tail spinner. The whites will usually school in the same areas around the same time of day. Look for the birds dive bombing the baitfish that the whites have pushed to the surface.

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•••

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: Campbell Branch GPS: N 31 10.806, W 94 12.822

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Texoma Stripers, Flat and Sassy

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Humps GPS: N 32 18.8099, W 96 10.068 (32.3135, -96.1678)

by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Texas Flats and Mill Creek Flats GPS: N 33 52.248, W 96 49.7939 (33.8708, -96.8299)

SPECIES: Hybrid Striper BEST BAITS: Deep diving lures CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: Troll main lake humps in 16’ to 24’ of water with deep divers until you locate ﬁsh then target that area repeatedly.

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Slabs and Coho Minnow jigs CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfishlaketexoma@gmail.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: “Stripers are moving out of the deep water and roaming the flats in September. The lures of choice are slabs and jigs. Vertically jig one-ounce chrome, white and chartreuse slabs along the bottom in 10 to 30-foot depths. Coho minnow jigs in white glow color with a 3/4-ounce jig head and a four-inch inch tail are perfect for these hungry stripers. Cast the jigs and use a medium retrieve. If you find surfacing or swirling fish, cast the jig, hold your rod high and keep the jig subsurface.” LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake or Bridge Area GPS: N 32 51.1859, W 96 52.014 (32.8531, -96.8669)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Punch Bait, crawfish CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: This creek runs through this area. Use tight lines, setting on the bottom. Chum close to the boat and also cast out away from the boat with extra rods. All breeds of cats frequent this area.

SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Slab with a fly 12 in. above CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnystevens@1scon.net johnnysguideservice.com TIPS: This area is three large humps in the middle of the lake. The tops of these humps are 24 feet surrounded by 32 feet of water. Work the edges of these humps with your electronics. When fish are located jig up and down with your slab and fly. The humps can be worked by fan casting and hopping your slab and fly just off the bottom to the boat.

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Submerged Structure GPS: N 30 42.3779, W 97 20.8979 (30.7063, -97.3483)

SPECIES: Catﬁsh |

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Reservoir HOTSPOT: Eagle Point South GPS: N 30 37.92, W 96 2.7899 (30.6320, -96.0465)

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain Lake HOTSPOT: Twin Points Humps GPS: N 32 53.155, W 97 29.658 (32.8859, -97.4943)

LOCATION: Fayette County Reservoir HOTSPOT: South East Trees GPS: N 29 54.978, W 96 42.9659 (29.9163, -96.7161)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass 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. Crappie are under the bridge this time of year. Minnows & jigs are best right now.

BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: The trees are close to the old road bed here. Water temperatures are heating up so ﬁsh close to the bottom. Use chum in 10-12 feet of water. Slip cork or tight line is preferred here.

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/32 oz. marabou jig tipped with a Berkley Crappie Nibble CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: People always ask me when the very best time is to catch crappie at Granger Lake. I always tell them that it is September. The crappie have been feeding on shad all summer and gain about a quarter inch in length every 20 days (according to TP&W biologists). So ﬁsh that were just short in July will all be keepers in September. The best bait is a 1/32 oz. marabou jig tipped with a Berkley Crappie Nibble. Be sure to tie

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FISHING HOTSPOTS the jig using a loop knot. This makes a big difference in your catch rate. Fish brush or plastic trees in 4 to 15 feet of water. The main reason this time of year is better than the spring is that the weather is stable and crowds are small with most people hunting or watching football. Good luck and good ﬁshing. LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Twin humps near town GPS: N 32 26.404, W 97 46.977 (32.4401, -97.7830)

SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Holographic slabs in silver and chartreuse CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 TIPS: Look for bait congregated on or near the bottom

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in around 15 to 20 ft. of water. Work channel ledges and humps near deep water. Granbury water temperatures are generally in the 80’S as summer continues with a slow cool down towards fall. Summer patterns continue for most of the month. The Texas heat is starting to taper off, but ﬁshing continues to be best early and late. Thermoclines are starting to disappear, and lake turnover is starting when the surface is cooling. White bass are located near structure and are feeding on near drop offs in 15 to 20 feet of water. Slabbing lead heads are best for putting sandies in the boat. Live bait continues to be the best choice for Striped Bass on or near structure on the lower ends of the lake.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points and Submerged Timber and Brush GPS: N 33 4.4519, W 96 27.57 (33.0742, -96.4595)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass & Crappie BEST BAITS: Bass: Creature baits in sexy shad color | Crappie: Jigs in white/chartreuse and black/ chartreuse CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Black bass will be very shallow early in the mornings and can usually be found in 1 to 5 foot of water. As the sun comes up they gradually make their way back out to 12 to 20 foot. Creature baits and the color “sexy shad” by KVD is usually to go to color.

8/14/18 11:42 AM

FISHING HOTSPOTS Find boat ramps and rip rap as they are a concrete/rock ﬁsh meaning that is what they hold to structure-wise. Crappie will most likely be in 10 to 20 foot of water on submerged timber and brush. Fish jigs in white and chartreuse and black and chartreuse on the 1/16 oz. hook with 6 to 8-pound mono. If you mosey around in 18 foot of water along the banks protected from the south wind, you should be able to ﬁnd yourself some hidden brush piles.

good, still catching quite a few smaller fish but the keeper/throwback ratio has been getting better with the occasional big fish. Look for these fish holding close to brush piles in 25-30 foot of water. Smaller piles that aren’t getting as much pressure are producing more keepers than some of the other popular piles. Jigs are working but the quality of fish seems to be better on minnows. LOCATION: Lake Richland Chambers HOTSPOT: Highway 287 Bridge GPS: N 32 0.3179, W 96 12.5279 (32.0053, -96.2088)

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Cherokee Point GPS: N 32 4.908, W 95 25.278 (32.0818, -95.4213)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Bass: Mister Twister Comida Worm | Crappie: jigs CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: “Bass ﬁshing should be good on points near the dam on Carolina rigs using the Mister Twister Comida Worm. Fish slow, covering this point very well. Crappie very good on jigs under the 155 Bridge. Fish 20 feet or so deep.”

