Texas Fish & Game April 2019 by Texas Fish & Game

April 2019 | $3.95

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Jetty Assault Craft

Bow Fishing for Buffalo

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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 AND ARDIA NEVES

A Milestone for Sealy

PUBLISHERS

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

EXT MONTH, TEXAS FISH & GAME WILL CELEBRATE ITS THIRTY-FIFTH anniversary. But this month, we’re celebrating the same milestone of one of our partners in this great business we we’re both lucky to be a part of. Sealy Outdoors is exactly one month older than TF&G. They have been producing the Big Bass Splash fishing tournaments since April 1984, and in doing so virtually re-invented the concept of tournament fishing. For one thing, the Sealy tournaments are for amateurs only—no pros or guides allowed. Yet, the crowds of spectators drawn to their events rival those of the professional bass circuits. Another unique feature pioneered by Sealy is the hourly winners competition. Throughout each day of each tournament, anglers weigh in their best catches and can win cash prizes from as many as 15 places in a single hour, with top prizes in the thousands of dollars. Sealy’s events have offered total payouts in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and prize packages that include boats, trucks and other huge-ticket items. These payouts, like the crowds the tournaments draw, also rival the winnings offered by the professional competitions, giving credence to Sealy’s long-standing slogan, “Where Amateurs Win Like Pros.” The Big Bass Splash was the brainchild of Bob Sealy, who, along with his wife and partner Donna, host tournaments each year at Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend and Lake Fork, as well as several tournaments in other states. Each of these events draws thousands of entries, making the series one of the largest—if not the largest—tournament series in the nation. Our promotional partnership To mark their 35th anniversary, Bob, Donna, and their daughter with Sealy Outdoors began Nicole Sealy Bennett (who joined the family business several years with this February 1998 cover ago) have organized their biggest event yet, scheduled for April 26-28 featuring Donna Sealy. at Sam Rayburn. They are guaranteeing more than $1 Million in cash and prizes with First Place overall—the biggest bass caught over the three days—winning a sportsman package worth $300,000 that will include a RAM pickup, 5th wheel trailer and a powered and trailered Triton boat. Second through fifth largest fish win cash prizes ranging from $100,000 to $25,000 and the hourly payout will total a whopping $376,950. Biggest fish each hour wins $5,000 and there will be 15 cash winners each hour. Additional prizes will include $10,000 awards to the first anglers with fish weighing exactly 3.00, 4.00 and 5.00 pounds, an “Elimination” drawing for a new Triton boat, five $500 Academy gift cards, and a $15,000 UTV. No wonder almost 8,000 anglers are expected to enter this year’s Anniversary event. TEXAS FISH & GAME and Sealy Outdoors have been collaborating sponsors of each other’s respective enterprises for more than twenty years. It has been a fruitful partnership that has greatly benefitted both sides. Hundreds of thousands of our readers have learned about this rich tournament series through our pages, and our audience base has been enriched by the addition of thousands of avid bass anglers who have become regular subscribers. By making such a dramatic financial commitment, backed by a truly innovative event structure, Bob and Donna Sealy have created a remarkable engine for driving interest and enthusiasm into the sport of fishing. On top of that, their tournaments support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Bob Sealy, a member of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, says that he believes his purpose in life is to give back to worthy causes and to help people. What he, Donna and Nicole have accomplished over the past 35 years has certainly fulfilled that purpose. Get more details at sealyoutdoors.com.

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

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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 April 2019 | Vol. 35 • No. 12

FEATURE ARTICLES

METAL ON THE ROCKS Aluminum boats are great assault craft for fishing the jetties.

by Lenny Rudow

COVER STORY

When it comes to fishing and the technology of the sport, Bob Dylan’s words seem to keep ringing true: The Times They Are A Changin’.

BOW-TIE A BUFFALO Not the bison, the buffalo that swims, and is legal to stick with a bow.

by Dustin Vaughn Warncke

COLUMNS

Spring squirrels and other varmints, plus the right weaponry for the job.

by TF&G Staff Report

HIGH-TECH BASS

story by Matt Williams photo by Grady Allen

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SMALL GAME SAFARI

Editor’s Notes

by CHESTER MOORE

Pike on the Edge

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION Focus 36 Coastal Columns

AOUDAD! Hunting aoudad in the far West Texas back country.

story and photos by Larry Weishuhn

by DOUG PIKE

Texas Boating

45 Texas Hotspots

by LENNY RUDOW

Bass University

Hotshots Action 34 Texas 54 Sportsman’s Daybook Photos Tides & Prime Fishing Times

by PETE ROBBINS

Bare Bones Hunting DEPARTMENTS

by LOU MARULLO

Texas Tactical

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by DUSTIN ELLERMANN

Open Season by REAVIS WORTHAM A P R I L

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Letters

by TFG Readers

Outdoor Directory F I S H

Fish & Game Photos by TFG Readers

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LETTERS to the Editor Trout Tantrum Feature Was A Hit

Purple Heart For Paintball Strikes A Nerve

GREAT ARTICLE, I THINK THAT YOU hit the nail on the head, at least for the Sabine area. I feel that our area is over run with pollutants from all of the refineries. How many spills are never reported with some type of chemical release into our precious waterways? What we really need to do is contact those in legislation about the situation, though I doubt that anything would

TO PARAPHRASE A LINE THE LATE Jackie Gleason made famous, “What we are dealing with here is a total lack of respect.” Those who respect our great country and the sacrifices of those who made it what it is do

train the offending parties. I am fortunate to be able to help maintain the health of some of our veterans in this area. They are worthy of our respect and support for the sacrifices they have made for our country. I submit to you that America is the land of the free because of the brave. Let us respect the land and the brave. Offered up with gratefulness,

J.D. Walker, RPH MR. MOORE, I WANT TO APPLAUD you for the piece you wrote in the January Issue of Fish and Game. The “greatest generation” who participated in WWII seldom talked about their experiences and a cousin of my wife’s was a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam in ’68 and was awarded both a Bronze Star (V device) and Silver Star for his actions during combat. I never knew about any of this until his recent obituary was published. I value my right to hunt and enjoy the great outdoors and all that goes with it. I’m afraid I often miss out on shots simply because I am enthralled by something else that is happening for example, a hummingbird migration during a dove hunt many years ago. I was covered up by the wrong sized birds. Your article is right on point. Keep the faith.

Chester’s story from the January 2019 issue

Gary L. Behelfer not have to pretend to be important. They know who the important ones are, and they respect and honor them. The people who love the outdoors and what it offers are willing to stand behind true conservation efforts to preserve what we are able to experience and enjoy. In a word, they respect the land. The great pretenders will never know or understand that kind of respect. Those that abuse the land and our great resources have no respect for any of it to begin with. Sadly, much of the fault lies with those that did not properly educate and teach and

be done due to this being the money for the area. It is easy to see what is going on. Just go over to the Louisiana shoreline and look at how it flourishes compared to the Texas side of Sabine.

Robert L. Smith

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Editor: The column was something I had to write. We salute our veterans here at TFG and appreciate those who do what they do for conservation as well because they believe in it, not because they want to be recognized.

« Email Your Comments to Editor@ﬁshgame.com

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

A New Way of Dealing With Hogs

in the jaw, but that’s too much for my vision. I wanted hunters to be able to quickly measure, photograph and send measurements of the bottom two tusks and be done with it. I figured if hunters could be recognized for taking hogs and have a little fun competition then maybe more would want to hunt hogs. Also, it is not just about boars. Sows have tusks albeit smaller ones and there would be a category for them too.

S THE BOOM OF THE .54 caliber muzzleloader echoed through the Cumberland Mountains, a huge plume of smoke blew back at me. Through the mist I could see dogs scurrying and hear a pig squealing, so I ducked behind a tree. Genius here never considered the smoke factor in hunting an animal that can and often does charge its attackers. Thankfully, the hog was dead a few seconds later, and I had just bagged my first boar in Tennessee. It was a mean looking creature with reddishblonde hair and 2.5 inches of tusk protruding from the jaw line. Since then I have taken hogs all over the place with bows, crossbows, a knife, handguns, rifles and even out of a helicopter. Also, I have written a strong-selling book on hogs called Hog Wild and hundreds of articles on the topic. But there was something special about the hunt above that occurred way back in 1995. As a young wildlife journalist, I was already starting to see the emerging hog problem. Hunting them was literally an act of conservation as they do great damage to wildlife habitat, particularly that of native ground-nesting birds such as wild turkey and quail. While warming up to a fire in a secluded cabin, I had the idea of a hog scoring system. Several organizations recognize and measure hogs, but I wanted simplicity. The idea was to only measure from the jawline and count only what the hog actually uses as a weapon. Several groups require removing the tusk and measuring since 2/3 of the tusk is 8

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Shooting sows is crucial in hog population reduction. I even had a name for the program. It was to be called B.O.A.R.S. which stands for Boars of America Record System. Cool, huh? The only problem was the idea I had at 22 years old was not feasible then but with the advent of quality cell phone cameras and social media it is not only feasible but it is now a reality. The B.O.A.R.S. hog scoring system is alive. and its goal is to recognize hog hunters, promote the taking of hogs and contribute to overall conservation. A portion of the proceeds from each entry will benefit the National Wild Turkey Federation’s habitat initiative as turkeys are one of the species hogs directly damage the most. |

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There will be two major categories: wild and open. The wild category has a branch for boars and sows, and they must be taken outside of high fences with rifle, shotgun, bow, crossbow, air gun, handgun or muzzleloader. The open category recognizes boars and sows in separate branches that are trapped, caught or taken behind high fences. A Polynesian boar category strictly honors hogs taken in the Hawaiian Islands. There will be both boar and sow categories. Each quarter, the top 10 hogs will be recognized in a feature in Texas Fish and Game as well as fishgame.com and in our e-newsletter. There will be annual awards beginning in February 2020 for various end of the year categories including Hog Of The Year and Hunter Of The Year. There is no minimum size so all hogs are recognized and each hunter receives a quality certificate. Each hog taken is a trophy and the biggest will stand out on their own, so I don’t believe in minimums. To introduce the program, entries are only $29.95 and that includes a copy of my book Hog Wild. This is the beginning of a lifelong hog project that will seek to aim more hunter interest at hogs and put far more pressure on these highly adaptable habitat-damaging animals. We don’t need to put poison in the field that will hurt many other animals, including native javelinas. Instead, we could harvest that meat to feed our families and hungry people in the community. The time is now to take out hogs and enjoy the sport of hog hunting like never before. Now there is a simple and fun way to get recognized for hog hunting accomplishments and contribute to wildlife conservation at the same time. Go to boarsofamerica.com for entry forms and more information. Check it out and go hog wild! See you on the hunt…

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PIKE on the Edge by DOUG PIKE :: TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

The Inevitable

tures. Clothing, hairstyles and a few waistlines have changed since then, but I was impressed by how “fishy” most of those old lures looked. For all the evolution in tackle, all the engineering that now goes into the wobble of a crankbait or pitch of a rattle, a good fisherman could still empty a box and point immediately at the best three or four lures on the table. A poor fisherman would empty the same box and just stare blankly at the pile. Fishermen from my generation know where to point based on decades of experience, thousands of hours of trial and error, and feast and famine. Now, that’s called “the hard way” to learn. It used to be the only way.

HE ADAGE SAYS THAT NOTHing in life is more certain than death and taxes. I’ll add a third: Change. New things grow old. Familiar things are forgotten or modified, which is nothing but a synonym of “changed.” Things dreamed become reality. To stay relevant, we also change. That’s true at work; it’s true at home, and for the young people in this audience, at school. If you’re addicted to the past, open a museum. In the outdoor world, for example, subtle changes to existing technologies and ideas come along regularly. Bigger headlines—think GPS navigation, level-wind reels and drones— are made maybe a handful of times per generation. Within our world of hunting, fishing and everything else the outdoors has to offer, there are three camps: those who cling stubbornly to the past, those who can’t imagine life without the latest, and those who embrace a highly efficient combination of the two. The best outdoor experience, I believe, lies within that middle ground, a melding of old and new things—and a melding of old and new ideas. Over the holiday season this past year, for example, I picked up some copies of the freshwater-fishing book I authored for TF&G Publications back in 2004. That book was written before braided lines, before consumers could get hands on thermal-imaging scopes, and before remotely controlled trolling motors. Or white fishing rods, of which I’m still not a big fan, but… I picked up one of the books, admittedly paused to admire the younger version of myself on the cover, then flipped through the pages. Like anyone else who reads that sort of book, the first thing I did was look at the pic|

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In the outdoor world, for example, subtle changes to existing technologies and ideas come along regularly.

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The best of the young adults who fish these days make faster work of the learning curve, splitting their time between actually fishing (with respected anglers), studying apps, and watching demonstrations of successful fishing practices online. In other words, whereas we “more experienced” fishermen used to skip work to fish, the new generation learns much about fishing while pretending to work. There’s information to be shared between the two camps, too. I make it a point to learn something from every fisherman with whom I |

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share water or boats or meals or beverages. No matter how much I think I know, I presume that every fisherman I meet knows something I don’t—yet. Once a conversation turns to fishing— which many of mine do—I fall quickly into the where, how, when and why of a particular water body or technique or piece of —and I learn. In turn, when it’s my turn, I share information freely. The only thing I’m slow to reveal is “semi-secret” places, mostly suburban ponds that have been shared by listeners, readers or neighborhood kids. Along my path, I’ve learned from fishermen in more than 30 states and at least a dozen countries. I’ve gleaned information from anglers in their 80s and 50s and 20s and teens. I once picked up critical information in The Cayman Islands from an eight-year-old boy. (Who knew you could catch juvenile tarpon, silver bottle rockets lighter than three pounds, on dough balls?) Some of the best advice I ever got and often give is to pick up a rod and reel at every opportunity. Even if it’s only a half hour stolen early or late or at lunchtime to sample some unnamed neighborhood lake, go fish. Silence your phone for obvious reasons, walk to the water’s edge, and look. Light angle. Temperature. Habitat. Water clarity. Wind direction and velocity. History. Then think. “If I were a bass or a redfish, a crappie or a speckled trout, where would I be in this body of water?” Identify that spot, then cast to it. Do so as often as necessary either to get bit or rule out the target. Then move and make more casts. If you’re my age, take mental notes. If you’re young, at least on these short trips, keep your apps off and your brain on. As fishermen, none of us is ever too old or young to teach or to be taught. If you’re among those younger fishermen who rely heavily on electronics, tap on a favorite app afterward and enter everything you learned. Then copy, paste…and send it all to me.

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OB DYLAN WASN’T PONDERING HOOKS, lines and sinkers when he wrote the lyrics to the popular 1964 title track The Times They Are A-Changin’, but the words are more than befitting of the technological whirlwind in which modern day bass fishermen and tournament anglers are living. Right along with the rest of the world, times are a-changin’ in fishing technology. Those who are reluctant to roll with the tide run an inevitable risk of getting left behind. Some already have. We’re already drowning in a sea of high-tech equipment meant

to make us better at finding and catching bass, and there’s no end in sight. Just when you think the available technology can’t become any more useful, something nifty comes along that inches the bar a little bit higher. That’s not to say banner fishing days are over for anglers who refuse to change with the times. However, those who choose to go old school are automatically putting themselves at a big disadvantage compared to those who graduate to bigger and better things. Perhaps no Texas angler is more qualified to attest to how technology has changed the sport than Tommy Martin of Hemphill.

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Martin was 33 when he won the 1974 Bassmaster Classic on Wheeler Lake in Alabama and the $15,400 pay day that came with it. He was fishing from an 18-foot bass boat equipped with a Lowrance flasher to show depth. The boat had a 150 horsepower outboard and a trolling motor that labored to drag the rig through the shallows. His rod of choice was a six-foot Rawhide pistol grip strapped with an Abu Garcia 5000C baitcaster—all state-of-the-art equipment at the time. Now 78, Martin is the elder statesman of active Texas bass pros and still guides fulltime on Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend. He says comparing modern equipment to that of the 1970s is akin to comparing apples to oranges. “There is no comparison,” Martin said. “It’s a totally different ballgame out there now from what it used to be. Tournament fishing and guiding is just like any sport or job. If you don’t keep up with the progress that’s being made you’re going to get left behind.” To illustrate, Martin pointed out how advances in modern electronics and mapping technology have grown the playing field and taken much of the game away from the bank. “Back when I was in my prime, 95 percent of the tournaments were won in five feet of water or less, casting at stuff you could see along shore,” Martin said. “Very few people went out and tried to find fish in deep water because we didn’t have anything except flashers, which weren’t very proficient at all.” That’s hardly the case anymore, Martin says. “Today, probably 50 percent of the tournaments are won offshore, all because of advancements in electronics and mapping technology,” Martin said. “Today’s electronics take all the guess work out of what you are looking at down there. They draw detailed pictures of bridges, roadbeds and other stuff that you previously couldn’t see. The detail is so good they will actually show you whether or not fish are present. You don’t have to waste valuable time fishing dead water trying to find out.” Here’s are a few techno advancements that have changed the way we fish for bass forever:

These days, you hardly see a bass boat without a hydraulic shallow anchor.

seen significant improvements over the years, but none have changed the game to the degree that electronics have. Industry leaders like Lowrance, Garmin and Humminbird have paved the way to easier fish finding and navigation with big screen chart plotters. These devices are packed with all sorts of useful featuresThey provide detailed sketches of bottom contour and help anglers sniff out schools of potentially unmolested fish below, to the side and in front the boat. Some units even provide real-time imagery that actually shows fish in active pursuit of a lure. The advances just keep on coming, too. In fact, any electronics upgrades made as recent as two to three years ago may be obsolete by now.

