Bare Bones Hunting

by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

Rios on the Ranch

IT WAS COLD. VERY COLD. CERtainly, too cold for Texas. As I shivered in my blind, the wind seemed to blow right through me, but I was bound and determined to score on a nice Rio Turkey with my bow and arrow this morning.

I could hear the gobbler ge ing closer and closer. A last-minute check on my equipment gave me con dence that I would soon have a big tom on the ground. Louder and louder the gobbles came. First a double and then a triple gobble. is tom was hot for some action, and I was happy to oblige, just not with the action he expected. I could hear his footsteps just outside the blind as I prepared for a close-range bow shot.

A few months ago, my good friend, Chester Moore, invited me back to Texas for what he called the rst annual Hunt/Fish Podcast. Basically, it was a turkey hunt with some shing included, while enjoying the good company of a few writers and podcast guys. Of course, I immediately agreed and wasted no time dusting o the old bow and shooting many arrows so that when the moment of truth came, I would be ready.

Chester and I arrived at the Double Draw Ranch near Junction Texas and was soon greeted by the friendly face of Gene Hennigan, owner of the Double Draw. I knew a er a conversation with Gene that this was going to be a great time, and I was not disappointed. We were the rst to arrive.

A er a short tour of the ranch, we decided to get an a ernoon hunt in, if time allowed. Our plan was set. For the rst evening, we would hunt together.

We agreed that if the bird came right in, I would take it with the bow. However, if the bird decided to hang up out of bow range, which they o en do, Chester would ll his tag with his shotgun.

A er a few hours, and not hearing any gobbles, we decided to split up to cover more ground. As the wind picked up, I stayed in the blind, and Chester took cover in a cluster of trees about 200 yards closer to the tree line. No birds that night although Chester did see some in the distance.

Back at the Double Draw Ranch, our host, Gene was preparing an outstanding meal; one of many I might add. My normal cuisine does not include Mexican fare, but a er a few days of delicious Mexican food, I think I might have spoken a li le Mexican before I le for home. Or at least I tried to. e crawdads were so hot, it took a day or two for the swelling in my lips to subside. But it was good. ere was a chill in the air that rst a ernoon. However, when morning came, I soon realized that I did not bring enough warm clothes to Southwest Texas. A er all, isn’t it supposed to be nice and hot there at the end of April?

I had on everything I could and still shivered in the blind. I would have welcomed the “chill” in the air. Now it was just freezing cold.

I heard lots of birds that day—all day. However, they never showed themselves despite all the sexy calls I was making. Apparently, the males decided to wander o with the females instead of coming into my setup and my plastic hen. Oh well… that’s why they call it hunting and not shopping.

Tomorrow is another day, and the weatherman promised warmer temperatures. He lied.

Back at the ranch, the rest of the hunting party had arrived. To my surprise, there were guys from all over the United States. How cool is that? Colorado, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, New York and Texas were all represented.

Most of us had been hunting turkeys for years, but we had four guys who were new at this sport. at made it all the more enjoyable when they got so excited about seeing the birds. I told them just wait till they come in gobbling, and you know you are going to get a shot. Your hearts will explode out of your chest! You veterans reading this know exactly what I’m talking about.

Of course, this trip meant that we would all be involved in doing di erent podcasts including one that included everyone there doing a “round table” discussion. I have to say, si ing down and talking to these guys brought a feeling of camaraderie that’s very rare to nd Here were 11 hunters with the same interests and many di erent backgrounds. Some devoted their time strictly to podcasting. One came from a television show background in Oklahoma. All in all, spending time with these guys and breaking bread together was just as enjoyable as the turkey hunt itself.

Before I go any farther, I should nish the story from the beginning of this column. at tom was so close to my blind that I heard every footstep. en suddenly he gobbled at my decoy. Believe me when I say it was LOUD!

I said to myself “Self, if that turkey takes just a few more steps, he is going to have a bad day.” ere I was at full draw anxiously waiting for that tom to o er me a shot. All was suddenly quiet, except for the real hen that continued to call to him. A er a few choice words that I cannot print here, I realized that the only one having a bad day was me. No turkey. e funny thing was that out of 11 hunters, not one of us brought back a turkey. Most of us saw them. All of us heard them everywhere, but the hens made this hunt a real challenge.

A special thanks to a few people. First, Chester, thanks once again for inviting me for this hunt and podcast. It was all very enjoyable.

Secondly, I need to give a shout out to Derek York for pu ing this rst annual Hunt/ Fish Podcast together and taking care of every detail. anks Derek.

To all the guys who shared a story or two and a lesson on calling turkeys…thank you. Last but certainly not least, a huge thank you to Gene Hennigan for le ing us hunt the Double Draw Ranch. It was a real treat to see all the different animals on the property and a pleasure to have met you, a true gem of a man that I can now call friend. « Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@fi shgame.com

URF AND PIER FISHING IS WHERE the heart and soul of the coastal angling community resides. Most coastal anglers started on a lonely stretch of surf or spending summer nights on a pier catching trout, red sh, ounder, and sharks. Although many have taken their e orts into the blue waters of the Gulf or the shallow back bays, the beach is still a big draw for shermen on the Texas coast. e key to success here is an understanding of this unique ecosystem and proper gear.

Calcu aoutdoors.com has created a site where anglers can easily connect with the right surf and pier gear across many brands to make trips to these sandy destinations fun and fruitful. e following are our top picks for quality, a ordable surf and pier gear.

SQUALL 3700 TACKLE BAG WITH BAIT BINDER e Squall Binder 3700 Tackle Bag/Bait Binder Combo is all about exibility and utility. When it

Fishing from a pier or a beach is still a big draw for anglers.

comes to surf and pier shing, organizing the various kinds of tackle required is a necessity. e bag comes with four 3700-size trays and a tackle binder loaded with pages for all of your tackle. Instead of carrying two bags with you, now you can combine all of your tackle needs into one.

The Squall Binder 3700 Tackle Bag / Bait Binder Combo

RENEGADE FISH COOLER

Renegade sh cooler bags feature a highquality waterproof zipper and a wide opening for easy access when loading or unloading ice and sh. ey are also loaded with open-cell foam insulation for superior insulating properties to keep your catch cool and fresh. Material skin is durable, rugged, and lightweight.

It also features strong carry handles and a padded shoulder strap for easy transport. at feature alone makes it a worthy acquisition as any serious pier and surf angler know,s ge ing gear to the spot is half the ba le.

READY2FISH SALT JUST ADD BAIT COMBO is combo is highlighted by the No Knots Fishing System featuring a snap that is already tied onto your line. It o ers a sevenfoot, medium-heavy action, two-piece rod with a split, EVA grip and a pre-spooled size 50 spinning reel.

On top of that you get a 35 piece tackle kit including snelled hooks, snell hook holder, shing bell, sinkers, barrel swivels, mirror beads, single drop rig, double drop rig, and hooks

CALCUTTA LIVE BAIT (CIRCLE HOOK RIGS) TWO-PACK

Circle hooks are popular with anglers seeking bull red sh, black drum, and more. is two-pack comes with pre-rigged leaders ready to tie on and chunk into the surf.

SOUTH BEND CLAMP-ON ROD HOLDER e clamp-on rod holder easily clamps on

Oh, Calcutta

CALCUTTA OUTDOORS IS A LEADING GLOBAL DESIGNer, manufacturer of consumer products for the outdoor sports and recreation market.

They provide consumers with a wide range of performance-driven, innovative products, including fi shing rods, fi shing tackle, coolers, drinkware, outdoor apparel, paddle sports, and marine accessories.

Calcuttaoutdoors.com is a place to fi nd fi shing and marine products across virtually every spectrum of the industry and get “how-to” tips on everything from surf fi shing for big predators to fl y fi shing.

Check it out for all of your fi shing and marine needs. «

piers and holds all styles of rods, including pistol grip models. It features a tough enameled finish and heavy-duty material along with an adjustable rod rest position.

These are super handy on piers and will help ensure your rod doesn’t sail into the sea when you have your back turned.

