Texas Fish & Game July-August 2020 by Texas Fish & Game

July/August 2020 | $3.95

Profiling Predators

Baby Tarpon

Sleeper Bass Lakes

New Salt & Fresh Regs

Saving the Bison

A Dream Ram Hunt

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

by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

ROY AND ARDIA NEVES

Taking a Hit, Still Standing

PUBLISHERS

CHESTER MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF

WO ISSUES BACK, WE WROTE ABOUT THE COVID-19 CRISIS AND THE IMPACT it is having on people’s lives, their lifestyles, and their livelihoods. This issue, we’re here to report on the impact it has had on us—and you, our subscribers and regular readers. As you can see by the issue date label at the bottom of this page (the “folio” in publishese), this is a combined issue. Faced with unprecedented economic fallout that has touched virtually every business sector across the globe (except, perhaps, those occupied by Home Depot, H.E.B. and Whataburger), we have been forced to make a change in our publishing frequency. Covid-19 has taken a deadly toll, and continues to do so. As of this writing, while Texas and other states move ahead with “to-hell-with-it-let’s-re-open-everything” efforts relaxing the drastic measures that shut down the world’s economies, the disease keeps coming at us. As of right now, (June 15) less than 1% of the U.S. population (2 million out of 340 million) is known to have been infected by this disease that no one was immune to and which spreads with scary efficiency. Pandemics have shown a predictable pattern over history. They strike, subside, then strike again, usually with harsher impact. While the first and hardest hit regions of America have made substantial recoveries from Covid-19, other regions are just seeing their case numbers begin to peak. And this is still the so-called “first wave.” This fall, as we all collectively succumb to quarantine fatigue, and schools and universities re-open, and maybe sporting events and other mass gatherings resume, and the weather returns to virus-friendly conditions, a second deadly wave may engulf us. The bottom line is, this crisis is not over and on one knows what to expect next. So we have to be prepared. Hope for the best, plan for the... you know. Since this thing’s second deadliest threat is the damage it inflicts economically, we need to do everything we can do to protect the core assets of our business. It is no secret that advertising is the main source of funding for print magazines. Without it, an annual subscription would have to cost a couple hundred dollars. When the stark economic reality of this pandemic hit, a number of our regular advertisers had to immediately tighten their own belts. Companies that rely on products manufactured in Asia—and sadly, that describes a giant portion of the fishing industry—were faced not only with empty store aisles, but in many cases the inability to put products on store shelves. So they stopped advertising. In response to the current economic reality, we are combining July and August. We may also need to combine September with October, and November with December. Readers who have been with us for a while may remember that TEXAS FISH & GAME originally published only 10 issues a year. TEXAS FISHERMAN, the magazine we merged with in the early 1990s, published nine issues a year. So, what does that mean for you, if you have a one-, two- or three-year subscription? The short answer is: nothing, really. Your subscriptions are based on the number of issues, not the amount of time. Even though we express these in annual terms, they are still based on 12, 24 or 36 issues. So, if you have a one-year subscription, you’ll still get 12 issues in total. Our system doesn’t read calendars—it counts issues. There will just be longer gaps between some issues. Meanwhile, as we’ve tried to stress often in this column, we will still be gathering and delivering stories and information on our digital platforms. If you haven’t signed up for it, subscribe to our thriceweekly e-Newsletter. Go to our website, Fishgame.com and use the Newsletter link in the middle of the top menu to sign up. We’ll be increasing the number of articles and sprucing up the format to pack it with even more useful, interesting and enjoyable content. Chester is also ramping up his new podcast, available on the website as well. Hopefully this drop in frequency is only a temporary measure. Until we know more, we will still be here, churning out fishing and hunting stories—and zapping them to you electronically.

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

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TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 3431 Rayford Road, Ste 200-408, Spring, TX 77386. ©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, 3431 Rayford Road, Ste 200-408, Spring, TX 77386. 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, 3431 Rayford Road, Ste 200408, Spring, TX 77386. Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 3431 Rayford Road, Ste 200-408, Spring, TX 77386. 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

July/August 2020 | Vol. 37 • No. 3

FEATURE ARTICLES

BASS SLEEPERS A quartet of lakes from the Piney Woods to West Texas that are highly underrated for their bass fishing potential.

by Matt Williams

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10 TIPS FOR SUMMER FLATFISH Tactics for catching big flounder in the summer heat.

from Bonefish & Tarpon Trust

ALSO...