Shallow Anchors Take a look around. It’s tough to find a modern bass boat or flats skiff that isn’t equipped with at least one Power Pole or Minn Kota Talon—you know, those odd looking, upright contraptions that bolt to the transom either side of the outboard engine. Both models activate with the push of a deck-mount button, which automatically deploys a heavy-duty spike to the lake’s bottom to hold the boat secure. They are useful for precise boat positioning in shallow water, but also come in handy for slowing drifts

Electronics Every piece of gear bass anglers use— right down to slip sinkers and hooks—have 14

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over grass beds, flats or preventing a beached vessel from drifting away when unoccupied.

Ultrex Minn Kota rocked the industry in 2016 with the introduction of the Ultrex, a heavy duty, cable driven electric trolling motor equipped with its own internal GPS and loads of other neat features like power steering and auto pilot. Perhaps the most useful function is “Spot Lock,” an electronic GPS anchor. Once activated, the GPS creates a reference point that automatically tells the trolling motor to maintain its current position, regardless of depth or location. It’s great for fishing offshore because it eliminates having to make constant adjustments with the trolling motor to maintain optimum position in relation to waypoints. Spot Lock does it all for you, automatically. This allows you remove fish, retie baits, take photos, grab a drink, etc, without the worry of drifting off the spot as the result of wind, current or wave action. Additionally, the motor can be programmed to follow contour lines when used in combination with compatible Humminbird electronics.

Boats Bass boats have come a long way since Texas-based Skeeter introduced the first PHOTOS: LEFT, POWER-POLE; RIGHT, MINN KOTA

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fiberglass rig in the early 1960s. They are bigger, faster and much better equipped to handle rough water at high speeds and significantly more comfortable to fish from than the boats that started it all. Truthfully, a top-of-the-line 1990s tournament rig pales in comparison to the 20- to 21-footers that are rolling off factory lines at leading manufacturing plants today. These rigs are designed with enormous front decks, state-of-the-art live wells, roomy rod lockers and gobs of storage space, along with the fuel capacity to make 100-mile runs with a 250-horsepower engine running full tilt. Of course, all that luxury comes with a price. It’s easy to sink $70 to 80K on a topof-the-line tournament rig. The tab could run even more depending on the manufacturer and how many bells and whistles are attached.

Among them are featherweight lithium batno exception. Rods are made lighter and stronger than teries, digital charging devices, digital reels, ever before with powers, actions and lengths sound devices and much more. Where it will stop anybody’s guess. My to meet just about every technique specific guess is it won’t. application imaginable. Reels are lower profile, lighter, way more ergonomically correct than 30 years ago. They are available a wide range of gear ratios that seem to be gaining top-end speed every year. As fishing lines go, the monofilament many of us grew up with remains a staple in the sport. However, it’s hardly the only choice anymore thanks to Minn Kota’s the continued evolution of small Ultrex trolling diameter, abrasion resistant fluomotor has rocarbons and braided super lines. internal GPS for The technological footprints in auto pilot. bass fishing go on and on.

Tackle Technology has touched on just about every aspect of bass fishing, and the tackle we use out there is

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OME SALTWATER ANGLERS have an amazing talent for underrating aluminum boats, which can be ideal for certain types of fishing— including jetty fishing. How so? Let us count the ways… Whenever you’re fishing near rocks, there’s a chance of coming into contact with them. Hit the jetty rocks in a fiberglass boat, and you’ll have smashes and cracks that are painfully expensive to get fixed. Hit them in an aluminum boat and you’ll probably bounce right back off, or at worst dent the aluminum. In order to threaten the seaworthiness of the boat, you’d have to smash into those rocks full-tilt (and that still might not be enough to puncture the hull). Aluminum hulls are lighter than fiberglass. That means it’s easier to trailer, launch, and retrieve them, and they require smaller, more efficient powerplants. But there’s a special perk that goes along with having a lightweight boat when jetty fishing: it can be difficult to get an anchor to set in an inlet, especially when the current is roaring, and you’ll often need a large anchor and chain to hold that heavy fiberglass boat in place. A light aluminum boat, however, puts much less strain on the anchor line. That means you can use a smaller anchor, and your boat’s less likely to break free.

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A lighter aluminum center console can still be fully equipped.

Size matters in this fishing scenario, too. When you need to maneuver up close to the rocks to get your lures and baits into just the right spot, having a relatively small, light boat that’s easier to maneuver can be advantageous.

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Naturally, there are also some attributes any boat has to meet to be used effectively for jetty fishing, and not all aluminum rigs will prove ideal. First and foremost, remember that any time you’re fishing in an inlet or around a jetty in open waters your safety gear

needs to be in top condition. You may be subjected to high currents, lots of boat wakes, and at times (especially when the wind and current are opposed) rough seas. Secondly, when you’re in rough seas in an aluminum boat you’ll want to keep

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PHOTO: COURTESY XPRESS BOATS

A rugged modern aluminum hull is a good match for jetty rocks.

the weight low, to minimize the rocking and rolling in the waves. Many aluminum boats have raised pedestal seats, which can be detrimental when jetty fishing. If possible, lower or remove pedestals to keep the weight low. Third, because

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pinpoint positioning can be so important it’s great to rig the boat with alternative “anchoring” systems, if possible. A Power Pole or an electric trolling motor with GPS-controlled functions like “Spot-Lock” (you press a button and the motor’s onboard GPS holds the

boat in position without any form of physical anchor) can be incredibly advantageous.

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Texas BOATING by LENNY RUDOW :: TF&G Boating Editor

Is It Time for a Diesel Outboard?

dred pounds, with a dry weight of 826 pounds. What about the issue of cost? The Cox (which is built in the U.K.) is expected to be a bit less than twice as much as a Yamaha F300. Although this sounds like a lot—and it is—that’s actually not much different than the usual price differential between a road vehicle’s gasoline-versus-diesel price increase. As is true with many land vehicles, you start to recoup that investment from the very moment you begin running the engine; efficiency can be expected to go up by around 25 percent. The Swedish-built Oxe, meanwhile, takes a GM diesel block and marinizes it by shifting service points forward, and adding heat

HROUGH THE DECADES numerous diesel outboards have come and gone, yet none have survived in the marine marketplace. To anyone who’s experienced the benefit of diesel economy, torque, and reliability in a truck or an inboard boat—not to mention the additional safety factor of switching from gas to diesel—this seems ridiculous. But two huge hurdles have always faced diesel outboards: cost, and weight. Then when higher emissions standards became part of the mix, diesel outboards basically disappeared. As 2018 closed out, however, several companies announced new diesel outboard engines that might just change the game: Cox, Oxe, and Yanmar. Cox had a pair of pre-production prototype 300 hp CXO diesel outboards on the transom of an Intrepid center console at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. Cox says they’ll have these motors in full production by the time this edition of Texas Fish & Game reaches your mailbox. The vast majority of the diesel outboards built in the past, were essentially powerplants used for generators or construction equipment. They were turned on end, marinized, and hitched up to a lower unit, but this twin-turbo computer-controlled engine was designed with a clean slate specifically for marine use. This means integration with things like NMEA2000, off-the-shelf throttle and steering controls, and transom mounting were all planned in, right from the start. This also means Cox designed it with an eye on weight. It’s still significantly heavier than other 300horse outboards (diesels do weigh more than gasoline engines), but only by a couple hun|

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Will a diesel outboard be right for you?

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exchangers, an intercooler, and an oil cooler. Rather than turning the engine on its side, they then transfer power from the crank to the prop with a rather massive drive belt. Oxe says the belt has a 1,000-hour service life, and also allows the gear ratio to be easily changed between 1.73:1 to 2.17:1. This engine has been shown in a 150-horsepower form but there are plans to roll out several models ranging from 150 to 300 horses. As with the Cox, weight is higher than comparable gasoline outboards, but it isn’t outrageously so. Pricing is to be determined. Cox and Oxe are just now rolling out these large, high-horsepower diesel outboards, but Yanmar currently has a 50-horse outboard called the Dtorque 111. This is a twin-cylinder common-rail turbocharged engine, based on a unique diesel motorcycle powerplant that has |

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been on the market for two years already—sort of. Built in Germany by a company called Neander, with Yanmar handling the worldwide distribution, this engine is available in Europe, Australia, parts of the Middle East, and Africa, but not yet in the United States. Yanmar says they hope to bring it to our shores soon, but they still have to work through the EPA emissions testing issues that often delay marketing an internal combustion engine here. Pricing in the US is also not yet available. The Dtorque weighs in at 385 pounds; an average 50 horse four-stroke will weigh more like 230 to 250 pounds. We note that adding another third or so of weight has a fairly significant impact on an outboard of this size, as it’s likely to power relatively small boats. Consider, for example, that putting the Dtorque on an 18-foot center console will essentially have the same effect as having an extra passenger sitting at the transom of the boat on each and every outing. On the flip side, the expected service life is 10,000 hours—over double that of an average comparable gas outboard. Also, it provides significantly more torque than a gas outboard with 20 more horses while burning half as much fuel. Will a diesel outboard be right for you? Setting the weight issue aside, since that factor will have more or less impact depending on what sort of boat these engines go on, it comes down to whether you’re more interested in longevity, safety, and reliability, than you are in speedy performance and initial cost. Then there’s the question of servicing and dealer networks, which are TBD. However one may feel about these options one thing is for sure: when it comes to diesel outboards, you now have more choices than ever before.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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3/12/19 4:33 PM

The BASS University by PETE ROBBINS :: for TF&G and Bass University

Gliding into Summer Bass with Carl Jocumsen

DDICTED BASS ANGLERS from all over the country and all over the world continue to make pilgrimages to Texas to catch a personal best bass, and Carl Jocumsen is part of that movement. The Aussie pro moved from the other side of the globe to fish Bassmaster tournaments and now calls Frisco his home base. Since moving to the Lone Star State he’s become a dedicated swim-baiter. He relies on tips from fellow pros, California devotees, and his own hard-earned time on the water to dial in the tech-

niques that consistently use big baits to catch bigger bass. “Especially in Texas, it’s all about chasing big bass,” he said. “And there’s no better rule for a fish of a lifetime than big baits for big fish. In May and June, when they’re off the beds and some are still shallow, my favorite tool to catch them is a big glide bait.” This is a very visual technique, so he typically only employs it when there’s at least three to four feet of visibility. Ideally, he’ll combine that with sunny skies and wind to create a situation where the fish set up predictably to ambush bait, but aren’t easily spooked.

Because the massive “tennis shoe” sized lures can be intimidating to newcomers, Jocumsen suggests that they start out with a six-inch bait, and something in the lower end of the price range. Lately he’s been having great success with a prototype glide bait that friend Brandon Palaniuk designed for Storm and will retail in the $30 range. Once you get comfortable with that one, “just keep increasing from there.” By the end of the year, he’ll often have just a single rod on the deck, dialed in to one 10-inch or larger glide bait. He keeps color choices simple, trying to discern whether bass are eating big shad or big bluegills and then trying to match the hatch. On occasion he’ll throw a crappie pattern to keep them honest. If you’re only going to invest in one, he’d

Bassmaster Elite angler Carl Jocumsen relocated from Austrailia to Texas.

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suggest a universal baitfish pattern—something involving silver, white and/or chrome. Although many people “think it’s super technical,” Jocumsen said that as long as you get a good quality glide bait, “there’s not a lot you can do wrong with it. You can just cast it out and wind it back, and it will glide. They’ll usually go a foot or a foot and a half in each direction, but then when you stop it, it keeps gliding.” Because fish are notorious for investigating but not biting these lures, he consistently tries to dial in his retrieve. He One of might start with a slow fellow angler wind, then progress to Brandon a slow wind Palaniuk’s

for lure size. Sometimes the strikes are violent and sometimes they are remarkably gentle, but either way the goal is to

make long casts and the slower than normal gears prevent him from overworking the lure. He spools the reel up with straight 20-, 25- or 30-pound test Gamma fluorocarbon, which is abrasion-resistant. It has little memory and casts well, altering the strength to account

Jocumsen has done quite well since migrating from Down Under.

keep the fish pinned and get it in the boat, especially if it’s that long-awaited “Personal Best.” With a face full of trebles and a heavy body, you don’t want to give the fish an inch of leverage to make its escape. “The reel is the key,” Jocumsen said. “With a 5.8:1 gear ratio, you’re using that as a winch. Put the rod down, start reeling, and don’t stop doing it until the fish is in the net or until you’re ready to boat flip it. You definitely don’t want that fish jumping.”

glide baits.

and a pause. After that he’ll do two fast cranks with a pause, then a slow crank, a twitch and a pause. When you really get going, these lures will “do all sorts of crazy erratic things.” He learned from the California gurus that changes of direction and erratic motion are the triggers for getting bites. Unfortunately, if you wait until the lure is close to the boat to start that process, they’ll often see you and spook. Therefore, Jocumsen tries to envision a monster bass behind it at all times and will integrate a number of twitches into his retrieve to create those triggers. Although you may have appropriate tackle for these larger-than-average baits, a dedicated swimbait setup will increase your hookups and decrease your fatigue at day’s end. He uses a Millerods seven-foot, eightinch SwimFreaK, an all-around swimbait stick for lures in the four- to eight-inch class. He pairs it with a 5.8:1 gear ratio Shimano Tranx 400. The big spool enables him to PHOTOS: COURTESY CARL JOCUMSEN

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ID YOU KNOW THERE IS A SPRING squirrel season, May 1 to 31 in 51 East Texas Counties? That’s right, hunters have an opportunity for some of the finest small game hunting to be found anywhere. Also, it’s in a region of the state with much public land. Whether it’s the Davy Crockett, Sabine, Angelina or Sam Houston National Forest or a myriad of Texas Parks & Wildlife

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Department-managed public hunting land, this region is ripe for super spring squirrel hunting. The Pineywoods is the heart of squirrel hunting in Texas. It’s deep traditions run back to a time when schools would close the opening day of the fall squirrel season. Roadsides from Deweyville to Dallas would be lined with the hunter’s trucks. But that doesn’t mean great opportunities do not exist elsewhere. Some 157 Texas counties have no season or bag limit on

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3/13/19 1:36 PM

Spring Squirrels and More TF&G STAFF REPORT

squirrels so there is always an opportunity to score on some fastpaced action for these fantastic sport animals. Squirrel hunting is where many hunters began their outdoor quest and there is still a strong contingent of hunters who love to hit the woods in squirrel season. “Squirrel hunting is where it started for me,” said Josh Slone who along with his brother Jeremy operate a hunting club in Newton County.

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

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“It’s tons of fun, a great way to get kids started hunting and with an East Texas spring season it offers a good excuse to get back in the woods,” he said. Some young hunters start off with a .410 or perhaps a .20 gauge but eventually graduate to a .22 Long Rifle. The .22 LR is the standard issue for serious squirrel hunters. The challenge of being able to plink them off of trees builds patience and skill in a hunter. In areas where squirrels receive real

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PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

hunting pressure, it can push even veterans out of the game. The CZ 457 offers a variety of options for squirrels and other varmints. The 457 Scout is idea for young shooters with a 12-inch length of pull and simple iron sights. The 457 American has no sights and is meant to be mounted with a scope. Scopes offer a great advantage for hunting squirrels and other varmints in dense forests. Some of the best shooting is down early in the morning and later in the afternoon. Some hunters want to shoot a little farther in more open country to take out other varmints. For them, the 457 varmint has a heavier barrel and a little more stability. The majority of squirrels taken in the Pineywoods are gray squirrels often called “cat squirrels.” They are the smaller of the two main squirrel varieties and are super wary. These squirrels have grayish-brown fur with a paler white/gray fur on the underside. The tail typically has gray tips with most of these squirrels growing to around 18 inches. They spend the bulk of their time in trees. The late outdoor writer Ed Holder used to hunt them by what he called “vine shaking”. He and his friends would literally go up to giant oak trees in the Neches River bottoms where they hunted and pull and shake vines to get the wary squirrels to pull away from cover. According to officials with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department the fox squirrel

A melanistic fox squirrel is rare but occasionally hunters will see them in Texas. These are not to be confused with the rock squirrel which is always/gray black and is found in the Hill Country.

is a large tree squirrel, about 21 inches long and 1 1/2 to 2 pounds. It has gray and black fur on its back and orange-colored fur on its belly. The tail color is cinnamon mixed with black. The feet are cinnamon. Fox squirrels got their name because their gray and red fur coat resembles that of a gray fox. “Fox squirrels are large tree squirrels. Their ability to adapt to a wide range of

A Variety of Varmint Guns

CZ 457 Scout

Designed in the European style, the Lux has a hogback stock fashioned from Turkish walnut. With a cheekpiece and comb along with, its crisp iron sights, this 457 is one classy plinker. Like all 457s, it has an 11mm dovetail for mounting optics and can be quickly and easily swapped to a different chambering with the addition of a second barrel set (sold in the CZ webstore). One ﬁveround magazine is included.

CZ-USA HAS A WHOLE LINE OF RIFLES designed for squirrel and other varmints.

457 AMERICAN The classic American-style rimfire rifle, this gorgeous 457 has a 24.8-inch barrel with no sights and is meant to be topped with a scope. Its Turkish walnut stock has a high, flat comb and a classic checkering pattern. Like all 457s, it has an 11mm dovetail milled into the top of its receiver for attaching scope ringmounts.

