Texas Fish & Game June 2018 by Texas Fish & Game

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Superior Stripers

June 2018 | $3.95

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

by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

ROY NEVES

Passing of a Humble Giant

PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

OGER PARKS, A DEAR FRIEND TO THIS MAGAZINE AND ESPECIALLY TO US personally, passed away on April 19 at his home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Roger and Pam, his wife of more than forty years, recently retired from Blue Wave Boats, the business they founded with their two sons Richard and Steven twenty-six years ago. They were looking forward to new adventures in well-earned golden years. Life is a precious and fleeting gift and none of us knows how much of it we’ve been blessed with until it’s over. If the main lesson of that cruel irony is that we should make the most out of what time we have been given, Roger Parks was the perfect example of how to do it. He was the creative force behind Blue Wave Boats, which has been the top-selling bay boat brand in Texas for more than two decades. Roger was born into the business, in a part of Arkansas that has been the nesting ground for many legendary brands of fishing boats. After Roger had worked with his father for several years building custom boats in his hometown, he and Pam moved their family to Checotah, Oklahoma, where they were both employed by a boat manufacturer. Roger, with strong engineering talents, was the chief designer for the company while Pam worked on the business side. In the early 1990s, circumstances with their employer changed and the couple decided to launch their own boat building company. That decision created a true American success story. At the time, Richard was a teenager and Steven was on the verge of Roger and Pam Parks becoming one, and with their two sons signed on as shop staff, Roger and Pam started Parks Manufacturing, Inc., DBA Blue Wave Boats, in what was basically a garage. They already had a solid reputation with dealers and with Roger’s visionary talent for boat design and Pam’s almost supernatural gift for management, they entered the coastal boat market with a splash. Roger’s innovative hull design was an almost instant hit. Their distinctive “Wave” logo helped set their new brand apart, as did Roger’s keen understanding of customer expectations and his ability to anticipate what potential buyers might want in a boat. We first met them when they began running one-third-page black & white ads in TEXAS FISH & GAME in 1993. As sales grew exponentially, their ads got bigger and more colorful. Their production capacity and dealer base expanded as well, and before long their boats were all over the country. From the beginning, we developed a strong friendship with both of these special people as well as with their two young sons, who possessed maturity and sense of purpose well beyond their years. Roger’s enthusiasm for building things was infectious. Whether he was describing the complex methods for turning out a mold for a 22-foot hull, or plans for the 165,000-foot plant they built at their new headquarters in Seminole, or describing the cutting edge geothermal heating and cooling system he was installing in their new home, it was impossible not to be captivated and want to join him in whatever work held his attention. Despite becoming a huge success in a relatively short time, Roger never changed. A true giant in his industry—a highly competitive industry that is unique for the fact that the bulk of its manufacturing has stayed in America—Roger maintained his soft-spoken, humble manner in everything he did. Roger’s passing is a huge loss to his family and the countless people who knew him as a friend. But we all take comfort in the remarkable way he used the precious time he was given on Earth. He created a successful business with his beloved wife, and together they built products that have brought joy and togetherness to thousands of families. He and Pam raised two sons whose vision and ethics mirror those of their parents and who will no doubt work to ensure that the legacy of their father’s creation will live on. In our book, that is a life worth celebrating.

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

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

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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 June 2018 | Vol. 35 • No. 2

FEATURE ARTICLES TEXOMA’S SUPER STRIPERS There are several good striped bass fisheries in Texas, but only one stands out as superior.

by Matt Williams

Wels catfish of Europe grow to ten feet and pose a threat to scuba divers working on dams.

by Chester Moore

COVER STORY FLOUNDER FROM THE BANK

Land-locked anglers are in luck: the best flounder fishing is within an easy cast, or wade, from the shore.

story by Chester Moore photo by John N. Felsher

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DON’T NOODLE THIS CATFISH

HOG POISON UPDATE The latest on schemes to bring on a “Hog Apocalypse” using toxic bait.

by TF&G Staff

COLUMNS Editor’s Notes

by CHESTER MOORE

Pike on the Edge by DOUG PIKE

Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill

Texas Boating

BEST PADDLING TRAILS IN TEXAS Nine East Texas trails that offer scenic floats and plenty of native fishing action.

by TF&G Staff

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

Coastal Focus Columns

by Chester Moore

Texas Hotspots

News of the Nation + Texas HotShots

Sportsman’s Daybook

ENDANGERED FISHING It is possible to land an endangered fish. Here’s what to do.

Tides & Prime Fishing Times

by LENNY RUDOW

Bass University by PETE ROBBINS

Bare Bones Hunting

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by LOU MARULLO

Texas Tactical

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN

Open Season

by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM

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Letters

by TFG Readers

DEPARTMENTS Texas Tasted

Industry Insider by TFG Staff

Fish & Game Gear by TFG Staff

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by Bryan Slaven

Outdoor Directory Fish & Game Photos by TFG Readers

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LETTERS to the Editor Cougar Kudos

Bull sharks up river?

SAW YOUR MOUNTAIN LION STORY. I saw a big one—not 15 feet away from me while I was deer hunting in a ground-level box blind—in the early 90s when I was in college. Scared me to death. In my haste to get the hot end of the lever-action .30-30 between us, I bumped the roof of the blind with the barrel of the rifle, and at the noise, the huge cat shot off like a bolt. Gone in less than a second. This was in Leon County near Hilltop Lakes, Texas, down toward the Navasota River bottom. Never saw one in the wild before or since, but they’re out there.

Editor: It’s great to read all of these reports. Cougars are truly amazing animals and represent wildness better than any animal in North America. They have my utmost respect.

Jeff Greer HEY CHESTER I SAW TWO BIG CATS way back in the late seventies or early eighties on the out skirts of Beaumont. Once you see one you never forget. They’re beautiful!

Bull Sharks In Rivers? ARE THERE BULL SHARKS IN SOME of Texas coastal rivers? Lewis Doucet

Nelson Cammack BACK ABOUT 1947 OR SO, MY grandfather owned around 1,000 acres just east of Waco just south of Highway 31. In the only time in my memory I was allowed to go with him to check up on a 32-acre plot and remember him carrying his Winchester double 12. He wanted to look for squirrels. We walked back to the far side of the old post oak woods and sat down on the side of a tank (stock pond). As we sat there he showed me a mountain lion that eased up on the other side. Watched it get a drink and it eased back over the side and left. Asked why he didn’t shoot it, and he said he had bird shot shells. Not only was it a good ways over to that side, he wasn’t hurting any thing as he didn’t have any stock close. Can still remember being with him, watching that cat.

Editor: Yes. Bull sharks are extremely freshwater tolerant and have been caught as far north as the Mississippi River in Illinois. Sabine Lake and Galveston Bay both have a healthy population of bull sharks in the summer, and they travel up the rivers that feed them. In fact while fitting alligator garfish with tracking devices Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials caught numerous bull sharks at the Trinity River Bridge on Interstate 10. How common are they? No one really knows but their presence in summer months is undeniable.

Weird Hog Management

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Why do states like Kansas and New York ban hog hunting? How do they expect to control their numbers?

Email your comments to: editor@ﬁshgame.com

Stanley Smith

Earnest Ward 6

Editor: Both states feel the biggest reason feral hog populations spread is because of hunters moving them and release them on properties to hunt. And that is probably 100 percent accurate. Over the years thousands of hogs were moved in Texas and stocked on various ranches both high and low fence and of course they do not abide by property boundaries or fences for that matter. Hogs were brought to the United States by Spanish explorers in the 1500s and Texas along with Florida got the first dose of them. For the most part up until the 1990s they were mainly restricted to creek bottoms in East Texas, the Hill Country and South Texas. Now they are everywhere. Both Kansas and New York plan on doing focused hog trapping and Kansas officials are shooting hogs from helicopters along their Oklahoma border. Banning hunting in Texas would never work because hogs are here to stay no matter what we do. In those states, the jury is still out on their plan of action.

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

Whale Sharks, Jellyﬁsh Scare and Pink Dolphins

AST SUMMER, I TOOK IT upon myself to learn everything I could about the Gulf of Mexico and its inhabitants so I could bring it to you our loyal readers. The “Wild Gulf” saw me trekking all around the Gulf and having quite the adventure. I learned some intriguing things about some of the region’s inhabitants that I know you will find as interesting a I did.

from small sea turtles, and it made me want to get the word out more on the danger of plastics in Gulf waters. No doubt plastic ingestion kills thousands of sea turtles annually. MISSISSIPPI IMPACT: It is amazing to see the impact of the Mississippi River runoff. The reason we have such murky water on the Upper Coast of Texas is we get a lot of the run-off from the mighty river. If you go east of the Mississippi the water is clear. From about Biloxi, Mississippi. on to Florida the beaches look strikingly different from ours, with waters that are much clearer. Even though that water is clearer, doesn’t mean people are more aware of the wildlife there. While doing the aforementioned snorkeling expedition at Orange Beach, I kicked up a stingray that was in about 18 inches of water right in front of a bunch of people. I also saw a small redfish and a bunch of juvenile pompanos. Encountering stuff like that is much more fun than sunbathing in my opinion.

PEOPLE FEAR JELLIES: When I pulledup to Orange Beach in Alabama to do some snorkeling, I saw that there were hundreds of people on the beach, but no one in the water. It reminded me of the scene after the first attack in “Jaws” when everyone chose sunbathing over water sports. I asked a life guard and he said there were jellyfish out there. I went snorkeling and did indeed get a couple of small jellyfish stings, but I have seen more jellies on Texas beaches with no panic. I have also seen signs warning about deadly bacteria in the water with folks nearby frolicking in the water with little worry. Had I seen a bacteria warning sign, I would not have entered. This writer fears “flesh eating bacteria” more than jellyfish. Yes, I know it can pop up anywhere at any time, but when bacteria levels are up it’s a good time to avoid the water.

MY WIFE: Lisa took a northern detour to Atlanta, Georgia to swim with whale sharks at the absolutely amazing Georgia Aquarium. Their friendly and informative staff guided us to within inches of their four massive whale sharks along with several large manta rays. Whale sharks are present in the Gulf, but sightings are rare. These animals are absolutely stunning with their light tan body decorated with white speckles. These creatures as we learned have a huge mouth with thousands of tiny teeth that send fish eggs, tiny shrimp and other small marine life down a very small throat. In the wild, they have to swim all day to filter out enough food to survive.

TURTLE MARKS: It is always sad to see trash long the beach, especially plastics which can be ingested by a variety of marine organisms. While visiting the NOAA sea turtle facility on Galveston Island I learned that many of the little marks we saw on plastic at the beach are from juvenile turtle bites. I have seen many cups and sheets of plastics with little diamond shaped holes. Those are 8

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PINK DOLPHINS: The Atlantic bottlenose |

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dolphin is the most frequently seen marine mammal in the Gulf of Mexico. Seeing a pink one however is extremely rare. That’s why I was excited to get a clip in my Facebook inbox of one of these beautiful animals provided by Matt Metzler. It shows a pink albino dolphin jumping in front of a boat off the Louisiana coastline. In 2013 I captured footage of a pink albino dolphin in the ship channel near Cameron, Louisiana. This particular dolphin with the obvious nickname “Pinky” has been thrilling fishermen who encounter it for at least a decade after Capt. Erik Rue began photographing the creature on his charter trips. Regina Asmutis-Silvia, a senior biologist with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, said: “I have never seen a dolphin colored in this way in all my career.” “Although this animal looks pink, it is an albino which you can notice in the pink eyes. Albinism is a genetic trait, and it’s unclear what type of albinism this animal inherited.” Some believe there are several “Pinkies” in the vicinity but little research has been done on the subject. I have interviewed two people who claim to have seen pink dolphins from the ferry in Galveston, a three-hour boat ride (in calm waters) from Cameron, Louisiana. The animal could certainly make that trek, but there also could be more of them out there. All of these creatures require a healthy ocean and as we know by tragedies such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Gulf is not always healthy. To think of such magnificent creatures being negatively impacted by our actions serves as a reminder to be kind to our oceans. If you live in Texas the Gulf is your ocean, so to speak. Let’s all make decisions that benefit sustainable fisheries, promote clean water and allow amazing creatures such as the whale shark to thrive in the Gulf of Mexico.

Email Chester Moore at cmoore@ﬁshgame.com

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

High Cost Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Better

S VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING becomes “new and improved” on a regular basis, there are two lessons you must learn about changing technology: Price and quality don’t always walk hand in hand, and you shouldn’t spring for high-end gear until you can articulate confidently what it will do for you. Technology is a marvelous thing. Since the advent of electronic computation decades ago, our capacity to make good things better has increased exponentially. Products can be tested and retested, tweaked and tinkered and dialed down against nearly infinite—all before creation of the first prototype. Engineers stare for endless hours at screens on which their designs are challenged to withstand onslaughts of virtual realities. Can this crankbait be made to wobble the same when tied with a loop knot to 20-pound braid as when tied with an improved clinch knot to 12-pound mono? Can this trail cam transmit its images via Bluetooth to a truck 100 yards away? …a ranch house two miles away? Can that boat do 60 mph with three people on board? …70 mph with four? The engineer’s answer to every question about a product’s design and function, of course, is a resounding “Yes! It can...” With this caveat: “...if we throw a little more time and money at it.” Since merely keeping up is seldom enough to keep businesses afloat today, the time and money spent on bigger, better, faster, smaller, looser, tighter—whatever the objective—is justifiable. Ultimately, after a year or three of transition from computer to prototype to fieldtesting to retail, we the people get our hands on some really cool stuff. All at a price, of course, and some prices are (way) higher than others. Some reels or rods or shotguns or binoculars do things others can’t |

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“ Availability, at any price, doesn’t equate to necessity or a better outcome outdoors.

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do, and we don’t mind paying a performance premium for those products. But price doesn’t tell the whole story about anything. Availability, at any price, doesn’t equate to necessity or a better outcome outdoors. Conversely, having a more affordable piece of gear doesn’t mean you can’t fish as well or shoot as straight as the other guy. It means simply that he or she hunts or fishes differently, not necessarily better.

I am a fan of good quality gear and don’t mind investing in it where doing so makes sense. There lies the key to squeezing the most from whatever gear you choose. When people call my radio show or email to ask about a particular reel or rod or set of golf clubs or anything that’s on the high end of the cost spectrum, my first question is “Why do you want that?” Often as not, the answer is, “One of my friends has it, and he loves it.” If your competitive-shooter friend lets you handle his sleek, $12,000 custom, tack-driving rifle, and you’re a guy who shoots the first deer that steps up to the feeder at 100 yards, you’re |

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not going to benefit from owning that rifle so much as you would from a dump-truck load of corn. Same with fishing tackle. Coastal fishing guides use professional-grade gear because their livelihoods depend upon an elevated level of daily performance. If you sling live shrimp under popping corks on summer weekends, you can get that done for considerably less. Invest the balance in aerator batteries and a few guided trips to learn some new spots. In any product line, there are legitimate, quality offerings between the ones that cost the least and the most. I do talk radio, for example, and used to drop real money into headphones. If I were a music producer, that would have made sense. It dawned on me, however, that there’s not a lot of subtle nuance in the human voice. Not in mine, anyway. So now, I do my shows in headphones from Five Below. When they break, about once a year, I chunk them in the trash and shell out another five bucks for a fresh start. When you want something from the upper shelf, ask yourself what genuine benefits it will deliver and why they’re so important to your game. Then ask a few trusted friends their opinions. And always, always ask this advice from someone who’s better at fishing or hunting than you. Never take fishing advice from a guy holding an empty stringer. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of new outdoor toys, and nobody dreams more than I about having the latest and greatest. I’ve learned, though, to spend what’s necessary to meet my own expectations for performance, not someone else’s. Look in your wallet. Whatever you’ve got is enough to get you started in whatever you want to do outdoors. It’s not the products you own that define you as an outdoorsman. The most valuable thing you can invest in enjoyment of the outdoors is your time.

Email Doug Pike at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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TF&G COMMENTARY by KENDAL HEMPHILL :: TF&G Political Editor

Freedom or Safety?

even outlawed entire classes of popular rifles. No pistols have been banned as yet, and no one seems to be willing to point out that rifles are used in only three percent of gun-related shootings in the country. Truth doesn’t seem to matter. The left smells blood, and the feast has begun. Basing political policy on the desires of children is dangerous at best, and disastrous at worst. Science tells us that the frontal lobe of the brain, where decisions are made, is not fully developed until at least age 25, and much later in some individuals. To be honest, both sides in the gun control debate are using adolescent kids to push their agendas, and it’s wrong in both cases. Surely we can find people with some measure of maturity to decide what our national laws will be. We can do better than to base legislation on the opinions of people who seem to have been spending their time of late eating laundry soap and texting inappropriate pictures of themselves to one another. But there are a couple of serious problems with the walkout protests, aside from the fact that the children are being manipulated. When school administrators learned about the planned protests, in every case I know of, the walkouts were approved and sanctioned by the schools. Classes were canceled, and children were told when to get up and leave the schools. Some were even reprimanded if they chose not to participate. The walkouts morphed from student protests into mass capitulation, authorized and orchestrated by the state. The protests, then, became groups of citizens doing the bidding of the government, at the behest of the government, demanding that the government take rights away from themselves. They were no longer protests; they became state-sponsored civilian requests for state oppression. It’s a new version of the old frat boy hazing response to punishment—“Thank you, sir, may I have another?” Protests, real protests, are by definition acts of defiance. The government does not sanction protests. If it does, they aren’t pro-

HIS TIME, IT’S DIFFERENT. This time, something has to be done. This time, we won’t stop until things change. This time we won’t be ignored, we won’t go away, we won’t give in. This time we will win. That’s what children are saying. A deranged young man walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Valentine’s Day and started shooting. He killed seventeen and wounded that many more. I won’t mention his name, because that’s exactly what he wants. That’s why he committed such a heinous, heartless act. And his senseless act of mass murder seems to have created a new breed of gun control advocates. A month after the shooting, students all over the country banded together to walk out of their classrooms in protest. Many of them carried signs that said, ‘Protect Children, Not Guns,’ and ‘Mr. President, how many more kids will die?’ and ‘Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough.’ The usual gun control mantras were shouted. The kids demanded new gun laws, more restrictive gun laws, and more sensible gun laws. They demanded action. The students, of course, are being used. They’ve been flaunted on every mainstream media news outlet, quoted in major newspapers, and praised by talking heads at every opportunity since the crime. The kids have no idea what they’re talking about, but those who are using them are clever and dangerous. Taking advantage of children to advance an agenda is nothing new, and the left is doing a splendid job of it. Their ploy seems to be working. Several states have passed new and improved gun control laws, such as magazine capacity restrictions, bump stock bans, and some have

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tests. The goal of real protests is never the loss of freedom. Citizens have never, in the history of history, demanded that their government restrict their liberty—until now. This brings up the other problem with the walkouts. At least one student at one protest held a sign that asked, ‘Is “freedom” more important than safety?’ The irony was not lost on the gun rights crowd, and the sign was pointed to repeatedly as the key to what is wrong with the entire debate. The girl holding the sign, of course, was being used, so she is not to blame. Her parents, on the other hand, should know better, as should the parents of all the protesting students. If we don’t teach our children freedom is more important than safety, we don’t deserve either. Ben Franklin said, “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” The people manipulating America’s children are hoping to trade liberty for safety. The problem is that the safety they hope to gain doesn’t exist. It’s a chimera, but once freedom is gone it’s impossible to get back, without watering the tree of liberty once again with the blood of patriots and tyrants. More gun laws will be passed, and more shootings will occur. More freedom will be surrendered, until liberty is nothing but a memory. Is freedom more important than safety? If our forefathers hadn’t thought so, the United States would still be a British colony. This time, it’s different. This time, we’re demanding our own defeat. This time, instead of fighting for freedom, we’re fighting to become slaves.