PREDATOR PROFILING How to take down the right coyotes and hogs with the right rifle.

by Chester Moore

DREAM RAM A hunt on a Texas ranch yields a once-in-alifetime trophy ram.

by Chester Moore

SAVING THE BISON A new plan by the U.S. Interior Department for bison recovery.

NEW FISHING REGS TPWD announces new regulations for fresh and saltwater species.

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

COLUMNS

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Fascinating facts about the early life and patterns of juvenile tarpon.

COVER STORY

story by Chester Moore photo by John N. Felsher

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BABY TARPON

COVID-19 IN THE OUTDOORS From waterfowl cancellations to a native trout challenge.

by TF&G Staff

Editor’s Notes

by CHESTER MOORE

Texas Freshwater by MATT WILLIAMS

Texas Boating by LENNY RUDOW

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DEPARTMENTS

by LARRY WEISHUHN

by PETE ROBBINS

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Center

Sportsman’s Daybook

Texas Whitetails Bass University

Fish & Game 60 j Hunting

Fish & Game Forecast Center

Outdoor Directory

F I S H

Guides, Outfitters & More &

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Fish & Game Photos by TFG Readers

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

America is Still Beautiful Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain.

’LL NEVER FORGET SITTING alone on a rock on a distant hill in South Dakota watching the northern lights as a pack of coyotes sang in the distance. The skies were truly spacious and grain plentiful as I ended a long day of pheasant hunting with friends. For purple mountain’s majesty. Above the fruited plain. Just as the sun rose above the Montana mountains, I could finally understand the lyric “purple mountain’s majesty” as one of the peaks in the distance had a light purple hue. It was a special moment because in the plain below, just in front of me were two pronghorn bucks in an intense battle, almost as if to say, “I’ll be the king of this majestic scene.” Oh, America how God truly shed His grace on thee, even before anyone other than the Creator Himself set foot here you were special. And I have been exceedingly blessed to see so much of your beauty. From the incredible pink dolphin that graced our presence on the Louisiana coastline to the hundreds of thousands of ducks and geese I have seen in those marshes. From the Rocky Mountain bighorn I photographed at 12,000 feet in Colorado to the big eastern gobbler I bagged in the rolling hills of New York. And Texas, our Texas, oh hail my home state. From the big bucks of the Pineywoods to the ocelots in the valley to the clear streams of the Hill Country and the mule deer of the west. You are incredible. 4

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...where the antelope roam...

America was not chosen by First Nations people or European settlers because it was a big chunk of land. It was because of abundant timber, water and wildlife. America’s very greatness is tied to its wildness. Naturalist Henry David Thoreau wrote that, “In wildness is the preservation of the world.” And while the exact intent of Thoreau’s quote has been debated since he wrote it, there is no question America without wilderness is not America at all. And the further we get from the roots our ancestors planted, the further off track we’ve become. There are agendas on top of agendas for destruction of this nation. To plunder it To control it. To manipulate it and confuse. There are so many voices demanding our attention, it is crucial that all hunters, anglers, hikers, campers and wildlife lovers go out into the wild for clarity. I just returned from a remote area of Texas and at one point found myself in crystal clear water, surrounded by stunning limestone cliffs and there was no one around. Even my fishing partners were about 1/2 mile away and it was just me, God and His creation. There was no one telling me who to be angry with. There was no one demanding political affiliation, holding a sign or fighting. There was…peace. America looked quite beautiful from here |

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and I suspect on my coming trip to Alaska it will be just as majestic. As I seek to photograph Dall sheep, the only intent will be to capture one of the Lord’s finest creations to share with the world so others can care about their existence. When I have been on wild turkey releases, bighorn captures, bay cleanups and stream enhancement projects there has been only one true agenda. To keep America wild and ensure what our forefathers no matter where they came from first marveled over when reaching the country remains. Don’t let anyone tell you America is not beautiful anymore. Don’t let anyone tell the nation is not worthy of adoration. I have ventured from sea to shining sea and feel blessed I was born here to experience the wild things that inhabit our woodlands, waterways, mountains, prairies, marshes, deserts and tundra. Politics and media manipulation enter the woods only if you bring it. It’s time to go beyond the pavement, into the wild and thank God for shining His most creative blessings on the United States of America and its wild lands.