SQUALL TORQUE SERIES 11-INCHLONG REACH PLIERS AND HOOK REMOVER

Pliers are a must when dealing with toothy fish caught on piers.

The Calcutta Squall Torque Series Long Reach pliers are made with carbon steel and corrosion-resistant finish and are 11 inches long. The new torque non-slip, golf-inspired grip provides a cushioned grip for comfort and has even more grip when wet.

Their hook removers are also handy and feature 420 stainless steel tube and plunger, non-slip, molded handles for a firm grip, a spring-loaded plunger for ease of use, and a wrist lanyard for security.

BALLOON TIRE AND SURF BEACH CART

As previously noted, getting your gear onto the pier is half the battle. The Sea Striker balloon tire fishing cart is a practical mix of features, performance, and value that helps get the job done, even in challenging conditions. Move your beach items and your surf fishing gear to any beach, including soft and loose sand beach locations.

This cart can carry 125 lbs. of gear and is constructed of a strong galvanized steel tube with a durable, corrosion-resistant powder coat finish, and seven glass-filled nylon, injection molded rod holders, and thick and durable 13-inch polyethylene balloon tires.

This versatile cart features: • Seven durable molded rod/accessory holders\ • Corrosion-resistant powder-coated galvanized steel construction • The capability to hold up to a 55-quart cooler. • 13-inch balloon beach tires with a wide profile and low-pressure design (two to four PSI), perfect for travel through soft sand. These tires are made to be versatile enough to take your cart anywhere while making them ideal for all types of sand, including soft or loose sand. The tires are made of durable polyurethane for long-lasting performance. INVINCIBLE MARINE PORTABLE CLAMP LED ALL-AROUND LIGHT

Designed for the nighttime operation of small boats and tenders without 12-volt electrical systems, these can also work great to hook to your utility table or even rod holders in the surf or on those piers without lights. Removable for safekeeping. These lights do not meet coast guard regulations, but they don’t need them in the surf or pier zone.

Surf and pier fishing are places the man who fishes for marlin in the Pacific can spend quality time with his family. And it’s the place where the angler who can only afford to fish at the beach can enjoy exciting fishing action. The beach brings people together under the banner of enjoying our ocean resources.

And Calcuttaoutdoors.com is a place where those anglers can find their needs not only for the surf but also for that marlin, mackerel, and much more.

ETTING READY FOR A HUNTING OR FISHING EXPEDITION isn’t as easy as it looks.

Oh, you can throw a few things together and head out the door. However, if you really want to be prepared for a safe, fun time in the great outdoors you’ll need to plan.

We could easily ll this space with tips on se ing up your deer feeder or maintaining your boat, but we have that kind of information somewhere in

34  SPECIAL SECTION: PREPPING FOR FALL

Reported by TF&G Staff

42  FISH & GAME FORECAST CENTER

SALTWATER

Reported by Capt. Eddie Hernandez, Capt. Michael “Sharky” Marquez, Capt. Mark Talasek, Capt. Mac Gable, Capt. Joey Farah and Capt. Gerad Meritt

52  FISH & GAME FORECAST CENTER FRESHWATER

Reported by TF&G Staff

60  SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK

Tides and SoLunar Data

every issue and in our TF&G e-newsle er on a weekly basis. is article was inspired by some data we received from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) that involves tragedies on Texas waters. We love our readers and want to give you information on how to be prepared to stay safe in the great outdoors.

In 2020, boating accidents were at a 30-year, all-time high. Fatalities on

When you go off-trail on public land you never know what you will encounter. It’s best to be prepared.

Texas waterways increased 45 percent in 2020 from 2019, while fatal accidents on the water rose by 61 percent. Overall, accidents on the water were up 67 percent, and injuries were up by 64 percent.

More than 70 percent of boating accidents that occurred in 2020 were on open motorboats or personal watercra . e months of May through August traditionally have the highest numbers of injuries and fatalities statewide, with weekends seeing the peak gures.

“ is year alone from January through April 2021, Texas experienced a 40 percent increase in open water-oriented fatalities. is includes boating and swimming incidents and is compared to the same period in 2020. Overall, in 2020, 55 boating fatalities and multiple boat accidents and injuries occurred on Texas waters.”

Let’s check out some safety tips from the U.S. Coast Guard to make sure you stay safe on the water.

FILE A FLOAT PLAN is can be as easy as telling a loved one where you are headed and when you plan to return. Leaving this crucial information with someone on shore can help rescuers narrow down where to look if

you don’t return when scheduled. If time allows, you should always try to ll out a completed oat plan and update it as changes occur. Every piece of information you provide may be more helpful than you may think.

WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET!

Make sure the lifejacket is Coast Guard-approved and ts properly. Just as important as wearing one yourself, you should always make sure the people with you also have one on.

Even if you think having a lifejacket on board your boat is enough, or if you are a strong swimmer and don’t need one—just wear your lifejacket. It’s so much easier

to be prepared for the worst than it is to reach for a stowed life jacket in a tense moment.

ere are so many di erent types of life jackets these days, you can easily nd one that ts your needs and lifestyle.

COMMUNICATION

On a boat, the easiest thing to have is a working marine-band VHF radio and a handheld GPS. is will allow you to call for help and give rescuers your position if necessary. Cell phones don’t always have reception in the areas you may be going on your boat. So, it’s be er to be prepared with extra equipment and not need it, than need it and not have it. e Coast Guard always monitors VHF Channel 16 for distress.

You should observe similar guidelines for venturing into the woods on a hunting

Wearing a life jacket is crucial in staying safe on the water.

Having communications when in remote areas is crucial and so is giving your loved ones a travel plan.

or camping trip. ese are recommended by TF&G Editor-In-Chief Chester Moore who has been on a three year investigation into human dangers in the woods.

Moore said, “Some of the dangers out there aren’t just ge ing lost or bi en by a snake. ere are criminal elements in the woods at times, and we have to be aware of these things.”

TRAVEL PLAN

Similar to the Coast Guard’s oat plan, hunters, campers and hikers need a travel plan. Leave your spouse or close friends a travel plan and let them know the points you plan to explore. If possible, leave written GPS coordinates. Give them a time frame of when you expect to arrive and return. Let them know to call for help if you have not returned by a certain time or day. STRATEGIC PARKING

Always park your vehicle facing out of the area. In a tight spot, you don’t want to have to back up and turn around during a retreat. Also, park in a spot in a clear area that you can see from a distance. If someone is waiting on you or has moved into the spot, it will give you a chance to assess the situation and prepare.

DON’T TRY TO BE A HERO

If you see strangers poaching in the woods at night for example, don’t be a hero and try to stop them. ey are armed and probably will use their weapons on you if you try to stop them. Call to report such activity to local game wardens and get out as quickly as possible.

BUY AND CARRY A BEACON It is a good idea to carry a beacon that will alert all rescue personnel at the touch of a bu on. Don’t rely just on a cell phone. You should have a similar beacon, especially if you’re venturing way o -trail on public land.

TALK TO LOCALS

Not all information is on social media. If you decide to hunt public land in another state, talk to locals in a gun shop or sporting goods store. ey can give you good intel on the local area. e great outdoors is the place where we create some of our best memories. It can also be the place where tragedy can strike if you’re not prepared. Let these tips be a starting point for your safety on the water and in the woods of Texas and beyond.

July and August Put the ‘Hot’ in Hotspots

SABINE

Reported by CAPT. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

THE TWO HOTTEST MONTHS of the year are upon us, and the temperature and the shing action are both just about peaked out.

You’d be hard pressed to nd temperatures and sh catching this hot and this consistent during any other two-month span. e rod bending action has been steady since March here on Sabine. We started o the year with much higher salinity levels than we’ve had in several years prior.

Mother Nature gave us a break this spring as we did not have to contend with any freshwater runo from ooding to our north. row in the fact that we were also miraculously spared from any signi cant freeze-related sh kill in February, and it’s easy to see why our ecosystem has been as productive as is has.