« Email Kendal Hemphill at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF GOOD STRIPER FISHERIES in Texas, but only one is gifted with all the right goodies to make it world class. Try as you might to find a better one, Lake Texoma rules the roost in striper fishing arenas in this neck of the woods. Quality fish and lots of ‘em. Those are among the key attributes that consistently keeps Texoma ringing the bell at the top rung of the ladder where Lone Star striper fishing is concerned. Adding to the allure are liberal limits that allow anglers to box twice the legal limit allowed on other Texas striper lakes, provided only two of the fish are longer than 20 inches. And box them they do. Historic creel surveys show anglers who visit the big lake along the Texas-Oklahoma border routinely harvest close to one million striped bass each year. “It’s really a unique place,” said Dan Bennett, the fisheries biologist who oversees the lake for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “That’s unique as in super special. Texoma is a striper factory, indeed. According to Bennett, several key factors help Texoma maintain what is arguably one the most prolific freshwater striper fisheries in the South. For starters, it spans roughly 89,000 surface acres that affords the saltwater transplants plenty of big, deep water where they can thrive. The lake also supports a healthy forage base of threadfin and gizzard shad for the pelagic sport fish to dine on.

PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSHER

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Bill Carey of Striper Express Guide Service specializes in stripers on Texoma. “Experienced anglers report phenomenal catches from our guided Texoma trips. Novices can quickly land bass in numbers they could never attain anywhere else in the U.S,” Carey said. To book a trip go to striperexpress.com

compared to what is probably produced naturally by Texoma’s resident striper population, especially when favorable conditions are present during prime spawning season— April and May. “The main thing that makes Texoma such a great striper fishery is the two rivers that feed it—the Red and the Washita rivers,” Mauck said. “Both of those rivers are big, long and free-flowing. They allow the fish to get out of the lakes and go far upstream to spawn, sometimes as far as 80 miles. Those two rivers are the main reasons for the continued success story of natural reproduction at Lake Texoma.” In a normal year, Texoma stripers will begin staging for their annual spawning run in early spring. Once the photoperiod, water temperatures and river flows are right, armies of fish will fin their way upstream in an attempt to create another generation of stripers for Texoma anglers to catch. Bennett says TPWD biologists have found several areas as far as 60 miles upstream from the Red River bottleneck where it is believed the stripers spawn each spring provided the conditions are right. “We’ve loosely identified some areas on the Red northeast of Gainseville and west of I-35 where we believe spawning is occurring,” Bennett said. “A lot of fish spawn up the Washita, too. But we don’t have good handle on where it takes place. They really seem to like areas with rocky outcroppings.”

Important as those components are, what really sets the Texoma striper fishery above all others in Texas—and most in the country—is the fact the population has been 100 percent self-sustaining for nearly a half century. The first stripers were introduced to Texoma in the mid-1960s by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and Conservation. The first spawns were recorded by the early 1970s. Fewer than a dozen reservoirs in the nation mirror Texoma’s ability “We haven’t had to stock any stripers in the lake since the early 1970s,” said Matt Mauck, south central regional fisheries supervisor with the ODWC. “It’s been going gangbusters ever since natural reproduction was first documented. There is no way to know how many fish are in the lake. With an annual harvest that ranges between 850,000 to more than 1 million fish it’s hard to fathom how many stripers might be out there. It’s a huge number that surpasses anything that a hatchery system could support.”

The Rivers Run Through It Morone saxatilis is the largest member of the sea bass family and is capable of living in fresh and saltwater environments, but their spawning requirements are very explicit. Land-locked freshwater populations can only be maintained by stocking hatcheryreared fish when those requirements are not met. TPWD hatcheries produce several million striped bass for stocking in selected lakes each year. That’s just a drop in the bucket 16

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Current a Must Although the setting at Texoma is ideal for sustaining a robust striper population, |

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the success of the spawn from one year to the next is highly dependent on timely rainfall to create critical current in the river systems that feed it. Without current at the right time, spawning success is sure to suffer. Striper eggs are semi-buoyant. Current helps to keep the eggs suspended in the water column until they hatch on their long journey back to the lake. Scientists say the eggs usually hatch within 36 to 75 hours. Take current out of the equation and the eggs are destined to sink to the bottom and die. “Anytime those big flood pulses come through in April or May we tend to have above average production with those fish spawning upriver and excellent survival of the young fish,” Bennett said. “Occasionally, we’ll have years when we don’t get a good flood pulse in April and May. That results in very minimal reproduction. We are essentially missing a year class of fish from 2014, because we didn’t get the river flow when we needed it. That was one of the lowest production years we’ve ever had, and it really put a damper on the fishery for a year or so.” But the down time was short lived. Bennett says Texoma stripers achieved backto-back banner spawns in 2015 and 2016, and the fishery is ripe with numbers and quality fish, alike. “The fishery is in excellent shape right now,” Bennett said. “Our most recent sampling done in February showed just above normal catch rates compared to our 20 year records. There are a lot of big fish out there, too, that were produced as the result the banner spawn we saw as the result of 2015 flood. Those fish have experienced above average PHOTOS: JOHN N. FELSHER

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growth rates. We’re seeing a lot of fish over 20 inches and hearing reports of quite a few fish between 10 to 20 pounds.”

An Economic Cash Cow Not surprisingly, striper fishing at Texoma is big business that supports dozens fishing guides, marinas and other local businesses. According to ODWC reports, a 1995 economic impact study showed the Texoma striper fishery generates around $25 million annually in direct expenditures for the local economy and that it is the single-most valuable fishery resource in the entire state. Bennett says plans are in the works to conduct an updated economic impact survey on the fishery in the next few years, possibly beginning as early as 2019. The biologist was hesitant to speculate on the current value of the fishery, but says he will be surprised if the newest survey doesn’t reflect similar or higher numbers. “Striper fishing is a huge deal at Texoma, and a lot of people come here to catch them,”

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Striper ﬁshing is a huge draw that supports the local economies around Texoma.

Bennett said. “Our general survey data shows that on average there are 200 fishermen on Texoma fishing for stripers every day.”

That’s mucho fishermen—and they catch mucho fish.

5/10/18 1:09 PM

story by CHESTER MOORE

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PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSHER

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ERTAIN LIMITATIONS EXIST FOR ANYONE fishing without a boat. This does not however mean bank anglers cannot have consistent, productive fishing action whether they wade in or fish from a pier, especially when you are talking about flounder fishing. The majority of flounder fishing from the coast is done from the bank due to the fishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s habit of staying near shorelines and this month we bring you some off the wall tips for catching them from land.

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TIDES: Paying special attention to water levels and movement is crucial for anglers fishing from the bank. By virtue of fishing from shore, you are fishing across the very shallowest areas and that can be a problem. Coastal anglers should pay special attention to tide charts and focus on the last half of an incoming tide through the first couple of hours of a falling tide. Tidal movement is essential in getting flounder to bite and in my opinion the incoming tide is always best. BANK FRIENDLY LINE: This one might seem so important, but it can save you lots of time and frustration in the field. Avoid using fluorocarbon and braided lines that sink while fishing from the bank. Shorelines are typically lined with vegetation, trash and other obstacles and if you are making long casts and using a sinking lure or fishing dead bait on the bottom, a fluorocarbon or other sinking line will get you snagged all over the place. Most braided line floats (there are exceptions) and it also gives you a strength advantage. With flounder hookset is key with their extremely bony mouth and braid can help get the job done. Just make sure it does not sink. GROUND BAITING: While chasing flounder from the bank is not an option, you can make them chase you. Chumming is an underrated method of luring in flounder and it works-bit time. While fishing for Wels catfish in Europe, I learned about “ground baiting” where anglers use soured grain and prepared chum from the bank. They use slingshots to shoot it far into the water and also use a plastid device that rests above their leader. I have not seen these for sale in America but know of a homemade remedy. If you can find an old 35 mm film canister or one of the soft sided plastic aspirin bottles, remove the labels and poke holes all over it. Strategically poke aligning holes in the top and bottom. Using a Carolina rig, slide the rig above your weight and leader. Open the lid, fill with fish oil or shrimp and cast.

Since ﬂounder habitually hug shorelines, wading or pier ﬁshing can be the most productive ways to catch them.

STAY OFF THE BOTTOM: In northern states, floats are considered precision bait and lure delivering instruments. In Texas we 20

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Shorelines with vegetation and other obstacles are prime ﬂounder waters, so bankfriendly lines are recommended.

often look at them as child’s play, but nothing could be further from the truth. Using floats while fishing from the bank gives you some wonderful advantages. For starters if you have a good idea of the depth you will be casting toward it will allow you to

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fish above any cover or on the bottom that can get you snagged. Some anglers shy away from floats for flounder due to the fact they are a bottom fish, but I have caught many on floats. Figure

out your depth and allow the float to keep you just far enough from the bottom to avoid getting snagged and close enough to entice a flounder bite.

5/10/18 1:19 PM

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

The Shape of Things to Come

haps by as much as another 20 or 25 percent. However, they also function well as a sort of leaning post, giving you something to lean back against for a momentary rest. That means in the long run, you’ll be able to maintain your battle-station for longer stretches of time without a break. On top of that, you can hook a foot around the post’s leg for increased balance. So, on rough days when you might otherwise have to remain in the cockpit, you can cast from the elevated position. Finally, (when anodized, not powder-coated) these posts also allow you to have a welder add on a rod holder or two. FRONT-FACING BOW SEATBACKS: Whether these are helpful, or detrimental to anglers depends entirely on their design. Removable seat backs are bulky and a pain to stow, and flip-down seatbacks require larger seating areas, which eat into deck space. A few designers have created seat backs that swing out of the inwale, at the aft end of the seat. When they aren’t deployed, these in effect create a forward gunwale bolster, which is comfortable to lean up against while fishing. FORWARD CONSOLE ENTRIES: These are becoming more and more popular because they make it easier to get into a head compartment. But there’s a bonus for anglers, too. With the old-style side entries, getting rods, gaffs, and other lengthy items inside the console was often a bit challenging. With a front entry, however, loading gear becomes a whole lot easier. This is great for long-term stowage but also for trailering, since it allows you to get your goodies safely locked away and out of the wind-blast. CAMERAS: Just this year, we’ve seen integrated cameras, similar to the back-up cameras in all of today’s cars, appear in the bow of some larger center consoles. Placing a camera there helps with docking and close-quarters maneuvering when you may have difficulty seeing beneath the bow from the helm. There’s no real down-side to anglers, other than a slight increase in the boat’s cost. There is one fishing-friendly benefit. Most center consoles of this size are also equipped with windlasses which are controlled from the helm. These make dropping and pulling the

URING THE PAST COUPLE of decades we’ve seen a gentrification of our favorite fishing boat design, the center console, as manufacturers have added countless features intended for “family friendliness.” Few boats are designed purely to serve the anglers these days, With every added cushion or expanded console cabin, there’s a fishability price to be paid. Recently, however, this trend has accelerated at light speed. In the past two seasons we’ve suddenly seen a slew of center consoles introduced to the market that don’t even pretend to be fishing boats. Sure, they might still have rod holders in the gunwales, but beyond that they’re clearly designed for tanning, day cruising, and towing the kids on water toys. Believe it or not, this is a good thing. This new genre of “luxury” center consoles has forced the development of certain features which—surprise—have unexpectedly positive results for us. Some of these perks are so impactful they should be taken into account, as you look at new fishboats. TOW-BAR ARCHES: These have been available for center consoles for some time, and more and more we’re seeing them added to bay boats. Why dare blemish the flat, open aft casting deck with one of these waist-high arches? How could you possibly accept the loss of space where you plan to stand as you cast for redfish, specks, and flounder? These are questions you might ask right up until the moment you actually fish from an aft deck equipped with one of these arches. Yes, it’s true they diminish the standing space you naturally lose to the motor-well, per22

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anchor easy, but from the helm you may not be able see when the anchor line comes taut. This can make pin-point positioning over a wreck or reef difficult. With the camera, however, you can see it at all times. You can also see when raising the anchor is problematic, or if it comes up covered in mud and needs to be dipped or washed down before bringing it up to the boat. ENLARGED SUNPADS: Bow sunpads have grown larger and larger, in the interest of tanning. That, we couldn’t care less about. However, there’s an advantage to those dropin platform fillers and extended bow seats. With the cushions removed, they become much bigger casting decks. There’s a down-side here, too, because you’ll have less bow cockpit space. When it’s rough out and standing from an elevated position is difficult, you’ll wish you had more low deck space between the gunwales. But for anglers who usually fish protected waters, or who don’t go in adverse weather, these enlarged sunpads aren’t necessarily a bad thing. FRESHWATER TANKS: These days, even relatively small bay boats and center consoles are often offered with optional freshwater tanks and a pull-out shower near the transom. The stated purpose is so swimmers can rinse off after a dip in the brine. Yippee. The reason we anglers like them, is they extend our fishing time. With the freshwater shower aboard you can rinse down your rods, reels, and tackle on your way back to the dock. That saves 10 or 15 minutes of clean-up time that used to take place at the marina or at home in the driveway. Thus, you can stay out and spend an additional 10 or 15 minutes fishing. The bottom line? In many ways, modifying center console design for family friendliness and general comfort can take a serious toll on fishability. But in these specific cases, what appears to be the gentrification of a fish boat can actually increase your effectiveness as an angler.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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

Ultra-Deep June Cranking with Crews

Y THE OFFICIAL START OF summer, bass on most Texas reservoirs are long since done with the spawning ritual. They’re finished with the process of chasing bluegills from their bedding areas and mauling spawning shad. They’re now ready to move full-time onto deep offshore structure. It’s an opportunity that Virginia pro and Elite Series winner John Crews looks forward to exploiting each year. It might not be as immediately gratifying as the mano-a-mano combat of shallow water fishing, but it makes up for it by the fact that the bass are usually ganged up. “The deal that’ll really make you get out and try it is that if you catch one or two, you’ll often catch eight to ten from one spot,” Crews said. “Although in July and August they are fully ‘out,’ at this time of year they may still be using the highways and migratory routes to get to the habitat that they use in the hottest part of the summer. “The best way to describe what I’m looking for is a deep flat adjacent to a deeper drop off,” he said. “Points taper out, then flatten out before dropping off again. That flat part usually has a really hard bottom. They’ll group up on a lip 10 to 30 yards wide, and I seem to catch a lot of really big fish in that 19- to 23-foot depth range.” Historically, that range was best served with a variety of bottom-bouncing baits such as jigs, Carolina rigs, or even spoons. But over the past few years, the rise of super-deep-diving crankbaits has made a reaction bite possible. That’s even better for keeping the school fired up. The first in its class to gain mainstream momentum was the Strike King 10XD. It still produces well, but others have joined the fray. Not surprisingly, Crews has taken a shine to his namesake SPRO Little John Super DD for |

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“ But over the past few years, the rise of super-deep-diving crankbaits has made a reaction bite possible.

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several key reasons. “First of all, you don’t need different equipment to throw it,” he said. “It’s just a bigger version of our regular diving crankbait. You can use your standard deep cranking tackle. Also, it’s much more subtle, and has a soft thud instead of a heavy rattle, so you can go behind

people and catch a lot of fish.” He fishes it on a Cashion John Crews series, 7-foot,11-inch deep cranking rod, which has a soft tip that loads so it “throws almost like a catapult.” That same action keeps fish buttoned up once he hooks them. “The rod is so soft, that when you get one, just lean into him and keep the rod loaded. It’ll absorb all of the headshakes. If your rod is too stiff, that’s when you lose fish.” He pairs it up with a Lew’s BB1 bait casting reel (6.4:1 gear ratio) spooled with Sunline Sniper 12-pound fluorocarbon, which allows him to hit the bottom at 24 feet on a standard cast. |

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His primary color is Cell Mate, although he added that “It’s hard not to mix in Citrus Shad, which provides a lot of flash on an overcast day.” Because the fish are grouped up, he can spot them easily with the DownVision feature of his Raymarine graphs. He noted that spotted bass tend to “stratify” while largemouths “will be in a row.” So, if you’re targeting one type over the other, that’s a key consideration. Sometimes they’ll be mixed together, along with other species. Just because you catch two or three white bass, or even barfish, that doesn’t mean you should take it as a cue to leave. “That’s what they’re feeding on” much of the time, he explained, so stick around, match the hatch, and work your way through the madness to a big bag. Once he finds the group, the key to his retrieve is to maintain at least intermittent bottom contact. Sometimes a steady retrieve works, but it pays to vary the cadence until you find the posture that triggers the bites. “You don’t have to crank it 100 miles per hour,” he explained. “I’ll crank it down, stop it, regain bottom contact and then stop it again— except a lot of times they’ll stop it for you.” He does caution that you should bring a plug knocker. Despite a big bill that pushes its way through even some of the gnarliest trees and bushes around, these cranks do still have two sticky-sharp treble hooks. Furthermore, if you’re fishing rock or shell beds all day, be sure to check those trebles regularly. Sometimes you can make it through a full day without changing them, but often a new set at the appropriate interval can be quick, cheap and easy insurance that you won’t lose the fish of a lifetime.

« Email Pete Robbins at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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PHOTO: CANSTOCK

5/10/18 1:14 PM

AST SPRING TEXAS Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced a rule change in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) that classifies a warfarin-based hog lure as a state limited-use pesticide. The pesticide, Kaput Feral Hog Lure, is the first toxicant to be listed specifically for use in controlling the feral hog population. It represents a new weapon in the long-standing war on the destructive feral hog population according an agency press release. “This solution is long overdue,” Commissioner Miller said. “Wild hogs have caused extensive damage to Texas lands and loss of income for many, many years. “With the introduction of this first hog lure, the ‘Hog Apocalypse’ may finally be on the horizon.” According to texasagriculture.gov, warfarin, an anticoagulant, was used for many years as a feral swine toxicant in Australia. “By making this a limited use pesticide, we are taking every step possible to ensure this toxicant is used properly and efficiently,” Commissioner Miller said. “Years of work and study have gone into addressing the concerns of hunters and others about this product.” After a major controversy ensued, the company producing the hog lure pulled its application, but the hog poisoning issue is not over. Officials with the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services (WS) have begun conducting tests of a new poison for feral hogs. These tests started right here in Texas

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and in Alabama. “With these in place (environmental assessments),” said WS Deputy Administrator Bill Clay, “we can now begin field trials to help determine the effectiveness of the sodium nitrite toxic bait for removing feral swine sounders in natural settings, as well as any potential impacts to non-target wildlife.” This allows WS researchers to partner with landowners to identify and target three to nine feral swine sounders (i.e., social groups containing adults and juveniles) each in Texas and Alabama.