« Email Chester Moore at CMoore@ﬁshgame.com

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LOUNDER FISHING CAN GET TOUGH IN THE SUMmer. Spring brings hungry fish a long journey into bays from the Gulf and fall has them feeding for the big migration out. In summer they settle in and disperse into bays, marshes and river systems with big fish getting especially challenging to find. The following are 10 tips to help you bag big flounder and that might even help you win the STAR flounder division: 1. CURRENT LINES: The Intracoastal Canal and the river systems connecting to bays will have pronounced cur-

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4. DEPTH: The last big flounder I caught, I used a drop-shot rig, which is popular with bass anglers who fish deeper water. Baitfish were holding on a ledge in 14 feet of water, and I lowered down the drop shot to see what I might be able to catch there. It ended up being a flounder, and it was not the only one we caught in the same area in two days of fishing. Flounder will feed in deep water, but tend to concentrate around depth changes, so look for drop-offs and try the drop-shot rig. 5. SUMMER HIGHS: When tides are running extra high in the summer, I seek flounder along the main shorelines of bay systems. Attacking vast shorelines would be a waste of time and end up in frustration, so you need a strategy. Instead of looking over eight miles of shoreline, narrow your search down to an eighth of a mile. You must eliminate water to successfully bag flounder. The first step I take while eliminating shoreline, is to once again look for stands of Roseau cane. Roseau cane has an intricate system that is somewhat like a smaller version of mangrove. It gives menhaden a place to linger, hide and dodge larger predators. 6. LIVE CROAKER: Croakers are available at many bait camps during the summer months. This is a phenomenal live bait for flounder especially when fished on a Carolina rig. Pick out the smallest croakers in the tank and avoid the extra big ones anglers often use for big trout. Big ďŹ&#x201A;ounder lie in wait for shad in the many river systems of the upper coast.

low dissolved oxygen levels. This also has an impact on fish metabolism. I believe since flounder are relegated to the lower portion of the water column, they are more impacted by oxygen levels.

rent lines where baitfish congregate. They are usually clear on one side and murkier on the other. If you find a current line with shad or shrimp, work it from the murky to clear side. Many times, big flounder will be on the edge of the murk.

3. FOLLOW THE SHAD: The river systems on the Upper Coast are inundated with large populations of shad (menhaden). Flounder in these systems will follow the menhaden. Fish that bite at point X one day, may be a half-mile away at point Y if the shad have moved. Very few anglers target these flounder, so you have a chance at catching big specimens.

2. START LATE: Dissolved oxygen levels are at the lowest level at daybreak. I believe this is why flounder fishing, particularly in the summer, tends to be slow early in the morning. By starting an hour or so after daylight, anglers can avoid the super slow early bite and focus the best efforts at a key time. Summer is the time of fish kills on the Gulf Coast, and the bulk of it has to do with 8

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7. ALLIGATOR CONNECTION: When you see alligators with their heads positioned toward the bank a few feet away (several at a time), fish there. They are typically feeding on shad pushed against the bank, and often flounder are feeding with them. This can work anywhere, but you are most likely to encounter this in the Intracoastal Canal or a river system. 8. CHROME SINKERS: Flatfish fans in California use bright chrome sinkers to key in on flounder. They say the bright chrome draws fish in. Because flounder are visual, I believe this can offer an advantage in Gulf Coast waters. 9. SURF JETTIES: There are small jetty systems in the surf at various points PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE

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Alligators feeding toward a bank can be a sign of big ďŹ&#x201A;ounder also feeding there.

along the coast. Notable spots include the stretch between Cameron, Louisiana and the Texas state line on Hwy. 82 and the Galveston Seawall area. There are strong numbers of flounder in the surf, and they stack up at any kind of structure. Seek out these spots using live bait on popping corks

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or fish live bait rigged on football head jigs. Move along the edges of the rocks to score on big surf flatfish. 10. SUNKEN BARGES: During summer months, flounder will stack up around sunken barges in the ship channel and along

the Intracoastal Canal. Precision casts using a live bait with a popping cork into tiny pockets stacked with baitfish, can score on big flounder.