Fast forward to mid/late summer

It is hot and the sh are hungry. e jetties, short rigs and surf are loaded with trout and reds. rowing top-waters early and light-colored plastics once the sun begins to penetrate the trout-green water should be your keys to a successful outing.

Work the entire wall at the je ies, paying special a ention to rock piles and washouts. When you hit a few sh, work that area thoroughly before moving on.

Live baits such as shrimp, shad and nger mullet are also very e ective in these hot summer months. Place a split shot about 18 to 24 inches above a Kahle hook or rig it with a popping cork. Both set ups can be very e ective, especially when the sh decide to get lockjaw on arti cials as the water heats up in the summer months.

Many people don’t realize that o en, the sh really stack up north of the boat cut. Again, top-waters, light colored plastics and live bait should all produce strikes. e competition is usually not as bad on that side of the cut, so you can spend more time shing and less time maneuvering around boats. Keep in mind tidal movement is very important. Both incoming and outgoing tides can be productive.

Also, the channel side can be just as good as, or be er than the Gulf side at times. e short rigs are also holding nice trout and some big reds. so plastics and live nger mullet or shad should get the job done.

You might also get to do ba le with some Spanish mackerel on steroids, ga tops and sharks. Dri ing or wading the surf is another exciting option. Early mornings when the pre y water has found its way to the beach before the wind picks up are hard to beat.

Wherever you end up, remember to prepare for the hot weather. Bring plenty of extra water, and wear a hat, long sleeves and good sunglasses. Also, don’t forget to use sunscreen early and o en.

CAPT. HERNANDEZ GHGSEddie@gmail.com

GALVESTON

Reported by CAPT. MICHAEL MARQUEZ

GALVESTON ISLAND IS truly an incredible place, jampacked with opportunities to catch a variety of trophy sh year-round. From chasing big wintertime trout and ounders in the Galveston Bay complex to running o shore in the heat of the summer for tuna, mahi mahi, king sh, and more—this place never gets old.

One of my personal favorite species of sh to target here

CAPT. MARQUEZ MichaelSharkyMarquez@gmail.com

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Galveston East Bay

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A

87 2

Gulf of Mexico

ANAHUAC NWR

THE ANAUAC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IS LOCATED IN THE EASTERN CORNER of Galveston East Bay, across from the Bolivar Peninsula at Gilchrist. Selected fi shing HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map.

SPECKLED TROUT

KEY HOTSPOT NAME GPS BEST BAIT & TACTIC 1 Anahuac Wildlife Refuge N 29 33.573, W 94 32.266

Work silver/white Mirrolures or Corkeys, slowly, Wade; avoid afternoon

2 Marsh Point

3 Tong Reef

N 29 31.834, W 94 34.339 N 29 32.232, W 94 30.351

4 Little Pasture Bayou N 29 31.254, W 94 32.318 REDFISH

1 Anahuac Refuge Flats N 29 33.804, W 94 32.374 2 Little Pasture Bayou N 29 31.254, W 94 32.318 FLOUNDER

1 Anahuac Wildlife Refuge N 29 33.573, W 94 32.266

Fish outfl ows with outgoing tide, cast to current, bounce; avoid afternoon, night Drift reef edges, fi sh afternoon thru dusk & under full moon; afternoon - night Drift East Bayou side on outgoing tide, topwaters a.m. late p.m.; avoid midday, night

Wade near grass, casting to mullet pods and shad; avoid midday, night Drift grasslines, marsh, drains and scattered shell; avoid midday, night

Mud minnows, shrimp, fi sh shoreline, Wade; dawn-afternoon

2 Rollover Bay

N 29 30.707, W 94 30.089

Live shrimp, anchor, fi sh the bottom w moving tide; avoid midday, night

WADEFISHING

1 Anahuac Refuge Flats N 29 33.804, W 94 32.374 2 Tire and Tong Reef N 29 32.232, W 94 30.351

3 Frozen Point

N 29 32.420, W 94 31.361

4 Black’s

N 29 31.070, W 94 31.956

FACILITIES

Wade depth changes and scattered clam shell; avoid midday Wade shoreline and make long casts to oyster shell; avoid midday-dusk Wade both sides of point look for nervous bait / slicks; avoid midday Topwaters; reds closer to grass, trout out deeper; Octavoid midday

KEY FACILITY NAME GPS LOCATION

PHONE A Beach Time RV Park N 29 30.838, W 94 29.492 1040 Rollover Ln, Gilchrist, TX 77617 (832) 216-4581 SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2021 is a red sh. ese are some of the hardest ghting inshore sh and just an all-around blast to catch.

Slot red sh are commonly sought out by anglers for their great taste on the grill. A slot red is a red sh that is between the length of 20 to 28 inches. e Texas bag limit allows anglers three slot red sh per person.

However, if you are looking for the ght of your life, the bull red is the sh to target. ese are red sh that exceed a length of 28 inches and are notorious for being one of the hardest ghting sh to catch inshore. Catching a bull red is sure to bring you a memory-making experience that you will never forget.

So how do you get one of these big red sh to bite your line?

LOCATION: Structure, structure, did I say STRUCTURE? Yes. If you’re visiting Galveston and don’t have the luxury of a boat to sh from, the seawall is loaded with li le je ies that run into the surf. is is a great habitat for bait sh that turns into a feeding ground for bigger predatorial sh. ere are also other shing “Hot Spots” such as Seawolf Park and Lee & Joe Jamail Bay Park.

LIVE BAIT: I use a large shrimp or nger mullet on a Carolina-style rig ( shing the lower water columns). I like to cast out around the structures and let the live bait do all the work for me. Keep that slack out of your line and get ready to SET THE HOOK when you feel the bite.

HINT: If you made it this far in the post, you deserve to know my biggest secret to catching red sh with bait. If your rst cast is unsuccessful (when using live shrimp), pinch the tail (making a small break in the shell, but leaving the tail intact). is will release scent and also give the shrimp an injured look in the water. Sometimes it’s just the thing you need to get those sh to react and bite.

ARTIFICIALS: For this time of year, I like to throw a white-bodied lure with a chartreuse tail when shing around structures such as je ies, rocks, oyster reefs, and other areas. e red sh seem to react well to this color due to the replication of sand eels and mullets that are prominent in the Gulf Coast waters at this time.

Using a ¼-ounce jig head is best when targeting these sh. It will keep your lure in

UPPER COAST

the lower water column where these red sh spend most of their time feeding.

For beginners starting out with arti cials, you can’t go wrong with a reeling pa ern such as (Bump-Bump-Reel-Repeat) over a two to three second duration. I continue changing my reeling pa ern every few casts until I nd one that the sh react to best.

FISH STRUCTURE: is is the perfect ambush point for big red sh to nd an easy meal around. If you can nd the bait, you can nd the sh.

SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT (rods and reels): • Spinning reel size 3500-4500 • 30Lb braided line • Medium action 15-30lb weight class rod ese sh can put up a solid ght from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the gear you are using. e key is to have fun and enjoy every minute of it.

Ready to catch a red sh of a lifetime? Visit our website outcast shincharters.com to book your trip today. • • •

MATAGORDA

Reported by CAPT. MARK TALASEK

THE CONCERN OF THE 2021 “deep freeze” seems to be the topic of conversation among most anglers. Did it kill any big game sh? Did it hurt the bay system? Are the bays going to be ok? e answer is yes to all. Yes, we lost some trout and red sh along with numbers of bait sh that lined the shores, dead.

But the bay system is alive and well. Most of the sh retreated to the deeper waters of the intracoastal canal and Colorado River e deeper waters provided a thermal barrier from the frigid temperatures above. Most of the ounder population migrates to the Gulf of Mexico yearly, so they were spared.

I saw the same pictures of dead sh that ooded the internet. I have also seen good numbers of reds and ounders come across my boat lately. Not as many trout, but I’m still catching a few.

Conditions have not allowed us to dri deeper shell in the bay. When the wind calms we have caught and released trout to ve pounds. I feel con dent the numbers are still there—just maybe not as many.