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Small minnows, crappie jigs CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: The late summer and early fall can be some of the very best crappie fishing of the entire year. Some folks prefer to fish around the Highway 287 bridge columns and avoid the heat but most of the more serious crappie fishermen find and fish brush piles. The crappie prefer structure and brush piles attract bait fish as well. While some fishermen fish with crappie jigs, most prefer small minnows tight lined on light line.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Brush Pile GPS: N 33 24.127, W 97 5.314 (33.4021, -97.0886)

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Rock Island Shoreline GPS: N 30 18.708, W 96 31.674 (30.3118, -96.5279)

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Whitney Hump GPS: N 31 54.672, W 97 20.868 (31.9112, -97.3478)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Cut shad, jigs with trailers CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: I am using cut gizzard shad on a Carolina rig and making long cast up on Whitney Hump. Big stripers are moving up on the hump early. After the sun comes up good we are backing out and using live shad and ﬁshing about 22 feet down along the edge of the hump in 32 feet of water. Mid-day downrigging, trolling with white striper jigs and white or chartreuse worm trailers at areas like McCowan Flats N31 55.452’. W97 24.628 is producing good stringers of ﬁsh.

••

Grape Juiced for Henry Bass

•••

by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Little Grape Creek GPS: N 33 2.8079, W 101 3.5699 (33.0468, -101.0595)

SPECIES: Crappie/white bass BEST BAITS: Minnows, 3/4-1oz slabs CONTACT: Justin Wilson 214-538-2780 justinwilson371@yahoo.com TIPS: Still feels like summer out there but the cool nights are starting to lower the water temps. White bass are still really good. Not seeing as much topwater as the past months but starting to see some big schools off the main lake points in 20-40 foot of water. Once you ﬁnd them, jigging slabs off the bottom can make quick work of ﬁlling a cooler. The crappie bite is

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SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait, cut shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Water is deep here as it drops off the rock ledge. Chum the edge of drop-off. Fish straight down with tight line near the bottom.

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures, crankbaits, Senkotype worms, spinnerbaits, swim baits in perch or shad colors CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net www.lakealanhenry.com/ﬁshing-guides.html

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FISHING HOTSPOTS TIPS: “The first of September will find the bass still deep and schooled up. Early top water bite should be good for the whole month on the flats. Later in the month when we have a few cool fronts coming through, cooling the water down, will be when the bass start moving up all the creeks. Start early with top water lures, and then use crankbaits, Senko-type worms, spinnerbaits, and swim baits in perch or shad colors. Fish fun-Fish safe!” LOCATION: Lake Cisco HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 26.7579, W 98 59.0834 (32.4460, -98.9847)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Soft plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr. 325-692-0921 michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov TIPS: Cisco Reservoir is a great largemouth bass ﬁshing reservoir. The reservoir has a variety of ﬁshable habitat features such as submersed boulders, fallen timber, aquatic vegetation, and docks. Texas-rigged soft plastics, spinner baits, and crankbaits should produce a bite. Watermelon, chartreuse, and brighter colors are great colors for soft plastics. LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Bluff Creek GPS: N 32 50.832, W 98 29.1 (32.8472, -98.4850)

••

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad in pearl color CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 capt.steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Trolling this area with downriggers seems to produce the best catches. Set the downriggers from 40 to 60 feet deep and look for schools of striped bass. When located, vary trolling speeds until the fish strike. Tight lines and fish on!

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Highways 277-377 Area GPS: N29 30.32178, W100 54.9906 (29.505363, -100.91651)

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 50.304, W 98 21.9239 (30.8384, -98.3654) SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Zara spooks, Odom football jigs, plastic lizards CONTACT: James Burkeen 830-309-9720 jjburkeen@gmail.com amistadbassin.com TIPS: Use Zara Spooks early, especially on cloudy days, and ﬁsh the points below the highways. At midmorning, move out to the hydrilla where it drops off into deep water and work Odom football jigs in greenpumpkin or Falcon Craw colors. Texas-rigged plastic lizards also work good in the hydrilla.

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@gmail.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: This time of year, live shad are your best bet for the striper bit. Keep in mind that high temperatures means lower oxygen levels in the water. Early in the day, drift or anchor humps and ridges in 30-40 foot of water. Then, late morning, fish over the tree tops in 50-60 foot of water.

•••

Gobble Up Some Canyon Stripers

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Lower Main Lake | Dam Area GPS: N 30 47.55, W 98 24.7319 (30.7925, -98.4122)

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Turkey Creek GPS: N 29 51.7079, W 98 12.948 T E X A S

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•••

Super Highway Bass Action

•• SPECIES: Striped bass BEST BAITS: Live bait, jigs with trailers, topwaters CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: September is a great month. The weather is starting to cool and head into fall. This month the majority of the stripers will be starting their annual fall migration toward the north end of the lake and one of their ﬁrst stops will be in and around Bluff Creek and the ﬂats across from there. Live bait is still king but downrigging catches most of the big ones. There’s still some topwater on cloudy days and early in the

(29.8618, -98.2158)

morning. Mister Twister curly tails are still what we use year-round for trailers on our baits. Fish just can’t resist them. Just turn around and follow them back as they migrate and do the same retrieves and things you did late spring and you will catch stripers.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Worms, drop-shot rigs, crankbaits, buzzbaits and topwater baits CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: Bass and crappie remain in their summer patters of holding near the thermocline, along deep-water ledges, points and cover. Look for both species along points intersecting with a significant depth change. Also look for vegetation near the main lake. Generally speaking, the best and most comfortable times to fish in this Texas heat are daybreak until 10 AM, after 7 PM and at night. The 1/3 of the lake closest to the dam will supply the best water temperature and oxygen content. Work the inner vegetation very early with buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, topwaters and lipless cranks then move more to the weed line throwing lipped cranks and plastics after about 8 AM.