Placebo Bait Bait delivery systems designed to prevent access by non-target wildlife will be filled with placebo bait, placed in the sounders’ territories and monitored with motion-activated cameras. Following a period of acclimation to confirm feral swine use of the baiting areas, the placebo bait will be replaced with sodium nitrite toxic bait for two nights. Furthermore, at least 30 feral swine and no more than 30 raccoons in each state’s study area will be live-captured and radio-collared prior to baiting in order to monitor their movements and exposure to the bait. Landowners within 300 meters (328 yards) of bait stations will be notified and signs will be placed on bait stations and along roads leading into the study areas. Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is a meat preservative commonly used to cure meats such as sausage and bacon. When eaten in high doses over a short period of time, it is toxic to feral swine. The cause of death is similar to carbon monoxide poisoning. Once enough sodium nitrite bait is eaten, the feral swine gets faint, is rendered unconscious, and quickly dies. In most cases, feral swine die within 2.5 to 3 hours after eating a lethal dose.

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According to USDA officials many factors are considered when developing a toxic bait for feral swine. “Not only must it be effective and humane in eliminating feral swine, but also low risk for those handling it, the environment, and wildlife. Other wildlife, such as raccoons, bears and deer, may be attracted to the sodium nitrite toxic bait. “To prevent non-target species from accessing the bait, WS researchers will use delivery systems and baiting strategies designed for feral swine. Trials will not be conducted in areas with known black bear populations.”

Javelina Impact Although federal officials are aware of the potential to harm black bears, last year Texas Fish & Game Editor-In-Chief Chester Moore brought up the impact warfarin could have on javelinas, a Texas native. Sodium nitrite could potentially have the same impact. At one time, javelinas roamed from the Rio Grande to the Red River, but that range has been cut down to less than half that size. According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) roughly 100,000 of these animals now inhabit 62 million acres of rangeland. “One of the most feral hog dense regions is the javelina’s South Texas stronghold,” Moore said. “Although they are not pigs, they eat many things pigs eat. They readily devour corn put out for deer, soured grain set out to bait hogs and will without any doubt devour this toxic feral hog lure.” Unlike feral hogs, the javelina is a native species that can easily coexist and compete little with free-ranging whitetail deer, the state’s most popular game animal. The key phrase here is “free-ranging.” TPWD’s Javelina in Texas publication notes that “Recent downturns in javelina population trends in South Texas appear to follow drought cycles, habitat management treatments, and more recent emphasis on white-tailed deer management, including high fencing and predator control.” The publication goes on to say that habitat improvement for white-tailed deer, such as food plots, supplemental feeding, and water development improved habitat for javelinas as well. However, in many cases it also exacerbated problems between deer enthusiasts and javelinas. “Incidental and illegal harvest of javelina due to their perceived nuisance of predation,

Toxic baiting strategies could adversely affect javelinas and other Texas wildlife.

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PHOTOS: CANSTOCK

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A solution to the hog problem in Texas is long overdue, says Ag Commissioner Sid Miller.

agricultural damage and competition with deer has added to this decline.” (TPWD). TF&G’s Moore said, “There is no easy

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answer to the hog issue, but it is our job to ask questions—tough questions. That is what we will continue to do as this issue con-

tinues to take twists and turns.”

5/10/18 1:14 PM

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

Take up Bow Fishing... Laughter is Healthy!

EADERS OF THIS COLUMN know how much I love to bow hunt. Actually, I love to hunt, period—bow or gun, but bow hunting is indeed my passion. I personally just enjoy the unique challenge that hunting with a bow brings. Getting so close to an animal to ensure a clean, humane shot is definitely a challenge. To be successful with a stick and string requires hours of practice. I, for one, am a firm believer that you need to make practice fun, or you simply will avoid it altogether. Now, I know that standing out in the hot Texas sun, flinging a few arrows at a target, is not what I would call a “good time.” However, put me on a boat, hand me a bow and I am ready for many hours of fun doing a little practice while bow fishing! If it is a challenge you are looking for, then believe me, look no further. A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet Ken Swenson at his family ranch. I did a little bow hunting for turkeys that day and was thoroughly impressed at the amount of game I saw on his property. Located in Southeast Texas, Swenson Outfitters caters to anyone who has a love for the outdoors on land or on sea. For many years, Ken has put smiles on the novice as well as veteran hunters with his bow fishing business. I recently had the pleasure to talk with Ken about getting down to his neck of the woods to try my luck at bow fishing. Although I have yet to bow fish with Ken, I did learn all about his business. His operation is not only on Texas water. but extends to Louisiana as well. That’s why he recommends his clients get licenses for both states. 30

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His many clients have had great luck with redfish, drums, catfish and gar to name a few. He has all the gear you need, but he told me you are welcome to bring your own set up if you prefer. He recommends you use a bow with a draw weight of at least 40 pounds. I think one of the coolest things about Swenson Outfitters is that he makes it a point to film every trip for his clients. How great is that? You will be able to re-live your successful bow fishing trip over and over again—or your friends can laugh their heads off over and over again abouthow many times you miss. Either way, it will be a good time in his boat and in your living room later. It’s a win, win. Ken usually books a minimum of four clients at a time at a reasonable price of $175 each. He fishes 6 p.m. to midnight and midnight to 6 a.m. I can tell you that if you spend six hours with Ken, he will have you in stitches with his humor. I cannot wait to take him up on his offer and fling a few arrows at some fish. I have bowfished only two other times, but did have some success. I was surprised one day a few years ago when my friend Nathan Jones invited me out on a bow fishing trip. I happily accepted his invitation and expected to be gone onlt a few hours. Imagine my surprise when, upon my arrival, I saw many bright lights and television cameras. He was filming a segment for his TV show. I had no idea and now the pressure was on. I had to act like I actually knew what the heck I was doing when, in fact, it was my first attempt at this new sport. It seemed the catfish were everywhere, and my shots were everywhere too, just not in one of those catfish. I forced a smile for the camera and spoke to Nathan about how difficult this is. |

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My saving grace was the fact that the host of the show missed just as much as I did. We were not anchored anywhere. We were on a moving boat (although it was slow) and rocking back and forth. My shoes were untied, the sun was in my eyes—is that enough excuses yet? I finally was able to arrow one of these fish. For a fleeting moment, I felt like Fred Bear himself, although that was the only fish I was able to pull in the boat. Nathan could only look into the camera and talk about the do’s and don’ts of bow fishing as I smiled and held my prize in full view of the TV audience. I might mention here that things are much bigger in real life than they appear on television—just wanted to add that. This sport is not as easy as you might think. That is what makes it so much fun. If I could give you any advice, then it would be to aim low—very low. It is amazing what refraction will do. That fish is not where it looks like it is. It will take many shots before you get the hang of I,t but the action is swift and the fish are many. One thing I can tell you is this. You will shoot until your arms get sore, laugh until your belly hurts, and miss more often than not. But I guarantee you will have the time of your life! Hey, it’s June! What else do you have to do? Get off that couch and go have some fun. Do not forget to tell the wife you will be out all night, FISHING! And be safe out there. For more information on Swenson Outfitters, call Ken at: (409) 670-3491. Or write him at: P.O. Box 294, Orangefield, Texas 77639.

Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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

A Pistol Caliber Carbine

side of the rifle in order to run the rifle like an AR15. This kept my firing grip secure, and I used my left hand to swap magazines and run the bolt. The bolt holds open upon empty and releases with a tug after reloading the rifle. The bolt

fun to shoot suppressed with subsonic ammo at 100 yards. Further extra features of the PCC boast of two inches of adjustable length of pull by adding or removing the three ½-inch stock spacers. The forend has a molded picatinny rail

UGER’S NEW PISTOL CALIber Carbine (PCC) has all the impressions of being a legendary home run. The 9mm takedown carbine has a plethora of features and proved itself 100 percent reliable during my testing. If you are familiar with the 10/22 takedown you get the premise of the 9mm PCC, but besides the action breakdown, action controls, and visibly similar trigger group module that’s about where the similarities end. The rifle’s heft surprised me. Usually 9mm barrels don’t weigh much because of the larger bore size and less material. However even though this 16-inch 1/2x28 threaded barrel is fluted, it is still thick and packs a bit of weight. The 6.8-pound rifle’s weight isn’t all packed in the barrel, but also in the bolt. Upon disassembly I discovered the receiver to weigh 15.5 ounces and the bolt assembly a surprising 24.3 ounces. I realize that it takes a little weight to allow a 9mm dead blowback rifle to cycle, but this was surprising when a complete full size 9mm handgun weighs less than the bolt assembly. 9.5 ounces of this weight consisted of a solid tungsten block installed in the bolt. Whatever the case, the rifle still performed flawlessly for me. The takedown feature is quick and solid to engage with a simple tab in front of the magazine well. The PCC comes with a 15-round Ruger SR series handgun magazine, but I never even tried it because with a quick magazine well insert swap the PCC accepts Glock 9mm magazines. I used my Glock 17/18/19 model magazines without issue, mostly with Angelfire 147-grain ammunition along with a Bowers VERS9S suppressor. The bolt charging handle is reversible, so I gladly installed it on the left 32

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The Ruger PCC is quick to takedown and pack up in a small bag.

hold open catch is reminiscent of the 10/22 catch directly in front of the trigger guard. The PCC has a cross bolt safety that blocks the impressive trigger. The trigger was surprisingly crisp with minimum over-travel at 4.1 pounds. While the module looks like it would be easy to upgrade like a 10/22, I see no reason why it would be needed. The PCC has an adjustable ghost ring rear sight and a shielded anti-glare serrated front sight. While I used the irons for most of my testing I quickly mounted a Holosun optic with LaRue mount on the milled pictatinny receiver rail for 50-yard accuracy testing. I figured it would be appropriate to utilize Ruger’s own ARX 124+P ammunition. My single five-shot group at 50 yards was sub-two inches. I figure that’s plenty acceptable for a 9mm PCC where most shooting will be between 15 to 50 yards. However it sure is |

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perfect for adding a flashlight or other accessory, and the stock also has sling studs installed. All in all the PCC is ready to go for range fun or defensive rifle. The extra features show this was a well thought out design, and it’s no wonder Ruger is having a tough time keeping up with popular demand. Rumor also has it that caliber swaps might be available in the future because of the easily removable bolt face, tungsten weight, magazine well, and barrel swap capabilities. The MSRP for the Ruger PCC is $649 and more information is available at www.ruger.com.

« Email Dustin Ellermann at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

PHOTO: DUSTIN ELLERMAN

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IF YOU HAVE A FACEBOOK account or e-mail address, you have probably seen the photos of anglers in the water with huge, yellow-skinned catfish with a subject line like, “Angler’s Noodle World Record Flathead” or something like that.

“Noodling” is the practice of feeling around with your hands and grabbing catfish by the mouth and wrestling them to shore. The photos passed around the Internet of anglers with super-sized flatheads are not really flatheads at all. They are Wels catfish from Europe. They look almost exactly like flatheads except for the fins, which grow like a tadpole. Then there is the size. Wels grow up to 10 feet in length and catches of fish over six feet are common. The world record flathead was just over five feet in length. My wife Lisa and I both caught Wels over seven feet in the Segra River in Spain in 2005 and nearly everyone who sees the photos thinks they are flat-

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heads until we tell them differently. Interestingly, the guide on our trip told us that divers in that river work on and inspect the dam in shark cages. “The dam divers work in shark cages because of the giant catfish,” he said. The Wels (which can grow to over 10 feet in length) are aggressive enough to

attack them. I was a bit skeptical of the attacks, but then he pulled off his shirt and showed us a massive scar across his back where a Wels bit him when he got into the water to try and land it. The largest catfish in North America are the blue and flathead, both of which live at many Texas reservoirs. They can weigh more than130 pounds, and I have no doubt there are specimens quite a bit larger. In my opinion this legend began with a diver seeing a record-sized catfish in murky water and then the story grew from there. A Volkswagen-sized catfish would weigh closer to a ton. Such fish don’t exist here in the United States. The next time you see photos of giant catfish supposedly “noodled” look closely at the fins. It is probably a Wels. And the next time you hear of giant catfish below the dams, realize there is no way they are the size of an economy car.

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MINEOLA BIGFOOT PADDLING TRAIL CHANDLER UPPER NECHES PADDLING TRAIL

CHEROKEE NECHES PADDLING TRAIL

NECHES-DAVY CROCKETT PADDLING TRAIL

VILLAGE CREEK PADDLING TRAIL

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CADDO LAKE & BIG CEDAR BAYOU PADDLING TRAILS

BEVILPORT PADDLING TRAILS

DIES STATE PARK PADDLING TRAILS COOKS LAKE TO SCATTERMAN LAKE PADDLING TRAIL

PHOTO: JK MEDIA/PRO STAFF

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AYAKERS HAVE HUGE OPPORTUNITIES IN East Texas. Numerous lakes and streams feature designated paddling trails for your fishing and wildlife viewing enjoyment. If you live in East Texas and have considered getting a kayak, now is a good time. There has never been more opportunity.

Carter’s Chute

1 Benton Lake Old River II

Hell’s Half Acre

Clear Lake

Cathedral

Mill Pond Turtle Shell

Haggerty Creek

Old Folks Playground

Caddo Lake & Big Cedar 1 Bayou (Near Jefferson, Karnack and Uncertain) With ten official paddling trails in the region, the Caddo area now has more than 50 miles of canoe and kayak trails for visiting paddlers. Follow the trail markers posted along each of the trails to explore the mysterious maze of sloughs, swamps and bayous for which this beautiful region is known. T E X A S

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• Benton Lake Paddling Trail (Big Cypress Bayou) • Clear Lake Paddling Trail (Big Cypress Bayou) • Haggerty Creek Paddling Trail (Big Cypress Bayou) • Mill Pond Paddling Trail (Big Cypress Bayou) • Old River II Paddling Trail (Big Cypress Bayou) • Carter’s Chute Paddling Trail (Caddo Lake) • Cathedral Paddling Trail (Caddo) • Hell’s Half Acre Paddling Trail (Caddo) • Old Folks Playground Paddling Trail (Caddo) • Turtle Shell Paddling Trail (Caddo)

This loop trail can be completed in 1-4 hours, depending on water levels, flow rates, and turnaround point for your loop.

3 Cherokee Neches Paddling Trail (near Jacksonville) Offering 6.6 miles of paddling, this trail includes a variety of water types from quiet pools to several small riffles through the East Texas Piney Woods.

4 Cooks Lake to Scatterman Paddling Trail (Beaumont)

2 Chandler Upper Neches Paddling Trail (Athens/Tyler)

Enjoy 1-9 miles of a great loop paddling trail just minutes from Tyler and Athens— no shuttle needed.

2 Chandler River Park

LNVA Saltwater Barrier Ramp

This 4.8-mile loop trail offers a great diversity of birds, wildlife, and plants as you paddle through the cypress and tupelo trees of the swamp and the river corridor of the Neches River. From the LNVA Saltwater Barrier Ramp up the Neches River, it goes up Pine Island Bayou into Cook’s Lake.

Westbury RV Park

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5 Martin Dies, Jr. State Park Paddling Trails (near Jasper)

Walnut Slough Paddling Trail

Neches Paddling Trail

Includes the Neches Paddling Trail, Walnut Slough Paddling Trail and Sandy Creek Paddling Trail, three trails running through and around Martin Dies, Jr. State Park that offer 3 to 16 miles of paddling for a variety of experiences—from the park’s backwater sloughs and a wide open lake to a fast-moving river. The waterways surrounding Martin Dies, Jr. State Park provide extensive habitats for a large variety of fish. The constant flow of the Angelina and Neches Rivers into Steinhagen Reservoir provides anglers with bass, crappie, perch and catfish year-round.

Sandy Creek Paddling Trail

6 Bevilport Boat Ramp

6 Bevilport Paddling Trail (Dies State Park)

Walnut Boat Ramp

Beginning at Bevilport Boat Ramp, an historic riverboat landing site and location of the first cattle drives from Texas, this trail offers more than nine miles of river trail down the Angelina and Neches Rivers.

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Hwy 69 Boat Ramp Nature Preserve Campsite

FM 1804 Boat Ramp

7 Mineola Bigfoot Paddling Trail (near Mineola)

This 11.9-mile trail offers a wild and scenic view of East Texas along the beautiful Sabine River. This is a beautiful, quiet stretch of river. However, flows in the Sabine River along this stretch can be limited as they are dependent on how much water is being let out of the upstream lakes. Five river miles into the paddling trail there is a public camp with six tables, a fire ring/grill and gravel tent sites. This section of the river supports numerous catfish, buffalo, gar, and sunfish.

Anderson Crossing Access

Hwy 7 Access

8 Neches-Davy Crockett Paddling Trail (near Lufkin) At 9.2 miles in length, this leisurely paddle on the Neches River just outside of Lufkin gives you a front row seat for the amazing biodiversity of East Texas. Once used as a main food source for

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early settlers, the Neches River is still home to the native species of freshwater fish in East Texas. The mainstay of this historic fishery is catfishing. Neches River bass are smaller but much more fun to catch than their lake counterparts.

9 Village Creek Paddling Trail (near Lumberton, Silsbee and Kountze) With white sandy beaches, diverse wildlife and towering pineywoods trees, this 21-mile trail with multiple access sites allows for a beautiful one-hour trip, half day paddle or even overnight camping on the river. The entire trail is too long to paddle in one day. Overnight camping permits are free and available at the Big Thicket National Preserve Visitor Center.

FM 418 Access

SH 327 Access

Baby Galvez Access

US 96 Access Park Access

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VER HEARD OF A SPOONBILL CATFISH? They are described as having a slick body like a typical catfish but a large paddle for a nose. They are sometimes caught on trotlines, usually in rice canals in the southeastern part of the state. The fact is they are not a catfish at all. They are a paddlefish, an endangered species. According to officials with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the paddlefish is the oldest surviving animal species in North America. “Females may spawn only once every four to seven years. The paddlefish has only one other relative in the world, another paddlefish that lives in China. Polyodon is Greek for “many teeth” and refers to the paddlefish’s gill rakers, even though they have no teeth at all. The word spathula is Latin for “spatula” or “blade.” “Paddlefish grow up to 87 inches long and weigh as much as 200 pounds, but most are usually between 10 to 15 pounds. The paddlefish has a gray, shark-like body with a deeply forked tail. Its long, flat, blade-like snout looks like a kitchen spatula and is almost one third of its body’s entire length. A paddlefish opens its huge mouth when feeding. They resemble sharks not only by shape, but by their skeletons as well. Paddlefish and sharks have skeletons made of cartilage, not bone. They have tiny eyes, no scales, and their gill cover is long and comes to a point. The State of Texas has protected the paddlefish since 1977. It is considered a threatened species. It is unlawful to catch, kill or harm paddlefish in Texas. “Paddlefish face a number of problems in Texas,” according to TPWD. “They need large amounts of flowing water in order to reproduce. The construction of dams and reservoirs along Texas’s rivers decreases water flow and interrupts spawning. “The eggs of paddlefish can be used to make palatable caviar. When caviar becomes difficult, and expensive, to get from Russia paddlefish are often taken illegally (or The paddleﬁsh is the oldest poached) for their dark, edible surviving animal eggs. Poachers usually catch species in North America. them in illegal nets, such as gill nets.