Some things are not as good as they used to be. Matagorda bay is going to be OK. I have been shing deeper channels o the intracoastal canal, catching reds and drum with live bait under a popping cork. An occasional trout has been in the mix.

Water temperatures continue to climb, replenishing the bay system with bait and sh from deeper gulf waters. Wade shing grass beds along the shoreline has produced half limits of trout to three pounds. Dark colored so plastics have been the ticket. Flounder gigging has produced near limits at night as the spring run is in full swing. Conditions and catches should only improve. Capt. Mark Talasek – (979) 4791397.

CAPT. TALASEK MarkTalasek@sbcglobal.net

• • • UPPER COAST HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Campbell Bayou HOTSPOT: Sand Island GPS: N 29 20.3141, W 94 54.0286 (29.3386, -94.9005) SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio www.gofi shgalveston.com TIPS: Drifting Campbell’s Bayou can produce trout in the 16–17-inch trout. Look for bird action.

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Drulls Lump GPS: N 28 42.285, W 95 50.0659 (28.7048 -95.8344)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp Shad or live shrimp SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz www.matagordafi shing.com TIPS: You can catch big trout all year round. A lot of it deals with the weather. In July a lot of the big fi sh move into deep water. Drifting the deeper reefs especially in East Matagorda Bay can pay off.

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Long Reef GPS: N 28 40.3998, W 95 53.0899 (28.6733 -95.8848)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp Shad or live shrimp SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz www.matagordafi shing.com TIPS: In dirty water, use a light color or a really bright chartreuse. In clear water, throw pink colors

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Big Pasture & Yates Bayou GPS: N 29 29.55, W 94 36.011 (29.4925 -94.6002)

SPECIES: Redfish Best Bait: Live shrimp SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear TIPS: Fish grass shoreline, around bayou mouth; dawn-morn, dusk

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Bull Shoals GPS: N 29 28.716, W 94 44.424 (29.4786 -94.7404)

SPECIES: Redfish Best Bait: Live and artificial redfish bait SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear TIPS: Drift shallow reef on SE corner of island, hit reef edges; dawn thru dusk

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Elm Lake GPS: N 29 27.147, W 94 41.691 (29.4525 -94.6949)

SPECIES: Redfish Best Bait: Shrimp under cork SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear TIPS: Troll grassline, drift open water; dawn-morn, dusk

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: April Fool Reef GPS: N 29 29.077, W 94 54.773 (29.4846 -94.9129) SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Work reef top and edges, drift; dawn-midday, dusk

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Camp House GPS: N 29 40.478, W 94 42.609 (29.6746 -94.7102) SPECIES: Redfish Best Bait: Topwaters

continued on next page u

UPPER COAST

 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39 SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: This spot is made for the wade; fi sh early

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Channel Marker 44 GPS: N 29 27.814, W 94 50.615 (29.4636 -94.8436)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout Best Bait: Live shrimp, croaker SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Work reef top and edges, drift; fi sh early

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Seabrook Pipes GPS: N 29 33.306, W 95 1.385 (29.5551 -95.0231)

SPECIES: Flounder Best Bait: Live shrimp, fl ounder jigs SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio www.gofi shgalveston.com TIPS: Best with moving tide; dawn through morning, dusk and night

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Chocolate Bay Shoreline GPS: N 29 10.392, W 95 9 (29.1732 -95.1500)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Areas with small baitfi sh will normally have the bigger trout. SPECIES: Redfi sh BEST BAITS: Weedless Gold Spoon SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz www.matagordafi shing.com TIPS: On the deeper edges of the grass fl ats there will be still pretty decent numbers of redfi sh feeding, not visible, but grouped up, slicking along a drop-off.

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Chocolate Bayou GPS: N 29 11.6209, W 95 9.948 (29.1937 -95.1658)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: August is one of my favorite months for true shallow water fi shing. LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay HOTSPOT: Cottons GPS: N 28 30.45, W 96 12.3816 (28.5075, -96.2064)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Topwaters and soft plastics SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz www.matagordafi shing.com TIPS: Start the day wading until you fi nd fi sh. Early morning, they are going to be shallow. Getting into mid-morning, and it gets hotter

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay HOTSPOT: Redfi sh Cove GPS: N 29 6.1009, W 95 6.5689 (29.1017 -95.1095)

SPECIES: Redfi sh BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Focus on schools of mullet, and especially the areas that have small bait fi sh. LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Flats GPS: N 29 56.404, W 93 50.919 (29.9401, -93.8487)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: By August anglers should be able to fi nd trout in just about anywhere. Just look for the bird action.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Catchall Basin Flats GPS: N 28 43.7719, W 95 45.562 (28.7295, -95.7594)

For the Love of a Favorite Animal

ROCKPORT AREA

Reported by CAPT. MAC GABLE

ATALK BY A HARVARD PROfessor I a ended years ago, pointedly and ma er-of-factly stated animals, and in particular dogs, were incapable of emotion.

Citing the prominent French scientist René Descartes, the Harvard professor stated dogs were a type of carbon-based machine lled with biological gears, pulleys, and connective cables. is machine, he went on, lacks the divine spark we humans have. It can’t think, but can be programmed to serve us, the master. is machine (in the form of our favorite pet) eats without pleasure, cries without pain, acts without knowing, fears nothing, desires nothing and knows nothing. Although some evolutionary progress has been made over the past 1000 years, what we perceive to be emotion in an animal is nothing more than reaction to stimulus or a ight or ght response.

I was twenty at the time of this mindless rendering. Even then, I knew under scrutiny this leaky-vessel of philosophy would sink to the bo om in record time.

Fast forward to today. We know through studies of humans that chemical neuron processes are at work driving much of how we think, learn, and feel. It has also been shown animals, in particular dogs’ hormones, are very similar to humans and undergo the same chemical changes in reaction to emotional states as we do. Researchers know the di erence between us and animals is the development process or sequence of emotional learning. To put it simply, humans have a much broader range of emotions, which developed over a much longer time frame.

It may take 20 years for a human to fully develop their broad range of emotional capability, whereas a dog’s brain is fully capable at six months. is short time frame has its advantages and disadvantages.

Learning in puppies is at the speed of light compared to human infants, but this rapid brain maturity also limits its emotional peak range. It is believed the average animal or dog, when mature, is the equivalent of a 2 1/2-year-old child.

What does this mean? Our favorite pet has all the basic emotions we have. ey can be angry, fearful, disdained, happy, joyful, (dogs can even smile in their own way) and much like humans at 2 1/2 years of age they DO LOVE.

Science says they cannot, however, feel shame, guilt or be prideful. In my humble opinion, I think the science here is in error— maybe not pride, but for sure guilt and shame. Ever come home to a disaster a dog makes and it’s nowhere to be found? You eventually nd it cowering in its favorite hiding place with a guilty-as-sin look on its face.

On the rare days I got to sh by myself, he was always with me. He never turned down a shing trip. He never got to reel in a sh, but was always by my side, his tail thumping against my leg, his tongue out with a panting smile as I reeled in a sh. It was important he sni the sh, give it a gentle lick, and then cock his head sideways telling me “Good job, now let it go.” He was a leaner, meaning he always wanted to be touched by people. When he greeted you, he always needed to feel your touch. A er long days being le alone in the house, he never made a mess, He always waited, about to burst, for me to get home and let him outside. He would always seek a bush to do his business even if the bush was a mile away, never making a mess in the yard. Every day for 17 years he got a dog bone—the highlight of his day. Should I forget, he gently reminded me. Amazingly people volunteered to keep him if we had to leave town and couldn’t take him. He rode to Alaska and back (and many other places) in the back seat of my truck and was a great road trip companion. He never a empted to bite anyone; I’m not sure he even knew how. He was trained to steer clear of water—how do you train a Lab to stay out of the water? —because our lake has alligators in it. It was determined people would visit as much to see him as to see us. He would not bark unless something was wrong. His grandfather was a Champion Tennessee Labrador hunting dog, and he was a champion sit in your lap dog. He respected me and listened to my every command except when I was being stupid. He dearly loved my wife Lisa, and she him. In his last days his body eaten with cancer, his joints worn out and arthritic, he would always struggle and stand and wag his tail if she walked into the room. When she would leave the house, he would wait, staring out the window or standing in the driveway, his head pointed in the direction he last saw her until she came home.