SPECIES: Stripers, Hybrid Bass, & White Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures and 1/2 oz. jigs with yellow and chartreuse tails CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: “The stripers on Lake Buchanan are on the main lake down towards the dam. Watch for schools of topwater striper feeding on the surface. Trolling white 1/2 oz jugs with yellow and chartreuse tails are also working well this time of year. White bass are on upper end or mid lake around the island. Watch for topwater schools.” LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Kelly AFB Park Point GPS: N 30 33.732, W 98 20.988 (30.5622, -98.3498)

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Coleto Bass Like Tops and Buzzers

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 44.466, W 97 10.812 (28.7411, -97.1802)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures and buzzbaits CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: September is a great month to fish because almost any combination of baits will work. I like to fish how I want to, not how the fish want me to. This time of year allows that. I love top water in the early morning. If you haven’t ever thrown a buzz bait or haven’t given one a chance you are really missing out on some good bites. I like taking a white half ounce linker buzz, I bend the hook outward just a little. (the same on my spinners) this helps on short strikes. Then when I cast, just as soon as it hits the water, I’m retrieving. I find it’s usually the first 10 to 15 feet I get hit. I like to slow roll it as slow as possible. Nothing sounds as good as when you hear the fish eat it. It’s a blast and also you cover a lot of water. Don’t hesitate to throw it through the same places a couple times especially in stained or dirty water give the fish a chance to find it. As always good fishing and good luck.

SPECIES: Bass and Crappie

« DIGITAL EXTRA: Locator Maps link to Google Maps online

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GET MORE WITH OUR DIGITAL EDITIONS!

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK SEPTEMBER 2018

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

The following pages contain TIDE and SOLUNAR predictions for Galveston Channel (29.3166° N, 94.88° W).

T12

T11

T10 T9

TIDE PREDICTIONS are located in the upper white boxes on the Calendar Pages. Use the Correction Table below, which is keyed to 23 other tide stations, to adjust low and high tide times.

T8 T17

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the lower color boxes of the Calendar pages. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE below to adjust times for points East and West of Galveston Channel.

T15 T16

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below. SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indicate major and minor feeding periods for each day, as the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of inﬂuence on many wildlife species.

T13 T6

T3 T2 T1

T14

AM & PM MINOR phases occur when the moon rises and sets. These phases last 1 to 2 hours.

T18

AM & PM MAJOR phases occur when the moon reaches its highest point overhead as well as when it is “underfoot” or at its highest point on the exact opposite side of the earth from your positoin (or literally under your feet). Most days have two Major Feeding Phases, each lasting about 2 hours.

T19

T20

PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the inﬂuence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest inﬂunce of the month. PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 minutes to an hour of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these periods will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Solunar Period, expect the best action of the season.

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine the adjustment from the time shown for GALVESTON CHANNEL in the calendars.

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

PLACE Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass Jetty Sabine Pass Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass Galveston Bay, S. Jetty Port Bolivar

HIGH -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14

LOW -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06

KEY PLACE HIGH Galveston Channel/Bays T7 Texas City Turning Basin +0:33 +3:54 T8 Eagle Point +6:05 T9 Clear Lake +10:21 T10 Morgans Point T11 Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39

LOW +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

PLACE Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, W. Bay Alligator Point, W. Bay Christmas Pt Galveston Pleasure Pier

HIGH +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -1:06

LOW +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:33 +2:31 -1:06

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

PLACE HIGH San Luis Pass -0.09 Freeport Harbor -0:44 Pass Cavallo 0:00 Aransas Pass -0:03 Padre Island (So. End) -0:24 Port Isabel +1:02

LOW -0.09 -1:02 -1:20 -1:31 -1:45 -0:42

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

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

READING THE GRAPH

Moon Overhead

Fishing Score Graph

Moon Underfoot

Day’s Best Day’s 2nd Score Best Score

Best Day Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter «= Good Day by Moon Phase 70

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SEPTEMBER 2018

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

27 « FEET

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

6:26 AM 11:32 AM 4:53 PM 11:32 PM

1.45 ft. 1.02 ft. 1.35 ft. 0.36 ft.

TUESDAY

28 «

High Tide: 6:46 AM 1.43 ft. Low Tide: 12:04 PM 0.92 ft. High Tide: 5:47 PM 1.33 ft.

WEDNESDAY

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

12:03 AM 7:05 AM 12:40 PM 6:49 PM

0.50 ft. 1.40 ft. 0.81 ft. 1.30 ft.

THURSDAY

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

12:35 AM 7:20 AM 1:20 PM 8:03 PM

0.67 ft. 1.38 ft. 0.68 ft. 1.28 ft.

FRIDAY

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

1:10 AM 7:28 AM 2:05 PM 9:34 PM

0.87 ft. 1.36 ft. 0.54 ft. 1.30 ft.

SATURDAY

Sep 1 Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:48 AM 7:25 AM 2:58 PM 11:19 PM

1.08 ft. 1.37 ft. 0.40 ft. 1.37 ft.