REPORT: NEWS 46 u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

HOT 46 u TEXAS SHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

48 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

58 u TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

66 u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u

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The saltwater equivalent of this unusual fish is the sawfish. According to Tonya Wiley of Havenworth Coastal Conservation, two species of sawfish were once found in the US, the largetooth sawfish, Pristis pristis, and the smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata. “The largetooth sawfish was found throughout the Gulf of Mexico but was more common in western Gulf waters of Texas and Mexico,” Wiley said. “The smalltooth sawfish ranged from Texas to New York and was most plentiful in the eastern Gulf waters of Florida. Both sawfish species were considered “abundant” and “common” in the early 1900s. Numerous postcards, photographs, and newspaper articles from that era show fishermen hauling in countless sawfish to boats, docks, and beaches across the country. “Unfortunately, the largetooth sawfish has not been seen in the United States since the last confirmed instance in 1943,” Wiley added. “The smalltooth sawfish has fared better and still remains in US waters, though at greatly reduced numbers and geographic range. Today the smalltooth sawfish is found predominately in southwest Florida, notably including Everglades National Park (ENP). The vast expanse of natural habitat within ENP, and limited fishing pressure, probably served as a refuge for sawfish as the population was under constant pressure.” What happened to these grand fish? What caused them to vanish from much of our coastal waters? The decline was from a combination of three primary factors: (1) overfishing, (2) low reproductive potential, and (3) habitat loss. Wiley said many sawfish caught recreationally were landed and displayed for photographs, including some massive specimens landed in Texas. “Others were killed as anglers removed their saws for trophies,” she said. “Commercial fishermen killed sawfish to save their gear, not wanting to cut their valuable nets to remove captured sawfish. Sawfish were over-exploited for a variety of other reasons. Their meat was used for food, their skin for leather, and their liver oil used in lamps and as a source of vitamin A. Their fins are valued for shark fin soup, 44

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their rostral teeth used as artificial spurs in cock-fighting, their cartilage ground-up for traditional medicines, and their saws sold as curios and ceremonial weapons.” Wiley said one of the best methods of monitoring the population as it recovers is the use of public sawfish encounters.

Sawﬁsh can still be found in U.S. waters, mainly in Florida.

“If you catch or see a sawfish take a quick photograph of it, estimate its size, note your location, and share the information with scientists,” Wiley asked. “The details of your sightings or catches help to track recovery progress. You can share your information by calling 1-844-4-SAWFISH (1-844-4729347) or emailing sawfish@myfwc.com. Information about historic catches or the location of any old sawfish saws is also appreciated.” |

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Although its current range does not include Texas, we are including the Gulf sturgeon here. It does appear in nearby Louisiana, and there are rumors of a few Texas catches. Gulf sturgeon, also known as the Gulf of Mexico sturgeon, are “anadromous” fish. They inhabit coastal rivers from Louisiana to Florida during the warmer months, then move to the Gulf of Mexico, its estuaries and bays in the cooler months. “Sturgeons are primitive fish characterized by bony plates, or “scutes,” and a hard, extended snout,” according to NOAA officials. They have a “heterocercal” caudal fin. The tail is distinctly asymmetrical with the upper lobe longer than the lower. Adults range from four to eight feet (1 to 2.5 m) in length, females attain larger sizes than males. They can live for up to 60 years, but average about 20 to 25 years.” Gulf sturgeons are bottom feeders. They eat primarily macroinvertebrates, including brachiopods, mollusks, worms, and crustaceans. All foraging occurs in brackish or marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico and its estuaries, Sturgeons do not forage in riverine habitat. According to NOAA, sturgeons migrate into rivers to spawn in the spring. Spawning occurs in areas of clean substrate comprised of rock and rubble. Their eggs are sticky, sink to the bottom, and adhere in clumps to snags, outcroppings, or other clean surfaces. Gulf sturgeons are anadromous: adults spawn in freshwater and migrate into marine waters in the fall to forage and overwinter. Juvenile Gulf sturgeons stay in the river for about the first two to three years, then return to their natal stream to spawn. The total number of adult Gulf sturgeon is unknown. However, more than 15,000 adults are estimated in the seven coastal rivers of the Gulf of Mexico. Those are small numbers for a fish that used to be abundant. If you have ever caught a Gulf sturgeon or any of the above species, email cmoore@ fishgame.com. We would love to know about it and turn in any reports to officials who are monitoring these endangered fish.

« PHOTO: CANSTOCK

5/13/18 4:38 PM

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The NATIONAL

Study Fans New Fears of CWD Threat to Humans

News of TEXAS

magazine. “But with the new data, she said, “it seems we need to revisit this view to some degree.” This was in contrast to a 2014 study that showed macaques did not contract CWD. However CDC officials did admit there was enough evidence at the time to suggest a low risk of contracting CWD from tissue exposure. Can people get CWD from eating infected deer? That has not yet been proven, but officials in Canada and the U.S. advise exercising caution. “Our studies have shown that squirrel monkeys, but not cynomolgus macaques, were susceptible to CWD,” the study reported. “Although these nonhuman primates are not exact models of human susceptibility, they support the data from transgenic mouse studies, in vitro experiments, and epidemiologic evidence that suggest

A RECENT STUDY BY CANADIAN scientists shows macaque monkeys contracted chronic wasting disease (CWD) after eating meat from CWD-positive deer. According to jsonline, this is the first known transmission of the prion disease to a primate from eating diseased venison. The finding has heightened concerns about human susceptibility to CWD. “The assumption was for the longest time, that chronic wasting disease was not a threat to human health,” said Stefanie Czub, prion researcher with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Her remarks were published Saturday in The Tyee, a Vancouver, British Columbia,

humans are at a low risk of contracting CWD. Nevertheless, it remains sensible to minimize exposure to tissues potentially contaminated with the CWD agent.” Until recently CWD had only been found in captive deer. A January 18 inspection of a road-killed whitetail in the Panhandle showed the disease is also present in wild deer at some level according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department sources. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) personnel on U.S. Highway 87 between Dalhart and Hartley has tested positive for chronic wasting disease. This marks the first discovery of CWD in a Texas road kill and the first case in a Texas Panhandle whitetail.” “The road kill was found along the border between the current CWD Containment Zone and Surveillance Zone, and as a result will likely necessitate a precautionary expansion of the

REDFISH

WHITETAIL

Texas City

Hill Country

Katrina Schlageter and her dad caught seven bull reds at the Texas City Dike. She is pictured with her second catch of the day. All seven ﬁsh were released.

Jordan Fritts of Houston bagged his 10-point whitetail buck while hunting in the Texas Hill Country.

Visit FishGame.com to upload your own TEXAS HOT SHOTS and Vote for our next Winners 46

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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a controversial topic in Texas.

Containment Zone,” said Dr. Bob Dittmar, State Wildlife Veterinarian with TPWD. “We do not believe there’s a need to expand the Surveillance Zone at this time.” The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has approved expansion of the state’s chronic wasting disease (CWD) Panhandle Containment Zone. The Containment Zone 2 now encompasses that portion of the state within the boundaries of a line beginning where I.H. 40 enters from the State of New Mexico in Deaf Smith County; thence east along I.H. 40 to U.S. 385 in Oldham County; thence north along U.S. 385 to Hartley in Hartley County; thence east along U.S. 87 to County Rd. 47; thence north along C.R. 47 to F.M. 281; thence west along F.M. 281 to U.S. 385; thence north along U.S. 385 to the Oklahoma state line. “The decision to expand slightly the Panhandle Containment Zone is a direct result of the test positive road kill discovery,” said Dr. Bob Dittmar, TPWD wildlife veterinarian. PHOTO COURTESY WYOMING FISH AND WILDLIFE

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covered the disease among mule deer in a remote mountain area along the New Mexico border, Texas has recorded 100 confirmed cases of CWD. Of those, 64 were discovered in captive deer breeding pens, 11 were hunter harvested on breeder deer release sites, and 2 were elk from a breeder release site. Of the remaining positives, 20 were free-ranging mule deer, one was a freeranging elk and two were free-ranging whitetailed deer. The topic of CWD is highly controversial in Texas. Deer ranches are concerned the rules pertaining to CWD infringe on their operations, and state officials are concerned about the spread into wild deer populations. We want to give you all points from both sides on the issue. This study gives no reason to be alarmed, but it does give us reason to dig deeper into the topic. Expect more on it in print and at fishgame.com.

“The state’s wildlife disease management response focuses on an early detection and containment strategy designed to limit the spread of CWD from the affected area and better understand the distribution and prevalence of the disease.” The test positive road kill was among 10,104 deer, elk and other susceptible exotic game animal samples collected from a variety of sources by TPWD personnel for CWD testing during the 2017-18 collection year. In all, TPWD collected 2,203 samples from road kills, with the rest obtained through mandatory and voluntary hunter harvest submissions. For the 2017-18 collection season, TPWD surpassed its statewide goal of 6,735 CWD samples. Sampling objectives were established by TPWD wildlife biologists based on deer densities within each of the 41 Deer Management Units in Texas and other factors to establish sufficient confidence of detection if CWD were present within those localized populations. Since 2012 when the state first disT E X A S

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Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Watch The Weather and Catch Fish in June

HEN FISHING THE TEXAS coast in June, you need to prepare yourself for a few things. You need to prepare yourself for fishing in pretty green water with very hot temperatures and abundant sunshine. You need to prepare yourself to tangle with a vast array of salt-loving species ranging from the Big Three to bluefish and black tip sharks. You also need to prepare for the possibility of some very intense and dangerous thunderstorms. Those mid-morning and afternoon “popcorn” showers that have a knack for appearing out of nowhere are not nearly as cute and subtle as the name implies. The fishing can be very hot in June, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the heat that some of these cuties are packing. The conditions can

turn from the best ever, to “we better get out of here now” in a matter of minutes. You have to be prepared to leave a good bite in a hurry to get out of harm’s way. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the sky while fishing in the hot summer months. The good news is that you can see them building in the distance and usually have plenty of time to plan an evacuation route. The key is making an early enough exit. Waiting too long can definitely spell trouble. If the temperature suddenly drops 10 degrees and you have whitecaps where there was barely a ripple just moments earlier, you have waited too long. As far as the fishing is concerned, it’s just downright good on Sabine. South of the Causeway Bridge from the ship channel to the

short rigs, anglers should have little problem scoring big numbers of trout, reds and flounder. Topwaters and soft plastics should produce serious results. SkitterWalks and She-Dogs in pink, bone and black/chartreuse should do well early. Once the sun begins to penetrate, make the switch to a soft plastic. Down south lures, Assassins and H&H Cocaho Minnows are all excellent choices. Lighter colors like Glow, Chartreuse, Limetreuse and Opening Night should produce best in the pretty water. If it’s a little off-color, try a darker color like Roach or Red Shad. We simply work our way down the channel, hitting all the proven summertime spots. Goat Island, the LNG plant and Lighthouse Cove are good starting points. From there we work our way to the jetties or short rigs, where we usually don’t have any problem topping off the fish box. Again, lighter colored soft plastics are the ticket in the pretty water. The same baits mentioned earlier will work well, as will D.O.A. Shrimp and Chrome/ Blue Rat-L-Traps. Don’t forget your Louisiana License if you plan on fishing anywhere on the east side of the channel. If you would rather hit the lake, you should have no problem locating fish on the eastern shoreline. Throwing plastics rigged on ¼ or 1/8 ounce. lead heads from East Pass to Blue Buck Point should produce good results. D.O.A. Shrimp and Gulp! Shrimp under a popping cork with about 18 to 24 inches of leader will also get the job done. Also, be mindful of bird activity in the open bay behind you. Check the radar, keep an eye on the sky, and I’ll see you somewhere on Sabine.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: McFaddin Beach SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redﬁsh BAITS/LURES: Topwaters, spoons, plastics, live shrimp BEST TIMES: Mornings and Late Afternoons

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Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt. MIKE HOLMES

UNE IS THE FIRST MONTH OF actual summer on the upper Texas coast. June can bring with it the hot, sunny days our section of the coast is most known for. Although temperatures are certainly not as hot as the days of August yet to come, they’re are much more comfortable, for the most part, in early morning, late evenings— and at night. Night fishing can be very good even during the coldest months,but in warmer weather it does not require extra heavy clothing and deicers to produce warmth. June is not usually hot enough to cause fish to feed at night for the comfort, but the bait they seek is often more abundant during hours of darkness. This is especially true if tidal currents reach their peak at nighttime, as can often happen. With the “movement” of coastal waters, bait species move, also. They follow the currents looking for food, and are, in turn, followed as food by larger predatory species. Schools containing large numbers of all bait species from shrimp to small finfish draw the attention of feeding speckled trout and smaller sand trout. Redfish will often be in the mix, in smaller numbers, but often larger sizes. Flounders and to some extent black drum – the smaller “puppy drum” – will also follow schools of bait at night, like a 10-pound drum I caught one night around a dock in Chocolate Bayou on a bait I had meant for flounder. Bait species and the species feeding on them might gather in various places for different reasons, shelter and food—preferably a combination of the two. They will be found in the same spots that attract these species

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LOCATION: Structure provided by docks and pilings. Recreational docks should be chosen over industrial installations, for safety reasons. Such structure is found often on inshore channels and coastal bayous. SPECIES: Under the right water conditions, speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and black drum will be found. BAIT: Shrimp and baitfish caught “on sight” work very well, also small jigs, either nylon-skirted or with plastic bodies are good. Spoons draw strikes from large fish. BEST TIME: High tides and the periods leading up to them, and to their decline.

and trout will be attracted to such an easy feeding ground. Having spent a lot of time in a few marinas on the upper coast, in both day and night, I was able to observe bait and fish activity on many occasions. I have also spent time fishing around various industrial docks at night. With the large amounts of “bait” available, fishing with either live or “fresh dead” bait can be a “sure thing”, but small artificial lures, such as the tandem “speck rig” jigs sold with

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THE BANK BITE

Bait species and the species feeding on them gather in various places for different reasons, shelter and food — preferably both.

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Under The June Moon!

their own monofilament leaders can sometimes produce faster strikes than natural bait. Because there WILL be larger fish around all this feeding activity, a gold or silver spoon cast to the outskirts of the main areas of activity can be very productive. My original involvement in such activity was when seeking bait, such as small shad to use as offshore chum, and it was hard not to notice the activity of feeding fish while castnetting bait. Being able to catch some specks “for the pan” while there mainly to care for my boat was always an extra attraction. The Gulf Coast has a lot of those, for those willing to look for them.

during daylight hours, but after dark they often move to places they don’t feel as safe. This could be coastal streams, structure provided by jetties, rock groins, and many other forms of man-made structure, such as docks either along relatively open shoreline, or in marinas. Marinas offer docks, pilings, and relatively deep water. They are mostly lighted at night and have less boat and pedestrian traffic. Huge schools of small shad, or menhaden, often congregate in these areas. Any larger predatory species from “junk” catfish to reds

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« Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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5/13/18 4:39 PM

Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

What If You Catch a Bird or Jack in the Bay?

AY FISHERS PREFER LIGHTweight rods and reels because a few additional ounces become heavy after the 800th cast, but what if you hook a fish that is bigger and stronger than your rod and reel were meant to handle? Or what if you hook a brown pelican? In early June I was offshore fishing with boat captain and owner Brian Tulloch, and friend and veterinarian Mark Vanness. We were hooked up to an oil platform 28 miles offshore from the Matagorda Jetties.

I was casting a top water lure into the rig when a brown pelican intersected the airborne lure and ended up with one hook in its bill and another hook in its wing. I was aghast and at a loss about what to do, but Mark the veterinarian said, “Reel it in, I’ll take care of it.” When the pelican got to the boat, Mark calmly reached down and pulled the bird into the boat. Then he covered the pelican’s eyes with one hand while instructing me to hold both wings. With the bird under control,

Mark removed the hooks with his free hand. Watching the pelican fly away was a beautiful sight. Not long after the brown pelican experience, I was wading fishing near Aransas Pass when a laughing gull was hooked by a lure cast by a fisherman near me. I remembered how Mark covered the pelican’s eyes to calm it, so I put my hat over the bird’s head. The gull settled down so we could remove the hook and release it. In June the bays are loaded with baitfish, and this brings crevalle jacks into West Matagorda Bay. Mature crevalle jacks are from 12 to 20 pounds of pure power, but they are not good to eat. Before a crevalle jack strikes, you often see baitfish flying and the jack’s dorsal fin cutting through the water at the pace of a speedboat.

Bob Turner proudly shows off his crevalle jack.

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PHOTO: MIKE PRICE

5/13/18 4:39 PM

Bob Turner and I were fishing from kayaks near Palacios when a crevalle jack took his soft plastic lure. He was tied to a piling and he wisely untied that line, so that his kayak would work in tandem with the drag on his reel. When you fish with a rod and reel that will handle trout, flounders and most redfish and you hook a crevalle jack, you have to decide if you are going to fight the fish or cut the line. Keep in mind that you are not going to keep the fish to eat. Bob decided to try and land the fish for a photo. The crevalle jack towed him a half mile into West Matagorda Bay and nearly spooled his reel while Bob did his best to reel in line, inch by inch. Finally, after a 35-minute fight, the tired fisherman boated the tired fish. Then he paddled over to me for a photo, released the crevalle jack, and the fish darted off.

Red Snapper June 1 is the beginning of red snapper season in federal waters more than nine nautical miles offshore. In the 1980s and

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waters the limit is two, and the fish must be at least 16 inches. Check the NMFS website for up to date information.

early 90s it was tough to catch red snappers that were 16 inches, the legal keeper size, but today thanks to management by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), we have an abundance of red snappers between 20 and 30 inches. The problem is that federal rules govern the entire Gulf of Mexico, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico does not have the abundance of snappers that we have in the western Gulf. We have been subjected to rules that do not make sense for our waters. Last year the recreational season was three days. After the season closed last year, NMFS did add weekends in August and September. This year looks like a different, more realistic and positive, situation. NMFS is considering allowing Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to manage the recreational red snapper fishing in federal waters. This could result in the season being from 51 to possibly 104 days long. In Texas waters less than nine nautical miles offshore, it is legal year-round to take four red snappers per day that are a minimum 15 inches. During open season in federal

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THE BANK BITE THE SHORELINE AT PALACIOS on a North Wind. Occasionally the wind comes from the north in June. When that happens and you want to wade fish or fish from shore, try the Palacios shoreline between the Baptist Encampment on the east side and CR 321 on the west side. Hard sand and multiple access points make wade fishing easy. You can also fish from the pier at 4th street and jetties near the boat ramp at 6th street. Bait is available at Grassy Point (turn east off Business 35 onto Bayshore Boulevard) or at the Harbor on the west side of town.