CAPT. GABLE His name was Diesel. Nicknames “D,” ContactUs@Fishgame.com “Roo,” and “Rascal.” He was 17 years old. I

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PORT O’CONNOR

PORT O’CONNOR IS A MID-COAST FISHING HAVEN. LOCATED AT THE POINT SEPArating West Matagorda Bay from Espiritu Bay, Port O is the gateway to the Texas Coastal Bend. Selected HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map.

SPECKLED TROUT

KEY HOTSPOT NAME GPS BEST BAIT & TACTIC

1 Boggy Bayou

N 28 28.004, W 96 24.817

Wade shoreline grass from Oyster Point to Oyster Lake; Oct-Mar, avoid midday, night

2 Bill Day Reef

N 28 24.847, W 96 26.598

Fish guts cutting thru reef, inside reef good in winter; Jan-Nov, dawn-am, aftn-night

3 Big Bayou FLOUNDER

1 Broad Bayou

N 28 25.364, W 96 24.796

N 28 28.511, W 96 26.032

Topwaters, Bull Minnows, wade shoreline with moving tides; Spring, Fall, dawn-afternoon

Minnows, Wade/Anchor near mouth on outgoing tide; Apr-Mar, Oct-Nov, all day

2 Fisherman’s Cut

N 28 25.201, W 96 27.453

Anchor on either side of cut, fi sh bay end or ICW end; Spring, Fall, avoid midday aftn

3 Little Mary’s Cut

N 28 25.683, W 96 24.504

Great gigging at night under lights, work moving tides; Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov, all day

4 Big Bayou

N 28 25.450, W 96 24.525

SHEEPSHEAD

1 Matagorda Ship Channel N 28 24.760, W 96 27.176

Anchor either side of bayou, cast into channel grass; Spring, Fall, avoid midday aftn

Anchor channel side or drift channel with bottom rigs; Mar-Sep, all day

2 Intracoastal Waterway

N 28 26.670, W 96 23.677

Anchor on either side of ICW, cast on grassy fl ats; AprOct, dawn thru dusk

SHARK

1 The Hump

N 28 25.125, W 96 22.484

Drift or Anchor in pass on outgoing tide, use cut bait; Apr-Nov, all day

WADEFISHING

1 Broad Bayou

2 Little Jetties

FACILITIES

N 28 28.524, W 96 25.674 N 28 26.670, W 96 24.058

Shrimp, wade near mouth on outgoing tide; Mar-Apr, Oct-Dec; avoid midday, night Trout,, redfi sh, fl ounder, fi sh jetty sides and ends; March – Dec; dawn-morn, aftn-night

KEY FACILITY NAME GPS LOCATION PHONE

A Bay Front Park & Pier N 28 27.210, W 96 24.323 Park St, Off SH 185 B Port O’Connor Jetty N 28 26.685, W 96 24.121 Washington St, SH 185 SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2021

361-983-2898

361-552-2959

MIDDLE COAST

cried when he died.

If you take your favorite pet shing with you, bring water for it. ey will drink almost anything. However, neither beer, soda nor Gatorade is a substitute for water.

I LIKE FRESH MENHADEN THIS time of year. Frozen will do but fresh is be er. e summer heat seems endless, but there is no need to stay out all day. Half day trips, either early morning or late evening, can be just as productive and less taxing on one’s body.

COPANO BAY: Cut mullet or menhaden work well in the Turtle Pen area freelined or on a light Carolina rig for reds. Lap Reef is a good spot for trout using croaker free-lined. Mud minnows will work as well.

ST. CHARLES BAY: e opening that leads to Salt Creek is a good place for reds using nger mullet on a medium heavy Carolina rig. Some ounder and black drum are found in the back part of Cavasso Creek. Use fresh dead shrimp on a light Carolina rig.

ARANSAS BAY: Wades down Blackjack Point can produce some nice trout and reds using free-lined croaker. e key here is to stay within casting distance of the salt grass and fan your cast 180 degrees from near shore to o shore. Dunham Bay is a good spot for reds using free-lined nger mullet. Approach the back part of the bay quietly, using a trolling motor or dri ing in.

CARLOS BAY: Inside Cedar Reef is a good spot for black drum and keeper reds. Use fresh-dead shrimp and nger mullet, free-lined. e shell edges of Carlos Trench are good spots for trout using live shrimp and a ra le cork.

MESQUITE BAY: Wades near Bludworth Island can produce large trout using free-lined croaker. is area is best shed on high tide. e spoil area just o Roddy Island is good for sheepshead and black drum on live shrimp under a silent cork.

approaches to Second Chain Island are good for reds and trout using free-lined croaker. Live shrimp under a popping cork works here as well. Wades near Ayres Point is good for trout using free-lined croaker.

BANK BITE: e shoreline near the airport is a good spot this time of year, early morning or late evening with a moving tide. Wading is best, but this area can also be shed from the bank. e go-to bait is live shrimp under a popping cork. Trout, reds, and black drum frequent this area. e area can be accessed through Howard Murph Park. Great sunsets here as well.

CORPUS CHRISTI BAY

Reported by JOEY FARAH

SUMMERTIME FISHING HERE in the Coastal Bend will be hot. We o er so many places and styles of shing here that your options are endless.

I dri ing and wade sh the extreme shallows, casting to red sh, drum, trout, and ounder. I make long casts with a 1/16th to 1/8th ounce jig head and a ve-inch Down South Lures so plastic. My favorite summertime color is Dirty Tequila. e gold gli er turns the red sh on re in the clear ats. For blind casting from the boat, I also use a very special weedless hook from Owner. It’s the Flashy Spinner. is weedless hook has a gold blade Ed spinner under the bait. I use a DOA shrimp body on this rig and have watched red sh and drum strike with wicked aggression.

Shallow water ats can be accessed along the back side of Mustang Island between Port A and North Padre. Explore the many trails leading to marshes and the edges of Corpus Christi Bay. I’ll be in the boat dri ing the ats along East Flats, Shamrock Cove, and down south in the best shallow water red sh area on the coast, Nine Mile Hole, and Yarborough Pass. e gas wells in Corpus Christi Bay lie in about seven to ten feet of water. When winds are light, live shrimp free-lined or under a popping cork can be very e ective for specks and sand trout. Ga ops will also be close at hand there at the Wells, as well as in the structure along the Corpus Christi Bayfront.

CAPT. FARAH

jfarah@yahoo.com

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 

Look for old piers and cement structures, je ies and breakwaters. Ga ops are a large cat sh that is great eating. ey readily eat cut bait and dead shrimp for shermen looking for llets. e beach is a summertime hotspot. Fish the rst two guys at dawn with topwater lures for trout, then switch to a silver spoon or a three-inch DOA CAL SHAD on a 1/4- to ½-ounce jig head with a length of 40-pound leader for Spanish mackerel. Spanish Macs are fast, and they like a fast retrieve as well. eir sharp teeth can cut the line easily, but their keen eyes can see wire leader, you will get many more strikes with mono leader.

We have an extended red snapper season this year so jump on a party boat or a private charter o shore for red snapper and lots of king sh. Most trips will be successful within only a few miles of land.

Making it out to the closer rigs or the manmade reefs inside state waters can be fun and easy. Look online for their GPS locations and sh on the bo om with squid and shrimp. Dri ing these reef structures with live hard tails is a sure bet to hang into big king sh. Use small pieces of cut bait on small hooks to catch the hard-tail mackerel for bait.

Trout shing with live croaker has been by far the most popular summertime shing activity in years past, a er the February sh kill, trout numbers fell to only 30 percent of years past. is is bringing many anglers to catch and release speckled trout so that we can rebuild our shery.