SUNDAY

2»

Low Tide: 2:33 AM 1.28 ft. High Tide: 7:10 AM 1.42 ft. Low Tide: 3:59 PM 0.25 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

7:30 — 9:30 PM Sunrise: 6:53a Sunset: 7:47p Moonrise: 8:48p Moon Set: 7:50a

AM Minor: 6:31a AM Major: 12:20a PM Minor: 6:53p PM Major: 12:42p Moon Overhead: 2:00a Moon Underfoot: 2:22p

12p

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 AM Sunrise: 6:53a Sunset: 7:46p Moonrise: 9:22p Moon Set: 8:44a

AM Minor: 7:18a AM Major: 1:07a PM Minor: 7:40p PM Major: 1:29p

Moon Overhead: 2:44a Moon Underfoot: 3:05p

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12a

12p

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 AM Sunrise: 6:54a Sunset: 7:45p Moonrise: 9:55p Moon Set: 9:38a

AM Minor: 8:06a AM Major: 1:55a PM Minor: 8:28p PM Major: 2:17p

Moon Overhead: 3:27a Moon Underfoot: 3:49p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 AM Sunrise: 6:54a Sunset: 7:43p Moonrise: 10:29p Moon Set: 10:33a

AM Minor: 8:56a AM Major: 2:44a PM Minor: 9:18p PM Major: 3:07p

Moon Overhead: 4:11a Moon Underfoot: 4:34p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

4:00 — 6:00 AM Sunrise: 6:55a Sunset: 7:42p Moonrise: 11:06p Moon Set: 11:29a

AM Minor: 9:46a AM Major: 3:35a PM Minor: 10:10p PM Major: 3:58p

Moon Overhead: 4:57a Moon Underfoot: 5:20p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

11:00A — 1:00P Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 7:41p Moonrise: 11:46p Moon Set: 12:28p

AM Minor: 10:39a AM Major: 4:27a PM Minor: 11:04p PM Major: 4:51p

Moon Overhead: 5:44a Moon Underfoot: 6:09p

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 7:40p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 1:29p

AM Minor: 11:33a AM Major: 5:19a PM Minor: 11:59p PM Major: 5:46p Moon Overhead: 6:35a Moon Underfoot: 7:02p

8/14/18 11:42 AM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

3 FEET

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

1:06 AM 3:42 AM 6:45 AM 5:06 PM

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

1.49 ft. 1.46 ft. 1.49 ft. 0.11 ft.

High Tide: 2:26 AM 1.62 ft. Low Tide: 6:15 PM -0.01 ft.

High Tide: 3:16 AM 1.70 ft. Low Tide: 7:19 PM -0.11 ft.

THURSDAY

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

3:53 AM 9:23 AM 11:48 AM 8:19 PM

FRIDAY

1.74 ft. 1.50 ft. 1.53 ft. -0.14 ft.

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

4:25 AM 9:28 AM 1:30 PM 9:14 PM

SATURDAY

8«

1.72 ft. 1.40 ft. 1.57 ft. -0.11 ft.

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

4:54 AM 9:57 AM 2:50 PM 10:06 PM

SUNDAY

9«

1.68 ft. 1.24 ft. 1.60 ft. 0.00 ft.

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

5:20 AM 10:34 AM 4:02 PM 10:55 PM

1.62 ft. 1.05 ft. 1.62 ft. 0.19 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 6:57a Sunset: 7:39p Moonrise: 12:32a Moon Set: 2:31p

AM Minor: 12:03a AM Major: 6:13a PM Minor: 12:27p PM Major: 6:41p

12p

5:46 AM 11:15 AM 5:12 PM 11:42 PM

1.55 ft. 0.84 ft. 1.61 ft. 0.42 ft.

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 PM

2:00 — 4:00 PM

AM Minor: 1:47a AM Major: 8:03a PM Minor: 2:18p PM Major: 8:33p

Moon Overhead: 8:27a Moon Underfoot: 8:57p

12 «

High Tide: 6:11 AM 1.50 ft. Low Tide: 11:59 AM 0.65 ft. High Tide: 6:24 PM 1.58 ft.

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

12:28 AM 6:34 AM 12:46 PM 7:38 PM

12a

0.68 ft. 1.46 ft. 0.50 ft. 1.55 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 AM

10:30A — 12:30P

12a

11:30A — 1:30P

12a

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 7:00a Sunset: 7:32p Moonrise: 6:47a Moon Set: 7:52p

AM Minor: 4:31a AM Major: 10:45a PM Minor: 5:00p PM Major: 11:14p

Moon Overhead: 11:29a Moon Underfoot: None

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:59a Sunset: 7:33p Moonrise: 5:39a Moon Set: 7:09p

AM Minor: 3:36a AM Major: 9:51a PM Minor: 4:06p PM Major: 10:21p

Moon Overhead: 10:28a Moon Underfoot: 10:58p

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:59a Sunset: 7:34p Moonrise: 4:31a Moon Set: 6:21p

AM Minor: 2:42a AM Major: 8:57a PM Minor: 3:12p PM Major: 9:28p

AM Minor: 5:25a AM Major: 11:39a PM Minor: 5:53p PM Major: 12:06p

Moon Overhead: 12:27p Moon Underfoot: None

Moon Overhead: 1:23p Moon Underfoot: 12:55a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

11 «

Sunrise: 6:58a Sunset: 7:35p Moonrise: 3:24a Moon Set: 5:29p

Moon Overhead: 9:27a Moon Underfoot: 9:58p

TUESDAY

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:58a Sunset: 7:37p Moonrise: 2:21a Moon Set: 4:32p

AM Minor: 12:53a AM Major: 7:08a PM Minor: 1:22p PM Major: 7:37p

MONDAY

FEET

12a

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS Fishing Score Moon Moon Graph Overhead Underfoot

READING THE GRAPH

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

Sunrise: 6:57a Sunset: 7:38p Moonrise: 1:23a Moon Set: 3:32p

Moon Overhead: 7:29a Moon Underfoot: 7:58p

10 l

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

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

1:15 AM 6:56 AM 1:36 PM 9:00 PM

0.94 ft. 1.43 ft. 0.40 ft. 1.52 ft.

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

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

2:06 AM 7:13 AM 2:30 PM 10:33 PM

1.18 ft. 1.41 ft. 0.35 ft. 1.52 ft.

SATURDAY

Low Tide: 3:23 AM 1.36 ft. High Tide: 7:17 AM 1.41 ft. Low Tide: 3:31 PM 0.33 ft.