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457 LUX

457 SCOUT Built to be an ideal ﬁrst gun for young shooters, the Scout has a short 12-inch length of pull. With a simple leaf rear

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forest habitats makes them Texas’s most common squirrel. They occur mostly in open upland forest with a mixture of oak and nut trees. Fox squirrels are an important game animal, but many farmers consider them to be pests because of their fondness for corn and pecans.” Squirrels find only a portion of the nuts they bury and are important in plant-

sight and blade front (rear adjustable for windage, front for elevation), learning the basics of sight picture has never been easier. 11mm dovetails on the receiver make adding a scope a breeze. Own a suppressor? 457 Scouts have a muzzle that’s threaded 1/2×28. This allows for hearing-safe shooting without the need for muffs or plugs. Adding a larger stock is easier than ever, once a kid outgrows the short length of pull. All 457s use the same stock inletting (with two-barrel channels speciﬁc to standard and varmint-weight barrels). The entire 457 platform is modular. This means swapping different barrels/ chamberings or stocks is done quickly and easily with only a few tools. Shipped with a single shot adapter to teach ammo conservation, any 457/455 magazine will ﬁt, from 5 to 25 rounds.

PHOTOS: CZ-USA

3/14/19 11:52 AM

PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

Raccoons can be a bonus animal for hunters chasing squirrels and if cooked right they taste great.

ing many species of nut trees. A single squirrel can bury several thousand pecans over the course of three months. This may be good for nature, but pecan farmers in Central Texas find it economically straining. In that region squirrel season is open year-round and pecan growers are happy for hunters to curtail numbers of these rodents. Squirrels will sometimes produce rare color phases with albinism showing up regionally in gray squirrels. Melanism (black) occasionally shows up in fox squirrels. Do not confuse melanistic fox squirrels however with the rock squirrel of Central Texas and the Trans Pecos. These ground dwellers are always black/gray and quite a

CZ 457 Varmint

CZ 457 VARMINT

The standard heavybarreled version of the 457, the Varmint has a .866-inch cylindrical barrel. Not only does the heavy barrel make for good harmonics, it also allows the Varmint to perform well with a wide variety of rimfire loads. It is an accurate platform for shooting targets or getting game. The Turkish walnut stock has an Americanstyle comb for use with a scope and a wide, flat forend that rides a sandbag well. Laser-cut stippling gives a firm grip fore and aft.

457 PRO VARMINT SUPPRESSOR READY Always one of our most popular Var-

« time. In addition to the receiver-mounted, push-to-fire safety, we chopped almost an inch of length from the action and slab-sided it to reduce its footprint and weight,” a CZ spokesman said. The stamped bottom metal of the 455 is gone, swapped for a classy two-piece interlocking system. To make scope fitting easier, we ditched the 90-degree bolt rotation in favor of a 60-degree bolt, allowing for larger ocular bell diameters with lower ring heights. To top it all off, the 457 now features a trigger adjustable for weight, creep and over-travel. With the exact same swappable barrel system as the 455 and the same reliable polymer magazine system, the 457 is without a doubt the best rimfire platform CZ has ever fielded.

mint models, the Pro Varmint has a heavy 16.5-inch barrel threaded 1/2×28 for use with a suppressor or other muzzle device. Its black-painted laminate stock incorporates features found on much more expensive stocks without pushing the price of the rifle through the roof. The short 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. According to CZ if they were to pick one thing that our previous rimfire platforms were lacking, it was an Americanstyle push-to-fire safety—something Hunter’s Education instructors and 4-H shooting coaches have wanted for years. “Though that was the most obvious change, we also took the opportunity to tweak a load of small things at the same T E X A S

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Their meat is quite tasty and has been marketed as “marsh hare” in Louisiana gourmet restaurants. Also, their skulls make a cool trophy as they have huge orange teeth, and they have an impressive pelt. A squirrel hunter in good habitat with a quality .22 LR could do well to bring a varmint call along and see what comes in. A raccoon might come lumbering by, or they might get a quick opportunity at a sly red fox. The possibilities are virtually endless in Texas. This makes kicking off a small game safari with squirrels in the spring a great way to stay in the field and on the pursuit.

bit smaller than their husky tree-dwelling cousins. Plenty of other critters can be taken while squirrel hunting. This includes badger, beaver, fox, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, raccoon, otter, skunk and ringtails, which are often called ring-tailed cat (although they are not a cat). A hunting license holder may take a furbearing animal provided the furbearer is not to be sold or exchanged for anything of value. There is no bag or possession limit on furbearers. These animals can be taken at night and in some cases hunting them is literally an act of conservation. Nutria are a non-indigenous invaders that causes tremendous wetlands loss and can damage levees.

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Bare Bones HUNTING by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

Gobble, Gobble

thought I would bring out my owl hooter and give it a try. After a few calls with no response I thought the turkey must have changed locations. Finally, as it started to get closer to sunrise, I could see the silhouette of a sleepy turkey that was just starting to wake. Once again, I hooted and once again, no response. Someday, someone will find that owl hooter on the hillside where I threw it out of frustration. Some hunters like to hunt turkeys out of a pop-up blind while others prefer to choose the “run and gun” method. I do not have a prefer-

T’S TURKEY TIME IN TEXAS! As far as this writer is concerned, turkey season could not come fast enough. As the years creep up on me and I become a little older—I mean a little more “distinguished”—I find that having the birds hunt for me is a lot more fun than me sitting for hours in a tree stand doing the hunting. Let me explain. When we go hunting for turkeys, we try to make the sweetest sounds that a hen can make to entice a gobbler to come looking for some action. With the right calling sequence and if a tom turkey responds, the hunt begins, for both you and the bird. It’s a sit and wait game for you that sometimes could take an hour or more before any action begins. For the gobbler, it is a sit and wait game as well, until he cannot take the wait any longer and decides to “hunt” for his girl. How do you find a gobbler in the first place? I am sure you have read about how a gobbler will answer a hen call, or respond to an owl hoot, or even sound off at the call of a nearby crow. All of this is true some of the time, but nothing works all of the time. In the right situation, turkeys will shock gobble at just about anything. More than once I have shut the door of my truck, and a gobbler gave his location away. Hmmm, someone should make a call that sounds like that! I have also had birds gobble at a crow call, but still have had no luck with an owl hoot. One day, after watching a tom turkey fly up to his roost for the night, I made my plans for an exciting morning hunt. I knew right where that bird was, so the morning found me nestled up against a tree waiting for sunrise. In the pitch black of the pre-dawn, I tried to make out a shape of a turkey in the same tree he roosted in, but it was so dark, I could not say for sure whether he was there or not. So, I |

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In the right situation, turkeys will shock gobble at just about anything.

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ence either way. For me, it all depends on what I am hunting with. If I choose to hunt with my bow, then I feel it is a must to hunt out of a portable blind. You can make the movement of drawing your bow back without being detected. The turkeys are not at all concerned about the new tent in the woods. The disadvantage is if you decide to move, you have to carry the blind, chair and anything else you brought on the hunt to a new location and then set it all up again. Not this child! Once I set up a pop-up blind, I stay right there and try to call the birds in. I just think it is way too much noise and movement to relocate. Also, chances are high that you will be seen by any nearby turkeys that may be coming in silently. The popular method of running and gun|

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ning is good if you are a gun hunter. Here, you go to a spot in the woods, call a little bit, then wait and listen for any response. If there is no gobble, then you can decide to either stay there a little longer, or move on to a different location and try calling again. It is natural for the gobbler to gobble in his tree to let the hens know where he is. Unfortunately, nine out of ten times, the tom will roost near some hens and it will not take more than just a few minutes for the hens to locate him once he flies down. Once he is with his hens, he is, what hunters commonly refer to being “henned up.” It is very difficult, if not impossible, to call him away from the hens. In the early morning hours, if I hear other hens are with the gobbler, I will interrupt the boss hen whenever she makes a call by calling louder. On many occasions, the boss hen gets agitated and comes looking for the hen that dares to interrupt her. As she heads towards my call, she will drag along the other hens and the gobbler that’s with them. Viola! Turkey dinner baby! It is not normal for the tom to come to the hen, but fortunately for us hunters, he—like any male—will come searching for the female if he is alone. For this reason, some hunters like to go out mid-morning after the hens have headed to their nests. The toms are now alone searching for another hen. Many times, if you hear a response to your calls at 10 in the morning, get ready. He is coming in and coming in fast. Use a decoy to make sure the tom focuses on that instead of your calling location. Flambeau makes one that has realistic movements. Not only can you control the movement of the fan, but with this decoy, you also can make the fake bird move up to 90 degrees. Movement of your decoy could very well be the final straw that will fool that turkey and be the cause of that gobbler’s demise. Hey! It is turkey time. Get out there and enjoy and do not forget to bring along your ThermaCell unit to keeps the bugs at bay. Have fun and hunt safe!

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3/12/19 6:07 PM

Texas TACTICAL by DUSTIN ELLERMANN :: TF&G Contributing Editor

IWI Galil ACE 7.62x39

The folding and adjustable stock is a great feature for compacting the riﬂe. Note the removable railed hand guard covers as well.

URE, AR15S ARE COOL. BUT everyone has one. Or maybe you are an AK47 type guy. But AK47s can be a little lacking in the ergonomic, accessory mounting and accuracy department. IWI thought the same thing, and they decided to give us all an updated version of the classic Galil. The Galil ACE is available in 5.56mm (.223 Remington), 7.62x39mm, and 7.62 NATO (7.62x51mm also rated for .308 Winchester). I tested out the 7.62x39mm rifle because I’m looking at this rifle as a perfected AK47. Turns out I was pretty accurate in that choice. The 7.62x39mm Galil Ace accepts standard AK47 magazines and is shipped with the PMAG 30 AK/AKM Gen M3. But it also fed my old surplus steel magazines just fine. However the polymer lower magazine well isn’t compatible with thick-bodied magazines such as the Tapco or X-Tech mags. So many owners cut out this polymer well as I plan to in the future. The upper receiver block is milled steel. There are no cheap, rattling stamped parts on this rifle. The barrel is chrome-lined and cold hammer-forged just like the IWI machine guns. The stock is adjustable like a standard AR15 carbine, but also folds to the right, shortening the 38-inch rifle to 28 inches. The ACE also includes a 1.25-inch cheek riser that is needed when mounting optics on any of the 15 inches of top rail space. However, the adjustable iron sights also have tritium inserts so you might hold off on installing an optic on the rifle. But if you do end up mounting an optic, don’t worry about it shifting zero when you remove the rail. The tolerances were so snug I never found it shifting

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to feed reliably. A KNS adjustable piston solved this issue and tamed the recoil a bit. With a suppressor, the stock piston ran the action so fast that spent casings flew a good 30 yards—impressive throw, but a bit too violent. I was thoroughly impressed with the accuracy of the Galil Ace even with bulk steel-cased surplus ammunition such as Wolf and Tula. I usually shoot at steel targets but I did fire one four-shot group with Winchester FMJ range ammunition and it was sub-1.5 inches from 100 yards. I’m sure with a little more patience on my part, it could even beat that—downright impressive for an AK-styled rifle. However, the Galil ACE is much more than a standard AK47, which is also why retail is a little over $2,000. Street price is around $1,500, with a few “blemished” models spotted for $999. You can find out more at www. iwi.us and check out fishgame.com for a video of it in action.

after removing and reinstalling the top cover. If you desire more mounting space for accessories, the three hand guard rail covers slide off to expose four inches of picatinny rails. Some owners find the factory hand guards a bit bulky and opt to install Midwest Industries thinner M-LOK rails. There are safety selector controls on both sides of the rifle bridging together the AK and AR world. The right side is somewhat like a miniature AK47-style lever, and the left side switch pushes forward somewhat like an AR15. The safety must be disengaged to run the charging bolt on the left side of the receiver. A spring-loaded dust cover pivots its way downward upon cycling. The trigger wasn’t as crisp as a custom AR15, but it wasn’t terrible. I’ve heard it called a two-stage Galil Sniper trigger, but I think it is a little too heavy to be awarded a “sniper” title. However, it was very shootable, with the first stage’s weight around 4.5 pounds, breaking just over six pounds. The 16-inch barrel has standard 5/8x24 threads allowing any muzzle device or even a suppressor to be mounted against the jam nut. However don’t mistake the long stroke gas piston as suppressor-ready. My Silencer Co Saker caused the bolt to run too fast, not allowing it T E X A S

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3/12/19 4:51 PM

OWFISHING FOR BUFfalo is a blast! However, don’t get the buffalo fish—the subject of this article—confused with that bovine behemoth, the Great Plains bison, often called “buffalo.” Although the two critters sometimes share the same name, the two species could not be more different. Buffalo, the fish, is revered by bowfishers all over North America as a worthy target of many bowfishing adventures. They are definingly not as tasty as a bison, but pursuing them is a fun way to keep your archery game on point. The sport of bowfishing is quickly becoming a major force within today’s outdoor sporting traditions. Not only does bowfishing combine the arts of fishing, archery and hunting, but it’s a great way to keep your archery skills sharp year-round. The buffalo has been hunted in Texas waters since the days of the Native Americans spearing them with crude weapons for food. Many folks think buffalo and the common carp are interchangeable, but they are very different species that share some similarities in appearance. The two main buffalo species bowfishers target here in Texas are the bigmouth and smallmouth buffs, or simply “buffs” as many bowfishers call them. They can stack on weight and many times will outweigh the common carp in a big way. To date, the state record bigmouth buffalo was taken by my good friend and professional bowfishing guide, Marty McIntyre (GARQUEST.com) on Toledo Bend in 2011. It was 81.5 pounds and measured 47.5 inches. The state record smallmouth buffalo was even larger and longer than that. It tipped the scales at 92 pounds and measured 48 inches, coming out of the Sabine River by bowfisher Kent McDowell in 1999. Those are some big fish to say the least. That being said, it is more common to find buffalo in the 15- to 20-pound range. However, many 30- to 40-pound fish are to be found, in most rivers and lakes in Texas.

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Not a Bison, Not Even Tasty Like A Bison, but Legal to Bowfish. And... They Get HUGE BY DUSTIN VAUGHN WARNCKE They are a blast to hunt (I mean fish) for on a general bowfishing excursion. Buffalo traditionally frequent clear rivers and lakes all over the great state of Texas, but can thrive in just about any environment, as they are a hardy species. They begin to spawn when water temperatures reach the 60 to 75 degree mark. The spawning season, which usually begins in April or May, is perhaps one of the best times of year to sling arrows at these fish, as they are plentiful and fairly easy to single out in the water. Key in on structure and vegetation during the spawn. You can many times find a target-rich environment around the spawning grounds. As a general rule, buffalo can be spooked easier than carp, but they are a worthy adversary for anyone willing to take to the waters with a bow. If you have never connected with a big buff, you are in for a seriously thrilling time. Many times, big buffs hide out by themselves. So, if you are trolling around to find one, you always want to be at the ready to pull that bow string back and send your arrow in the water. You don’t need a fancy high-end bow for bowfishing. Bowfishing bows such as the Diamond Sonar, come fully rigged and ready to bowfish. This or a similar budget-priced bow is all you need for a bowfishing adventure. Or you can outfit an existing bow for bowfishing rather inexpensively with an AMS- or Muzzystyle reel, string and arrow. Do you need a fancy boat rigged for bowfishing to declare “arrows from above” on big buffalo?

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Not really. I always suggest new bowfishing enthusiasts use what you have at first. Afterward, you can decide whether a bowfishing-rigged boat is right for you. Or get some friends together and make an adventure happen any way you can. Many strides have been made in bowfishing lights, generators, bows, arrows, and other gear used for the sport. If you don’t have access to a guide or a boat, try bank fishing action with a bow-mounted white LED flashlight. Stalking buffs on the bank is a great sporting tradition, The challenge, as with a boat trip, is to get a shot off before the fish realizes the game is even on. Hiring a bowfishing guide is not terribly expensive for a local trip for buffalo and other non-game fish compared to hiring a regular rod and reel-fishing guide. In fact, it is many times less than you might expect. Many bowfishing guides plan a four-hour trip that starts around dusk and goes into the late night hours, sometimes even into early morning hours, if the fishing is good. So, can you eat buffalo? Well, you can, but I don’t. They have a light flakey flesh that is not so “fishy” tasting as a carp would be. However, the meat is oily and not the best for table fare in my humble opinion. My friend Marty McIntyre, mentioned above, is well-known for frying up buffalo ribs, which are known as a “finger food” in some circles we both run in. Again, I am not a fan, but your mileage may vary. Bowfishing is a fun family activity. It is exciting to see the sport grow and thrive with new bowfishers picking up the sport every day. If you want to see how bowfishing is done, check out my YouTube channel by searching for my name and find the bowfishing playlist. Also, check out our Texas Fish & Game podcast, “The Best of the Outdoors,” where we visit the subject of bowfishing on a regular basis. So, sling some arrows into the water at some big buffs and have some fun!

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The author and his Wildlife System’s far west Texas aoudad.