« Email Mike Price at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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5/13/18 4:39 PM

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

June’s Concentrations

T’S SUMMERTIME WHETHER WE like it, or not. It’s time for school to be out and time for family vacations, but it’s also time to have a little fun with the fish, as well. A lot of anglers will be throwing live croakers this month in hope of landing a big trout or beautiful red. A lot of them will be successful, especially if this summer is anything like last summer. Even in the summertime heat, last year’s hotter months continued to produce regular catches of mixed sizes of trout and redfish. Some days would provide mostly trout,

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while other days yielded nothing but redfish and black drum. It seems like all the days produced, regardless of the type of fish caught. It was a fun time for everyone who fished, and we have seen no indication that this year’s summer months will be any different. In fact, if our recent spring months are any sign of what’s in store for us in the months ahead, the summer of 2018 shows potential of being even better that last year, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed just in case. We mentioned this month’s croaker use earlier, and that’s not only because croakers are widely available at this point in the year, but also because the croaker represents a larger meal to typical game fish such as trout and redfish. Another large baitfish we’ll begin seeing in mass numbers this month is the mullet. We’ll find June mullet congregated in rafts or pods, often consisting of tens of thousands of mullet in one group. These pods will travel with wind and water conditions, as well as with tidal movement and their food source. They can commonly be found in the earliest time of the day tight against a skinnywater shoreline where they gather overnight to escape the dangers of the deep. For wade fishing enthusiasts who prefer fishing with artificial baits, these early morning, bait-laden shorelines are a great place to be about an hour prior to sunrise each day in June. You can either wait in the boat until the sun comes up, or you can bail out into the darkness with a big bone or black top water bait such as a She Dog, Super Spook, or Skitter Walk tied to the end of your line. There’s nothing more exciting than hearing your lure being pounced on and engulfed by a fish you can’t even see. Regardless of whether you’re wade fishing or fishing from the boat, June is a good time to start practicing early morning assaults along the flats. This will not only put you in the coolest part of the day, but should also |

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help increase your chances at some good fish. However, keep a watchful eye as the sun rises into the morning sky and begins warming the shallows. Once this happens, you will most likely see the baitfish in the area start to relocate as they search for cooler water. When the baitfish start their transition, the game fish will go with them, so you will need to make the shift along with the fish. It is also common for the bite on top to shut off as the water warms. So converting to plastic tails or suspending baits will probably prove to be more effective as you look for the bite in deeper water. As we talked about earlier, these large concentrations of baitfish will attract greater numbers of game fish, especially the redfish. Summertime is the time of year when we start to notice development of large schools of redfish. Sometimes, there may even be several different groups or schools right next to each other in one large area. They’ll soar to the water’s surface in a fury, revealing their position more and more each day as they prey on the surface-roaming mullet. They’re believed to be creatures of strong habit and routine, so if you’re successful in pinpointing their whereabouts, you may just be able to find those same reds near that location for several days at a time. These fish can be taken on most any of your live bait choices such as shrimp, croaker, or piggy perch, but they are also well known for their enjoyment of fresh dead baits, as well—cracked crab, cut mullet, dead shrimp, etc. Artificial lure buffs can typically find success with neutral or dark surface walkers until after sunrise, and sub-surface baits later in the day. Use bright colors on bright days or in clean water, and dark colors on dark days or in stained water. Until next time, have fun out there and be safe!

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

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5/13/18 4:39 PM

Coastal Focus: ROCKPORT :: by Capt. MAC GABLE

T THE TIME OF THIS WRITing, a spring storm/cold front made its way down from the Northwest. Of course, compared to a hurricane, it paled in comparison and wasn’t given much attention. To the National Weather Service’s credit, a warning, days in advance, predicted some chance of severe weather—possible hail and high winds. Straight line winds, and tornadic cells/supercells might accompany the front/ storm. The healing process of a devastating event is somewhat predictable, if not familiar to those who have gone through it. First there is the shock, then the anguish and tears, followed by a fight or flight decision, built in through years of evolution and design to the limbic part of our brain. In our coastal community, it’s safe to say, the FIGHT portion is alive and well as many after Harvey chose to stay and rebuild. The last stage of this healing process is one many seldom talk about or, if you will, recognize. It’s the indurated, callous or case-hardened. Many have said that facing death, or looking death in the eye, makes a person unwavering toward life’s traumatic events. It is true of natural disasters as well. Like the proverbial bully that waits for you after school to beat you up—once confronted you discover the paralyzing fear and anticipation is much worse than the actual fisticuffs. Most walk away, never to allow the fear of these cowards to influence our lives. We are tempered, we have learned. We are case-hardened to repeated offenses. The reality, however, is much different. It’s sad to say, but there will be other bullies, we will face death again, and there will be other storms. The question is: will wisdom from these

“ The healing process of a devastating event is somewhat predictable.

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Insult to Injury

Wisdom is gained through experience, knowledge, and good judgment, but it’s worthless without application or action.

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I was never a great student in school. Oh, I wasn’t a problem for my parents, and I made passing grades, but scholarly was never even hinted to apply. I didn’t like structure and detested being told how to do something. Give me a task and leave me alone; I will do it the way I see it, not necessarily your way, but it will get done. If I need help, I will ask. History class was a waste of brain cells, I thought (who cares who did what and when). Late in high school a great teacher’s words had a profound change in me. First day of class she asked why teaching history was necessary. “It isn’t,” I replied. “May we leave now?” To my amazement other students in the class agreed. “Why do we need to know what has happened in the past? There is no future in the past.” The teacher smiled paused and stated these were all good answers, but not completely accurate. She continued “Mankind has demonstrated for hundreds if not thousands of years that we as a species tend to repeat ourselves. If we don’t learn from the

inevitable life-altering events be born? Why are we knocked down by events in our lives? So we can learn to get back up.

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Forecast: ROCKPORT insult can only take root if we fail to find wisdom and apply it in our efforts to rebuild. We can’t stay the same and expect a different outcome. If we apply what we’ve learned and realize events such as these are simply just life, we can always have hope. There will always be a future.

good in the past, we will make little progress. If we don’t learn from our mistakes there is a good chance we will repeat them.” The storm would hit early morning March 29 at about 1a.m. The Rockport area was breaking records in terms of recovering from Hurricane Harvey, and there was much anticipation for the coming of spring. Easter was around the corner and a fixed-up, cleaned-up town was ready to celebrate this holy day. It would signal we were back on track and ready for the much-needed tourism of the summer to come—and we were, until March 29. It was heart breaking to learn the storm would wreak havoc on two of the hardest-hit Harvey areas: Holiday Beach and Lamar. Wind speed of 115 mph, hail and a tornado were unleashed on these previously injured areas. One good friend and neighbor opened their place of business three weeks before. The storm caused a temporary closure again as the roof was torn away. The owner simply said, “I’m tired of crying!” Other homes, again damaged, had to repeat the long and cumbersome process of insurance (if they had any) claims. Repairs are the Achilles heel for anyone down here now. The damage from the storm is not nearly as bad as Harvey but don’t tell that to those who were affected. Once again we feel the shock, the anguish and the resolve to begin anew. March is, after all, spring time, a time for new growth. The good news is there were still plenty of workers in the area and help for many arrived quickly. I was just asked the other day if God was trying to tell us something. It’s a valid question to which each person will have to find their own answer. Rockport is coming back at record pace and is poised to be in good shape by midsummer. Several hotels have re-opened. Goose Island State Park is open to camping. Most restaurants have reopened, and the bait flags are beginning to spring up at several stands in the area, including Sea Gun Bait stand. The availability of bait for these businesses is a question that will only be answered in time. It is my fervent prayer we realize the medicine for our injuries is often harsh. The |

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JUNE FISHING IS A STATEMENT of temperature. Fish in the early morning and late evening for best results. The exception to this rule is on a full moon. During a full moon, fishing at midday can be productive.

“ Rockport is coming back at record pace and is poised to be in good shape by summer.

ST. CHARLES BAY: The reefs just off Bird Point is a good place for reds using mud minnows free-lined. The northwest shoreline close to Twins Creek is a good spot for trout using croakers. Wading in this area is very productive, but it can also be fished well from a boat with a trolling motor. CARLOS BAY: Drift across Carlos Lake using soft plastics. Berkley sand eels in silvermud color is good for this area. Working the edge of Cedar Reef with free-lined shrimp is good for trout and reds on a high tide. MESQUITE BAY: The east shoreline just off Matagorda Island is a good spot for trout using free-lined croakers. Some flounders can be caught at the mouth of Little Brundrett Lake using free-lined live shrimp worked across the bottom. AYERS BAY: Second Chain is still holding some black drum. A popping cork with peeled shrimp works well here. The east shoreline is a good spot for trout using croakers. Free-lined is best on a very light Carolina rig. Here’s Wishing You Tight Lines Bent Poles and Plenty of Bait!

THE BANK BITE

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• • •

tide fish about 30 yards offshore. Some nice trout can be caught off Live Oak Point using super spooks in bone and white colors and black O2.

COPANO BAY: Lap Reef is a well-known reef that gets a lot of fishing pressure, but this time of year it can be a good place to frequent. Croakers fished on the shallow edges can be the ticket to some fast trout action. Submerged well piles just off Bayside shore line is a good spot for reds using finger mullet on a light Carolina rig.

THE CHANNELS OF CAVASSO CREEK just off Hwy 35 can produce some nice reds and a few trout. Mud minnows work well here as does finger mullet. Free-lined is best, or using a light fish finder rig. Be respectful of kayaks here and be careful of the highway traffic.

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

ARANSAS BAY: Some nice black drum frequent the area of Allyns Lake. Free-lined peeled shrimp is a good bet here. On high tide cast close to the shoreline and on low |

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5/13/18 4:39 PM

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

Time for Black Drum (Not the Big Nasty Ones)

UNE IS A GOOD MONTH TO get in on the action for the tasty black drum. These are not the big ugly ones with worms in their flesh that can be caught in the ship channel in the spring, but the smaller fish. “I personally think they are better eating than redfish,” said Port Aransas guide, Capt Jack McPartland. Schooling black drum can be found from Carlos Bay to Ingleside. “It’s sight casting, the same thing you would be doing for redfish,” said McPartland. “Look for reefs and ditches coming off the flats and the islands. You’ll see them schooling.” The Morris Cummings Cut, California Hole, Aransas Boat Channel fingers, Northwest Shoreline and the west shorelines of Copano Bay are all good places to start your quest. If you don’t see any drum popping up, get your map out and check GPS numbers for another similar spot. “At this time of year I’ve seen five, and I’ve seen 200 pods,” McPartland said. “It just depends on where they are eating and how much they have been run over by boats, the typical stuff. “Sometimes the drum can be found in the fingers off the Aransas Channel in Port Aransas. Kayakers can reach locations easily.”

Catching Black Drum

to the blacks free-lining, no weight, then he’ll add a light jig head. “I’ll try it with a light jig head, maybe a 1/16 oz. or 1/8 oz to get a little more distance if needed,” he said. “An egg-style weight works for adding distance, but the standard jig head is a better choice. That plunk hitting the water quite often scares the fish off. “If you move up closer on them and you notice that they have moved along 10 yards or so, back off a ways and switch over to a jig so that your cast can still reach the fish, but don’t push them. If you keep pushing the pods of black drum, they’re going to run off and go deep. People push them because they are getting too close trying to reach them.” Line choice: McPartland spools his reels with braid line and uses monofilament for the leader. He ties the two lines together with a knot. “I don’t like to use any metal such as a swivel; the only metal is the hook. “If you become snagged, the monofilament will break, but the braid will not,” he said. “If you get hung up, can’t free it, you end up cutting 20 to 30 yards of braid off. Tie on a monofilament leader about one or two feet long. Break it off, and you lose only a yard or so. McPartland uses 30-pound braid and 20-pound monofilament. Twenty pound braid doesn’t hold the knots properly; “I think it is too thin. The knots come undone too easily.”

Dead shrimp from bait stands, but frozen dead shrimp from the supermarket will work. “Shrimp get scarce at the bait stands at times, especially since Port Aransas is still undergoing construction after Hurricane Harvey,” he said. “I use a 6/0 circle hook. A big shrimp, without additional weight, will go a long way if you can cast good.” If he or his clients can’t get close enough

He likes the Albright Special knot (www. netknots.com/fishing_knots/albright-special). “Make a loop in the monofilament, holding the loop with your thumb. Thread the braid through the loop, and below the loop, around both pieces of string nine times and then back through the hook the opposite way that you did the first time, and cinch it T E X A S

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tight.” Why not include a swivel and tie to it? “I don’t like anything that’s going to drag, hang, and snag anything, McPartland said. “I realize there’s not much to a swivel, but it still has a little bit of weight on it. I grew up doing it this way and have never changed.” Sometimes a few redfish will be mixed in with the black drum. The same terminal rigging, bait and fishing technique works for the reds It’s pretty simple…”dead shrimp and find the schools. Once in awhile I’ll catch one on a piece of cut mullet. As soon as we do we immediately switch to shrimp because we know they like that best. If you don’t see them, you will probably end up just feeding the perch. You want to find the drums. If they are in the deep ditches they will rise up to the surface, and you’ll see the pod come up. Sometimes they will come up and down. Just try to stay with them. Go look for them.”

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Oso Fishing Pier GPS: N 27 43.269, W 97 19.910 SPECIES: Black drum TECHNIQUES: Live shrimp, crag. Use light bottom rigs and work the pilings.

« Email Tom Behrens at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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5/13/18 4:39 PM

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

South Texas Outback

Grullo and Alazan Bay are prime targets for fish that are not spooky, haven’t been cast to and are ripe for beginner and advanced fly fishermen alike. It’s a world like no other bay on the Texas Coast. Nine weight fly rods are a good choice because there’s a good chance to get a shot at a 40-inch-plus redfish or a big ol’ black drum. Shallow, clear water with lots of grass draws in all of the little shrimp, crabs and bait fish. This, in turn, attracts all of the big predators of the bay. Use Clousers and Crab patterns on #4 hooks, with attractant colors

HIS GREAT SOUTH TEXAS outback known as Baffin Bay is providing some really exciting fishing to all anglers this summer, from beginner to advanced. The sheer numbers of trout and redfish in the bay systems can provide some fine entertainment to kids and other beginner fishermen. Trophy trout hunters can find some ten pound-plus trout still spawning in the shallow waters of the bay. New, larger grass pastures have emerged along all of the Baffin shorelines, including the Cayo del Grullo and Alazan Bays, providing cover and a gathering place for all creatures big and small. Large rafts of mullet are everywhere, indicators of how healthy and productive this bay has become. There’s an easy haul of stringer-worthy trout early in the mornings on grass flats, edges and drops, using soft plastics or top water lures. When the sun comes up a little higher in the sky, it’s time to get serious about fly fishing and sight casting to redfish, black drum, even flounders and trout. Changing gears around 10 or 10:30 in the morning is great timing, giving everyone a chance to take a little break to snack and drink some water. It’s also a good time to talk about fly selection and the technique of stalking these big, shallow water targets . Folks don’t normally think of Baffin Bay as a fly fishing destination. But, shorelines here are never run by boats or airboats, like other bay systems. Some of these places may not have even seen a human in quite some time. Desolate and untapped, the shorelines and back lakes of Baffin Bay, the Cayo del |

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It’s a world like no other bay on the Texas Coast.

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such as chartreuse or pink. Don’t have a clue about any of this stuff but want to learn how to fly fish? That’s okay, all guides at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun are “teaching guides,” meaning that beginners will get a solid foundation and the knowledge to have a great time fly fishing here. The lodge has a good supply of all of the components needed to get started, all provided by the Orvis company. Since we are now an Orvis Endorsed lodge, we are lucky to be associated with the best and most advanced equipment company, totally catering to the fly fishing market. Also, BBR&G has installed a “casting pond,” so you can practice your cast before you go. Sight casting with conventional tackle is also super effective. Try gfour Black’s Magic |

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1/32nd ounce jig head and a Gulp chartreuse, four-inch “Swimming Mullet” curly tailed grub. Stalking the shorelines looking for big fish to cast at is a little more like hunting than fishing. The name of the game is, step one, see the fish, step two, make the cast. Be sure to wear the right sunglasses to excel at this “see the fish” step. We recommend Costa del Mar 580 glass lenses, green mirror, or brown, amber or copper. These “brown” colors will afford you the best contrast on the water, so you can “see the fish.” There are other choices out there, but always buy the best gear you can afford. Whether you are seeking that one big trout of your fishing career, catching a stringer full of reds and trout, or want to learn to fly fish, Baffin Bay Rod and Gun is the best place to be . Not to mention the fact that we have a great chef and a swimming pool at our first-class lodge. Capt. Black and I sure look forward to hosting your corporate group, a family fishing trip or a group of buds wanting to hang out together. From top to bottom, we are pleased to provide a “5-Star Adventure for Everyone” here at BBR&G. You will feel the difference when you walk into our lodge. We are dog friendly, family friendly and want to include anyone woman or man who wants to learn about fishing. There’s not a better place than Baffin Bay Rod and Gun. We can sleep 20 guests and hope you are planning a trip to see us this summer. See you soon.

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

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5/13/18 4:39 PM

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

Beach Party

N SPITE OF ALL THE CONCERTS, in spite of social hot spots, in spite of Dolphin Watch cruises, jet skis, and Schlitterbahn, South Padre Island was a fishing community first, and June is one of the hottest fishing months of the year. The vicious winds of spring are a thing of the past, and the cupcake conditions of summer prevail. The Lower Laguna Madre becomes a fisherman magnet, as anglers drive come from all over the state and even the country to try and hook into a trophy trout, or a limit of redfish. June is also one of best times to begin fishing the surf. The soft southeasterly breezes that make the LLM a friendly place to fish has worked its magic on the suds, too. Waves shrink, and sand settles. It’s hard to describe the excitement of watching the clear, green waves roll over the bars and to see a sizeable fish silhouette dart through it. The surf offers a great fishing opportunity for the land-bound angler, or even for the boat owner who wants a change of pace along with saving a few bucks in gas money. The same vehicle with four wheel drive that you take to the deer lease is well-suited to negotiate the sand of the beach, and the sand along the high-tide line is packed down enough that some two-wheel drive vehicles can get out to the suds. Take a shovel with you, though, just in case you need to dig yourself out of a soft spot. A variety of fish will readily grab a bait presented by even the most inexperienced, neophyte angler, almost all of them excellent table fare. The most common fish that swims up and down guts and bars of the Padre Island surf is the whiting. Actually, there are two types of whiting: the Gulf whiting and the southern

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or at the bait shop by the dozen for their terminal tackle, but many wily fishermen know that a hand-made leader made from 30-pound mono is more effective in fooling leader-shy pompanos. Simply pin a peeled bit of shrimp on each hook and flip your rig into the, near the bar where the waves are breaking. It normally doesn’t take too long for a whiting to find your rig and give it a yank. Sometimes, a second whiting grabs the other bait while you’re reeling the first one in, and the double header is good for a few whoops when you drag it onto the sand. If you hook into a pompano, then the whoops get even louder. June is also a time of squalls and rainstorms rolling in off the gulf, with surf that accompanies the 20-knot gusts. That rough surf, however, can be a boon. The roiling surf can roust out more crustaceans from their sandy hidey-holes and thus ring the piscine dinner bell. There is a very good reason to rig with heavier line. Redfish and jackfish begin to roam the surf in June. Some of these bad boys are still roaming the surf, and they’ll grab one of your little whiting/pompano rigs out of pure meanness and spite and can make the drag on your spinning reel sing. That’s when the whooping gets loudest of all.

whiting. On the Atlantic coast, the latter species is also called a kingfish. The Gulf whiting is most common in the surf, and is silver in color, with a sleeker profile. The stouter, squatter southern whiting is more common in the bay and around passes where it is a popular species among the party boat crowd. It is also present in the surf, especially around the Brazos-Santiago jetties. These are strong fish that will give a good hard yank when first hooked, then, after a token resistance, will obediently come along when they realize resistance is futile. These guys are plentiful. It doesn’t take long to catch enough of them for even the biggest fish fry. They are surprisingly large. They average 12-13 inches, but it isn’t uncommon to catch a half dozen bull whiting measuring between 18 and 20 inches, and the clean white fillets fry up beautifully. A second fish that is worth every surf fisherman’s attention, and is actually a prize catch on any trip, is the Florida pompano. These scrappy cousins of the Tyson-esque jackfish and the cosmopolitan permit zoom up and down the surf in search of shrimp and sand fleas to gobble up and sometimes grab a baited hook. They also average between one and three pounds, but their short, powerful bursts and bulldog determination make for sport on all but the stoutest Hatteras Heaver. As for their table qualities, a whole pompy baked inside a paper bag with butter, white wine, green onions, and mushrooms is a delicacy worthy of an Iron Chef. Both the whiting and the pompano are not difficult to catch. A 7 ½-to nine-foot surf rod matched with a 4000 to 6000 sized spinning reel and spooled with 14- to 20-pound line is ideal. Most of the fishing is going to be in the wade gut, or up against the first bar, so pyramid and disc sinkers in the one- to two-ounce range is fine, and a box of #2 (not 2/0) Eagle Claw 066N 2X long shank hooks should cover your needs. Most fishermen get the pre-fabricated double-stage leaders you can get at Wal Mart F I S H

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THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Dolphin Cove SPECIES: Mangrove Snapper, panfish. TECHNIQUES: Fish with shrimp or cut bait on a float rig. The float keeps the bait above the rocks and away from snags.