SUNDAY

High Tide: 12:22 AM 1.56 ft. Low Tide: 4:39 PM 0.34 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 PM Sunrise: 7:00a Sunset: 7:31p Moonrise: 7:53a Moon Set: 8:32p

AM Minor: 6:20a AM Major: 12:07a PM Minor: 6:46p PM Major: 12:33p Moon Overhead: 2:16p Moon Underfoot: 1:50a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 PM Sunrise: 7:01a Sunset: 7:29p Moonrise: 8:57a Moon Set: 9:11p

AM Minor: 7:15a AM Major: 1:03a PM Minor: 7:41p PM Major: 1:28p

Moon Overhead: 3:07p Moon Underfoot: 2:41a

S E P T E M B E R

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12p

12a

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 8:11a AM Major: 1:59a PM Minor: 8:36p PM Major: 2:23p

12a

3:30 — 5:30 PM

AM Minor: 9:06a AM Major: 2:54a PM Minor: 9:31p PM Major: 3:18p

T E X A S

Moon Overhead: 4:45p Moon Underfoot: 4:21a

F I S H

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 7:01a Sunset: 7:27p Moonrise: 10:59a Moon Set: 10:27p

Moon Overhead: 3:56p Moon Underfoot: 3:31a

12p

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 PM Sunrise: 7:01a Sunset: 7:28p Moonrise: 9:58a Moon Set: 9:48p

4:30 — 6:30 PM Sunrise: 7:02a Sunset: 7:26p Moonrise: 11:57a Moon Set: 11:07p

AM Minor: 10:01a AM Major: 3:49a PM Minor: 10:25p PM Major: 4:13p

Moon Overhead: 5:34p Moon Underfoot: 5:10a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 Sunrise: 7:02a Sunset: 7:25p Moonrise: 12:54p Moon Set: 11:49p

AM Minor: 10:54a AM Major: 4:42a PM Minor: 11:18p PM Major: 5:06p

Moon Overhead: 6:23p Moon Underfoot: 5:58a

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 7:03a Sunset: 7:23p Moonrise: 1:49p Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 11:45a AM Major: 5:33a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 5:57p Moon Overhead: 7:12p Moon Underfoot: 6:47a

G A M E ®

8/14/18 11:42 AM

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8/14/18 11:42 AM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

TUESDAY

17 º

High Tide: 2:06 AM 1.62 ft. Low Tide: 5:48 PM 0.36 ft.

High Tide: 3:01 AM 1.65 ft. Low Tide: 6:52 PM 0.37 ft.

FEET

WEDNESDAY

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

3:32 AM 10:20 AM 11:07 AM 7:45 PM

1.66 ft. 1.40 ft. 1.40 ft. 0.39 ft.

THURSDAY

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

3:52 AM 9:58 AM 12:41 PM 8:28 PM

FRIDAY

1.64 ft. 1.39 ft. 1.44 ft. 0.42 ft.

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

4:08 AM 9:53 AM 1:46 PM 9:04 PM

SATURDAY

1.63 ft. 1.34 ft. 1.48 ft. 0.46 ft.

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

4:23 AM 9:53 AM 2:41 PM 9:36 PM

SUNDAY

23 «

1.61 ft. 1.26 ft. 1.53 ft. 0.52 ft.

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

4:40 AM 10:05 AM 3:32 PM 10:06 PM

1.61 ft. 1.16 ft. 1.56 ft. 0.61 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 7:03a Sunset: 7:22p Moonrise: 2:40p Moon Set: 12:34a

AM Minor: 12:10a AM Major: 6:21a PM Minor: 12:34p PM Major: 6:46p Moon Overhead: 8:01p Moon Underfoot: 7:36a

12p

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 PM Sunrise: 7:04a Sunset: 7:21p Moonrise: 3:29p Moon Set: 1:21a

AM Minor: 12:56a AM Major: 7:08a PM Minor: 1:20p PM Major: 7:32p Moon Overhead: 8:49p Moon Underfoot: 8:25a

TexasOutdoorNationISSUU-1809.indd 74

12a

12p

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 PM Sunrise: 7:04a Sunset: 7:20p Moonrise: 4:14p Moon Set: 2:10a

AM Minor: 1:41a AM Major: 7:53a PM Minor: 2:05p PM Major: 8:17p

Moon Overhead: 9:37p Moon Underfoot: 9:13a

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

3:30 — 5:30 PM Sunrise: 7:05a Sunset: 7:18p Moonrise: 4:57p Moon Set: 3:02a

AM Minor: 2:24a AM Major: 8:36a PM Minor: 2:48p PM Major: 8:59p

Moon Overhead: 10:24p Moon Underfoot: 10:01a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 AM Sunrise: 7:05a Sunset: 7:17p Moonrise: 5:37p Moon Set: 3:55a

AM Minor: 3:06a AM Major: 9:18a PM Minor: 3:29p PM Major: 9:41p

Moon Overhead: 11:11p Moon Underfoot: 10:48a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 7:06a Sunset: 7:16p Moonrise: 6:14p Moon Set: 4:48a

AM Minor: 3:47a AM Major: 9:59a PM Minor: 4:10p PM Major: 10:21p Moon Overhead: 11:56p Moon Underfoot: 11:33a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:30A — 1:30P Sunrise: 7:06a Sunset: 7:15p Moonrise: 6:49p Moon Set: 5:43a

AM Minor: 4:29a AM Major: 10:40a PM Minor: 4:51p PM Major: 11:02p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:18p

8/14/18 11:42 AM

SEPTEMBER 2018

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

24 « FEET

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

4:57 AM 10:26 AM 4:22 PM 10:36 PM

TUESDAY

25 l

1.60 ft. 1.04 ft. 1.59 ft. 0.71 ft.