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PHOTO: LARRY WEISHUHN

3/12/19 5:37 PM

HOT 34 u TEXAS SHOTS

...DO NOT STEP ON ANY dry cedar limbs, and do not step on any rocks that might slide or make any kind of noise!” cautioned Jackie Murphy as we started our ascent. I looked at the rocky, dry limb covered slope we were on and wondered if my guide expected me to levitate my way to the crest. Smiling, I put a toe here, a heel there and followed as best as I could. Somewhere up ahead were aoudad, several of them and hopefully a heavily chap-bedecked ram which had been around eight or more years. Eyes on the ground, I followed. Suddenly my guide stopped abruptly on the steep, rocky slope, pushed his hand backward cautioning me to stay in my tracks. I obeyed. I watched silently as Jackie raised his binocular and peered through cedar at something in the direction of the head of the canyon. Moments later he looked over his shoulder and smiled. With his left hand he motioned the sweep of a horn, then pointed up slope. At that point he got on his hands and knees and crawled cautiously forward. I followed; sharp, jagged rocks poking into tender knees. When my guide waved me to his left side and I snaked my way forward. “There are at least thirteen rams. They’re only 70-yards away. They have no idea we’re here. Bear with me while I look to see if there’s a shooter.” Jackie evaluated each ram while I reflected upon the stalk that got us within Ruger revolver range. We had spotted the herd from a mile away. For the last hour we had been walking up and down, mostly up, through rough, rugged, rocky terrain typical of Texas’ Trans Pecos Mountains. Several times we had walked to where we had to back up and take a different path due to bluffs and blind canyons. When we first saw them at the great distance it appeared there could be mature rams in the herd. Jackie wanted a closer look, as did I.

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Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

36 u 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

45 u TEXAS FISHING

HOTSPOTS by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

54 u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

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PHOTO: GREG SIMONS/WILDLIFE SYSTEMS

FEATURE STORY

Aoudad! On the run.

It had been years since I seriously hunted aoudad, but in the past I had done a fair amount of pursuing aoudad including guiding for “Barbary sheep” on the ranches I managed as a wildlife biologist. As Jackie looked, I commented, “To me they

look to be mostly in the 26 to 28-inch range. I don’t see huge bodies, nor the darker color I remember mature rams attaining with maturity.”

“Not bad Pilgrim!” responded Jackie. “Let’s ease out of here and do our best not to disturb them. Don’t want that herd running, possibly spooking other rams on top of the ridge. When aoudad run they tend to go a long way before stopping!” We backed out slowly using every bit of cover just as we had with our approach. Once well out of sight of the rams. Jackie said, “That’s typical of what we’ll see. The breeding season is long past and rams are now mostly in bachelor herds. We may see a single ram, but usually if we see one there will be more.” He continued, “If we see a ewe or a group of ewes, we won’t spend any time glassing nor stalking them.” Late afternoon slid to sun down and we headed back to camp. On our way back Jackie and I told hunting stories. Even though we had never hunted together, we shared many mutual friends including Greg Simons owner

SNOOK

BLACKBUCK

Port Aransas

Mexia

Orlando Rodriguez caught this 27-1/2-inch snook while ﬁshing off the Port Aransas jetties.

Bryce Hulstein used his .30-06 to take this mature trophy blackbuck antelope while hunting near Mexia in North Central Texas.

Visit FishGame.com to upload your own TEXAS HOT SHOTS and Vote for our next Winners 34

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of Wildlife Systems (www.wildlifesystems. com) for whom Jackie works. I also knew of Jackie’s reputation. When I was setting up the hunt with Greg he had told me, “I’m not

Close up of Larry’s big aoudad ram’s horns.

mostly sitting and glassing, crawling ridges and glassing blind canyons. We spotted and stalked several herds of rams ranging from two to twelve, only to turn all of them down. “Not what we’re looking for!” Or, “Too small!” were Jackie’s standard responses. I loved it! This was true hunting; spotting animals at long distance, planning and then executing the stalk, getting within rifle range, then backing out without the rams even knowing we were there. Great fun

and I loved every moment! Late that evening glassing a rocky ridge top we spotted three, then ten more rams. All were darker colored than those we had been seeing. It appeared the shortest horned ram was 28-inches, broomed at the tips. The largest ram looked like he could easily go 34-inches. Unfortunately, by the time we found them, it was late and the distance was easily a thousand yards. We Larry as he watched them packed out head to the top his Wildlife of the ridge to Systems’ bed down for the aoudad. night.

going to be in your aoudad camp because of other commitments. I’m going to have Jackie Murphy guide you. We call him “Mr. Aoudad” because of his passion for hunting aoudad and his success of guiding hunters to the biggest aoudad rams on whatever ranch we hunt through Wildlife Systems. I think you’ll truly enjoy the time spent with him.” During our hunt, which we filmed for our “DSC’s Trailing the Hunter’s Moon” television series which appears year around on the Pursuit Channel, I asked Jackie if he could only hunt one animal in the world, regardless of where it might exist, what would it be. Without hesitation he responded “Aoudad! Love where they live and how tough, tenacious and challenging they tend to be, and too, they are truly majestic animals!” What Greg had not told is how good a cook Jackie was, as I learned in our several days together. Early next morning we were sitting, watching distant and near slopes at the first hint of the approaching day. We soon spotted several rams. Our spotting scopes revealed relatively young rams. While glassing besides aoudad we saw a goodly number of desert mule deer, elk and some whitetails. Jackie mentioned Wildlife Systems offers hunts for those three species on the ranch we hunted, plus javelina, hogs and of course aoudad. As the day before, we hunted all day long, PHOTOS: LARRY WEISHUHN

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3/12/19 5:38 PM

Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Take a Southward Heading

September, so this will be a much welcomed change for us. Right on cue, the fish are beginning to show up in the surf, at the jetties and in the ship channel. If you choose to give the channel a try, a good place to start would be from LNG to Lighthouse Cove. This area is home to some of the best fish-holding bottom on the entire Texas coast. A perfect mixture of mud, sand, shell and riprap offers baitfish plenty of protection, and the hungry predators are abundant. The trout and reds will move out of the channel onto the shallow, warmer shoreline and stuff themselves full of mullet, shad, shrimp and crab. We usually try to keep the boat in about six to eight feet of water and fancast parallel with and toward the bank. Throwing big, loud topwaters like Zara Spooks and She Dogs early is always a great idea. The topwater bite can be phenomenal this month, and the first couple of hours of daylight are when you want to be there. Great color choices for these plugs are black/chartreuse, pearl and bone. Another proven technique is to rig a soft

S THE FIRST WAVE OF spring invades the Texas coast with the arrival of April, warmer air and water temperatures gradually become the rule rather than the exception. Anglers across this great state are blessed with more and more opportunities for targeting trout, redfish and flounder. April is the month that brings us a little confidence to take a different heading and begin the migration south, under the Causeway Bridge down the Sabine Neches waterway. Almost all of our excursions have been somewhere north of Sabine Pass since

plastic under a good loud popping cork. Cajun Thunder and Old Bayside’s Paradise Popper work really well. Both are very cast-friendly and real attention getters. Rig it with 18 to 36 inches of leader and give it some pops. This is a great set-up for children and inexperienced anglers because it is easy and very effective. It also helps prevent hangups because it keeps your lead head off the bottom, which can be pretty tricky at times. Experienced anglers like I am also use this rig often because it is easy and flat out catches fish. Most of our flounder are caught by dragging some kind of curl tail grub on the bottom. The obvious bait of choice lately has been Gulp Swimming Mullet, which works just fine. Most grubs, however, especially those with a curled tail will get the job done. It won’t hurt your chances any if you decide to tip with fresh peeled dead shrimp. We catch flounder as deep as 10 feet, but the most consistent bite is usually from the bank to about five feet deep. Keep an eye out for nervous pods of tiny shad exploding very close to the bank and try to place your lure in the middle of it. It’s not uncommon to see a flounder come completely out of the water with them. The channel bite starts gaining momentum in April and stays consistent well into the late summer months. There are a lot of times that we stop here to throw some topwaters early on our way to the jetties or rigs. Lots of times it’s so good we don’t have to go any farther.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Concrete steps on Pleasure Island SPECIES: Flounder, Redﬁsh, Black Drum, Croaker BAITS: Live mud minnows, fresh dead shrimp BEST TIMES: All day with tidal movement

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Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt. MIKE HOLMES

April Often the Beginning of Good Times to Come

PRIL USUALLY BEGINS OUR coastal spring, with warm enough days for more comfortable, as well as more productive fishing. Of course, the more time we can spend fishing, generally the better the catches, so as the days get longer and more pleasant, so does the fishing action. The rains that began the year 2019 should ease up and let us have clearer waters to spend our time “working.” On this subject, when coastal rivers run high and muddy, the water they empty into will also be high and muddy, so looking for less murky water becomes a top priority. In bay or surf, fish feeding action can sometimes be spotted with surface action, bait skipping out of the water, and birds actively working. However,because of the time of year, it might be best not to look for these signs exclusively. Probably a better technique would be to try areas that have held fish in the past due to water conditions and presence of bait, even if this means mostly fishing “blind.” The worst that can happen is we get a pleasant boat ride or some quiet beach time. Offshore action should come alive sooner, at least for bottom feeding species. Snapper regulations are still nothing to call all your friends about. Yet, depending on the spot and water depth, good catches of edible ad sporting species such as Gulf trout, grouper of various sizes and maybe “legal” lane snapper might be expected. On a calm sunny day, bluefish might be mixed with Spanish mackerel for surface action. In deep waters far from shore, tuna, wahoo, and even a few billfish may be found by those with the means and experience to hunt them out. April is NOT a month that most will put

at the top of their list for fishing enjoyment. However, it IS often the beginning of the good times to come. This is a time to put your tackle to work to get it ready for more serious action in the near future. In this realm fall rods, reels, live wells, gaffs, electronics, and BOATS that all need to be thoroughly vetted to be ready for hotter fishing times to come.

BAIT: Inshore, shrimp and squid can be found frozen, and sometimes now as “fresh dead” offerings. Live shrimp and baitﬁsh are usually good when they can be had. As in other months, cut bait works when nothing else is available.

THE BANK BITE

BEST TIME: Night ﬁshing can be good any time of the year. We will now be seeing warmer, more productive daytime ﬁshing. Best times still may be early and late, though.

LOCATION: Spring is nearly here, so inshore waters should be warm enough for good and comfortable fishing for many species. Waders will probably still be needed even in most spots over knee deep—especially if a fisherman stays in such spots for prolonged periods. Bank, pier and “rock” fishing from drier perches are still easier on our bodies.

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SPECIES: Speckled trout and reds will top the list, along with flounder and pan fish such as croakers and sand trout. Offshore is different, Species holding to the protection of deep water during cold weather don’t have to move far to be more available. Fishing for many of these species never really stopped during winter (meaning bottom fish such as groupers and snappers in waters where they are legal now).

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« Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

Proper Preparation

Janet Price kayak ﬁshing on the west side of East Matagorda Bay.

OME OF THE PREPARATION that I do prior to a fishing trip is to make sure the hooks are sharp and the stringer (for wade and kayak fishers) is not tangled. I check for nicks in the leader and the braided line is not frayed, (if you use monofilament line, you should check the three feet before connecting to a swivel or leader) and the drag is set properly. Proper Preparation includes using a checklist. If you don’t go through the list and look at each piece of equipment, you will probably forget something. But if you take five minutes to use a checklist and a little more time to make sure everything is ready to perform correctly, you will land that fish instead of losing it. It is also good practice to have a system of handling the fish fixed in your mind, so

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that once hooked it actually makes it to your stringer or fish box. While kayak fishing in a lake on the west side of East Matagorda Bay, I casted a red and white Bass Assassin and felt a thump on the retrieve. I set the hook and the fight was on. The

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redfish zoomed away, and the lightly set drag buzzed. Then the fish came back, causing me to reel like mad. Then it darted to one side of the kayak, then the other, pulling the kayak in whichever direction it was headed. I finally worked the red up to the kayak and missed on my first try to net it. On the second try the fish was in the net and sitting in my lap. With my right hand I reached for the stringer and my left hand reached for the 24-inch fish. I was thinking of how good it would taste cooked on the half shell, instead of concentrating on the process, and it leaped out of the kayak. “No problem,” I thought—it is well hooked I will just net it again, but putting it in the net caused slack in the line. The fish spat the hook, and swam off. From this I learned that I had to concentrate on landing the fish 100 percent of the time. Now I lift the net with one hand and get a firm grip on the fish with the other hand before reaching for the stringer. There are some real advantages to fishing in the month of April. I was fishing with Rockport guide Mike Caserta in March several years ago. The bite was slow to non-existent and the water temperature was in the 60s. Mike said, “When the water temperature is between 70 PHOTO:MIKE PRICE

3/14/19 12:05 PM

and 80 degrees the fish are really active.” When I think about Aprils, I think about what Caserta said, because typically the water temperatures range between 70 and 80 degrees in April. Another “stimulate the bite” factor in April is that there are millions of bait fish in Texas’s bays. Two of the abundant baitfish species found in the bays in springtime are menhaden and striped mullet. Menhaden begin their lives in the Gulf of Mexico between December and February. An average of 23,000 eggs are produced by each female. The larvae grow by feeding on plankton. Then they drift with the current until they develop the ability to swim and make their way into the bays and estuaries. Striped mullet are another bait fish that arrive in Texas’s bays in large numbers in April. Mature mullet collect in schools and go offshore between October and December to spawn. Females scatter from one to seven million eggs on the bottom. The juveniles that survive return to the bays and estuaries in the spring. Another common baitfish species found in East and West Matagorda Bays in April is the bay anchovy. One April evening, Jeff Wiley and

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I were motoring away from the south shore of West Matagorda Bay to head for home, when we came upon a phenomenal site. We were drawn to an area of the bay by terns and gulls frantically hitting the water. What looked like thousands of bay anchovies had been surrounded by redfish, and the redfish were surrounded by trout. Fish were jumping all over the place. We knew that if we stopped to fish we would have to go home in the dark, but this situation was too good to pass up. We dropped the anchor and started tossing spoons and soft plastics into the melee. The action was fast and furious. First we concentrated on redfish that were close to the center of the jumping and crashing fish. Then we worked the outer circle for trout. We had gone out early that morning, and it was very late when we got home, but we both remember that April baitfish bash as one of the highlights of our fishing lives. When we came upon that feeding frenzy we had four rods rigged and ready, but we lost lures, cut leaders, and tangled lines. So it wasn’t long before we had to re-rig tackle. If we had not had those four rods and reels all set to

fish, we would have wasted valuable time tying knots instead of casting. In fishing as in most of life’s endeavors, Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. Don’t hesitate to plan a fishing trip to East or West Matagorda Bay in April. The water temperatures are ideal and there are a lot of baitfish.

THE BANK BITE TURTLE BAY: Jensen Point at Turtle Bay is reached by going 2 ½ miles west of Palacios on Highway 35. Just after going over the bridge, turn left (south) on Jensen Point Road. At the end of Jensen Point Road you’ll find a launch ramp and dock. You can wade fish, or fish from the dock. You will have leeward protection from a north or northwest wind.

Email Mike Price at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

3/14/19 12:05 PM

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

Spring Into Big Trout Action

redfish are the key targets, and are probably the favorites of most Texas coastal anglers from Sabine Lake to the Lower Laguna Madre. Although redfish usually offer a tremendous fight and serve as succulent table fare, big springtime trophy trout are what will earn you bragging rights along our portion of the midcoast this month. Catching a big redfish is nothing too uncommon for our coastal waters in April. However, big cool-water trout are generally harder to find, so when you land one you have achieved something that most inshore coastal anglers have only dreamed of doing. Talking about one bay system producing more trophy trout compared to the next bay system may be fighting words to some. The fact still remains that if it’s trophy speckled trout you’re after, then you’ll need to be fishing on the Texas coast during April. Regardless of the bay system this month a couple of commonalities exist when you look for trophy specimens. Big spring trout are going to be hanging out above mud until things begin to warm up, and they begin their transition to sand. Anglers fishing the upper Texas coast usually look to shell pads sitting amid a mud bottom. Those fishing down south will usually find grass-covered mud more common. We’re a bit unique in the Seadrift/Port O’Connor area in that we can usually find both shell and grass atop mud along a wide portion of our shorelines. This makes for that much more opportunity when chasing big trout in the spring. A second similarity for these big spring trout right now will be the depth of the water that anglers will most often find them in. Upper-coast bay systems such as the Galveston Bay complex, are primarily made up of deeper water. In the southern-most portion of the state they are generally only a few feet deep. Again, our own San Antonio Bay region offers an exclusive offering of a wide variety of both deep and shallow water locations. However, most avid trophy trout anglers will be spending most of their time this month in thigh-to-waist deep

YPICALLY, WHEN PEOPLE think of saltwater fishing along the Gulf of Mexico they envision adventures consisting of some of the larger offshore species such as grouper, kingfish, tarpon, and even sharks. For the light-tackle enthusiast, however, inshore species such as speckled trout and

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water as they scout for their trophy. If you ask ten different coastal anglers what it takes to locate and land a behemoth April trout, you’re going to get ten differences in opinion. It’s only natural. However, along our part of the coast—West Matagorda Bay, Espiritu Santo Bay, San Antonio Bay, and Mesquite Bay—there are some things .trophy trout anglers can keep in mind On colder days in April, head for the back lakes out on Matagorda Island and look for active bait. A lot of these lakes consist of thick mud, so when the tide allows you to get into the lakes, try wading in about knee-deep water along any shoreline where you find bait activity. During low tide periods, retreat back to the main bay shorelines and concentrate your efforts in waist-deep water over grass/mud or shell/mud combinations. When tides get extremely low, get back in the boat and search for bait action atop shell pads in deeper water. Huge trout eat other fish, such as mullet, so your trout baits should closely mimic their prey. Large top water lures, such as She Dogs, Super Spooks, and Skitter Walks have all proved their effectiveness on big April trout. However, slow-sinking baits such as Paul Brown’s (MirrOlure) Corky, Corky Devil, Corky Fat Boy, and Soft Dines are just as powerful and might even be preferred by some artificial enthusiasts. Anglers choosing plastic tails will also prosper. They have dozens of options to select from consisting of several different shapes and sizes—shrimp tails, paddle tails, and many different mullet and shad imitations. Now that the spring weather will be getting a little bit warmer, there’s no better time than April to get out on the water in search of a personal-best springtime trophy speckled trout while tossing your favorite artificial baits. Spotting one of these big fish in the water is one thing, but actually hooking into one as you wade a secluded shoreline is an experience you will never forget. Be patient, be good, and be safe.