Email Cal Gonzales at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com |

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

It’s Shoal Time on East Matagorda

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

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

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoal GPS: N 28 40.449, W 95 53.898 (28.6742, -95.8983)

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

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “Raymond Shoal area … a group of reefs on the west end of the bay, out in the middle…look for bait and slicks. Instead of wading, you are drifting in your boat looking for trout.” Capt. Countz LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 28 43.86, W 95 45.617 (28.7310, -95.7603)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Attack the wells with a systematic drift over one side as well as the other side. If you don’t get a fish or a hookup, then move on to the next well.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Richards Reef GPS: N 29 31.408, W 94 44.276 (29.5235, -94.7379)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails with 1/8 1/16 oz jig head CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: Capt. Countz’s favorite colors in the MirrOlure soft plastics are glow/chartreuse tail, Purple Demon.

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Every well in Trinity Bay have fish on them. There is a tremendous amount of shell both on the |

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front and back side of the well. Tide movement is a plus.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Lakies Pass GPS: N 29 28.471, W 94 43.251 (29.4745, -94.7209)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Fish only feed on three things … sight, sound and smell. Colors that present more of a contrast to the fish, or reflection catch more fish.” Capt. Marcaccio LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Sun Oil Gas Wells GPS: N 29 38.932, W 94 48.436 (29.6489, -94.8073)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwater baits CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@goﬁshgalveston.com goﬁshgalveston.com TIPS: “Downsize your bait size … She Pups, Baby Spooks, Skitter Walks. Slower retrieve.” Capt. Marcaccio

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Exxon C Lease Wells GPS: N 29 40.446, W 94 45.579 (29.6741, -94.7597)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@goﬁshgalveston.com goﬁshgalveston.com TIPS: “Know your shorelines. As you approach, look for drains and bayous, ambush points on incoming and outgoing tides. Outgoing is probably the most effective.” Capt. Marcaccio

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LOCATION: Matagorda Surf HOTSPOT: Surf GPS: N 28 35.569, W 95 59.268 (28.5928, -95.9878)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “Anytime you get a light northwest wind that slicks off the surf, you are missing a good time to wade the beach, catching trout. Same thing … look for bait activity, birds diving, slicks. Action can be fast and furious.” Capt. Countz

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Causeway Reef GPS: N 29 47.221, W 93 55.919 (29.7870, -93.9320)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Adam Jaynes 409-988-3901 amjaynes@gmail.com www.justﬁshsabine.com TIPS: “Best baits are Wedgetails and Trout Killers. If we get any freshwater runoff, move out to the jetty.” Capt. Jaynes

5/13/18 4:39 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou GPS: N 28 29.738, W 96 13.565 (28.4956, -96.2261)

(28.1436, -97.1286)

SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Dead Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “If you ﬁnd a drum school or pod diving deep or moving away when you get ready to cast to them, you are too close. This is a good time to add the light jig heads to get extra distance on your casts.” Capt. McPartland LOCATION: Copano Bay HOTSPOT: West Copano Shoreline GPS: N 28 7.346, W 97 10.014 (28.1224, -97.1669)

SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Dead Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Capt. Jack does not use a swivel to attach his leader line to the reel line. He ties the two together with an Albright knot. LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Portland Shoreline GPS: N 27 52.772, W 97 16.552 (27.8795, -97.2759)

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Major Drum Action on Copano

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Free lined live croaker CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com

by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: Copano Bay HOTSPOT: Northwest Shoreline GPS: N 28 8.618, W 97 7.718

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tails later in the morning CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: Capt. Countz likes a small soft plastic such as the MirrOlure Lil John, rigged on a 1/16 oz. jjg head. “If you’re wading in two or three feet of water a light jig head keeps the bait from sinking really quick.” Capt. Countz

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TIPS: Free line a live croaker in grass bed pockets LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: California Hole GPS: N 27 55.561, W 97 4.848 (27.9260, -97.0808)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwater baits early in the morning CONTACT: Capt. Tommy Countz 281-450-4037 tcountz@sbcglobal.net www.matagordaﬁshing.com TIPS: “Wading, throw topwaters early up along the shoreline, working the tide. Look for drains, or work subtle structure changes in the bottom.” Capt. Countz LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay HOTSPOT: Cotton’s Bayou GPS: N 28 31.094, W 96 12.617 (28.5182, -96.2103)

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SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Dead Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Dead shrimp is the best bait, free lines on a # 6 Kayle hook.” Capt. McPartland LOCATION: Port Aransas HOTSPOT: Aransas Channel GPS: N 27 52.401, W 97 5.366 (27.8734, -97.0894)

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SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Dead Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Normally Capt. Jack does not use any added weight on his free lining rig. But if he needs a little more distance he will go with a 1/8 or 1/16 jig head to use with the dead shrimp. LOCATION: Redﬁsh Bay HOTSPOT: Morris Cummings Cut GPS: N 27 52.624, W 97 6.866 (27.8771, -97.1144)

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SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Dead Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland G A M E ®

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FISHING HOTSPOTS 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “If the drum are in the cut, and don’t see any pods popping up, take out your map and look for similar looking places.” Capt. McPartland LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Pita Flats GPS: N 27 35.066, W 97 17.658 (27.5844, -97.2943)

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but probably cut mullet will work better than dead shrimp.

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Roll Tide for Bafﬁn Speckled Trout

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by Tom Behrens

LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Tide Gauge Bar GPS: N 27 18.109, W 97 28.051 (27.3018, -97.4675) SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Dead Shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com treble-j-charters.com TIPS: The same terminal rigging will work for redﬁsh,

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.net TIPS: “I will be throwing live croaker along the Tide Gauge Bar and in the guts in the area. We have caught some huge trout in this place early in the morning.” Capt. Little LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Center Reef GPS: N 27 16.138, W 97 28.051 (27.2690, -97.4675)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Dead shrimp CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114

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FISHING HOTSPOTS captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.net TIPS: “After the trout quit biting we will target redfish in the Badlands, mouth of Baffin Bay as well, using live or dead shrimp.” Capt. Little LOCATION: Baffin Bay HOTSPOT: Badlands GPS: N 27 18.447, W 97 25.993 (27.3075, -97.4332)

BEST BAITS: Dead or live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.net TIPS: “Use live or dead shrimp on a 1/8 oz. jig head similar to how you would rig a soft plastic, casting into sand and grass pockets.” Capt. Little

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LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: King Ranch Shoreline GPS: N 27 29.134, W 97 21.108 (27.4856, -97.3518)

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: Hanks Creek GPS: N 31 16.3979, W 94 23.58 (31.2733, -94.3930)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Shallow: Top water frog lures, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits | Deep: Carolina rigs and Texasrigged 10” worms CONTACT: Mike Knight 936)-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxfishingguide.com TIPS: “Sam Rayburn in June should be dynamite bass fishing if the water stays up in the hay grass and buck brush. A shallow bite should last all month. Look for grass, buckbrush and hydrilla together and you will find fish. Flipping and punching grass, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits should all work, and I predict a killer frog bite. Also, plenty of offshore fish for the deep-water guys on humps and ridges with Carolina rigs and Texas rigged 10”” worms. All of Rayburn is so good that you can find plenty of fish from Hanks creek to the dam.”

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SPECIES: Hybrid Striper BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim shad CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-661-7920 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: “The hybrid stripers are in full swing now and this is the time to catch trophy fish and possibly lake record hybrids. They will be all around the lake on main lake points and humps. The use of electronics is a necessity! Find the schools of shad and you will find the hybrids. This time of year, they will range in the water column from 12 feet to 26 feet. Find the depth the bait are in and you will find the fish. You can catch several limits of fish in an hour’s time right now! They will be bunched up with some really large fish to be caught. Live shad will be the bait of choice, but the swim shad will work if you can control the depth. Good luck and good fishing! Bank Access: Stowaway Marina” LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Brush Piles GPS: N 32 55.7579, W 95 38.5439

SPECIES: Redﬁsh

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Swimbaits, top waters, flukes, plastic worms CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakefishing.com TIPS: Fish the open flats in these areas. Watch for sections of hydrilla and lily pads. Fish top water lures early and on cloudy days. Fish the soft plastics during the daytime hours. Colors of watermelon/red and white work well this time of the year. LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 23.88, W 95 34.2059 (30.3980, -95.5701)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastic shrimp tail CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.net TIPS: “The King Ranch shoreline is a good place to look for trout in the evenings; we have limited out in 20 minutes. Live croaker, live shrimp under a popping cork, or soft plastic all work well.” Capt. Little LOCATION: Bafﬁn Bay HOTSPOT: Badlands South GPS: N 27 17.152, W 97 25.053 (27.2859, -97.4176)

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Hankering for Some Rayburn Bass?

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or shrimp CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.net TIPS: “Casting into grass pockets located along the grass lines can produce redﬁsh and black drum using live or dead shrimp for bait.” Capt. Little

LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Goose Prairie and Ames Spring Basin GPS: N 32 42.0041, W 94 7.0799 u TAP FOR (32.7001, -94.1180)

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5/13/18 4:40 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS (32.9293, -95.6424)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows, crappie jigs in blue ice color CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: June is a great time to bring the family to Lake Fork and learn how to crappie fish. Kids love to learn to fish and catch fish at the same time. The crappie have spawned and now are schooling back up in the deeper water. Deeper being 16-20 feet. They love brush piles. I have put a lot of piles out in the lake and we go park over them and tight line into the brush and catch crappie, panfish, catfish, and bass. When one brush pile plays out we move to another. Sometimes the jig bite will also be working, and usually blue ice color works the best. Another good thing about crappie fishing on Lake Fork this time of the year is that the weather is good! LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake Deep Water Points and Humps GPS: N 32 50.5439, W 95 36.9539 u TAP FOR (32.8424, -95.6159) ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: “Top water frog lures, football head jigs (Vicktory Jig from Finch Nasty Bait Co.) with a Grandebass Airtail wiggler as trailer” CONTACT: Lance Vick 903)-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: “I love the summer on Lake Fork! Weather is good, and ﬁsh are eating, and you can catch em’ both shallow and deep. Topwater water frogs over grass early really gets the blood ﬂowing. That gives the sun time to get hot and position the bass on deep water points and humps. Fish a stand-up football head jig like the Vicktory Jig from Finch Nasty Bait Co I designed this jig for big bass on Lake Fork. The screw lock design stands your trailer off the bottom,

so bass can see your jig from further away. I use the Grandebass Airtail wiggler as a trailer as its tail ﬂoats. Fish the Vicktory Jig in 15 to 25 feet deep Drag it slow and work spots thoroughly.” LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: 190 Road Bed GPS: N 30 45.15, W 95 10.3206 (30.7525, -95.1720)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Jigging slabs, Tsunami Zombie Eyes CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: “This month we are structure fishing using your electronics: your GPS and fish finder. Fishing is best mid-morning and with a southeast wind less than 10 miles per hour. Look for White Bass to stack up on humps and ridges mid-lake and lower lake. One of the best places in June is the old 190 road bed. Key in on old bridge rails and the road bed in 11-15 foot of water. Jig slabs right off the bottom. Feel for strikes as the bait falls. Often the fish will be on the edge or slope of the ridge or hump. Keep an eye out for birds working bait and schooling fish in the same areas. You can catch the schooling fish on the same slab baits by pulling the bait through the school and then letting it fall. Good luck fishing. BANK ACCESS: Penwaugh Marina “ LOCATION: Toledo Bend Reservoir HOTSPOT: Six Mile Creek GPS: N 31 14.628, W 93 45.132 (31.2438, -93.7522)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Football head jigs, Carolina rigs, dropshots CONTACT: Mike Knight 936)-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxﬁshingguide.com TIPS: “Starting in June and throughout the summer Toledo Bend is predominantly a deep water offshore T E X A S

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ﬁshery. Look for bass in 15-25 feet on structures like humps, creek bends and ledges along the old river channel. Outside the mouths of major creeks like Housen, Six Mile, Lanan and Negreet are likely starting places.”

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Toledo Bend Reservoir HOTSPOT: Browns Bend, River Bend Sand Bar GPS: N 31 42.33, W 93 47.826 u TAP FOR (31.7055, -93.7971)

TIPS: Bass ﬁshing is good right now on crankbaits and on Carolina rigs. Focus on 10-15 feet of water working main lake points. Fish slow, dragging your bait slowly for best results.

ONLINE MAP

LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 51.156, W 96 52.374 (32.8526, -96.8729)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, tail spinners, Rat-LTraps CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: We’re heading into summer and as the water continues to warm, the white bass will be moving further south down the lake following the old river channel, holding and feeding on the inside bend of sand bars. Use your electronics to find the baitfish and the whites will be close by. Schooling activity will be increasing so keep a Rat-L-Trap handy. As the schooling increases, look for the sea gulls feeding on the bait fish. The whites have usually pushed the baitfish to the surface.

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All Points Bulletin on Lake Palestine

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake Humps and Points GPS: N 32 15.5339, W 96 6.7739 (32.2589, -96.1129)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slab spoons CONTACT: Jason Barber 903)-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: This month we are “slabbing” for white bass. Fish all mid-lake humps and points in 8’ to 16’ while watching graph. Fish near bottom with your slabs.

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, Carolina rigs CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 RICKY@RICKYSGUIDESERVICE.COM www.RICKYSGUIDESERVICE.COM

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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 must deeper water. During the early spring the sandbass spawn on these humps. I find the fish on the electronics and jig straight up and down with the slab and fly and many times you will catch two at a time. For people who like to cast you can cast this rig and hop it back to the boat LOCATION: Fayette County Reservoir HOTSPOT: North Trees Area GPS: N 29 56.232, W 96 42.8819 (29.9372, -96.7147)

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by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 32 5.964, W 95 26.0099 (32.0994, -95.4335)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Bass: spinnerbaits and chatterbaits CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: This time of year, bass will usually always be in 1 to 5 feet of water until August then they move out a little deeper in the middle of the lake. Spinnerbaits seem to work the best along with chatterbaits. When It gets a little warmer and it’s super bright out, ﬁsh the bridges or the rip rap where there is access to deeper water.

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

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103, Weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: This time of year is one of best for using chum. Anchor in 10 feet of water and chum straight down beside the boat. Use tight line, fishing close to the boat. LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Reservoir HOTSPOT: Plum Creek Point GPS: N 30 38.478, W 96 3.114 (30.6413, -96.0519)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: CJ’s Punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103, Weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: This point separates the plant’s discharge from Plum Creek. Lots of fish travel this patch. Anchor, chum and fish with tight line in chummed area. LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Mid-Lake Open Water GPS: N 30 42.042, W 97 20.856 (30.7007, -97.3476)

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 5.5439, W 96 28.6799 (33.0924, -96.4780)

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SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: White Spinner baits, rattle traps and French fry/power bait soft plastics CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 TIPS: “Work points with submerged brush.

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Snake Island Cove GPS: N 30 18.918, W 96 35.8019 (30.3153, -96.5967)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut Shad/CJ’s punch bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103, Weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: This is a good area for night fishing. Chum in 4-5 foot of water and anchor in 10 foot and cast back toward chum and shoreline.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: White lizards with a chartreuse dipped tail: Texas-rigged, white and chartreuse spinnerbaits, top water lures like frogs and Tiny Torpedos CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: “June is a great time on Lake Lavon. White lizards with a chartreuse dipped tail Texas rigged will usually get smashed. Early morning, ﬁsh white and chartreuse spinnerbaits paralleling the shoreline and top waters right against the bank like frogs or torpedoes in 1 to 5 feet of water. After they’re done with the spawn at the end of May or mid-June, the bass will move out to deeper water, around 5 to 18 feet.“ LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Culp Island GPS: N 33 21.806, W 97 4.779 (33.3634, -97.0797)

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: The North End GPS: N 33 52.068, W 96 41.67 (33.8678, -96.6945)

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Top water plugs, slabs, jigs CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: The striped bass have finished their annual spawn. The fish are grouping up in large schools and roaming the lake in a feeding frenzy. Early mornings, cast top water plugs on shallow banks with deep water nearby. There is nothing more exciting than having a big striper explode on your plug. Mid-mornings, tie on your 1.5 oz. chartreuse, chrome or white slabs. Locate your large schools in the river channels and main lake areas. Drop your slab and let it free-fall to the bottom and reel it up quickly. Stay in contact with your slab as they will hit it on the fall. By mid-month, look for the traditional surfacing top water action in the same areas. Bank Access: Washita point and Texas Flats

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SPECIES: White bass, crappie BEST BAITS: Slabs, minnows/jigs CONTACT: Justin Wilson 214-538-2780 TIPS: The summer weather is heating up and so is the fishing. The white bass are spawned out and in large schools. Starting to see some topwater schooling early in the mornings but not consistently. The best way to catch these fish right now is slabbing off the bottom on points and humps where these fish congregate. They can also be caught drifting flats near these points and humps when they are really feeding. The crappie bite is still good, just having to pick through smaller fish to get a decent cooler of keepers. We’ve been fishing T E X A S

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brush piles anywhere from 12 to 25 foot of water using slip bobbers keeping our baits from getting completely hung up and making it easy to change depths per pile

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/32 oz. Marabou jigs CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512)-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Fishing right now is very similar to May fishing except that the crappie are getting fatter after the spawn. Open lake brush piles and plastic artificial trees are producing big catches with limits common. The wind can be a factor this time of year and being able to manage the wind will determine day to day catches. High profile bay boats and aluminum boats can be hard to hold in the wind. I use a 15-pound tri-fluted anchor with a 10-pound mushroom anchor attached about 2 feet behind it on the rope. I drop the anchors about 50 feet upwind of the brush pile and drift back using the trolling motor to keep left/right position. The fishing will be better in the wind than in calm spots. Good luck and good fishing. LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: River above Granbury GPS: N 32 34.559, W 97 49.295 (32.5760, -97.8216)

Top water action is great early and late. Use crankbaits to work a lot of water to locate ﬁsh. Soft plastics are great near points and drop-offs near creek channels and sloughs.”