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

5:15 AM 10:54 AM 5:14 PM 11:08 PM

1.59 ft. 0.90 ft. 1.61 ft. 0.84 ft.

WEDNESDAY

26 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:31 AM 11:26 AM 6:11 PM 11:43 PM

1.57 ft. 0.77 ft. 1.62 ft. 0.99 ft.

THURSDAY

27 «

High Tide: 5:43 AM 1.55 ft. Low Tide: 12:01 PM 0.63 ft. High Tide: 7:13 PM 1.64 ft.

FRIDAY

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

12:20 AM 5:50 AM 12:42 PM 8:26 PM

1.16 ft. 1.54 ft. 0.50 ft. 1.65 ft.

SATURDAY

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

1:00 AM 5:46 AM 1:28 PM 9:51 PM

1.35 ft. 1.56 ft. 0.39 ft. 1.69 ft.

SUNDAY

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

1:48 AM 5:29 AM 2:23 PM 11:25 PM

1.52 ft. 1.61 ft. 0.30 ft. 1.74 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:30P — 1:30A Sunrise: 7:07a Sunset: 7:14p Moonrise: 7:23p Moon Set: 6:37a

AM Minor: 5:11a AM Major: 11:22a PM Minor: 5:33p PM Major: 11:44p Moon Overhead: 12:41a Moon Underfoot: 1:03p

12p

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 AM Sunrise: 7:07a Sunset: 7:12p Moonrise: 7:57p Moon Set: 7:32a

AM Minor: 5:55a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:17p PM Major: 12:06p Moon Overhead: 1:25a Moon Underfoot: 1:47p

TexasOutdoorNationISSUU-1809.indd 75

12a

12p

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM Sunrise: 7:08a Sunset: 7:11p Moonrise: 8:31p Moon Set: 8:27a

AM Minor: 6:42a AM Major: 12:30a PM Minor: 7:04p PM Major: 12:53p Moon Overhead: 2:09a Moon Underfoot: 2:32p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 AM Sunrise: 7:08a Sunset: 7:10p Moonrise: 9:07p Moon Set: 9:24a

AM Minor: 7:31a AM Major: 1:19a PM Minor: 7:54p PM Major: 1:43p

Moon Overhead: 2:55a Moon Underfoot: 3:18p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 AM Sunrise: 7:09a Sunset: 7:09p Moonrise: 9:46p Moon Set: 10:23a

AM Minor: 8:24a AM Major: 2:12a PM Minor: 8:48p PM Major: 2:36p

Moon Overhead: 3:42a Moon Underfoot: 4:07p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

3:30 — 5:30 AM Sunrise: 7:09a Sunset: 7:07p Moonrise: 10:30p Moon Set: 11:23a

AM Minor: 9:20a AM Major: 3:07a PM Minor: 9:46p PM Major: 3:33p

Moon Overhead: 4:32a Moon Underfoot: 4:58p

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

10:00A — 12:00P Sunrise: 7:10a Sunset: 7:06p Moonrise: 11:19p Moon Set: 12:24p

AM Minor: 10:18a AM Major: 4:04a PM Minor: 10:45p PM Major: 4:32p

Moon Overhead: 5:25a Moon Underfoot: 5:53p

8/14/18 11:42 AM

Texas TESTED Lansky Roadie: Knife Sharpener & More I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF multitools and multifunction gadgets but none struck me quite the way the Lansky Roadie knife sharpener did. A small pocketsized tool than can do eight different functions and keep on your key ring or belt

measurements on both sides built in which can double as a straight edge. What a dream come true for the avid outdoorsman. Like the last Lansky review I wrote on the QuadSharp knife sharpener, I am thoroughly impressed they engineered so many functions into one small tool and the fit, finish

anywhere! My wife always jokes with me when we go out together and encounter a soda or beer bottle without a twist off top as she carries a bottle opener on her key chain. Imagine my excitement when I pulled the Roadie out on our latest adventure, showing her I too had a bottle opener and so much more on my keychain. What an awesome tool! I love it and I highly recommend this as a great addition to your key

loop? Yes! This is a reality now!

Let’s do a rundown of the features: It’s a carbide knife sharpener, a carabiner, a variable hex wrench, a bottle opener, a flathead screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver, a pry tool, and a line cutter! There’s even a mini-ruler with standard and metric

chain or gift for the outdoorsman in your life! Rather it be “stocking stuffer” for Christmas or a birthday gift for the avid adventurer in your life, this will most

Lansky Roadie

and overall quality is solid as well. What’s more is that this tool travels well too. Airport security didn’t even bat and eye at my coming to or going from the ICAST fishing show this year as I was carrying the Roadie on my carry-on bag! Like the packaging says, it literally goes with you

certainly be a tool they will use and remember you by. Check out your local Academy Sports and Outdoors store for many Lansky products and www.Lansky. com for their full line.

—by DUSTIN VAUGHN WARNCKE

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1809 Texas Tested.indd 72

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T E X A S

F I S H

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PHOTOS: LANSKY SHARPENERS

8/9/18 5:17 PM

Industry INSIDER Who’s Your Flattie Daddy Flounder Tournament COME CELEBRATE THE 5-YEAR anniversary of the “Who’s Your Flattie Daddy” Flounder Tournament presented by Dargel Boats and hosted by Fishstix Rods. The “Who’s Your Flattie Daddy” Flounder Tournament has grown to be the most popular, the most fun, and of course the most family friendly flounder tournament on the whole Gulf Coast. This year the tournament will take place on October 20 at the Galveston County Fair Grounds in Hitchcock. The fishing boundaries include all Texas state waters. “Who’s Your Flattie Daddy” is partnered up with 501-C3, Coastal Brigades, to help raise money for their week-long kid’s conservation and leadership camp. Sign up for the tournament at www. gotfishstix.com, or at the new FISHSTIX store located at 11305 FM 1764, Santa Fe, TX 77510. Participants will compete in 5 categories: 1. Heavy Flounder (largest single flounder) 2. Heavy Stringer of Flounder (up to 5 flounder) 3. Blackjack Flounder (closest to 21” without going over) 4. Toaster Flounder (smallest combined length of 2 legal flounder) 5. Lottery Flounder (closest flounder to randomly drawn weight) Anglers will also have the option to complete in the $50 MYSTERY FLOUNDER Side Pot. The tournament is open to children, amateur, and guides who will all be competing in the same division. The entry fee to compete in this outstanding, world-class tournament is only $100 per angler. Entry fee includes live music from Nashville recording artist, Cole Degges, mouth watering food prepared by Chef Michael Banuelos of Saltwater Cowboy Grill, refreshing