Contact Capt. Chris Martin at bayﬂatslodge@gmail.com

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3/12/19 5:38 PM

Coastal Focus: ROCKPORT :: by Capt. MAC GABLE

Reunion of Memories

HEY WERE CLIENTS WHO had fished with me for more than 20 years. It was a father-son thing for them, passionate anglers, plain good folks who knew my style of fishing. Aside from getting bait occasionally, they did most everything else. (If I let someone get bait from my live well, you can bet I know them well!) Occasionally they would turn to me and say “Do we get a tip for all this work? The father was a true master angler. He and I shared secrets learned from years of experience. I often thought he purposely reeled in VERY slowly just to enjoy the feel of the fish at the end of the line. “Never get in a hurry reeling in a fish,” he said., “First because it scares other fish, second, it might be the last fish you catch that day so make it last.” They even liked tying their own knots, BUT I made sure they noted which rod it was on. If the knot failed, they couldn’t blame the guide. As the years passed the trips became more enjoyable because we all loved to fish. This year when the son called he said, “There is something I need to discuss with you. Father’s been diagnosed with dementia. He may not know who you are. He may require help baiting, casting and netting. I doubt he will remember how to do any of the things you are used to seeing him do. I completely understand if you elect not to take the trip.” “Is he a threat to himself or others?” I asked. “No, but there are days he doesn’t know who I am,” his son said as his voice cracked. “Well, then tell your Dad he’s going fishing and he will meet a new friend.” There are times we are called upon to do what we believe to be extraordinary things. This was one of those times. The day dawning, I saw them pull into the parking lot. The father sprang from the car. “Capt. Mac,” he said, “it’s good to see you’re on

this side of the green grass, but you have gotten uglier!” he laughed. You could have knocked me over with a feather. His son ran over to make sure all was okay and said, “I forgot ice.” “Forget the ice,” he said, “Capt. Mac always has extra ice for us; you’d think you’d remember that after all these years!” As we made our way, the father was recounting past trips: big reds, the 28-inch trout he caught that he and I argued about, so we could release it. On my first cast he laughed, “If that’s the best you can do, you might want to take up basket weaving!” He reeled it in and threw just about all the line off my reel. His son was in a daze and I must admit, I was thinking they set me up, then quickly discounted that idea. A reel screamed, and the father expertly played a 28-inch black drum. He grabbed the net, rod still in hand, and landed the fish. His son just looked at me astonished, shrugged, and started fishing. The father headed for the live bait well upon which I hollered, “Hey, don’t put your...” “I don’t have anything on my hands (i.e. sunscreen) and I washed them in saltwater. My Lord, you’d think this was my first rodeo,” the father said. The whole day was a reunion of memories for the father and son, with me again relegated to inactive status with the duo baiting, casting, netting and giving me the devil for doing nothing except driving the boat. Whatever connections were broken in this gentleman’s brain ,the fishing part was alive and well and hitting on all cylinders. As we finished the day with a nice bag of filets, the father handed me a tip and told me it was the same amount as always. The son hugged me and thanked me for a great day with his father to which I said, “I did very little; was more of a spectator.” “Dad,” he said, “we need to get home, Mom will be worried.” “We have a Mom?” the father said. “What’s her name?” About a year later the son called and said his father had passed away from complications due to his condition. He said he forgot most everything in the end. “Perhaps he still remembered the important things,” I said. T E X A S

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The son chuckled. “I think maybe you are right.” • • • SPRING IS UPON US, MEANING more live bait; if you can get it, use it. COPANO BAY: Turtle Pen is good for reds using finger mullet free-lined or topwaters in bone and white, electric blue and silver shine. Lap Reef holds some keeper trout. Shrimp under a rattle cork works well. ST CHARLES BAY: The mouth of Big Devils Bayou is a good spot to slow soak for reds using cut mullet or menhaden on a medium/heavy Carolina rig. Trout can be found at the reefs of Bartel Island, using freelined live shrimp. Imitation shrimp works well under an aggressive rattle cork. ARANSAS BAY: The potholes on the north side of Mud Island are a good spot for reds using free-lined finger mullet. Cast into the potholes. The new spoil area at the mouth of Dunham Bay is a good spot for black drums and sheepshead using cut squid or peeled fresh shrimp under a silent cork. CARLOS BAY: Spalding Reef is a good spot for trout using mud minnows or live shrimp free-lined. MESQUITE BAY: The shoreline on the west side of the bay is a good wade for reds using Berkley jerk shad in new penny and pearl watermelon. The northeast shoreline is a good spot for black drums using peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig. AYERS BAY: The southeast shoreline has several finger reefs holding black drums and reds. Use peeled shrimp for the black drums and mud minnows for the reds on a light Carolina rig.

THE BANK BITE THE AIRPORT SHORELINE on Copano Bay is a good wade for reds using soft plastics in nuclear chicken and morning glory colors.

Contact Capt. Mac Gable at captmac@macattackguideservice.com |

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3/14/19 12:29 PM

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

Red Snapper Study to Include $250 Tags

LOT OF PEOPLE THINK April is a magical month. Anglers are checking their boats, motors, and trailers to make sure everything is ready to go. Fishing reels are cleaned, new line is put on reels. Contents of tackle bags and boxes is checked to see whether some favorite lure needs to be replaced or to replenish your hook selection. April is also the time of the year when many mid-coast anglers go over the side of the boat and wade. Start out early, and look for bait activity. Grass beds in Aransas, Redfish Bay and the other bays that make up the Port Aransas area are always good areas to seek out a redfish. “We will get on top of those grass beds early, up close to the shoreline, throwing topwaters, keying on bait,” said Tommy Countz who knows the coast from Matagorda to Baffin. April is also the month when anglers venturing off shore fishing for red snapper in federal waters could earn a bounty for the fish they catch. When the red snapper season begins this summer in the Gulf of Mexico, some fish will carry $250 and even $500 worth of tags. This is part of a study to estimate just how many of the popular sport and table fish live in the Gulf. The fish can be released if the tags are snipped off. “Scientists plan to tag 3,000 to 5,000 red snappers during April and May,” said Greg Stunz of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He is leading a team of 21 scientists from the five Gulf States and Virginia. Some will use university research boats, but others will go out with anglers, charter captains and commercial boats. Researchers hope to get tags back from all three fishing groups. |

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Anglers ﬁshing for red snapper could earn a bounty for the ﬁsh they catch.

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Each tag will be worth $250. Some fish will carry two tags, to help scientists learn how many of the tags fall out. Those are potential $500 fish. The tubular tags are about four to five inches long and a couple of millimeters wide. Each tag has a yellow plastic insert bearing a five-digit tag number starting with the letters RS, the words “Reward $250. Keep tag” and a phone number to call. To get the

reward, anglers need to report the fishing port from which they departed, the date the fish was caught, the fish’s length and weight; the fish’s tag number, and the latitude and longitude where it was caught. The tag itself should also be mailed in, though Stunz said the researchers might accept photographs. The purpose is to check the accuracy of federal red snapper figures. “Scientists expect about 10 percent of the tagged fish to be caught,” said Stunz. The $12 million study called the Great Red Snapper Count also involves visual counts, habitat surveys, and other studies. “We’ll be wrapped up in about a year,” Stunz said. Overfishing and incidental catch in |

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shrimp trawls caused red snapper numbers to plummet disastrously from the 1960s to late 1980s. Since federal regulation of the catch began in 1990, numbers have rebounded. But in recent years the recreational season got shorter and shorter. Many anglers said federal estimates are too low and seasons too short. The problem, according to NOAA Fisheries, was that recreational anglers regularly caught far more than the quotas set by the Gulf Coast Fishery Management Council. An overage for one season meant fewer days for the next. State agencies said NOAA was using bad data. In response, the Trump administration extended a three-day federal season in 2017 for an additional 39 weekend days, and in 2018 created a two-year experiment in which states would open and close their recreational seasons. Two environmental groups sued in 2017, saying the change to that season would result in overfishing. The study is funded by $9.5 million allocated by Congress. The universities involved are putting up another $2.5 million, and a team of 21 scientists are participating. Most are from Gulf state universities. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science is also part of the study, along with a scientist from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Three NOAA Fisheries scientists are described as non-compensated collaborators. Seeing red could mean money. The start of the summer fishing season is also the time of the popular annual CCA State of Texas Anglers’ Rodeo—Star Tournament. Make this note on your calendars: “Check for tags beginning in April and through the summer months.” The results of the red snapper study will not be available for a while, but I hope it will alleviate some of the controversy around limits and season lengths for the red snapper.

Email Tom Behrens at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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3/12/19 5:38 PM

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

CRES AND ACRES OF UNINterrupted grass cover the shorelines of Alazan Bay creating the most unspoiled and untouched body of water on Baffin Bay. It’s a mysterious place that feels like nothing much has changed for hundreds and hundreds of years, and probably hasn’t. The King Ranch encompasses the entire bay and by its giant remoteness, protects and nurtures the place like a best friend. A few long, dusty roads lead to the water, and there’s only one small pier on the entire bay. Remnants of a few old duck blinds and other craggy wooden posts can be found near sloughs and drains from the land, harkening back to a time long past. There’s a small band of old commercial fishermen who know Alazan best. They can be found laying lines with their small wooden skiffs on most weekdays, way back in the back. Following them around can lead to new discoveries and some really shallow water. Alazan is home to some of the giant packs of oversized redfish that never leave the bay. They can grow up to 60 inches or more and weigh in at more than 40 pounds. Now is the time to hunt these creatures who feed a lot with their backs out of the water, eating everything in sight. It’s time to break the water body record with conventional tackle and the IGFA tippet class record, on the fly. Alazan Bay could be host to a number of important records this year. All of Alazan has beautiful water and lots of grass flats, even up to and surrounding some of the few big rock structures that are relatively shallow. Big sand bars, also covered with grass, are now visible in Alazan and are magnets for

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A few long, dusty roads lead to the water and there’s only one small pier.

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The Allure of Alazan Bay

Around 10:30 or 11 am, it’s time to change gears a little. Grab a snack and a drink, tie on a four-inch Gulp Swimming Mullet or a fourinch Saltwater Assassin Sea Shad on that same light jig head. Now, head for the super shallow water and sand to start sight-casting to redfish and black drum. Either drifting from the boat or walking along in ankle deep water, look for those big, dark shapes, tailing fish and baitfish moving with urgency. This is an addictive game to say the least. Fly rodders will have the perfect opportunity to present a light colored clouser or a crab pattern and put it right in front of the feeding fish—then hang on. In Alazan Bay, make sure that the nine-weight is the fly rod of choice, in T E X A S

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case there’s a run-in with some of those superoversized reds or black drum. Alazan Bay is so unique, mysterious and remote, there’s a great chance that there may not be another boat in sight. Think about what it would feel like to have an entire bay system to your own. To read the water and explore an area rich with all kinds of life, deep, shallow, large and small. It’s a place rich with history and timeless South Texas beauty. In addition to fishing, bird and animal watching and photography opportunities are abundant here. Alazan’s unspoiled atmosphere produces nature unconcerned with human presence. The King Ranch loves and respects their land and are supreme stewards, keeping most of it the way it was 500 years ago or more. Ancient windmills still fill ponds and tanks for cattle and wildlife. Big bucks, nilgai, bobcats, turkeys, quail and all other South Texas brush country creatures leisurely stroll down the banks and bluffs. Their calls and sounds will keep an angler guessing. Sloughs and small back lakes are hosts to bait, crabs and shrimp in the grass, which in turn brings in the reds and other predators. The understatement of the year would be to say that Alazan Bay has it all. It does and then some. No matter how many times it’s fished or visited, there’s still more to observe, catch or photograph. Alazan is truly the most interesting part of the “Last Best Place on the Texas Coast.” Come visit Baffin Bay Rod and Gun, for a five-star adventure and experience you will never forget—Alazan Bay in all of its glory.

bait fish and the predators that feed on them. With the light winds of early summer, it’s the best time to target these grass flats and sandbars for large quantities of fish (and big trout.) Alazan is basically a North to South bay, so depending on the wind direction, pick a shoreline and start before sunrise. Watch for bait working along the shallow, grassy shorelines to begin targeting good fish feeding up shallow. Toss top water lures or soft plastic paddle tails on light jig heads (like our own famous “Black’s Magic” 1/32-ounce jig heads with #1 Gamakatzu hooks). Watch for jumping bait and slicks to help target the search. As the morning wears on, slide out to edges or dropoffs for more trout action.

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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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3/12/19 5:38 PM

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

No Holds Bar-ed

immediately. It doesn’t hurt to work parallel to the shoreline in knee-deep water, especially on a high tide. Redfish and trout will cruise close in during low-light conditions. Work the area with smaller topwaters such as a Spook, Jr., or the Mirr-O-Lure Mirrodine. These are also excellent choices for working the early morning shallows. Soft plastic aficionados can work weightless jerkbaits such as the DOA Shrimp or Gulp! five-inch Jerk Shad. After you’ve worked the area thoroughly, then you turn your attention to deeper water. There is plenty of deeper water. Between the shoreline and Community Bar is a deep gut that speckled trout use as a migration route up and down Laguna Madre. The wide gut deepens until you are in neck-deep water, which can make a fisherman pretty nervous. It’s easy to spot where the really deep stuff is, though, because local commercial crabbers set their traps at the bottom of the gut, and the white buoys mark where the really deep water is. They also make great fish attractors, so it never hurts to make a number of casts to it.

PRIL ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE a new beginning on the Lower Laguna Madre. Spring tides push warm water back into the system, and push water temperatures up to that magic 70 degrees. This warms the blood of winter-weary trout and gets them feeding actively. Fresh hatches of mullet, pinfish, pogies, and other baitfish and crustaceans set the table for these hungry fish to put on the feedbag. Anglers who stayed bundled up and indoors while a cold north wind blew, start thinking about where to go and what to use to tempt these ravenous predators. Some even start thinking about donning shorts and wading boots and feeling the water against their legs for the first time in months. One of the most popular bank accessible wading spots on the Lower Laguna Madre, for example, is the Community Bar in Port Mansfield. Wade fishermen can gain access to the area via Fred Stone Park, which is adjacent to the King Ranch. Fishermen can walk along the shoreline for the ¾ mile to the Bar’s general area (that’s just a good stretch of the legs for the average Texan). Over the years, rainfall and floods have created a muddy, boggy ditch that separates the access point from the parking lot. Some resourceful fishermen place pallets and boards across the ditch, but it might be easier to wade in and around the end of the fence line and back onto shore. Then you can hoof the rest of the way on dry land. Regardless of how you reach Community Bar (boaters can also anchor up on top of the shallow bar and disembark to fish the edges), you can wade out toward the bar and start fishing. Don’t head straight out into deeper water 44

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Set up in waist-deep water and fan cast into the gut to prospect for trout. The classic shrimp/popping cork rig is the top fish producer in the area, but many fishermen who would rather avoid lugging a bait bucket switch over the either a Gulp! Shrimp in Nuclear Chicken or Glow. Another great option is the DOA Deadly Combo, which is a Shrimp/cork combination. The Gulp tails, along with other soft plastics, are very effective under a popping cork or Mansfield Mauler. You can also use a ¼ ounce Gulp! Shrimp in Root Beer or Red, or any of the classic patterns produced by Norton Lures or Berkley. Make sure your leader is 18- to 24-inches long, and that your rod is long enough (seven to seven and a half feet) to facilitate long casts into the gut. If you prefer eschewing the floats, shad tails such as the classic H&H Queen Cocahoe Norton Bull Minnow are good choices to fish the gut (the latter, especially the classic straw|

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berry/white pattern, has literally caught millions of trout in LLM). The throbbing shad tail puts off plenty of vibration that can get a trout’s attention from a long way away. Al lipless crankbait such as the Rat-L-Trap in gold/black is also an excellent option for the gut, and they help you cover a lot of water quickly. Fan cast an area, and if you don’t find any fish, move a few feet to your left or right. Keep working the deeper water until you hit pay dirt. Some adventurous fishermen are willing to negotiate the deeper water to cross the gut and reach the actual Community Bar. Then they will either fish on top of the grassy top for redfish (with gold spoons being the #1 choice), or they turn around and fish the edge of the depth break. The latter method is quite popular because it allows you to fish the deeper water with the wind at your back. There will almost always be a stiff breeze pushing off the Gulf of Mexico by the middle of the day. Boaters need to keep a close eye if they are passing by the Bar en route to another part of LLM. Wade fishermen aren’t very mobile. Most boaters are savvy enough to give the shallows a wide berth in this area, but there is always an angler ignorant of the area’s popularity among waders. Don’t let those boaters deter you though. The fishing around Community Bar can be quite good. Keep a sharp eye, and you’ll be fine.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Isla Blanca Park Surf SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redﬁsh, jackﬁsh. TIPS: Fish shell areas with live bait or soft plastics.