Live bait shing for trout is still popular and great fun. Live croaker along the edges of the larger islands in and along Corpus Christi Bay are great places to nd schools of trout up along the strip of grass on the drop-o of the islands.

Free-line the croakers with a #6 wide-gap hook. Catch a few and release the rest so we can guarantee a great trout shery for generations.

We will build memories for a lifetime along the shallow ats of the Laguna Madre and Ba n Bay. Come nd out how exciting watching big red sh explode on shallow water top-waters against the orange glow of sunrise. Stop your heart in its tracks as you watch hundreds of black drum tailing in the ats while your bait so ly oats down to them. Shallow water shing adds the element of sight to your imagination.

MIDDLE COAST HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Ayers Bay HOTSPOT: Ayers Reef GPS: N 28 10.434, W 96 50.3659 (28.1739, -96.8394)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfi sh and Flounder BEST BAITS: Live Croaker SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Look for shell piles and work the edges from a boat. Trout, redfi sh, and an occasional fl ounder can be caught. The trout are the easiest to catch using a croaker freelined.

LOCATION: Carlos Bay HOTSPOT: Cedar Reef GPS: N 28 8.251, W 96 53.049 (28.1375, -96.8842)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfi sh and Flounder BEST BAITS: Paul Brown Devil Eyes and Chickenon-a-Chain soft plastics SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: A favorite soft plastic is Devil Eye in a chrome with a chartreuse tail and a 1/4-ounce jig head. It’s a great redfi sh lure. MIDDLE COAST

HOTSPOT: Pita Island GPS: N 27 36.169, W 97 17.1989 (27.6028, -97.2867)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Live Shrimp SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: The month of July is a great time to fi sh around the island using live croaker.

LOCATION: Mesquite Bay HOTSPOT: Cedar Bayou GPS: N 28 4.3309, W 96 50.832 (28.0722, -96.8472)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfi sh and Flounder BEST BAITS: Live Croaker SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Close to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge, use live croaker over shell and mud where the edges drop off.

LOCATION: Nueces Bay HOTSPOT: East Nueces Bay GPS: N 27 52.2799, W 97 19.9979 (27.8713, -97.3333)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Live Shrimp SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Fresh water runoff doesn’t affect the trout like it does on other bays. The trout are

As the Sun Ascends, Go Deeper for Trout & Reds

BAFFIN BAY

Reported by CAPT. GERAD MERRITT

SUMMER IS IN FULL SWING, and the trout and red sh bite is heating up along with the temperature. Currently, we are seeing solid sh on big rock structures.

I’m starting with shallow water shing rst thing in the morning and moving deeper as the day progresses. Once the cool morning air dissipates, the bay sh seek out the deeper, cooler water mid-morning and throughout the rest of the day. ese sh will start the pa ern again once the sun sets and temperatures decrease a li le. At one of my favorite spots to sh, the rock structure is large. All summer long, I’m able to throw a bait on top of it and slowly drag it towards me. Once it hits the edge of the rock and sinks just a few feet deeper, a sh will typically engulf it, and the ght is on.

Whether it’s a so plastic lure or a good healthy croaker, the feeling is like none other. Dri ing over the edges of grass ats and drop o s is also currently working for a successful trip. Keep in mind that when the water is nice and clear, you want to try to target the sand pockets and work around them. is helps sh locate bait and helps less experienced anglers stay out of the grass hang ups. Usually when I am shing this way, I’m targeting more red sh and bigger trout, looking for the one every angler dreams of. Although it can be slower-paced shing at times, it works for those who prefer to stay in the boat.

Keep in mind that a er the big freeze

back in February, Texas Parks and Wildlife commissioners have changed our trout limits in south Texas to a three sh per person bag limit and a length of seventeen to twenty-three inches. is runs from the JFK causeway south to Brownsville and will hopefully be li ed in the coming months. But until then, let’s be CAPT. MERRITT patient and enjoy what we have.

geradmerritt@gmail.com

LOWER COAST HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Baffi n Bay HOTSPOT: Kennedy Shoreline GPS: N 27 15.598, W 97 27.6509 (27.2600, -97.4609)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Topwaters early, soft plastics later in the day SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Target the shoreline along the Kennedy Ranch, focusing early on the shallow edges

LOCATION: Baffi n Bay HOTSPOT: Land Cut GPS: N 27 0.5195, W 97 26.8494 (27.0087, -97.4475)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Hook the croaker more to the tail along the lateral line, and kind of jig it backwards, free lining let it swim away from you.

LOCATION: Baffi n Bay HOTSPOT: The Badlands GPS: N 27 18.447, W 97 25.993 (27.3075, -97.4332)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfi sh BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Eels soft plastics with a 1/8 jig head SOURCE: Capt. John Little captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.com TIPS: There is not much traffi c back in here; it’s pretty laid back, see two or three boats in a day as compared to 20-30 boats.

Baffi n Bay

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Alazan Bay

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HOTSPOTLIGHT:

ALAZAN BAY

ALAZAN BAY IS ONE OF THREE EXTENSIONS OFF THE MAIN BODY OF BAFFIN BAY. Alazan Bay is the largest and eastern most of the three. The east shoreline from Starvation Point north is a series of points, cuts and tidal lakes. The western shoreline runs from Kleberg Point north and includes Cayo del Infeirnillo. Selected HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map.

SPECKLED TROUT

KEY HOTSPOT NAME GPS BEST BAIT & TACTIC

1 Sloughs Rocks

N 27 18.651, W 97 33.465

Anchor on rocks’ outer edge w live bait, tops in shlws.; May-Oct, dawn-morn, dusk

2 Kleberg Point Rocks, South N 27 16.371, W 97 36.636 REDFISH

1 Comitas Lake

N 27 21.597, W 97 30.771

FLOUNDER

1 Starvation Point Bar N 27 17.566, W 97 32.867 BLACK DRUM

1 West Shore Alazon Bay N 27 20.284, W 97 32.084

Drift live shrimp under cork very slowy of top of rocks; Summer, Winter, dawn-am, dusk

Wade or Drift targeting nervous water or bait moving; Apr-Jul, dawn-midday, dusk

Outstanding nighttime gigging spot when using lights; Jul-Oct, dawn-morn, dusk-night

Live shrimp under pop-n cork, drift the area; Apr.-July, dawn

2 East Shore Alazon Bay N 27 18.408, W 97 31.064

Live shrimp under pop-n cork, drift the area; Apr.-July, dawn

3 Starvation Point

N 27 17.072, W 97 33.135

Live shrimp under pop-n cork, drift the area; Apr-July, dawn thru morning

SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2021

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Grass Flats GPS: N 26 1.399, W 97 10.5606 (26.0233, -97.1760) SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Skeeter Walker, Super Spook, or Corky SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Use topwater lures, but not broken backs.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: South Bay GPS: N 26 1.785, W 97 11.0109 (26.0298, -97.1835) MIDDLE COAST

 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50 used to it, and the rain will clean up the water for us, reduce high salinity.

LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Lydia Ann Channel GPS: N 27 51.736, W 97 3.298 (27.8623, -97.0550)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Fishing a bunch of schooling fi sh mostly. Use your trolling to move along to fi nd the schools.

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Boat Hole GPS: N 27 40.969, W 97 14.9989 (27.6828, -97.2500)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Live Shrimp SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Use a 4/0 Kale hook because the croaker down here aren’t very big, along with a 1/8-ounce barrel weight. The more natural the presentation, the better.

SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, Gulp! Shrimp in New Penny, Pearl SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Fish the drop-offs and channel edges with bottom rigs with live or dead shrimp. Free shrimping rigs also work. A transient snook might also strike your offering. Bounce a Gulp! Shrimp on the bottom.

LOCATION: Port Mansfi eld HOTSPOT: Community Bar GPS: N 26 35.144, W 97 25.644 (26.5857, -97.4274)

SPECIES: Speckled trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in red/white, limetreuse, pearl/chartreuse. SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Use soft plastics around the edges of the Bar to fi nd both trout and redfi sh. Fish slowly to work deeper water.