Flounder tournament scheduled for Oct 20.

snow cones, $1 raffles, silent auctions, and the best door prizes on this side of the Mississippi. Also, don’t forget the Dargel Boat raffle drawing, where someone will go home with their very own Dargel Skout 170 powered by Suzuki. All these awesome events will be held at the Galveston County Fair Grounds, Hitchcock on October 20, 2018.

HSM Ammunition receives “Gray’s Best” Award DURING THE 2018 SHOT SHOW, HSM Ammunition and its innovative Low Recoil ammunition was presented with a coveted Gray’s Best award from Gray’s Sporting Journal, a hunting and fishing literary publication. Terry Wieland, Shooting editor for Gray’s, field tested caliber .270 Win. for the evaluation and wrote, “HSM makes a wide range of ammunition in the standard configurations, but its Low Recoil line fills a definite need. Loaded with proprietary, tipped, standard weight-for-caliber Sierra bullets, this is ammunition that takes a backseat to no other in terms of accuracy. Comfortable, quiet, easy to shoot, and very accurate, with a bullet you can absolutely depend on.” T E X A S

1809-Industry Insider.indd 73

Travis Campbell, the president of HSM Ammunition stated: “At HSM, accuracy is our business and fine ammunition is our product. Every employee at our plant in Stevensville, Montana, had a hand in bringing our Low Recoil line to fruition. On behalf of everyone at HSM, it is a tremendous honor for HSM to receive this award from such a distinguished

F I S H

G A M E ®

publication as Gray’s Sporting Journal.” Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, HSM Ammunition manufactures a complete catalog of superior, always-accurate metallic ammunition, for every discipline of handgun and rifle shooting. To learn more about HSM’s innovative, award-winning Low Recoil line along with the entire product listing, please visit www.HSMammunition.com.

S E P T E M B E R

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8/9/18 5:23 PM

Fish and Game GEAR DOA Lures is Selling Sna-Koil

face and it gets absolutely blown up by huge largemouth bass,” said DOA’s Marketing Director Captain Ed Zyak. “When I see fish humping up water behind it I’ll stop it and let it fall, and that’s when this bait really becomes deadly.” As it descends, the Sna-Koil falls in a circular death spiral reminiscent of an injured snake. “This is when it almost always garners a follow up strike,” he explained. Fished weightless using a 5/0 wide gap worm hook, Texas rigged using a 1/8th ounce worm weight or weighted swimbait hook, the true quality of this lure is in its versatility. “We have prostaff here in Florida that use it to catch huge largemouth on the Kissimmee Chain of lakes and Lake

FLORIDA SOFT PLASTIC PROducer DOA Lures unveils its latest crossover creation called the Sna-Koil. Designed with an anatomically correct snake head and slim 12” long body, the Sna-Koil’s action slowly uncoils with each twitch of the rod before retracting into a coiled defense posture after each pause. “In Lake Okeechobee we crawl it across the sur-

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1809-FishandGame Gear.indd 74

Tatula Sterling Silver LT Spinning Reel DAIWA IS PLEASED TO announce the arrival of a spinning reel worthy of its name, the Tatula Sterling Silver LT Spinning Reel. This

beautiful Limited Edition reel is the culmination of years of Daiwa research and development. The LT (light tough) Zaion Body is composed of a “high density” carbon strain material that is lighter and stronger than conventional construct material. The silver finish harkens back to a classic spinning reel look. The state of the

Capt. Ed Zyak with a nice trout caught with the DOA Sna-Koil.

Okeechobee, saltwater guys catching cobia on the east coast, bull redfish in the Carolinas, and the big seatrout down in the Lower Laguna Madre of South Texas absolutely love it.” Along with mimicking a freshwater snake as bass forage and an eel for cobia, it also crosses over as a marine worm that seatrout, snook, and other inshore predators readily consume as well. For enticing big largemouth Zyak recommends avocado red glitter or black with grape shad, and Arkansas glow and Glowdini for inshore species like redfish and seatrout. Visit DOALures.com for more info.

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T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

PHOTO: DUSTIN CATRETT

8/14/18 11:35 AM

art Air Rotor and Air Bail design is 15 percent lighter yet stronger by dispersing the pressure evenly over the parts. With 8 stainless steel ball bearings and 1 roller bearing the reel is silky smooth. The digi-

• AIR ROTOR AND AIR BAIL • 8 ball bearings and 1 roller bearing • Digitally machined aloy aircraft grade aluminum DIGIGEAR • Screw in handle • Designed for 6 to 12-pound test • Limited Edition For more information, visit daiwa.com.

punching. For Texas and Carolina rigs use a 3/0 EWG, but even a 4/0 or 5/0 straight shank hook will fit this bait. For more information on the Mermaid and all of Gary Yamamoto’s distinctive lures, visit baits.com.