Email Cal Gonzales at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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3/12/19 5:38 PM

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

SALTWATER Flats & Reefs on Galveston East

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Tide Gauge GPS: N 29 28.179, W 94 41.941 (29.4697, -94.6990)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Caleb McCumber 832-451-9989 calebmccumber@gmail.com www.captcaleb.com TIPS: “Live shrimp, mid-day in East Bay ought to produce in April under a popping cork. Look for deeper water over scattered shell.” Capt. McCumber

Freshwater: n Prairies & Lakes n Panhandle n Big Bend n Hill Country n South Texas CONTACT: Capt. Caleb McCumber 832-451-9989 calebmccumber@gmail.com www.captcaleb.com TIPS: Capt. McCumber likes a Mid Coast popping cork, Kahle hook, with a leader anywhere from 2 - 4 feet long.

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.

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Deep Reef GPS: N 29 30.802, W 94 40.581 (29.5134, -94.6764)

TIPS: “Look for a shell bottom in 4-5 feet of water.” Capt. McCumber LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Van-Ta-Un Flats GPS: N 29 32.794, W 94 45.805 (29.5466, -94.7634)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Caleb McCumber 832-451-9989 calebmccumber@gmail.com www.captcaleb.com

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp under a popping cork

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef GPS: N 29 28.471, W 94 43.251 (29.4745, -94.7209)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Caleb McCumber 832-451-9989 calebmccumber@gmail.com www.captcaleb.com T E X A S

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FISHING HOTSPOTS TIPS: “If it’s windy I will be pretty aggressive in popping the cork. If calm, go to a lighter pop. Do a 1 -2 count, let it sit for a minute, then 2 count again.” Capt. McCumber

marshes and inhabiting the grass ﬂats.

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Cottons Bayou GPS: N 28 30.552, W 96 12.453 (28.5092, -96.2076)

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Middle Ground GPS: N 28 30.692, W 96 13.611 (28.5115, -96.2269)

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Green Island GPS: N 28 29.805, W 96 14.265 (28.4968, -96.2378)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South, MirrOdine and Paul Brown Soft-Dine CONTACT: Capt. Caleb McCumber 832-451-9989 calebmccumber@gmail.com www.captcaleb.com TIPS: “I like the smaller plastics, something with some ﬂash…a silver a natural color.” Capt. McCumber

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: MirrOlure Lil John on 1/16 oz. jig head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “The Lil John doesn’t catch a lot of grass. You can ﬁsh it in two feet of water and not catch the bottom. You can throw it like a bullet, doesn’t catch a log of wind, plenty of distance casting out.” Capt. Countz LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou GPS: N 28 29.738, W 96 13.565 (28.4956, -96.2261)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: MirrOlure Lil John on 1/16 oz. jig head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: Capt. Countz favorite colors are glow/chartreuse tail and Electric Blue/chartreuse tail. LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: South Causeway Reef GPS: N 29 47.221, W 93 55.919 (29.7870, -93.9320)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Egret Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Adam Jaynes 409-988-3901 amjaynes@gmail.com www.justﬁshsabine.com TIPS: Fish the Egret under the popping cork.

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Specks Hole Up in California Hole

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

SPECIES: Redﬁsh

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: California Hole GPS: N 27 55.561, W 97 4.848 (27.9260, -97.0808)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Anthony DeLeon 361-463-3820 TIPS: Cajun Thunder popping corks, 5/0 croaker hook and live shrimp. “The length of leader under the cork depends on the water depth.” Capt. DeLeon LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Allyn’s Bight GPS: N 27 58.718, W 96 58.716 (27.9786, -96.9786)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Anthony DeLeon 361-463-3820 TIPS: Shallow water you want the bait to be able to stay above the grass.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Cut Mullet, Cut Crab, Live Mullet CONTACT: Capt. Anthony DeLeon 361-463-3820 TIPS: “The majority of redﬁsh will be in 3 feet of water or less. Speckled trout, if cold water, will be 4 feet of water or deeper.” Capt. DeLeon

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

GPS: N 27 15.162, W 97 29.177 (27.2527, -97.4863)

LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Redfish Bay GPS: N 27 50.929, W 97 9.94 (27.8488, -97.1657) SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwater lures early and soft plastics later in the day CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: Capt. Countz said in April he works the King Ranch shoreline from Corpus to Baffin. “Look for baitfish action and/or slicks.”

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Cut Mullet, Cut Crab, Live Mullet CONTACT: Capt. Anthony DeLeon 361-463-3820 TIPS: For redfish, Capt. DeLeon uses a Carolina Rig with 1/2 oz. weight, a 5/0 croaker hook. The leader is about a 1 1/2 to 2 feet in length. He uses 30 lb. braid on his reels with a 20 lb. monofilament for leader.

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April is Speck Time on Bafﬁn Bay

LOCATION: Redﬁsh Bay HOTSPOT: Estes Flats GPS: N 27 56.541, W 97 5.944 (27.9424, -97.0991)

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Kennedy Shoreline GPS: N 27 14.567, W 97 25.459 (27.2428, -97.4243) SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Cut Mullet, Cut Crab, Live Mullet CONTACT: Capt. Anthony DeLeon 361-463-3820 TIPS: Fronts: “Move around enough you will find fish after a front,” says Capt. DeLeon. He said he make as many as 10-12 stops.

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LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Penescal GPS: N 27 17.155, W 97 25.558 (27.2859, -97.4260)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Lele Lures CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordafishing.com TIPS: “The Lele is perfect when fishing grassy areas. With a southeast wind we will be fishing the Kennedy shoreline.” Capt. Countz LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Bowie Park GPS: N 26 8.198, W 97 10.843 (26.1366, -97.1807)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwater lures early and soft plastics later in the day CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “I will be wading close to the shoreline throwing topwaters early and switching off to soft plastics.” Capt. Countz LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: N Carrallos Shoreline

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Lele Lures CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “In April we throw topwaters in these areas. The Lele worked really well in the fall. Start working the bait in 6-8 feet of water.” Capt. Countz

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Kelley Wigglers CONTACT: Capt. Josh Garza 956-648-8532 joshgarza26@gmail.com

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FISHING HOTSPOTS TIPS: Capt. Garza prefers the Wiggle Tail Shad and the 3-inch paddle tail, with a 1/8 oz. jig head

HOTSPOT: Buther’s Break GPS: N 26 35.403, W 97 22.961 (26.5901, -97.3827)

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Bayside Drive GPS: N 26 10.226, W 97 18.012 (26.1704, -97.3002)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Kelley Wigglers CONTACT: Capt. Josh Garza 956-648-8532 joshgarza26@gmail.com TIPS: Retrieve: “Burn back the bait in shallow areas using the paddle tails. The willow tailed bait is a slower retrieve.” Capt. Garza

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Kelley Wigglers CONTACT: Capt. Josh Garza 956-648-8532 joshgarza26@gmail.com TIPS: Sandy bottom…key structure. “I prefer to wade anywhere from knee deep to waist deep water as the temperature rise.” Capt. Garza

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FRESHWATER Take a Five Finger Discount

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: Five Fingers GPS: N 31 7.914, W 94 7.71 (31.1319, -94.1285)

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LOCATION: Port Mansﬁeld

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FISHING HOTSPOTS SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Senkos, top water frogs CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxﬁshingguide.com TIPS: April 2019 has the potential to be one of the best springs in many years at Sam Rayburn. Super high-water levels will make for a stellar shallow bite that could last into early summer. Pick a bait you like from senkos to frogs and throw them back into the ﬂooded timber.

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-661-7920 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: “The hybrid stripers will begin to school on the surface in the mornings and will be easy to catch on surface baits and swim shad this time of the year. They will be all around the lake on main lake points that have shallow sandy bottoms. Find the schools of shad and you will find the hybrids. This time of year, they will run shad up on these points early and late and during mid-day they will move deeper. Find the depth the bait are in and you will find the fish. There are times when they will stay on the surface for the biggest part of the morning. This usually happens when it is overcast and calm. Live shad will be the bait of choice in deeper water, but the swim shad will be the one to catch bigger fish in the shallower water. Good luck and good fishing! Bank Access: Stowaway Marina.”

LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 32 41.226, W 94 6.3059 (32.6871, -94.1051)

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Glade Creek GPS: N 32 54.1259, W 95 31.6079 (32.9021, -95.5268)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Watermelon red and junebug colored lizards and senkos, black whopper ploppers, black/blue swim jigs CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakeﬁshing.com TIPS: “April is our primary spawning month here on Caddo Lake. Fish the base of the cypress trees that sit in 2-4 feet of water with the lures described above. I like to lightly weight, (1/16 oz.) my Texas-rigged lizards and whacky rig the senkos with no weight. With the swim jigs and topwaters I usually throw just past the base of the trees and work into or very close to the cypress trees. I throw the soft plastics directly to the base of trees and let them fall a bit before working them out. The Bird Island part of the lake in the southwestern section of the lake is well known for the trophy sized bass that it has produced over the years. Be safe and good ﬁshing!”

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Carolina rig Baby Brush Hog in green pumpkin, split shot rig using a black finesse worm CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: April brings outstanding bass fishing on Lake Fork. The big bass are spawning all over the lake, starting at the north end of the lake and moving south at the end of the month. Early in the month look at Glade, Running, Oil Well Bay, Bell and Burch Creeks. Mid-month look at the creeks in the mid-lake area like Big and Little Mustang, Dale and Ray. At the end of the month look at Chaney and Little Caney. My best baits in April will be a Carolina rigged Baby Brush Hog in green pumpkin or a split shot rig using a black finesse worm worked slowly through the shallow water in the spawning areas. Whatever bait you choose or like to use fish it very slow this time of the year.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 24.48, W 95 36.942 (30.4080, -95.6157)

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Dale Creek GPS: N 32 49.4639, W 95 33.5879 (32.8244, -95.5598)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures such as poppers or frogs, buzzbaits CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: “This is the most versatile month of the year on Lake Fork! There are more bass shallow and active in April then there is any other time of the year. There are still spawning fish and fish in post-spawn guarding fry. April is also the best top water month of the year and I love top water bass fishing more than any other technique. A good place to start is a top water frog covering thick shoreline cover. Work with a walk-thedog action around holes in the cover. When it is cloudy and calm out, a popper works really well fished on the edge of grass and by standing timber. Work with a walk-the-dog action with a small bubble over the back of the popper. Long pauses by cover will produce awesome strikes. When it is raining, buzzbaits work very like the prop baits. Soft plastic buzz frogs and buzzbaits cover lots of water fishing next to and over shallow cover. Hang on! Good fishin’ to all!” LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake Bulk Heads GPS: N 30 44.4959, W 95 4.164 (30.7416, -95.0694)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Fresh shad CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: April on Lake Livingston is time to “bang the bulk heads” for blue cats. Now you can load the boat with hard ﬁghting good eating blue cats. This bite is not for late sleepers. You have to be there at the crack of dawn as I often launch in the pre-dawn hour. Action can be fast paced when it’s on. Blue cats will be spawning and moving shallow right up against the bulk

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FISHING HOTSPOTS heads in 2-4 feet of water feeding on shad. Find a bulk head that has shad and the blue cats will follow. Lake Livingston has an incredible shad population. Often referred to as the “shad run” you will see millions of shad boiling the water up against the bulk heads at the crack of dawn. One throw with a cast net and you will have all the bait you need. Keep your shad on ice and drained to keep them fresh. I use a medium heavy action rod rigged with a Legend popping cork and a 1 to 2-foot drop using 20-pound test. Ease along the bulk head with your trolling motor casting the rig to bang the bulk head. As the sun gets up and the bite slows down back off the bulk head about 50 feet or so. Anchor up and fish a Carolina rig on the bottom as the fish move deeper. Overcast days will keep the early bite going longer. Lake Livingston consist of 30,000 acres of surface water and over 450 miles of shoreline. Good luck fishing! BANK ACCESS: Penwaugh Marina LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: McDonald’s Boat Lane GPS: N 31 45.558, W 93 49.632 (31.7593, -93.8272)

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the location is over ﬁshed. LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Buck Creek GPS: N 31 10.332, W 93 36.7439 (31.1722, -93.6124)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps, shallow diving crankbaits CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: The white bass will be moving back into the main lake returning from the river after their spawn. Work the north end river channel sand bars with slab spoons, Rat-L-Traps and shallow diving crank baits. Use your electronics to locate the baitfish and watch for the birds. You will find the whites. Try to locate a number of schools and rotate fishing those areas so as not to over fish one location. The whites will remain in those locations unless we have a weather change, or

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Reaction baits, Carolina rigs CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxfishingguide.com TIPS: Toledo Bend in April can be a head scratcher. Catch them big today - go back tomorrow and can’t get bit again. The fish are in transition from spawning to summer patterns. My best advice is to hit points and any grass beds you can find and cover lots of water

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FISHING HOTSPOTS with reaction baits. When the sun gets high move out the points to the ﬁrst breakline in 12 to 15 feet of water with Carolina rigs.

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White Bass on Twin Humps

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LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Retaining Walls GPS: N 32 18.996, W 96 11.406 (32.3166, -96.1901)

by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

LOCATION: Lake Eagle Mountain HOTSPOT: Twin Point Humps GPS: N 32 53.16, W 97 29.672 (32.8860, -97.4945)

SPECIES: White bass BEST BAITS: Slabs with a fly 12” above CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnystevens@1scom.net johnnysguideservice.com TIPS: “This area has two very large humps surrounded by deeper water. During the spring shad congregate around these humps and the sand bass follow. I find the shad and fish on electronics and jig up and down with the slab and fly and many times you will get a double. For people who like to cast. Fan cast over the humps and hop it back to the boat.” LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Lakefield Park Area GPS: N 32 51.42, W 96 51.7019 (32.8570, -96.8617)

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LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Dam Rocks GPS: N 29 55.044, W 96 44.598 (29.9174, -96.7433)

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Punch bait, worms CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Anchor 50-100 feet off shore while still over the dam rocks. Then, chum around the boat. Fish straight down using #6 treble hook with a tight line.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: White/chartreuse spinnerbaits, top water frogs CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Find bass on beds in 1-7 feet of water right off the bank. White and chartreuse spinnerbaits are the lure of choice here, but top water frogs worked early in the morning are effective as well.

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Fresh cut shad CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: The technique this month is corkin’! Find main lake retaining walls and anchor about a cast away and throw a big cork 12” to 24” above a small hook baited with fresh shad right up on the wall. Be ready! Action can be fast at times.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Crappie Hole GPS: N 30 36.678, W 96 3.9959 (30.6113, -96.0666)

SPECIES: Crappie

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Minnows, funky chicken crappie jigs CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: There are trees and stumps close to the rocks in this area. Fish are in the rocks and stumps spawning this time of the year. Use minnows under corks or Funky Chicken jigs close to structure. LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Indian Harbor Ditch GPS: N 32 24.576, W 97 44.91 (32.4096, -97.7485)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Jig and pig, soft plastics and spinner baits. CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 TIPS: Work your presentation around bedding areas/ seawalls and shallow structure. Small feeder creeks near housing additions will have numerous beds. The river above Granbury will also have blacks spawning in shallow flats off of creek channels. Granbury water temperatures are in the 70’s. Spring patterns are in full force. Stripers are active and are moving upstream to attempt to spawn. White bass spawning is essentially complete, and the fish are returning to the main lake. Crappie fishing is excellent in the shallows on small jigs and minnows. Wintering Birds are still in place and are pointing anglers to active feeding fish on the main lake. Passing cool fronts/storm fronts continue to dominate the weather pattern. Sand bass and stripers are pushing baitfish to the surface and the birds can help you locate these active fish. Swim baits, slabs and live shad are putting stripers and sandbass in the boat. Catfish action is great on cut shad and hotdogs fished under deeper docks and creek entrances. LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake and Coves GPS: N 30 42.7499, W 97 21.2099 (30.7125, -97.3535)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/16 oz. crappie jigs CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Now is the time to catch the largest crappie of the year. They are in full spawn and can be caught all over the lake. Some are spawning in a foot of water in coves and the large females can be caught in brush piles all over the lake. Fish with 1/16 oz. jigs and use slip bobbers in the shallows or fish main lake structure in 4 to 10 feet of water. For main lake use the same jigs and vertical fish, holding the jig very still over the cover. Keep moving until you find them. Don’t spend lots of time in one spot if you are not catching fish. Good luck and good fishing!

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Texas Spinnerbait’s Big Eye Lake Fork 430 special in chart/white, Mister Twister Super Lizard, Comida worms, Big Eye Jigs in black/blue CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Concentrate on ﬁshing weeds and brush this time of year in and around the Flat Creek area. Best depth will be 1-4 foot with the above lures. LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Brush Pile GPS: N 33 23.392, W 97 3.126 (33.3899, -97.0521)

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 33 6.822, W 96 29.7359 (33.1137, -96.4956)

SPECIES: Crappie/White bass BEST BAITS: Minnows, white and chartreuse jigs, slabs CONTACT: Justin Wilson 214-538-2780 TIPS: Spring is here and with the water temperature rising the fish are schooling up getting ready to spawn. Crappie bite is getting better each day. Lots of fisherman are starting to hit the creeks and that’s great but a lot of slab female crappie will stay and spawn on the main lake brush piles while the smaller fish move up shallow. This is my favorite time of the year to catch good quality fish on this lake. Bouncing around from pile to pile is a good way to fill the cooler. I will try a few different depths each day until I find a pattern for that day, as the month moves on and the temperature rises, I tend to get a little bit shallower. The white bass bite is great at the mouth of creeks on nearby humps or ledges. There will be a day or two when it seems they have disappeared and it’s due to them moving up into the creeks, where a lot of walk in fisherman will absolutely slam them. White road runners and just about anything flashy will yield a high catch.