LOCATION: Port Mansfi eld HOTSPOT: The Saucer GPS: N 26 27.694, W 97 21.685 (26.4616, -97.3614)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Use a bigger croaker; but the trout are aggressive whether the croaker is small or big. • • • • •

www.FishGame.com/ fi shgamegear

The Dog and Cat and Crappie Days are Here

Reported by TF&G STAFF

WITH THE DOG DAYS OF summer here, it’s hard to believe the sh will be biting in this heat. But they are biting. Crappie are almost always active and very catchable on jigs and minnows. If you can nd deeper brush piles, start early and plan to be o the lake by noon. e best places to look for the deeper bite will be at the mouths of creeks where brush piles or other structure are present.

In July, the cat sh have nished eating all the shad they could hold a er the shad spawn. ey are back in the deep water along channel edges and are fairly easy to catch. Just nd a stump or other channel structure and throw stink bait at them.

EAST TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Alligator Bayou and Big Cypress Bayou GPS: N 32 41.5019, W 94 2.2319 (32.6917, -94.0372)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: V&M Paddletail Frog and V&M Porkpin Worm SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Fish the edges of these creeks on the upper end of Caddo Lake with the white frogs on top and 1/8 oz. weighted Junebug colored worms on the bottom along the edges of the grass. Give extra attention to the bends and points.

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: North Lake Area GPS: N 30 27.786, W 95 36.1799 (30.4631, -95.6030)

SPECIES: Catfi sh BEST BAITS: Primos stink bait SOURCE: Richard Tatsch www.fi shdudetx.com TIPS: Locate a stumpy area along a channel on the north end of the lake, toss some range cubes out and give it about 30 minutes. I use sponges to absorb the dipping bait with a #6 treble hook with a small egg sinker. Let it go to the bottom and wait on a little resistance. Once you feel it set the hook and hold on!

LOCATION: Lake Cooper HOTSPOT: Deep Well GPS: N 33 18.574, W 95 41.189 (33.3096, -95.6865)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Offi ce 903-593-5077 TIPS: Fish gold or fi retiger deep crankbaits. Work them down and stop. Dawn through afternoon.

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Ray Branch GPS: N 32 48.6059, W 95 34.296 (32.8101, -95.5716)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs in blue ice color with Bobby Garland jig bodies SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: The best places to look for the deeper bite will be at the mouth of Ray Branch, mouth of Little Caney

CURRENT LAKE LEVELS EAST TEXAS

LAKE CAPACITY CURRENT % As of 6/16/2021 AC. FT. AC. FT. FULL Addicks 7,900 7,154 91% B A Steinhagen 69,186 67,966 98% Barker 46,122 46,122 100% Bob Sandlin 192,417 192,417 100% Bonham 11,027 11,027 100% Caddo 816,904 789,472 97% Coleto Creek 31,040 31,040 100% Conroe 410,988 410,988 100% Crook 9,195 9,195 100% Cypress Springs 66,756 66,756 100% Fork 605,061 605,061 100% Houston 130,147 130,147 100% Houston County 17,113 17,113 100% Jacksonville 25,670 25,670 100% Jim Chapman 260,332 260,332 100% Lake O’ the Pines 268,566 268,566 100% Livingston 1,741,867 1,741,867 100% Monticello 34,740 30,173 87% Murvaul 38,285 38,285 100% Nacogdoches 39,522 39,522 100% Palestine 367,303 367,303 100% Pat Mayse 113,683 113,683 100% Sam Rayburn 2,857,077 2,857,077 100% Striker 16,934 16,934 100% Sulphur Springs 17,747 17,273 97% Toledo Bend 1,243,801 1,243,801 100% Wright Patman 231,496 231,496 100%

 INSET

Lake Hawkins

SEE INSET 

Located between Mineola and Hawkins off U.S. 80

• LAKE HAWKINS

and the mouth of Chaney. This is the deeper end of the lake, and you will fi nd the crappie in the 24- to 27-foot range. My best color of jig will be blue ice using the Bobby Garland jig bodies.

LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: The Hump GPS: N 30 40.8299, W 95 4.992 (30.6805, -95.0832)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live Shad, 1 ¼ oz. white slabs, spoons, Tsunami Holographic in hot pink/gold, 4-inch Swim Shad. SOURCE: David S. Cox www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: Bounce baits off the bottom; look for strikes on falling baits. Troll Tsunami Swim Shad behind a #10 jet diver. LOCATION: On Little Sandy Creek in Wood County, between Mineola and Hawkins, 4 miles off US 80. SURFACE AREA: 633 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 30 feet IMPOUNDED: 1962

LARGEMOUTH BASS IS A POPULAR sportfi sh in this clear, highly veg-

LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches HOTSPOT: Dam GPS: N 31 35.314, W 94 49.494 (31.5886, -94.8249)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Soft plastics SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Offi ce 409-698-9114 etated lake. The quality of the crappie fi shery is sporadic. Blue and channel catfi sh have been stocked, but they are generally uncommon.

Lake Hawkins also is one of the few Texas lakes with a good population of chain pickerel .

TIPS: Fish Texas-rigged black soft plastics. This is a very popular night spot.

LOCATION: Lake O the Pines HOTSPOT: Arms Roadbed GPS: N 32 45.790, W 94 36.554 (32.7632, -94.6092)

EAST TEXAS

 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55 BEST BAITS: Crankbaits SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Offi ce 903-938-1007 TIPS: Fish bright cranks, Carolina rigs. Work the brushpiles on long roadbed. Avoid midday. Night fi shing good here.

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: Caney Flats GPS: N 31 08.475, W 94 14.353 (31.1413, -94.2392)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Soft plastics SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Fish Carolina-rigged plastics. Hit ditches, fl ats, and humps. This is a good post-spawn area. LOCATION: Lake Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Still Water GPS: N 31 44.928, W 93 50.2619 (31.7488, -93.8377)

SPECIES: Black & white bass BEST BAITS: Top water plugs, Rat-L-Traps, crank baits, slab spoons and plastics. SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: In July the main lake points will be active with plenty of schooling activity for both the Black and White Bass. Typically, early morning and late evening will be the prime feeding times. Start off shallow and back out to deeper water, if need be, with deep diving crank baits and soft plastics.

LOCATION: Lake Wright Patman HOTSPOT: Dino’s Ledges GPS: N 33 15.037, W 94 13.215 (33.2506, -94.2203)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits SOURCE: TPWD District Fisheries Offi ce 903-938-1007 Fish chartreuse/blue crankbaits, using medium action, cast toward structure; avoid midday.

Fish Deeper for Bass and Crappie

Reported by TF&G STAFF

BASS AND CRAPPIE ARE se led into their summer pa ers of holding near the thermocline, along deep-water ledges, points and cover. For bass, spend most of your time shing points with deep diving crank baits and so plastics. For crappie, look for channel bends or points with brush piles.

Stripers and Hybrids will be near dams and other cool water areas. e best bait will be live perch, shad, or minnows.

For cat sh, this is a good time for dri ing bobbers.