Daiwa Tatula Sterling Silver LT

tally Machined aluminum Digigear is smooth and flawless delivering the power of the screw-in handle directly to the rotor with no play. With 22-pounds of drag pressure, the reel is a fish stopper. Designed to hold 6 to 12-pound test mono and comparable braids, this silver jem is well suited for the most challenging light tackle gamefish. If precious reels are like precious metals then Daiwa’s Tatula Sterling Silver LT Spinning Reel is the one you want on the best rod in your quiver. • LT Concept • ZAION Body

Yamamoto Mermaid

Gary Yamamoto Introduces the Mermaid THE MERMAID IS THE PERFECT “transitional” lure between the Flappin’ Hawg and the Cowboy. The body provides that large, bulky profile that mimics crawdads and bottom-feeding minnows. The legs, with their outward curl, fold into themselves during the fall, making the Mermaid look longer than it is, providing a tight, fast, vibrating action that minnows produce when trying to flee. This bait excels used alone on a jig head dragged along the bottom, or Carolina rigged. Add the Mermaid as a jig trailer or alone Texas rigged when flipping and T E X A S

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8/9/18 5:22 PM

Texas TASTED by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Mesquite Grilled Dove Wraps

OTE FROM THE TEXAS Gourmet: Would you ever catch a fish and allow it to sit out in the heat for a couple of hours? I didn’t think so. Yet, most of the time, when a dove hunter shoots a dove he places it in the game pocket on the back of the hunting vest—sometimes for hours. This allows a concentration of enzymes and bacteria to settle into the meat. Instead, hunters should have a cooler bag handy with ice and a few gallon-sized freezer zip lock bags. If two or more are sharing a cooler, personalize each bag. As you kill more doves, transfer them to the cooler every 45 minutes or so. This is to preserve the doves until you can clean them properly. The brine that I describe in this recipe will aid in removing these undesirable enzymes and flavors from the meat, so you can begin the preparation with the clean and natural flavor of the dove.

Delicious Dove Wraps

to soften for 1-2 hours) Serves 12-16

For the Brine Fillet the breast meat from the breastplate. Place the fillet halves into a large bowl of ice water. They should be fully submerged. Add ½ cup sea salt to ½ gallon of ice water. Allow meat to sit for 1-2 hours. Pour off water and rinse the meat again with cold water.

Preparation In a mixing bowl add the following to the cream cheese: 1 tablespoon each of black pepper, garlic salt and basil leaves. Stuff a Jalapeno half with ¾ tsp. cream cheese mixture. Place the breast on top of the cream cheese and place the purple onion on top of the breast. Wrap the pepper and breast with a slice of bacon. Hold the bacon in place with a moist round toothpick. (Be sure to wrap tightly to hold in the cheese)

Ingredients 1 lb bacon - thin sliced, center cut. (Allow the bacon to sit out for 30 minutes before preparation.) 24 dove breasts 24 jalapenos (halved and seeded to make 48 halves) 2 purple onions (peeled and cut into 1-inch thick wedges) 2 cakes of cream cheese (allow to sit out 80

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For the Baste: (The baste will help to cook the bacon faster and keep the meat from overcooking and drying out.) |

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1 whole bottle of Syrah or Merlot wine ¾ jar - jalapeno kiwi jelly 3 T soy sauce 3 T olive oil 1 T dijon mustard 1 can beef broth 1 T butter 1 T black pepper 2 T rosemary leaves-chopped coarsely 2 cloves of fresh minced garlic Place all of the above ingredients in a saucepan, over medium heat and reduce by ½ of volume. Remove from heat.

Grilling Because they are small & delicate, and prone to flare ups on the fire, place the dove wraps indirectly over medium high heat on the grill, and keep it covered when not basting them. Turn the wraps every 4-5 minutes and baste them every time you turn them until bacon is browned. Remove from the grill to a platter, and cover loosely with a piece of foil for approx. 7-8 minutes to rest the meat. Then remove the toothpicks and enjoy. Bon Appetit!

Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com PHOTO: BRYAN SLAVEN

8/9/18 5:15 PM

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CRAPPIE

REDFISH

Choke Canyon

Bayport Ship Channel

Taylor Wilson caught a mess of crappie last Spring Break while ﬁshing on Choke Canyon.

Jose Quintanilla caught this 28-inch redﬁsh in the Bayport Ship Channel in Houston, using live crab.

REDFISH Palacios Parker Martin was fishing with his dad on a pier in Palacios when he hooked into a fish with his zZebco reel with 10-pound test line on it. The fish headed out to the bay and he and his dad followed, running down the pier. After about 30 minutes they were able to land the 37-inch red—his first. He has been hooked on fishing ever since.

CATFISH Trinity River Douglas Brumble caught this 55-pound, 3-foot 6-inch blue catﬁsh on the Trinity River at night. He caught it on cut shad with an Abu Garcia 5500 on a 7ft All-Star rod. The ﬁsh was weighed and measured then released!

MIXED STRINGER Galveston Brandon Pfleiderer and James Pfleiderer show off their catch from an offshore father and son fishing trip out of Galveston aboard the Capt. John.

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BASS Kendall County Britton Budnik caught her ﬁrst ﬁsh, a largemouth bass at Joshua Spring Park in Kendall County. The smile says it all. She’s “hooked!”

REDFISH Laguna Madre Joseph Trevion caught this 26- “beast of a redﬁsh” while kayak ﬁshing on the Laguna Madre. He caught the red on a Super Spook Jr (bone).

BLACKFIN TUNA Offshore Josh Elliott and friends caught blackfin tuna, tile fish, kingfish and and heck of a good time (and a sore crew!) on a recent offshore trip.

BASS

SPECKLED TROUT

Private Pond

Bafﬁn Bay

Four-year-old Richard Couch III caught this bass in his local church pond. Nearly five now, He started catching bass on plastic lures when he was three. Now he can cast the bait, finesse the line, set the hook and reel the fish in all on his own. Every single time he gets a fish his face lights up like a Christmas tree.

Chris Lawson caught this 23-inch speckled trout on a soft plastic lure wadeﬁshing in Bafﬁn Bay, while dodging heavy rain clouds all day long.

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