SPECIES: Crappie & White Bass BEST BAITS: Crappie jigs in black/chartreuse or white/chartreuse, slabs CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Crappie are in full spawn this time of year on Lavon and can be found in 1-10 feet of water. Use black and chartreuse or white and chartreuse crappie jigs and target any structure in those depths. White bass can be found on main lake points in 10-20 feet of water jigging slabs this time of year as well. LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Flat Creek GPS: N 32 12.996, W 95 32.9999 (32.2166, -95.5500)

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: Pelican Island Area GPS: N 31 58.8479, W 96 10.608 T E X A S

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FISHING HOTSPOTS (31.9808, -96.1768)

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Mill Creek Cut and Plater Flats GPS: N 33 49.7339, W 96 45.3059 (33.8289, -96.7551)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Chartreuse 1 oz. slabs CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.goneﬁshin.biz TIPS: The Pelican Island area on the main lake on RC is the “go to” location in April for white bass. The long point that runs North and South in front of the island has an old Airport Runway right on top of it and the ﬁsh love to feed on Shad on the side of the point and the runway. Silver or chartreuse 1 oz. slabs bounced off the bottom in 20’-30’ feet of water will almost always result in an ice chest full of whites. Hold on to that rod as you might just have a big ol’ hybrid Striper try and take it away.

SPECIES: Striped and White Bass BEST BAITS: 5” flukes in baby bass and ice colors, Sassy Shad 4’ tails in white glow and chartreuse, 6” Pencil Poppers, Zara Spooks CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfishlaketexoma@gmail.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: Spring fishing is in full swing! Thousands of stripers are staging and ready to run up the tributaries. The males go up river first and the large females are on the prowl. Egg laden females will tip the scales at 20 pounds. Your best baits are soft plastics. Worm your tail on ¾ or 1 oz. jig head. Fish the cuts, main lake points and the mouths of feeder creeks. Structure like humps, ditches and ledges will hold schools of hungry stripers. Texoma has the largest white bass, commonly called “sandies.” We expect the record to fall in April. The lake holds 3-pound females. Sand Bass with eggs should get close to 4 pounds. Our personal best was a 6-year old boy that landed a 19-inch, 3.5-pound sandy. Top water fishing will begin the week of April. Cast 6”” Pencil Poppers and Zara Spooks on shallow banks. “There is nothing more exciting than top water striper fishing on Lake Texoma with Striper Express,” says Jimmy Houston.”

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Big Creek Pavilion Shore GPS: N 30 20.916, W 96 35.034 (30.3486, -96.5839)

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut shad, CJ’s punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Lake is full. Anchor close enough to shore that you can cast to the bank. Fish under corks using #6 treble hook. Large blues frequent this shore during this period of time. Cut shad on bottom can be good too.

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Frazier Creek GPS: N 31 54.792, W 97 22.68 (31.9132, -97.3780)

shad are up shallow spawning and the big sow stripers are moving in to gorge on them. Look along the tree line at Frazier Creek, then around the corner to the Willow Islands. Sneak in using your trolling motor and make long casts toward the shoreline and tree lines. The striper may blow up on your bait right off the bat, they may blow up on it several times back to the boat or right at your feet. The hardest thing to NOT do is set the hook. Keep the bait working until you feel the weight of the fish then hit it, set the hook and hang on. There is nothing like catching big fish in the shallows as there is nowhere for them to go but around the boat or in the trees. Keep a rod handy with a 4” 3/4oz chartreuse swim bait ready and if the fish just aren’t cooperating and blowing up good on top water lures, chunk and wind the swim bait up shallow. There is great fishing this time of year and it’s a great time to be on the water! LOCATION: Whitney HOTSPOT: The Canyons GPS: N31 56.0022 W97 26.13588 (31.93337, -97.435598)

SPECIES: white bass BEST BAITS: 3/4 ounce chartreuse slab CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com teamredneck.net TIPS: Go out from the Canyons and turn south and watch graph for all the humps. The white bass will be stacked up on the edges of the humps. Drop the slab (RSR Lures) down and bounce it off the bottom staying in contact with your bait on the fall. White bass normally hit the lure on the fall.

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SPECIES: Striped Bass & White Bass BEST BAITS: Pencil Poppers, Redﬁns, swimbaits CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: Gotta love April on Lake Whitney. It’s top water time! Don’t go if you have a weak heart! The gizzard

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Crappie and Bass on Hubbard

by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Sandy Creek Arm GPS: N 32 47.472, W 98 59.694 (32.7912, -98.9949)

SPECIES: White Crappie and Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Flashy, weedless lures, live minnows, jigs CONTACT: Michael D. Homer, Jr. Texas Parks & Wildlife TIPS: Multiple reports of quality crappie and largemouth bass have been reportedly been caught from the Hubbard Creek Arm of Hubbard Creek Reservoir. For crappie, live minnows and bright jigs may be effective when ﬁshing brush and around other structures. LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Up River and Backs of Creeks GPS: N 33 1.1399, W 101 6.654 (33.0190, -101.1109)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: White/chartreuse jig, shaky head with a worm, crankbaits in perch or shad colors, white spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, swimbaits CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net www.lakealanhenry.com/fishing-guides.html TIPS: “April will find the bass moving up to the spawning areas. A jig will really be the greatest asset at this time of the year. I like a white/chartreuse jig or a shaky head with a worm on it. Crankbaits will also be of value in perch or shad colors. White spinnerbaits will work. Jerkbaits will work. Swimbaits will work. I guess you have figured it out that nearly anything will work

during this time of the year because the bass will be looking for an easy meal before going on the beds. One of the greatest keys is to find the warmest water which will be up river in the murkiest water you can find because the dirty water will warm up first. Also, fish in the backs of any of the creeks. Fish funFish safe!”

SPECIES: Striped bass/Hybrids BEST BAITS: Live or shad, jigs, slabs CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: We love April because the shad are spawning, and everything is biting! Look for the birds at daylight to get your bait easy and just back off to 20 feet or go fish at spots from Costello to Cedar Creek and move around till you start catching fish. With live shad you will catch almost everything that lives in PK so learn how to throw a cast net and you’ll forever be able to catch fish anywhere. Remember that in water over 25 feet or deeper, 24 feet is the magic number at PK. Water temperature is high 60s to 70, so everything including crappie are going to be active and readily will bite a shad. Save and put your dead shad on ice and use for cut bait to catch catfish after the morning bite and you’ll be surprised how many fish each shad will end up catching you. You can also troll and jig & slab still too, but live shad is something once you do, you’ll always want to do it again.

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by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Creek Openings GPS: N 30 20.862, W 97 47.508 (30.3477, -97.7918)

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Amistead HOTSPOT: Main Lake Canyons and Coves GPS: N 29 30.828, W 100 58.056 (29.5138, -100.9676) F I S H

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Austin Creeks Hold the Bass

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Canyons Grand for Amistad Bass

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Jerk baits, belly weighted flukes, swim baits, swim jigs, jerk baits, big spinners and medium running crank baits, Top water lures CONTACT: Ray Hanselman (830) 317-9942 reelnray@hotmail.com www.amistadfishingguide.com TIPS: April should be the turn around point for Amistad. The past few years we haven’t had any aquatic vegetation to hold fish for any amount of time during and after the spawn. The lake has good grass in several areas now and that should help hold the bass up shallow enough to catch. I expect several typical spring patterns will work during April such as sight fishing in the protected canyons and coves. I would look out on some of the main lake flats and drains from marker 5 to 10 on both sides of the Rio Grande as there are acres of flooded duck weed and hydrilla out there from 15 to 20 ft. Try deeper suspending lures out on those flats. As always a light Texas rig with a 3/16th to 1/4 oz weight. Keeping an eye on the water temp will also dictate whether or not to pick up a top water bait. I will start throwing the top water when water temps reach the mid 60s.

LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Peanut Patch GPS: N 32 53.627, W 98 30.988 (32.8938, -98.5165)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: V&M Wild Craw, Pacemaker Flatline Jig, Picasso Double Barrel Underspin CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 TIPS: April is one of the better months to catch largemouth bass going to and coming from their bedding areas. I try to focus my efforts on their highway running into and out of the creeks. I’ll tie on a Picasso Double Barrel Underspin with a V&M Thunder Shad trailer and work the entire channel. If the water is calm, I’ll tie on a Pacemaker Flatline Jig with a V&M Twin Tail trailer and slowly work from shallow to deep with the jig. Keep in mind that there will be ﬁsh coming and going. If you catch a smaller male, throw right back in and see if you can get the female to bite with the male out of the way.

CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: “April is a FUN month on Lake Buchanan! Top water stripers in shallow water are common this time of year! The stripers are chasing threadﬁn shad in the early mornings! Throw any kind of top water lure and hang on! See the splash and feel the pull! Top water stripers are so much fun! Fish the windy points and grassy banks.”

HOTSPOT: Stump Field and Grass GPS: N30 36.551 W98 24.579 (30.609183, -98.40965)

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Diver’s Point GPS: N 29 52.2479, W 98 12.276 (29.8708, -98.2046)

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Watermelon red soft jerkbaits, Watermelon red lizards, Texas-rigged Watermelon red Whacky Sticks, and creature baits with chartreuse tails CONTACT: Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service-Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 barry@teachemtofish.net www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: Largemouth bass are good to 7 pounds along stumps and laydowns on break lines of 5-9 feet deep flats. Also look at adjacent grass beds.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Upper Lake Humps and Ridges GPS: N 30 50.55, W 98 24.9359 (30.8425, -98.4156)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Whopper Plopper CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 capt.steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com http://www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: April is top water time on Canyon Lake. Fish this point from 20 to 50 feet deep and look for schools surface-feeding in this area. Tight lines and fish on!

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@gmail.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Water temps should be in the high 60s and lake levels should be above average for this time of year. Striped bass fishing prospects should be excellent in 15-40 feet of water. Focus on the upper half of the lake on humps and ridges and the mouth of coves, fishing drifting or anchored with live shad. Flatlining 6”-8” shad in 8-15 feet of water near shore and ridges can also yield a great day of fishing.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Mystic Shores GPS: N29 54.56958, W98 17.7987 (29.909493, -98.296645)

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Shakey Heads, worms, Senkos CONTACT:Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 capt.steve@sanantonioﬁshingguides.com http://www.sanantonioﬁshingguides.com TIPS: Fish the pockets all the way to the back of them with Bass Kandie worms and Senkos. Pumpkin and Watermelon-red are good colors. Topwater action can be good very early but brief.

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Pencil Poppers, Zara Spooks, other topwater lures |

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•••

Fool April Bass with Flukes & Zooms

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 45.654, W 97 10.068 (28.7609, -97.1678)

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 49.2647, W 98 26.28 (30.8211, -98.4380)

••

LOCATION: Lake LBJ |

T E X A S

F I S H

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Fluke in pearl white and Zoom worms in watermelon red CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: As a rule, bugs are ﬂying, fry is plentiful, the sun is shining, the ﬁsh are biting, and life is good. If only it would stay that way. This is probably my most

G A M E ®

3/14/19 5:42 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS favorite time of year to fish since morning and evening is crispy cool and afternoons aren’t as hot. It seems any lure works in April. If breezy I like a spinnerbait in the morning followed by a fluke or Texas rig in the afternoons. As always, find grass and you’ll find fish. Go up either river and they will be waiting. I hope everyone practices and promotes catch and release.

spawned out and this will result in the US side creeks bing loaded down with fish. Post-spawn, most fish will be found on secondary points coming out of creeks. Fish spinnerbaits, Texas-rigged Power Worms, and medium deep diving crankbaits in these areas as well as main lake humps and ledges which should be loaded with fish which have spawned in January-March.

LOCATION: Calaveras Lake HOTSPOT: North Road Bed GPS: N 29 18.583 W 98 18.450 (29.309722, -98.3075)

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Veleno Creek GPS: N26 53.60664, W99 14.57088 (26.893444, -99.242848)

BEST BAITS: Lake Fork swimbaits, Skinny Deepers, 10-inch plastic worms, magnum plastic lizards CONTACT: Robert Amaya 956-765-1442 robertsfishntackle@gmail.com robertsfishntackle.com TIPS: Veleno Creek is a big bass haven in the early spring. Fish the flats close to the main creek channel and tributary creek channels. You will find post-spawn bass there along with spawning bluegills. The best lure colors are Watermelon red.

« SPECIES: Freshwater Redfish BEST BAITS: Queen Cocahoe Minnow glow or chartreuse CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Troll the Cocahoe on downriggers over the top of the road bed from 10 foot deep to 15 foot deep, most strikes come on the drop off of the road bed.

SPECIES: largemouth bass

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: US Side Creeks and Secondary Points GPS: N 26 52.962, W 99 15.822 (26.8827, -99.2637)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: 6 red lizards, 5 Watermelon Red Senkos, Watermelon Red Magic Brushogs, big and small Jo Baby spinnerbaits - 3/4 oz chartruese/white double gold willow blades, and 1/2 - 3/4 oz War Eagle in Mouse color, medium-deep diving crankbaits, Power Worms in Motor Oil Red Flake or Plum CONTACT: Falcon Lake Guide Service - Timothy Grifﬁn (956) 849-5153 BigBass@FalconLakeGuideService.com www.falconlakeguideservice.com TIPS: Fish creeks mainly on the US side of the lake. In April, nearly all of the Mexico side creeks will be T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNationDIG-1904.indd 57

F I S H

G A M E ®

A P R I L

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3/14/19 5:42 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK APRIL 2019

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 58

A P R I L

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T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

3/12/19 5:39 PM

APRIL 2019

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

Apr 1 FEET

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

1:46a 9:09a 4:13p 9:36p

TUESDAY

1.15ft. 0.17ft. 1.19ft. 0.87ft.

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

2:43a 9:43a 4:26p 9:47p

WEDNESDAY

3«

1.21ft. 0.25ft. 1.17ft. 0.76ft.

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

3:35a 10:14a 4:41p 10:07p

THURSDAY

1.26ft. 0.35ft. 1.16ft. 0.64ft.

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

4:24a 10:44a 4:56p 10:33p

FRIDAY

5«

1.30ft. 0.46ft. 1.16ft. 0.51ft.

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

5:14a 11:14a 5:09p 11:03p

1.34ft. 0.59ft. 1.15ft. 0.38ft.

SATURDAY

6« High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:06a 11:47a 5:19p 11:36p

1.37ft. 0.73ft. 1.14ft. 0.26ft.

SUNDAY

7«

High Tide: 7:02a Low Tide: 12:23p High Tide: 5:21p

1.40ft. 0.89ft. 1.15ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 7:08a Sunset: 7:36p Moonrise: 5:21a Moon Set: 4:35p

AM Minor: 3:17a AM Major: 9:28a PM Minor: 3:39p PM Major: 9:50p

Moon Overhead: 10:56a Moon Underfoot: 11:18p

TexasOutdoorNation-1904.indd 55

12p

12a

BEST TIME

8:00 — 10:00 AM Sunrise: 7:07a Sunset: 7:37p Moonrise: 5:56a Moon Set: 5:29p

AM Minor: 3:56a AM Major: 10:07a PM Minor: 4:18p PM Major: 10:29p Moon Overhead: 11:40a Moon Underfoot: None

12p

12a

BEST TIME

8:30 — 10:30 AM Sunrise: 7:06a Sunset: 7:37p Moonrise: 6:29a Moon Set: 6:22p

AM Minor: 4:35a AM Major: 10:46a PM Minor: 4:57p PM Major: 11:07p Moon Overhead: 12:23p Moon Underfoot: 12:02a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 7:05a Sunset: 7:38p Moonrise: 7:01a Moon Set: 7:15p

AM Minor: 5:15a AM Major: 11:26a PM Minor: 5:37p PM Major: 11:47p Moon Overhead: 1:06p Moon Underfoot: 12:44a

12p

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 PM Sunrise: 7:04a Sunset: 7:38p Moonrise: 7:33a Moon Set: 8:09p

AM Minor: 5:57a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:19p PM Major: 12:29p Moon Overhead: 1:48p Moon Underfoot: 1:27a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 PM Sunrise: 7:03a Sunset: 7:39p Moonrise: 8:06a Moon Set: 9:04p

AM Minor: 6:42a AM Major: 12:31a PM Minor: 7:04p PM Major: 12:53p Moon Overhead: 2:32p Moon Underfoot: 2:10a

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 PM Sunrise: 7:02a Sunset: 7:39p Moonrise: 8:40a Moon Set: 10:01p

AM Minor: 7:30a AM Major: 1:18a PM Minor: 7:53p PM Major: 1:42p

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

3/12/19 5:39 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

8 FEET

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

12:13a 8:04a 1:03p 5:09p

TUESDAY

0.15ft. 1.42ft. 1.04ft. 1.18ft.

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

12:54a 9:17a 1:50p 4:45p

WEDNESDAY

0.06ft. 1.44ft. 1.20ft. 1.24ft.

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

1:44a 10:40a 2:58p 4:11p

THURSDAY

-0.01ft. 1.47ft. 1.33ft. 1.33ft.

Low Tide: 2:42a High Tide: 12:07p

FRIDAY

12 º

-0.05ft. 1.50ft.

Low Tide: 3:50a High Tide: 1:18p

SATURDAY

-0.07ft. 1.53ft.

Low Tide: 5:06a High Tide: 2:06p

-0.06ft. 1.53ft.