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Mouth of Big Rocky Creek GPS: N 31 52.794, W 97 23.682 (31.8799, -97.3947)

Bone Up on PK Stripers & Hybrids

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LOCATION: Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Bone Bend GPS: N 32 50.861, W 98 32.291 (32.8477, -98.5382)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad and live perch CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: Post spawn patterns are here, and the big ﬁsh bite is on. Anchor up and use live gizzard shad on a Carolina rig dropping baits to 18 feet. Quick limits are coming early and late along the bluffs out from Big Rock. Drift live perch and/or shad along the bluffs between 18 and 21 feet down below the boat. Stripers will move up and down along the bluff gorging on perch that are spawning. Bank Access: Walling Bend LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: 309 Flats GPS: N 31 58.716, W 96 6.87 (31.9786, -96.1145)

SPECIES: Striped, hybrid striped bass BEST BAITS: Jigs CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: June is always a great weather month. The ﬁsh are in set patterns for a week or two at a time and can easily be located. This is one of our favorite down rigging months, so trolling a jig with a 6” Mister Twister Curly Tail is a magic bait for stripers and hybrids. Don`t forget that PK is one of the only two lakes in the whole state that stripers naturally spawn in, so try to throw those big females back—they spawn 250,000 eggs each. This is why PK has continued to be such a great lake going on 69 years now.

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LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points by the Dam GPS: N 33 3.6539, W 101 3.168 (33.0609, -101.0528)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: 10” plastic worms, deep diving crankbaits, jigs, spoons CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net http://www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: “Fishing in June is when I like to start fishing at night. I do not like hot days, so I choose to fish as much as I can at night using 10”” worms with a glass rattle in them. I fish a lot of the main |

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and Sunfish BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr., TPWD 325- 692-0921 michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov TIPS: Trammel Reservoir has seen a resurgence in its bass and sunfish populations since catching full in 2016. The reservoir has been able to maintain good water level after going dry for multiple years, and the productivity of the reservoir has been producing excellent catches of largemouth bass and sunfish as of late. At this reservoir, anglers will be fishing relatively clear water, so rigging fluorocarbon line should be considered. Flashy lures such as spinner baits, chrome crankbaits, and chartreuse colored soft plastics may produce a good catch. Also, consider any swimbait resembling sunfish! Smaller spinner baits, mini rattletraps, and live worms may work well to produce a sunfish bite. Don’t forget the new ShareLunker program. For more information, see texassharelunker.com.

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LOCATION: Trammel Reservoir HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 21.4333, W 100 25.8506 (32.3572, -100.4308)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Tiny Torpedos, Rat-L-Traps, slabs. CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.goneﬁshin.biz TIPS: “June is traditionally the month that the top water white bass action kicks in full gear! Once started, the action only gets better as the weather gets hotter. Look for early morning schooling action on the main lake from the dam all the way back to the Hwy 287 Bridge. The Hwy 309 Flats is the area we usually head for early and start the search for schooling activity. If you’re lucky and get a light breeze and some cloud cover, the topwater action can last up to several hours and you’ll often be on several acres of ﬁsh! This is the time of the year to take the kids as the action is fast and easy and most importantly FUN!!!”

••

by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

lake points around the dam area. Usually in the first part of June will still find some bass on beds and a lot of post spawn bass. A bunch of the bass will be starting to school up in deeper water where you can catch them on jigs, spoons, and deep diving crank baits. To find these schooling bass, you will need to use your electronics and then fish vertically in the schools. These schools might be found anywhere. Start looking at the mouth of any of the creeks and in the dam area. Early is also a good time to fish top water lures and fish until the bite stops. Any flat is a good place to start. Fish fun and fish safe!”

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G A M E ®

5/13/18 4:45 PM

FISHING HOTSPOTS Deep Thoughts on Lake Amistad

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by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: Deep Water Points GPS: N 29 29.67126 W 101 8.2884 (29.494521, -101.138140)

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SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Crank baits, soft plastic worms, topwater lures CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com amistadbass.com TIPS: Fish the major points that drop-off into 20 feet of water. The bass will be feeding on crawﬁsh so crawﬁsh-colored lures will produce the best catches. Try topwaters early in the backs of the coves. LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Highway 90 Area GPS: N 29 28.72116 W101 3.2424 (29.478686, -101.054040)

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SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Carolina-rigged worms, Texas-rigged worms, Senkos, crankbaits CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com amistadbass.com TIPS: Fish the backs of the multiple coves in this area with Texas-rigged plastic worms, Senkos and crawdad-colored crankbaits. If the action is slow, move off the points and ﬁsh the edges of the grass beds with Carolina-rigged soft plastics.

Stripers Make a Point on Canyon

by Dustin Warncke

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

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Mid to Upper Main Lake GPS: N 30 52.302, W 98 26.484 (30.8717, -98.4414)

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

SPECIES: Striped Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: 4-6-inch live bait, white or chartreuse slabs CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasﬁshing@gmail.com www.centraltexasﬁshing.com TIPS: “Striper action has been good early and late in the day. Fish in 20-40 feet of water, drifting or anchored., White bass will be running with them so be ready to catch both. Keep slabs close to bottom and concentrate on the mid to upper half of the lake, focusing on humps and ridges in those areas.”

LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Flats Close to Deep Water GPS: N 30.350353, W 97.796368 (30.350353, -97.796368)

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake Humps and Ridges GPS: N 30 50.172, W 98 24.0359 (30.8362, -98.4006)

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SPECIES: Stripers and Hybrid Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: Stripers and hybrids will be on the main lake area. Fish along humps and ridges along the river channel. Also, ﬁsh will be suspended in the river chan-

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: V&M Ledge Roller Spinnerbaits, Picasso Dinn-R-Bell & Buzz Saw, Picasso Bait Ball Extreme, V&M Thunder Shad Jr, Fringe Tackle Swim Baits CONTACT: Brian Parker, Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 LakeAustinFishing@yahoo.com T E X A S

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•

www.LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS: June is a post spawn feeding month and there should be lots of feeding going on in preparation for summer. In the mornings, start with the Picasso Top Water buzz baits until they stop eating on the ﬂats. Then move off the bank into about 6-10’ of water and work that column with V&M and Picasso Spinnerbaits and the Picasso Bait Ball Extreme loaded with White Ice, Blue Racer, or Sexy Shad V&M Thunder Shad Jrs or Hula Shad’s. After working that water column over well, move deeper with the Picasso Bait Ball Extreme and Fringe Tackle Swim Bait.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS nel. In addition to using live shad, down rigging will also be good. LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Rock Piles and Ledges GPS: N 30 48.468, W 98 26.154 (30.8078, -98.4359)

HOTSPOT: Hardwoods Right of the Discharge Channel GPS: N 28 43.692, W 97 10.3439 u TAP FOR (28.7282, -97.1724)

ONLINE MAP

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always good to get out and sink some private brush piles in 15 feet plus and GPS them. Early morning and late evening the action will be in the back of the main creeks. There will be a lot of grass and they’ll hit about anything you throw at them. in ﬁshing grass don’t hesitate to use as big as 5/0 hooks and at least 20lb test. LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 26 55.78452, W 99 21.01284 u TAP FOR (26.929742, -99.350214) ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Flukes, Texas-rigged Zoom lizard dipped slightly in chartreuse CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: It’s starting to get hot this time of year. A lot of fry in the water and their metabolisms are high which means fish are very hungry most all day. I’m just hooked on my fluke. I guess I’m just stubborn that way! I’m also stubborn on the same places I fish. One place I always hit this time of year is a big patch of hardwoods on the right, right before water intake south side of lake. Sometimes I can find a few nice ones right in front of intake, or all along the whole channel going to the intake. I like throwing Zoom lizard dipped slightly in chartreuse. I use a 1/2-ounce bullet weight Texas rig and it seems to flutter the tail a little more, giving it a little more flash and kicking up a little more dust as it drags bottom. These little tricks seem to make a big difference when fishing is tough. May your fish be healthy, and your bites be big!

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@yahoo.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Eating-sized and trophy Blue Cats are very good. Double anchor near rock piles and ledges and use cut bait. I catch and use shad but store bought may be good as well.

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•••

Rocky Reds on Lake Calaveras

by Dustin Warncke

LOCATION: Lake Calaveras HOTSPOT: Rocky Cove GPS: N 29 18.69288, W 98 18.27282 (29.311548, -98.304547)

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Points and Humps GPS: N 28 44.4899, W 97 10.8 (28.7415, -97.1800)

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SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: live shad, shrimp CONTACT: CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures 210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Locate the creek channel and anchor just off the edge of it. Freeline live shad or shrimp off the bottom.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Zoom ﬂuke in pearl or watermelon, dipped in garlic chartruse dip. CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-250-3959 www.coletocreekguideﬁshing.com TIPS: During the day I like to Carolina rig the deeper water concentrating on main lake points or humps. Its

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake

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SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, jigs, plastic worms CONTACT: Robert Amaya 956-765-1442 robertsﬁshntackle@gmail.com www.robertsﬁshntackle.com TIPS: Fish any brush and stickups on the main lake points on the lower end with Texas-rigged soft plastics, spinnerbaits or topwater lures. Start early with the surface lures and then switch to plastic worms or spinnerbaits once the sun begins to get high.

LOCATION: Choke Canyon Res. HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 29.274, W 98 22.8239 (28.4879, -98.3804)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Stink bait, cheese bait, or worms. CONTACT: Charlie Brown 830-780-2162 TIPS: Expect to find catfish in shallow water this time of year. Use a float rigged to 3 feet and move to another spot if you don’t get a bite within 10-15 minutes.

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5/13/18 4:45 PM

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5/13/18 4:45 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK JUNE 2018

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

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

T12

T11

T10 T9

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

T8 T17

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

T15 T16

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

T13 T6

T3 T2 T1

T14

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

T18

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

T19

T20

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

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

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

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

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

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

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

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

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

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

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

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

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

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

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

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

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

READING THE GRAPH

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

Moon Overhead

Fishing Score Graph

Moon Underfoot

Day’s Best Day’s 2nd Score Best Score

Best Day Overall

MOON PHASES

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

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5/13/18 4:45 PM

JUNE 2018

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

28 « FEET

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

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

TUESDAY

29 «

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

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

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

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

WEDNESDAY

30 l High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

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

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

THURSDAY

31 «

High Tide: 7:59 AM 1.53 ft.

FRIDAY

Jun 1 «

Low Tide: 12:07 AM -0.11 ft. High Tide: 8:44 AM 1.50 ft.

SATURDAY

Low Tide: 12:44 AM -0.04 ft. High Tide: 9:30 AM 1.47 ft.

SUNDAY

Low Tide: 1:24 AM 0.05 ft. High Tide: 10:14 AM 1.43 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

11:30A — 1:30P

7:00 — 9:00 PM

7:30 — 9:30 PM

8:00 — 10:00 PM

8:30 — 10:30 PM

9:00 — 11:00 PM

9:30 — 11:30 PM

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

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

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

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

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:13p Moonrise: 10:55p Moon Set: 8:50a AM Minor: 8:06a AM Major: 1:54a PM Minor: 8:31p PM Major: 2:19p Moon Overhead: 3:29a Moon Underfoot: 3:53p

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:13p Moonrise: 11:39p Moon Set: 9:40a AM Minor: 9:00a AM Major: 2:48a PM Minor: 9:24p PM Major: 3:12p Moon Overhead: 4:17a Moon Underfoot: 4:41p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:14p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 10:32a AM Minor: 9:53a AM Major: 3:41a PM Minor: 10:16p PM Major: 4:04p Moon Overhead: 5:04a Moon Underfoot: 5:28p

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Low Tide: 2:05 AM 0.16 ft. High Tide: 10:54 AM 1.40 ft.

6»

Low Tide: 2:49 AM 0.28 ft. High Tide: 11:28 AM 1.36 ft.

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

FEET

3:36 AM 11:55 AM 7:38 PM 10:55 PM

THURSDAY

0.41 ft. 1.32 ft. 0.85 ft. 0.90 ft.

Low Tide: 4:30 AM 0.55 ft. High Tide: 12:17 PM 1.28 ft. Low Tide: 7:12 PM 0.69 ft.

FRIDAY

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

12:43 AM 5:33 AM 12:35 PM 7:23 PM

SATURDAY

0.97 ft. 0.70 ft. 1.25 ft. 0.48 ft.

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

2:04 AM 6:41 AM 12:51 PM 7:49 PM

SUNDAY

1.11 ft. 0.85 ft. 1.24 ft. 0.24 ft.

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

3:12 AM 7:53 AM 1:06 PM 8:23 PM

1.27 ft. 0.99 ft. 1.24 ft. -0.01 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

5:00 — 7:00 AM

11:30P — 1:30A

12:00 — 2:00 AM

7:00 — 9:00 AM

8:00 — 10:00 AM

8:30 — 10:30 AM

9:30 — 11:30 AM

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:14p Moonrise: 12:20a Moon Set: 11:25a AM Minor: 10:44a AM Major: 4:32a PM Minor: 11:07p PM Major: 4:55p Moon Overhead: 5:51a Moon Underfoot: 6:14p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:15p Moonrise: 12:58a Moon Set: 12:18p AM Minor: 11:32a AM Major: 5:21a PM Minor: 11:55p PM Major: 5:44p Moon Overhead: 6:36a Moon Underfoot: 6:59p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:15p Moonrise: 1:35a Moon Set: 1:12p AM Minor: ----AM Major: 6:08a PM Minor: 12:19p PM Major: 6:30p Moon Overhead: 7:21a Moon Underfoot: 7:44p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:16p Moonrise: 2:10a Moon Set: 2:07p AM Minor: 12:41a AM Major: 6:52a PM Minor: 1:03p PM Major: 7:14p Moon Overhead: 8:06a Moon Underfoot: 8:28p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:16p Moonrise: 2:44a Moon Set: 3:03p AM Minor: 1:23a AM Major: 7:34a PM Minor: 1:46p PM Major: 7:57p Moon Overhead: 8:51a Moon Underfoot: 9:14p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:16p Moonrise: 3:20a Moon Set: 4:02p AM Minor: 2:04a AM Major: 8:16a PM Minor: 2:28p PM Major: 8:40p Moon Overhead: 9:38a Moon Underfoot: 10:02p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:17p Moonrise: 3:57a Moon Set: 5:03p AM Minor: 2:46a AM Major: 8:59a PM Minor: 3:12p PM Major: 9:24p Moon Overhead: 10:27a Moon Underfoot: 10:53p

MONDAY

11 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

4:13 AM 9:02 AM 1:21 PM 9:03 PM

MOON PHASES

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

READING THE GRAPH

FEET

12p

PRIME TIME

TUESDAY

12 «

1.43 ft. 1.11 ft. 1.27 ft. -0.25 ft.

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

5:10 AM 10:07 AM 1:41 PM 9:48 PM

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

13 l

1.57 ft. 1.22 ft. 1.32 ft. -0.45 ft.

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

6:05 AM 11:08 AM 2:07 PM 10:35 PM

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

14 «

1.66 ft. 1.30 ft. 1.36 ft. -0.58 ft.

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

6:59 AM 12:08 PM 2:41 PM 11:25 PM

1.71 ft. 1.35 ft. 1.39 ft. -0.63 ft.

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

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

15 «

High Tide: 7:53 AM 1.70 ft. Low Tide: 1:12 PM 1.35 ft. High Tide: 3:23 PM 1.37 ft.

SATURDAY

16 « Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:17 AM 8:45 AM 2:27 PM 4:16 PM

-0.60 ft. 1.65 ft. 1.28 ft. 1.30 ft.

SUNDAY

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

1:11 AM 9:34 AM 3:49 PM 5:42 PM

-0.47 ft. 1.57 ft. 1.16 ft. 1.17 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

10:30A — 12:30P

11:00A — 1:00P

12:00 — 2:00 PM

1:00 — 3:00 PM

8:00 — 10:00 PM

8:30 — 10:30 PM

4:00 — 6:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:17p Moonrise: 4:38a Moon Set: 6:07p AM Minor: 3:31a AM Major: 9:45a PM Minor: 3:58p PM Major: 10:12p Moon Overhead: 11:20a Moon Underfoot: 11:48p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:18p Moonrise: 5:24a Moon Set: 7:14p AM Minor: 4:21a AM Major: 10:35a PM Minor: 4:50p PM Major: 11:04p Moon Overhead: 12:16p Moon Underfoot: None

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:18p Moonrise: 6:15a Moon Set: 8:20p AM Minor: 5:16a AM Major: 11:32a PM Minor: 5:47p PM Major: 12:02p Moon Overhead: 1:16p Moon Underfoot: 12:46a

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:18p Moonrise: 7:13a Moon Set: 9:24p AM Minor: 6:18a AM Major: 12:02a PM Minor: 6:49p PM Major: 12:33p Moon Overhead: 2:19p Moon Underfoot: 1:47a

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:19p Moonrise: 8:17a Moon Set: 10:25p AM Minor: 7:24a AM Major: 1:08a PM Minor: 7:55p PM Major: 1:40p Moon Overhead: 3:22p Moon Underfoot: 2:50a

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:19p Moonrise: 9:23a Moon Set: 11:19p AM Minor: 8:32a AM Major: 2:17a PM Minor: 9:03p PM Major: 2:47p Moon Overhead: 4:23p Moon Underfoot: 3:53a

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:19p Moonrise: 10:30a Moon Set: None AM Minor: 9:39a AM Major: 3:24a PM Minor: 10:08p PM Major: 3:53p Moon Overhead: 5:22p Moon Underfoot: 4:53a

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5/13/18 4:45 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

18 FEET

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

2:07 AM 10:18 AM 4:52 PM 7:46 PM

-0.27 ft. 1.47 ft. 0.97 ft. 1.02 ft.

TUESDAY

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

3:06 AM 10:56 AM 5:43 PM 9:53 PM

-0.01 ft. 1.37 ft. 0.74 ft. 0.92 ft.

WEDNESDAY

20 º Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:10 AM 11:28 AM 6:27 PM 11:52 PM

0.27 ft. 1.28 ft. 0.49 ft. 0.93 ft.

THURSDAY

Low Tide: 5:23 AM 0.54 ft. High Tide: 11:56 AM 1.21 ft. Low Tide: 7:09 PM 0.26 ft.

FRIDAY

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

1:39 AM 6:49 AM 12:21 PM 7:48 PM

1.03 ft. 0.77 ft. 1.17 ft. 0.05 ft.

SATURDAY

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

3:08 AM 8:22 AM 12:43 PM 8:25 PM

SUNDAY

1.17 ft. 0.94 ft. 1.15 ft. -0.11 ft.

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

4:18 AM 9:46 AM 1:01 PM 9:00 PM

1.29 ft. 1.06 ft. 1.15 ft. -0.22 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

5:00 — 7:00 AM

6:00 — 8:00 PM

7:00 — 9:00 PM

7:30 — 9:30 PM

8:00 — 10:00 AM

3:00 — 5:00 PM

4:00 — 6:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 11:36a Moon Set: 12:08a AM Minor: 10:41a AM Major: 4:28a PM Minor: 11:09p PM Major: 4:55p Moon Overhead: 6:17p Moon Underfoot: 5:50a

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 12:39p Moon Set: 12:51a AM Minor: 11:39a AM Major: 5:26a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 5:51p Moon Overhead: 7:08p Moon Underfoot: 6:43a

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 1:39p Moon Set: 1:31a AM Minor: 12:06a AM Major: 6:18a PM Minor: 12:30p PM Major: 6:42p Moon Overhead: 7:56p Moon Underfoot: 7:32a

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 2:37p Moon Set: 2:07a AM Minor: 12:53a AM Major: 7:04a PM Minor: 1:16p PM Major: 7:27p Moon Overhead: 8:43p Moon Underfoot: 8:20a

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 3:34p Moon Set: 2:43a AM Minor: 1:35a AM Major: 7:47a PM Minor: 1:58p PM Major: 8:10p Moon Overhead: 9:28p Moon Underfoot: 9:06a

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 4:29p Moon Set: 3:18a AM Minor: 2:16a AM Major: 8:28a PM Minor: 2:39p PM Major: 8:50p Moon Overhead: 10:14p Moon Underfoot: 9:51a

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 5:24p Moon Set: 3:54a AM Minor: 2:56a AM Major: 9:08a PM Minor: 3:19p PM Major: 9:31p Moon Overhead: 11:00p Moon Underfoot: 10:37a

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JUNE 2018

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

25 FEET

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

5:11 AM 11:00 AM 1:17 PM 9:34 PM

TUESDAY

26 «

1.37 ft. 1.13 ft. 1.16 ft. -0.29 ft.