CENTRAL TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Main Lake Rocks, Shade Trees, and Shaded Docks GPS: N 30 19.464, W 97 50.316 (30.3244, -97.8386) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, Spinnerbaits, crankbaits SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Bass will be searching for cover and ambush positions throughout the lake. I break my guide trips into 3 approaches, mornings, daytime, and evenings.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Dam Area GPS: N 30 45.1842, W 98 25.6254 (30.7531, -98.4271)

CURRENT LAKE LEVELS CENTRAL TEXAS

LAKE CAPACITY CURRENT % As of 6/16/2021 AC. FT. AC. FT. FULL Aquilla 43,243 43,243 100% Arlington 40,157 40,157 100% Athens 29,503 29,503 100% Austin 23,972 22,696 95% Bardwell 46,122 46,122 100% Belton 435,225 435,225 100% Benbrook 85,648 85,648 100% Buchanan 816,904 789,472 97% Canyon 378,781 353,723 93% Cedar Creek 644,686 644,686 100% Choke Canyon 662,820 327,149 49% Corpus Christi 256,062 217,378 85% Eagle Mountain 179,880 179,880 100% Georgetown 36,823 32,601 89% Gibbons Creek 25,721 21,588 84% Granger 51,822 51,822 100% Grapevine 163,064 163,064 100% Halbert 6,033 5,367 89% Hubert H Moss 24,058 24,058 100% Inks 13,962 12,825 92% Joe Pool 175,800 175,800 100% Lavon 406,388 406,388 100% Lewisville 563,228 563,228 100% Limestone 203,780 203,780 100% Lyndon B Johnson 115,249 110,636 96% Marble Falls 6,901 6,879 100% Martin 75,726 75,330 100% Medina 254,823 89,862 35% Mountain Creek 22,850 22,850 100% Nasworthy 39,522 39,522 100% Navarro Mills 49,827 49,827 100% New Terrell City 8,583 8,583 100% Ray Hubbard 439,559 439,141 100% Ray Roberts 788,167 788,167 100% Richland-Chamb. 1,087,839 1,087,839 100% Somerville 150,293 150,293 100% Stillhouse Hollow 227,771 227,771 100% Tawakoni 871,685 871,685 100% Texana 159,566 159,566 100% Texoma 159,566 159,566 100% Travis 1,113,348 856,200 77% Tyler 72,073 72,073 100% Waco 189,418 189,418 100% Waxahachie 10,780 10,780 100% Weatherford 17,812 17,791 100% Whitney 553,344 553,344 100% Worth 24,419 24,419 100%

1 1/2 oz. slabs, deep diving trolling type baits SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: If fi shing with artifi cials is your thing, 1 oz. and 1 1/2 oz. slabs plus deep diving trolling type baits will be best.

5 miles northeast of Fairfi eld

LAKE FAIRFIELD

LOCATION: 5 miles northeast of Fairfi eld, off FM 488, FM 3285, FM 2750 SURFACE AREA: 2,159 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 49 feet IMPOUNDED: 1969

ACCESS TO THE LAKE IS PROVIDED through Fairfi eld Lake State Park, which may be closed for wildlife management activities on occasion. Check the park web page for closure notices and dates. The Big Brown power plant was permanently shut down in 2018, so Lake Fairfi eld no longer offers warm-water winter fi shing.

Timber is abundant in the upper end coves on the east side. Hydrilla forms a fringe around the reservoir. Pockets of native pondweed provide openings in the hydrilla and make good ambush points. Cattails and cutgrass grow in shallow water on the shoreward side of the hydrilla. •

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Scuba Diver’s Point GPS: N 29 51.8879, W 98 12.8399 (29.8648, -98.2140)

CENTRAL TEXAS

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Rapala Snap Rap in gold orange color SOURCE: Steve Nixon www.sanantoniofi shingguides.com TIPS: Fish this area from 40 to 60 feet deep and look for schools of striped bass on your fi sh fi nder.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 14.154, W 96 5.97 (32.2359, -96.0995)

SPECIES: Catfi sh BEST BAITS: Cut shad or other cut bait SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: This month we are drifting bobbers. Set out several rods with fl oating rigs anywhere from 2’ to 6’ below the surface in 12’ to 35’ of water and drift with shad or other cut bait.

LOCATION: Eagle Mountain HOTSPOT: Pelican Island Humps GPS: N 32 54.592, W 97 30.002 (32.909871, - 97.500030)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: slabs, crankbaits, topwaters SOURCE: Kolby Kuhn kolbymkuhn@gmail.com TIPS: Fish are in a Summer pattern and are aggressively feeding on shad. Look for fi sh feeding near the surface early and late in the day. Casting topwater lures or crankbaits will catch these fi sh. When the sun is up focus on deeper points and drop-offs in 10-20 ft of water on the humps.

LOCATION: Fayette County Res. HOTSPOT: Third Boat Ramp Point GPS: N 29 55.878, W 96 43.368 (29.9313, -96.7228) SPECIES: Catfi sh BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: There is a 20’ deep point here. Anchor on this point and chum straight down beside the boat.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Trees at Intake Channel GPS: N 30 36.8999, W 96 4.29 (30.6150, -96.0715)

SPECIES: Catfi sh BEST BAITS: CJ’s Punch Bait SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Anchor near stumps/trees in 4–12-foot water. Be sure to chum and expect fi sh to be near the bottom. Use a treble hook.

LOCATION: Lake Granger HOTSPOT: Main Lake Humps and Ridges GPS: N 30 42.1979, W 97 21.8819 (30.7033, -97.3647) SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: 1/2 oz. white slab spoon SOURCE: Tommy Tidwell www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: This time of year, the white bass school up on humps and ridges feeding on shad. They can be caught very easily on slab spoons. White’s a good color, but color really doesn’t matter. The smaller 1/2 oz. slabs also work a little better than the larger ones. The key is to fi nd the whites feeding close to a high spot like a hump or raised roadbed. The top of the roadbed would be 10 to 12 feet under water with deep water all around. Position your boat on top of the high spot and jig the slabs off the bottom..

LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool HOTSPOT: Lynn Creek Fishing Barge GPS: N 32 37.836, W 97 02.391 (32.6306, -97.0399)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Fish live minnows on a bobber, hit in, out and round the brush.

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake Brush and Standing Timber GPS: N 33 4.5839, W 96 27.7379 (33.0764, -96.4623)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/8 & 1/16 jigs with a painted pink head in black and chartreuse and white and chartreuse. SOURCE: Carey Thorn whitebassfi shingtexas.com TIPS: Concentrate on fi shing 7ft-15ft as that will be the target for brush and standing timber. Some fi sh are still spawning in the button willows and submerged green willows around 2ft-6 ft.

LOCATION: Lake LBJ HOTSPOT: Honeymoon Hump Area GPS: N 30 34.35, W 98 21.474 (30.5725, -98.3579)

SPECIES: Bass and Crappie BEST BAITS: Bass: Top water lures, buzzbaits, soft plastics, umbrella rigs, and lipless crankbaits; Crappie: jigs and minnows under slip bobbers. SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Bass and crappie are settled into their summer patters of holding near the thermocline, along deepwater ledges and points. For bass, work topwaters, buzzbaits and lipless crankbaits before the sun comes up and just before dark. During the day, go deeper with soft plastics, umbrella rigs and spinnerbaits around grass edges. Find brush piles and you should fi nd crappie. For this Hotspot there is plenty of vegetation in water less than 14’ plus it has fast break lines off the hump. There is also deep water close by to hold some big bass during the hot days.

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Kickapoo Creek GPS: N 32 16.374, W 95 28.338 (32.2729, -95.4723)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Big Eye Jig in black/brown amber and chart/white spinnerbaits SOURCE: Ricky Vandergriff www.RickysGuideService.com TIPS: Fish the creek channel slow and fi sh the stumps and brush along the channel. Also, fi sh the islands with the big eye jig and a chartreuse/white spinner bait.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Hubbard HOTSPOT: IH-30 and Power Plant Jetty GPS: N 32 51.96, W 96 32.082 (32.8660, -96.5347) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Trick 4” worms on a shaky head, deep diving crankbaits in perch pattern, buzzbaits and top water lures. SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: Black bass have moved just above the thermocline around the rocks on I-30 and on the Power Plant Jetty. This stratifi cation will be from 12 to 14 feet depending upon the wind and if we have had any rain. Catch them on trick 4” worms on a shaky head or use deep diving crankbaits in perch pattern. Fish for them with buzz baits and top water lures in the grass above Hwy 66 early and very late.

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Corps of Engineers Brush Pile GPS: N 33 22.711, W 97 3.31 (33.3785, -97.0552)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas Fishgame.com/fi shandgamegear TIPS: There are over 50 brush piles made by the Corps of Engineers on this Lake. Most are located on submerged points in 20-35 feet of water. They simply