SUNDAY

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

6:22a 2:39p 8:42p 11:59p

-0.03ft. 1.49ft. 1.14ft. 1.22ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

8:30 — 10:30 PM

12a

10:00P — 12:00A

0.04ft. 1.43ft. 0.94ft.

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

FEET

1:41a 8:34a 3:29p 9:09p

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

3:02a 9:32a 3:50p 9:44p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:30P — 1:30A

Sunrise: 6:55a Sunset: 7:43p Moonrise: 1:44p Moon Set: 2:53a

AM Minor: ----AM Major: 6:02a PM Minor: 12:16p PM Major: 6:31p

AM Minor: 12:45a AM Major: 7:00a PM Minor: 1:14p PM Major: 7:29p

Moon Overhead: 7:48p Moon Underfoot: 7:19a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 7:42p Moonrise: 12:41p Moon Set: 1:58a

Moon Overhead: 6:50p Moon Underfoot: 6:21a

2:00 — 4:00 AM Sunrise: 6:54a Sunset: 7:43p Moonrise: 2:51p Moon Set: 3:45a

AM Minor: 1:40a AM Major: 7:55a PM Minor: 2:09p PM Major: 8:24p

Moon Overhead: 8:47p Moon Underfoot: 8:17a

Moon Overhead: 9:44p Moon Underfoot: 9:16a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

1.30ft. 0.16ft. 1.36ft. 0.70ft.

12a

AM Minor: 11:16a AM Major: 5:02a PM Minor: 11:45p PM Major: 5:31p

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

TUESDAY

5:30 — 7:30 AM

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

MONDAY

12p

Sunrise: 6:57a Sunset: 7:42p Moonrise: 11:42a Moon Set: 12:59a

AM Minor: 10:16a AM Major: 4:03a PM Minor: 10:44p PM Major: 4:30p

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

READING THE GRAPH

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:58a Sunset: 7:41p Moonrise: 10:48a Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 9:18a AM Major: 3:05a PM Minor: 9:44p PM Major: 3:31p

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

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:59a Sunset: 7:40p Moonrise: 10:01a Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 8:22a AM Major: 2:10a PM Minor: 8:47p PM Major: 2:34p

Low Tide: 7:32a High Tide: 3:06p Low Tide: 8:42p

9:00 — 11:00 PM

Sunrise: 7:00a Sunset: 7:40p Moonrise: 9:18a Moon Set: 11:00p

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

18 «

1.40ft. 0.32ft. 1.30ft. 0.43ft.

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

4:14a 10:26a 4:10p 10:23p

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

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

19 «

1.49ft. 0.53ft. 1.26ft. 0.19ft.

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

5:21a 11:19a 4:30p 11:04p

1.56ft. 0.75ft. 1.25ft. 0.00ft.

SATURDAY

20 l High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:27a 12:12p 4:48p 11:46p

1.60ft. 0.95ft. 1.25ft. -0.11ft.

SUNDAY

21 «

High Tide: 7:33a Low Tide: 1:10p High Tide: 5:01p

1.61ft. 1.12ft. 1.26ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 PM Sunrise: 6:53a Sunset: 7:44p Moonrise: 3:58p Moon Set: 4:32a

12a

10:30P — 12:30A

AM Minor: 3:22a AM Major: 9:35a PM Minor: 3:49p PM Major: 10:02p

Moon Overhead: 10:40p Moon Underfoot: 10:12a

Sunrise: 6:52a Sunset: 7:45p Moonrise: 5:04p Moon Set: 5:15a

AM Minor: 2:33a AM Major: 8:47a PM Minor: 3:01p PM Major: 9:14p

12p

BEST TIME

Moon Overhead: 11:33p Moon Underfoot: 11:07a

A P R I L

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12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 6:51a Sunset: 7:45p Moonrise: 6:10p Moon Set: 5:56a

AM Minor: 4:09a AM Major: 10:22a PM Minor: 4:35p PM Major: 10:49p

12a

12:00 — 2:00 AM

12:30 — 2:30 AM

AM Minor: 5:47a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:12p PM Major: 12:00p

Moon Overhead: 12:26a Moon Underfoot: 12:51p

F I S H

12p

Sunrise: 6:48a Sunset: 7:46p Moonrise: 8:18p Moon Set: 7:13a

AM Minor: 4:57a AM Major: 11:10a PM Minor: 5:23p PM Major: 11:36p

T E X A S

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:50a Sunset: 7:46p Moonrise: 7:14p Moon Set: 6:35a

Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:00p

12p

BEST TIME

Moon Overhead: 1:17a Moon Underfoot: 1:42p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM Sunrise: 6:47a Sunset: 7:47p Moonrise: 9:22p Moon Set: 7:53a

AM Minor: 6:40a AM Major: 12:27a PM Minor: 7:06p PM Major: 12:53p Moon Overhead: 2:08a Moon Underfoot: 2:34p

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 AM Sunrise: 6:46a Sunset: 7:48p Moonrise: 10:23p Moon Set: 8:34a

AM Minor: 7:36a AM Major: 1:22a PM Minor: 8:02p PM Major: 1:49p

Moon Overhead: 3:00a Moon Underfoot: 3:26p

G A M E ®

3/12/19 5:39 PM

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3/12/19 5:39 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

22 « FEET

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

12:31a 8:41a 2:30p 4:55p

TUESDAY

-0.15ft. 1.59ft. 1.25ft. 1.27ft.

Low Tide: 1:18a High Tide: 9:54a

-0.11ft. 1.55ft.

WEDNESDAY

Low Tide: 2:10a High Tide: 11:12a

-0.03ft. 1.51ft.

THURSDAY

Low Tide: 3:09a High Tide: 12:27p

0.09ft. 1.48ft.

FRIDAY

26 »

Low Tide: 4:18a High Tide: 1:24p

0.20ft. 1.44ft.

SATURDAY

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

5:32a 1:59p 9:09p 10:56p

0.31ft. 1.39ft. 1.09ft. 1.10ft.

SUNDAY

Low Tide: 6:40a High Tide: 2:21p Low Tide: 8:53p

0.40ft. 1.35ft. 1.01ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

8:30 — 10:30 PM Sunrise: 6:45a Sunset: 7:48p Moonrise: 11:23p Moon Set: 9:18a

AM Minor: 8:34a AM Major: 2:20a PM Minor: 9:00p PM Major: 2:47p

Moon Overhead: 3:53a Moon Underfoot: 4:19p

TexasOutdoorNation-1904.indd 58

12p

BEST TIME

9:00 — 11:00 PM Sunrise: 6:44a Sunset: 7:49p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 10:06a

AM Minor: 9:32a AM Major: 3:19a PM Minor: 9:58p PM Major: 3:45p

Moon Overhead: 4:45a Moon Underfoot: 5:12p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

10:00P — 12:00A Sunrise: 6:44a Sunset: 7:49p Moonrise: 12:19a Moon Set: 10:56a

AM Minor: 10:29a AM Major: 4:16a PM Minor: 10:55p PM Major: 4:42p

Moon Overhead: 5:38a Moon Underfoot: 6:03p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 6:43a Sunset: 7:50p Moonrise: 1:11a Moon Set: 11:47a

AM Minor: 11:24a AM Major: 5:12a PM Minor: 11:49p PM Major: 5:37p

Moon Overhead: 6:29a Moon Underfoot: 6:54p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 AM Sunrise: 6:42a Sunset: 7:51p Moonrise: 1:58a Moon Set: 12:40p

AM Minor: ----AM Major: 6:03a PM Minor: 12:16p PM Major: 6:28p

Moon Overhead: 7:18a Moon Underfoot: 7:42p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM Sunrise: 6:41a Sunset: 7:51p Moonrise: 2:41a Moon Set: 1:34p

AM Minor: 12:40a AM Major: 6:51a PM Minor: 1:03p PM Major: 7:15p Moon Overhead: 8:06a Moon Underfoot: 8:29p

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 AM Sunrise: 6:40a Sunset: 7:52p Moonrise: 3:20a Moon Set: 2:27p

AM Minor: 1:24a AM Major: 7:35a PM Minor: 1:47p PM Major: 7:58p

Moon Overhead: 8:52a Moon Underfoot: 9:14p

3/12/19 5:39 PM

APRIL 2019

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

29 FEET

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

12:38a 7:37a 2:38p 8:51p

TUESDAY

1.14ft. 0.49ft. 1.31ft. 0.90ft.

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

1:50a 8:23a 2:52p 8:57p

WEDNESDAY

May 1

1.21ft. 0.58ft. 1.28ft. 0.76ft.

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

2:51a 9:03a 3:07p 9:12p

THURSDAY

2«

1.29ft. 0.69ft. 1.27ft. 0.61ft.

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

3:46a 9:40a 3:20p 9:35p

FRIDAY

3«

1.37ft. 0.80ft. 1.26ft. 0.45ft.

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

4:37a 10:17a 3:32p 10:02p

SATURDAY

1.46ft. 0.91ft. 1.26ft. 0.29ft.

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

5:28a 10:56a 3:41p 10:34p

SUNDAY

5«

1.54ft. 1.03ft. 1.27ft. 0.14ft.

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

6:21a 11:39a 3:44p 11:10p

1.60ft. 1.15ft. 1.29ft. 0.01ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 AM Sunrise: 6:39a Sunset: 7:53p Moonrise: 3:56a Moon Set: 3:20p

AM Minor: 2:05a AM Major: 8:16a PM Minor: 2:27p PM Major: 8:38p

Moon Overhead: 9:36a Moon Underfoot: 9:58p

TexasOutdoorNation-1904.indd 59

12p

12a

BEST TIME

10:30A — 12:30P Sunrise: 6:38a Sunset: 7:53p Moonrise: 4:29a Moon Set: 4:13p

AM Minor: 2:44a AM Major: 8:55a PM Minor: 3:06p PM Major: 9:16p

Moon Overhead: 10:19a Moon Underfoot: 10:40p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 6:37a Sunset: 7:54p Moonrise: 5:01a Moon Set: 5:07p

AM Minor: 3:22a AM Major: 9:32a PM Minor: 3:43p PM Major: 9:53p

Moon Overhead: 11:01a Moon Underfoot: 11:23p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:30A — 1:30P Sunrise: 6:36a Sunset: 7:54p Moonrise: 5:33a Moon Set: 6:01p

AM Minor: 3:59a AM Major: 10:10a PM Minor: 4:21p PM Major: 10:31p Moon Overhead: 11:44a Moon Underfoot: None

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 6:35a Sunset: 7:55p Moonrise: 6:06a Moon Set: 6:56p

AM Minor: 4:38a AM Major: 10:49a PM Minor: 5:00p PM Major: 11:12p Moon Overhead: 12:28p Moon Underfoot: 12:06a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 6:35a Sunset: 7:56p Moonrise: 6:40a Moon Set: 7:53p

AM Minor: 5:21a AM Major: 11:32a PM Minor: 5:44p PM Major: 11:56p Moon Overhead: 1:13p Moon Underfoot: 12:50a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 PM Sunrise: 6:34a Sunset: 7:56p Moonrise: 7:17a Moon Set: 8:52p

AM Minor: 6:08a AM Major: 11:52a PM Minor: 6:33p PM Major: 12:20p Moon Overhead: 2:02p Moon Underfoot: 1:37a

3/12/19 5:39 PM

Open SEASON by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM :: TF&G Humor Editor

Alone in a Crowd

in a headlock. That was back before we had to strap them in like test pilots. The squalling cacophony coming from his phone quieted, probably as a result of Woodrow and Wrong Willie’s elbows jabbing Jerry Wayne in the ribs from both sides. I turned the radio up little louder. “You guys just reminded me of those old ski trips we used to take when our kids were little. Those days were fun when we loaded everyone up in Suburbans and vans and drove to New Mexico.” Wrong Willie chuckled from the back seat. I looked into the mirror to see his response, but he was typing something on his phone. “That was back when we had to bring walkie talkies along to tell everyone we needed to stop for the bathroom, or to get something to eat, or for gas.” It was in the late eighties and early nineties when we all had kids in school, ranging from three-year-olds to high-schoolers and college kids. Sometimes two families consolidated in the conversion vans, mixing in a blend of varying ages. You never knew what would happen next. I recall times when we stopped for coffee and potty breaks in one town, and 20 miles away we all had to pull over again because some kid hadn’t made the bathroom visit, or needed to puke. It was stunning. Someone always had to puke. Even these days we’ll pass one of those points on the highway and comment, “that’s where Steve had to roll out and upchuck.” The dirt road we followed ended at a twolane hogback. We rolled over a cattle guard and turned onto the pavement. The smooth surface seemed to soothe the crowd and my passengers settled in with a satisfied sigh. “Look at the color in that sky.” I pointed through the windshield at the winter sun settling below the bare tree limbs. Woodrow looked up. “You’re colorblind. You can’t see it.” Doc spoke without taking his eyes from the cell phone in his hands. “I wish I could, but all those new wind turbines are blocking

T WAS A GOOD LEASE,” I SAID over my shoulder to the Hunting Club membership riding in the truck with me. Doc took up the front passenger seat, while Woodrow, Wrong Willie, and Jerry Wayne squished shoulder-to-shoulder in the back seat. “I’m gonna miss this one.” Owing to circumstances beyond our control, we had to let the lease go. We’d spent the weekend packing our feeders and deer stands, and cleaning up the camping area. It looked as if we’d never been there when we pulled out, except for the rock fire pit. “Who’d have thought there could be so many quail in one little patch of ground. It reminded me of how thick the birds were up on the Ivan lease.” Doc grunted an answer as a roostertail of dust rose in the air behind the truck. The remainder of the membership was silent, so I turned on the radio. Rock and roll static filled the air, so I switched over to a satellite radio station. It came through as clear as those old hundred-thousand watt radio stations that used to roar up from Mexico when we were kids. I glanced around at the guys who had their heads bent, as if in prayer. “I don’t like this new bubblegum rock and roll country they’re calling country music these days. I grew up on Merle and Buck and George Jones. That was good country.” A loud, indescribable sound came from one of the cell phones behind me. I glanced up in the rearview mirror to see Jerry Wayne frantically pushing at his phone’s bright screen. Noises came from the back and a rustle of activity made me think the boys were suddenly wrestling. My daughters used to do that at the end of long road trips. They’d be great until the last thirty miles or so, and then all that energy they’d been holding in, exploded into activity until someone under the age of ten wound up 64

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my view.” Encouraged by his response, I rested my wrist across the steering wheel. “I can see enough bright yellow in the sky to make me feel good. Well, I guess we need to find another lease.” Four “umm humms.” A deer slipped across the road far ahead and I adjusted my speed just in case there were more. Jerry Wayne once drove a mite too fast down a similar highway at the same time a cow stepped out of the bushes and trotted across both lanes of traffic. He almost missed her. It was a good thing I was driving. A flock of wild turkeys suddenly burst out from behind a thick, high clump of prickly pear. I slowed as they crossed the road one at a time. That road soon ended at the main highway, and I steered left. The four-lane was empty, and I accelerated to match the speed limit. We cruised in silence as night fell. It wasn’t as dark inside the truck, because of the dash lights and the intense glow from four cell phones. I periodically checked the interior, using the mirror to peer into the back seat. It looked as if all the boys were praying in front of tiny campfires. After half an hour, I turned the radio up a little louder, just to fill the silence. I wished for a walkie talkie to ask whether anyone needed to stop for gas. I addressed the assemblage. “Anyone need to stop to use the bathroom?” Their silence was my answer. “You know, even though we have devices to communicate, I wish it was the old days when people talked to each other. Road trips aren’t as fun as they used to be.” No one answered because they were too interested in what was on those little screens. “Our next lease is going to be so far in the boondocks we won’t be able to get a cell signal.” “Amen,” they said in unison and went back to their devices. I drove on, alone in a crowd.

G A M E ®

3/12/19 4:45 PM

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3/12/19 4:31 PM

WHITETAIL Gillespie County Fourteen-year-old Cameron Clements took his ﬁrst buck, an 11-pointer, while hunting in Gillespie County last November.

REDFISH Arroyo Colorado Debbie Alford caught this redﬁsh while drifting in the Arroyo Colorado with live shrimp. She fought it for about 15 minutes before boating the red.

FERAL HOGS Undisclosed Carson Polasek and his buddy Kade Florence took these three little piggies to market. Sitting in a deer blind, they took all three hogs in less than 15 minutes.

WHITETAIL

REDFISH

Eastland County

Brazos River Jeramie Garza caught this 42-inch bull red near the mouth of the Brazos River. “Great ﬁght and quick release.”

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Twelve-year-old Heston Irons bagged this mature 8-point buck with a .257 Roberts at his family ranch in Eastland County.

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3/12/19 4:31 PM

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

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

REDFISH

WHITETAIL

Trinity Bay

Bexar County

Matthew DeLuna caught and released his ﬁst bull red at the spillway in Trinity Bay. The 34-1/2-inch ﬁsh weighed 14.4 pounds.

Mark Wayne Henke shot this buck on a 150-acre ranch in north Bexar County. He made the shot with his Grandpa’s 100-plus-year-old Winchester 38-40 open sight riﬂe, at 84 yards.

SPECKLED TROUT Matagorda Patrick Oliver of Wallis caught this nice trout while ﬁshing in East Matagorda Bay.

FERAL HOG

WHITETAIL

Bandera

Rusk County

Dustin Heep shot this 350pound boar using night vision on a hunt in Bandera.

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Thirteen-year-old Jonathan Holland took this spike while hunting in Rusk County.

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3/12/19 4:32 PM

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3/12/19 4:20 PM