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

5:55 AM 12:05 PM 1:28 PM 10:07 PM

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

27 «

1.42 ft. 1.18 ft. 1.18 ft. -0.31 ft.

28 l

High Tide: 6:32 AM 1.43 ft. Low Tide: 10:40 PM -0.31 ft.

High Tide: 7:07 AM 1.42 ft. Low Tide: 11:13 PM -0.27 ft.

FRIDAY

29 «

High Tide: 7:41 AM 1.40 ft. Low Tide: 11:47 PM -0.22 ft.

SATURDAY

30 «

High Tide: 8:15 AM 1.38 ft.

SUNDAY

Jul 1

Low Tide: 12:21 AM -0.14 ft. High Tide: 8:48 AM 1.35 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

PRIME TIME

12a

12p

12a

PRIME TIME

5:00 — 7:00 PM

5:30 — 7:30 PM

6:00 — 8:00 PM

6:30 — 8:30 PM

7:00 — 9:00 PM

8:00 — 10:00 PM

9:00 — 11:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 6:19p Moon Set: 4:33a AM Minor: 3:37a AM Major: 9:49a PM Minor: 4:01p PM Major: 10:13p Moon Overhead: 11:47p Moon Underfoot: 11:24a

Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 7:12p Moon Set: 5:14a AM Minor: 4:20a AM Major: 10:32a PM Minor: 4:44p PM Major: 10:56p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:11p

Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 8:03p Moon Set: 5:58a AM Minor: 5:06a AM Major: 11:18a PM Minor: 5:30p PM Major: 11:42p Moon Overhead: 12:35a Moon Underfoot: 1:00p

Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 8:51p Moon Set: 6:45a AM Minor: 5:54a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:18p PM Major: 12:06p Moon Overhead: 1:24a Moon Underfoot: 1:48p

Sunrise: 6:22a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 9:37p Moon Set: 7:35a AM Minor: 6:44a AM Major: 12:32a PM Minor: 7:08p PM Major: 12:56p Moon Overhead: 2:13a Moon Underfoot: 2:37p

Sunrise: 6:22a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 10:19p Moon Set: 8:26a AM Minor: 7:36a AM Major: 1:24a PM Minor: 7:59p PM Major: 1:47p Moon Overhead: 3:01a Moon Underfoot: 3:24p

Sunrise: 6:22a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 10:58p Moon Set: 9:19a AM Minor: 8:27a AM Major: 2:16a PM Minor: 8:50p PM Major: 2:39p Moon Overhead: 3:48a Moon Underfoot: 4:11p

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5/13/18 4:45 PM

Industry INSIDER Pistol Champ Redl Joins Aguila and Texas Armament

ect Management role is something we’ve been looking to fill. Being able to fill it with a shooter like Mark is an unexpected bonus.” “Aguila is staying on top of marketing trends when it comes to product innovation and production. I enjoy being in the field, helping manage the demand of new and existing products,” explains Redl. “I hope to make Aguila Ammo proud to have me on their team, and their staff.” Redl holds an impressive list of shooting accomplishments. Already this year he won Division Champion and High Senior in the Limited 10 Division USPSA Florida Open. Last year he finished 2nd/High Senior in the USPSA Florida Open and Area 1, as well as Division Champ/High Senior in Area 7 Spring Blast Single Stack Division. He earned 2nd/High Senior in Area 6 and Mid-Atlantic Limited 10 Divisions, Division Champ/High Senior in Single Stack Division Area 7LI and DELMARVA Limited 10 Division Champ/High Senior.

TEXAS ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY (TxAT) and Aguila Ammunition announce the addition of Mark Redl. Redl joins Aguila Ammo’s shooting team as Brand Ambassador. He also joins as a staff member taking on a new role in the company as Product and Project Manager. Mark Redl

The Colt-sponsored shooter is known most for his 2015 trifecta; being named the King of New England after winning the Custom Defensive Pistol division in three separate International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) competitions: the Massachusetts State Championship, the New England Regional and finally the Live Free or Die New Hampshire State Championship. “I’m a technical person, so having the best techniques, equipment and ammunition that allow me to be more proficient with my shooting are very important to me,” states Redl. “That’s where my partnership with Aguila Ammunition began. Aguila is the best.” “Prior to his work with Aguila, Mark spent over 8 years as a Pro Shooter for Colt Firearms and 3 years as their Handguns Product Manager. Between his background in Product Management and his shooting experience, we couldn’t have found a more perfect fit for our team,” explains Kristi Drawe, Director of Marketing for TxAT/ Aguila Ammunition. “The Product and Proj76

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life and all of our committee members, sponsors, and attendee’s should be very proud to have been part of the Best New Chapter Banquet in the USA for 2017!” Our chapter members worked tirelessly to assemble and bring to our attendee’s a night of fun and camaraderie, along with lots of games, raffles, auctions and prizes, while raising funds critical in sustaining the NWTF’s “Save the Habitat” and “Save the Hunt” initiatives. The Second Annual NWTF Banquet will be held at the same location as last – the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Exhibit Hall #2, 9333 Airport Road, Conroe, TX, on Thursday Night, August 16th, 2018. “We’re still five months away from our banquet, but we returned from the National Convention energized and hit the ground running,” continues Zimmerman, “ Our team plans on making this year’s banquet even bigger and better than our first!”

Texas NWTF Chapter Wins Inaugural Award ON FEBRUARY 17, 2018, MEMBERS of the Montgomery County Texas chapter team of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) received the L.A. Dixon Jr. Award for the Best Inaugural Banquet of 2017 at the 42nd Annual NWTF Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Members of the NWTF Montgomery County Chapter team receiving the L.A. Dixon Jr. Award for the Best Inaugural Banquet of 2017 at the 42nd annual NWTF convention in Nashville, TN. From left to right: Jarod Hamm, Cathy Zimmerman, Lee Zimmerman, Wally Stinson, and Mike Shouse. NWTF Montgomery County, Texas Chapter President, Lee Zimmerman says, “This award is one of the highlights of my |

T E X A S

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From left: Jarod Hamm, Cathy Zimmerman, Lee Zimmerman, Wally Stinson, and Mike Shouse.

Zimmerman adds, “You wouldn’t believe the friendship and camaraderie we were shown at this year’s NWTF Convention and Sport Show. Close to 56,000 people attended and it was like a huge family reunion. We’ll definitely return every year if we possibly can and I think everyone that hunts, enjoys the great outdoors and is conservation minded, should put it on their Bucket List! It’s that good!”

G A M E ®

5/10/18 1:41 PM

Fish and Game GEAR Daiwa Ryoga Round Baitcaster THE ROUND BAITCASTING REEL has, over the years, become an essential staple on the fresh and saltwater sportfishing scene and Daiwa has raised the standard to the state of the art. The hard Machine Cut Super Metal Housing is the footing upon which the technology is housed. The flat bottom, super light-weight, Daiwa G1 Grade Extra Strong Duralimin Spool is Free Floating utilizing the Speed Shaft technology. Because the pinion rides its own separate shaft, the spool spins freely, unhampered by gear train friction when casting. The casting is also controlled by the Magforce Z system that brakes the cast at the start then releases for longer distances. The new Hyper Mesh Gearing System has gears engaged with 50 percent more tooth contact and the Carbon Ultimate Tournament Drag ( UTD) provides the stopping power. The bearings are MAGSEALED to prevent water and dirt intrusion The 90MM swept

TALO DISTRIBUTORS IS A 53-YEARold wholesale buying cooperative with its roots in Texas. It was started in 1965 by wholesalers in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma (hence the name TALO) to compete with the largest sellers of hunting and fishing equipment at the time. Over the years, while the membership has changed the mission to provide innovative products has not. Today TALO is best known for their exclusive special edition firearms sold through sporting goods dealers across the US. The organization has gained a following of collectors who have allowed its members to make significant contributions to organizations like USA Shooting Team, Semper Fi, Navy Seal Foundation and MARSOC Foundation while at the same time producing limited edition firearms that over time

If you have used round baitcasters in your past fishing forays, and have come to rely on the comfort and castability, then you may want to look at the new Daiwa RYOGA, an old reel design reborn in the 21st century.

Phantom Spin Rod Plays Favorites THE PHANTOM SNEAKS IN THE market at an amazing price for the quality of the Favorite rod line! With its sleek design, carbon fiber reel seat top, ghostly camo handles, and the exposed skeletal rod grip, this

Ruger Naval Special Warfare 1911

have proven to be a decent store for the collector’s investment. The TALO collection can be seen at www.taloinc.com. Ruger’s Naval Special Warfare 1911 is currently being shipped to dealers.

rod is sure to have you caught! Phantom is available in both casting and spinning for $149.99! Go to favoriteusa.com to find “Your New Favorite.”

Daiwa Ryoga

handle moves the paddles closer to the rod’s centerline. The result is less wobble of the rod and reel in your hand as you crank. Features include: • Super Hard Machine Cut Super Metal Housing • G1 Duralumin 36mm Spool • Free Floating Spool • Speed Shaft

« Phantom Favorite spinning rod

T E X A S

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TALO Distribution

• Hyper Mesh Gear System • UTD • Magsealed Ball Bearings • Magforce Z • 90mm Swept Crank Handle • Hi-Grip I-Shape Knob • Clicking Drag • Line Capacity: 100 yds of 20-pound test

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5/10/18 1:40 PM

Texas TASTED by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Catﬁsh and Wild Rice Soup

E LOVE TO CATCH CATfish and normally will fry it up, but this is a hearty recipe that can be enjoyed throughout the year and is a great way to enjoy the fish. It can be made with freshly caught or store-bought catfish—or you can substitute with redfish if you like. The wild rice gives the backbone to this recipe and makes it a great appetizer or one pot meal.

Catﬁsh and Wild Rice Soup

ounces each- cut into 4 smaller pieces 1 cup of cooked Long grain and wild rice 1/4 cup butter 1 cup mushrooms, sliced 1/2 cup green onions, chopped separate into 2 small bowls 1 cup chopped celery 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 tablespoons flour 2 cups chicken broth ½ cup Dry Sac Sherry (Or your favorite Cream Sherry) 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves) ½ teaspoon Worcestershire ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice 1 teaspoon lemon juice ½ cup heavy cream

Ingredients 2 Catfish Fillets- approx. 8 to 12

Instructions 1. IN SMALL PAN, bring butter to a boil and cook until bubbles stop, then reduce heat. Liberally sprinkle the Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice on both sides of the filets. Increase the heat to high and then cook the filets 5 to 7 minutes or until done. Remove from the fire to a plate and allow

This is a shot of my son, Brandon Slaven, with a big blue catﬁsh.

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the filets to cool, cut into small pieces 2. MELT butter in sauté pan over medium heat. Cook mushrooms, half of the green onions, celery and garlic until tender, stirring occasionally. Add the flour slowly stirring it into the butter and vegetables to allow it to blend in without creating clumps. 3. ADD the heavy cream slowly, stirring constantly then gradually stir in chicken broth. Heat to simmering, stirring constantly. 4. ADD white wine, parsley, Worcestershire, cayenne pepper, thyme, Texas Gourmet’s Sidewinder Searing Spice seasoning and lemon juice. 5. COOK for approximately 5 minutes to reduce liquid to desired consistency, then cut the fish fillets into bite size pieces, add to the soup and allow to heat thoroughly. 6. LADLE into bowls and top with chopped green onions and a dash of Sherry for garnish. SERVES 2 to 4

Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com

PHOTO: BRYAN SLAVEN

5/11/18 9:57 AM

Outdoor DIRECTORY Guides & Outfitters

Lodging

Destinations

Real Estate :: Gear

TEXAS FRESHWATER

TEXAS SALTWATER

LAKE AMISTAD

LOWER TEXAS COAST

HUNTING SOUTH TEXAS

LAKE TEXOMA

TEXAS SALTWATER UPPER TEXAS COAST

Don’t Mess With Texas

DFW METROPLEX MID TEXAS COAST

NEW 2018 EDITION

LAKE LIVINGSTON

www.FishandGameGear.com

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! T E X A S

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5/10/18 1:45 PM

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

Flax vs. Snacks

quarters, and an empty Welches Fruit Snack package. I squeezed it and found a petrified gummy. Popping it into my mouth, I waited for my mysterious food group to rehydrate, or at least soften, while I unzipped the main front compartment. No snacks were in evidence, but an early excavation revealed a mini-towel for cleaning glasses, and one blue tee-shirt that said, “When a Man Tires of Women, He Can Always Hunt Ducks.” I never wear that one around the War Department, in fact, she thinks it went into the rag bag for washing the truck—and it did, but I rescued it for hiking emergencies. Hey wait! This was an emergency, in one sense. Just for grins, I exchanged my nylon shirt for the tee shirt and enjoyed the feel of a soft cotton shirt that has been washed a thousand times. It seemed a little tight in the waist, but probably from shrinkage. Stomach growling, I sipped water from a bottle that rides in a mesh pocket on the side, and recalled the old days when we had to buy special bottles with little red plugs to carry water. The plugs kept them from leaking, or at least that’s what the guy at the backpack store told me back in 1979. It always leaked, resulting in slightly damp and mildewed shirts, pants, and socks. I found a fresh pair of socks and changed them for those I was wearing. They felt glorious. Leaving my hiking boots off, the excavation continued. “Huzzah!” My exultation echoed off the nearby rocky ledges. “My binoculars!” I held them to my glasses and examined my surroundings. Yep, they worked, because I could see the War Department waiting in the shade of a mesquite about 100 yards away. She always outpaces me on upward slopes. I replaced the binoculars and found a large case with my spare specs. I don’t go anywhere without a spare set of glasses, and extra nose pieces. Digging deeper, I discovered the bottoms to the Frog Tog rain gear I’d borrowed from Wrong Willie a hundred years earlier. The sun blazed down as I pulled them on as an experiment. They

O THERE I WAS, HIKING THE desert backcountry in Big Bend National Park when I stopped for a snack. It was a cool, humidity-free day and perfect for carrying a backpack, even though at nearly 63 years of age toting one is completely different from my younger days. I swung the pack off my shoulder and plopped it onto a boulder. I studied the backbreaker for a minute, thinking back to a hike in the Tetons in the early 1980s. Back then the technology was exterior aluminum frames that tended to straighten your spine whether you wanted it vertical or not. The shoulder pads weren’t bad, but the waist belt came directly from the patent for chastity belts. Don’t ask me how I know. Today’s backpacks even look different, more like the rucksack style back in the day. Those old rucksacks were nothing more than a giant purse any woman could have filled in a matter of minutes. I thought about the MOLLE pack I wanted to buy, but decided against. I was afraid someone would take me for a military wanna-be. They’re cool, though, and the idea of attaching individual pouches to the exterior has more appeal than you might imagine. That feature became even more relevant as I dug through my pack for a snack. There wasn’t one, or at least there wasn’t one readily available. My REI pack has two outside pockets, but neither contained snacks of any kind, though there were several PowerBar wrappers left over from previous outings. Stomach growling, I licked the inside of one elderly wrapper and unzipped the top pouch, which is truly designed more for carrying glasses or shades. Instead, it was full of wires for various electronics, a phone charger adapter for car cigarette lighters, though no one has a lighter any longer, ear plugs, a mini-jack umbilicus cord to plug my Ipod into the truck’s radio, three solid 80

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stopped halfway between my ankle and knee. I dug deeper into the pack. “Huzzah!” It was a soft cotton scarf that I use for a headband to keep the sweat out of my eyes. Holding opposing corners of the shortened Texas flag, I whirled it into a long roll and tied it into place. By that time I was halfway down to the bottom in my search for snacks. I came up with a lockback knife, a compass, magnesium firestarter, one stick of fatback kindling, a small hand ax. I had wondered where that went. …and a cigar in a protective tube. I discarded the tube and stuck the cigar into the corner of my mouth, thinking that all I needed now was a card game. “Woo hoo, my Zippo!” The lighter had gone dry, but that didn’t matter because I had windproof matches that are sticks from Hell when lit—then there it was. It was a true gustatory abomination called a Pumpkin Seed Flax energy bar the War Department had stuck in there. Hungry beyond imagination, I bit off half of one chunk. It did not taste like pumpkin, or any seed I’ve ever eaten, but old, dusty sawdust. I choked it down and was thinking about eating the cigar when the War Department reappeared. “What in the world…!!!???” I rose to my full height amid the contents of my pack strewn on the trail, the empty snack packages, my spilled water bottle gurgling into the sand, the damp socks drying on a rock, and my new, updated apparel, the rain pants that probably looked like knickers. “Have you ever heard of such a thing?” Her eyes widened. “What?” “This pack just blew up like those Samsung telephones. One minute everything was fine, and then wham! You know what I mean?” “I sure do.” She sighed. “That explains the second before, and the second after I met you.” She spun and left, leaving me to wonder at her statement, chewing the cigar for nourishment, because it sure tasted better than that flax bar.

Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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REDFISH Port Aransas Seven-year-old Jonathan Todd and his fourteenyear-old brother Colby caught and released these two redﬁsh while sight-casting near Port Aransas with their dad, Adam.

REDFISH Arroyo City Pedro Gonzalez caught this 45.5-inch redﬁsh using live shrimp, while ﬁshing in the Saucer area near Arroyo City.

BASS

SPECKLED TROUT

Aledo

Ingleside

Darren Pyfer of North Richland Hills caught this 10.2 lb bass from a private pond near Aledo, Texas. he caught her off her nest after coaxing her to bite with a white Bifﬂe Bug for over two hours.

Three-year-old Quint Jendrzey caught this speckled trout while ﬁshing near Ingleside on the Bay.

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

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

KING MACKEREL Freeport Benjamin Siebenlist and his dad Matthew show off Benjamin’s first king, from his first offshore fishing trip out of Freeport.

FLOUNDER Galveston Bay Jackson “The Natural” Faust with his first fish, a 17-inch flounder pulled out of Galveston Bay. Dad Jordan said this face is the same one Jordan displays when given chocolate.

REDFISH

WHITETAIL

Oyster Bay

Bandera

Chet Winans caught this 31-inch, 10.2pound red while ﬁshing in Oyster Bay.

Kim Sanchez shot this buck with her .308 while hunting near Bandera.

BLACK DRUM Port O’Connor

REDFISH

Jared Wilkinson caught this 60 pound black drum at Port O’Connor with guide Doug Berry of DB Coastal Outﬁtters.

Hog Island Matt Mendoza shows off his personal best, a 33-inch red he caught while ﬁshing off Hog Island.

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