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EXAS IS HOME TO A PASSEL OF top-notch bass lakes, but names such as Sam Rayburn, Fork, Palestine, Toledo Bend, Amistad and Falcon have a way of grabbing most the attention. Here are three sleepers you might want to check out this summer: FAIRFIELD: Lake Fairfield is proof positive that big things do indeed come in small packages. At 2,159 acres, the Freestone County reservoir near Fairfield may be one of best-kept bass fishing secrets east of Interstate 45 right now. The former Luminant power plant reservoir is super rich in nutrients and chock-full of chunky largemouths, but it hasn’t always been that way. The lake underwent several fish kills between 2003 and 2011 because of low oxygen levels. To hear TPWD fisheries biologist Jake Norman of Tyler tell it, the bass fishery has since made a big-time rebound. “It’s definitely one worth looking at that isn’t on the radar of a lot of fishermen right now,” he said. “The bass population is phenomenal. We’re hearing about lots of five- to eight-pounders, and our electrofishing surveys show that the numbers and size are increasing every year. “The habitat is about as good as you could ask for. There are eight-foot walls of hydrilla around the whole and cut grass inside of that. The sunfish and shad are available in abundance. Everything is textbook for the explosion we’re seeing there.” LAKE O’ THE PINES: Located 25 miles northeast of Longview, Lake O’ the Pines is what FLW pro Jim Tutt of Longview calls one the best bass lakes on the planet. Built on Big Cypress Creek in the late 1950s, the 19,000-acre reservoir produces like one that is much younger. “It’s truly incredible,” says Tutt. “It’s full of four- to seven-pounders, and it produces its share of 10s. It’s not just good in the spring, either. It’s good yearround. You just have adapt to the changing patterns.” Just how good is it? Tutt says it routinely takes 30-plus-pounds on five fish to win local tournaments. “My nephew and I fished a team tournament there last June, and we finished third with 29 pounds. It takes 30 to win there all the time.” PHOTO:

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‘Pines has some grass up north, but the better summer fishing from mid-lake south targets points, humps other main lake structure using Texas rig worms and crankbaits. “Two gallons of drinking water, sunscreen, a Strike King 6XD, Zoom Ol’ Monster worms and maybe a big shaky head is all you need,” Tutt said. WACO: Lake Waco isn’t the best little bass lake in the state, but it is one that MeClennan County anglers feel fortunate to have in their back yards. “It’s hardly a secret with the local anglers, but it is one that a lot of others around the state may not know about,” said John Provine, a TPWD fisheries technician from Waco. “It’s definitely one of the better largemouth bass lakes in our district, and it keeps getting better every year. It’s a stellar crappie lake, as well.” Provine says Waco doesn’t have much aquatic vegetation to speak of. The primary cover is water willow and pondweed. Waco also has plenty of flooded timber, which can be found in about 40 percent of the lake.

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Lake Granbury

GRANBURY: Local bass pro Cody Bird of Granbury says 8,300-acre Lake Granbury near Fort Worth is a quiet sleeper well worth putting on the hit list this summer. The lake has hundreds of boat docks, but Bird tends to bank on the current of the Brazos River. “The docks are all right, but I’m all about the current on Granbury,” Bird said. “You can smoke ’em this time of year when it’s right.” Bird said he likes to fish the lake’s far

upper reaches down to mid-lake. When fishing upriver he will key on still water eddies in water ranging from zero to five feet. His go-to baits are buzz baits and spinnerbaits. Farther south, he will position on the back sides of points in five to ten feet of water and work the sweet spots with shad pattern crankbaits and Texas-rigged worms.

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

Whopper Found Dead

Brookshear. “We still need to collect the fish, try to collect a viable tissues sample, and get that sample to the genetics lab for testing,” Brookshear said in an April 6 email. “With everything going on with COVID-19 and the modified processes with our working environments that we are having to implement, it has made these normal business practices more difficult for us to achieve in the timeline that we would prefer to complete them in.” We hope someone has made the two-hour drive to retrieve the fish by now. Lots of folks have speculated that the floater is related to Castle’s bass. Scientists also can determine the age of the fish by examining its otoliths, which are small bones within the skull. Either way, there is no way to accurately determine the actual weight of the bass when it was alive. Nor is it possible to determine the cause of its death. According to TPWD fisheries biologist and Toyota ShareLunker caretaker Tony Owens, it is entirely possible the fish may have died of old age. “That’s something we’ll never know for sure, but we do know these fish are senior citizens,” he said. “How long they can live in the wild depends on a lot of different factors. Once they reach 12 to 15 years old, they are probably getting pretty close to the end of their lifespan.” “Ethel” lived considerably longer on easy street. Ethel was the nickname Lake Fork fishing guide Mark Stevenson gave to the 17.67pound former state record largemouth he caught at Lake Fork in November 1986. In early 1987, Stevenson leased the big bass to Bass Pro Shops for display in company’s flagship store in Springfield, Missouri. Texas’s most famous bass spent the next eight years finning around in the store’s massive aquarium, where it had a full-time caretaker and was viewed by an estimated 20 million visitors before she died in 1994. Ethel was 19.

AKE NACOGDOCHES IN EASTern Texas was in the news a lot last spring. Local angler Joe Castle put the popularity ball in motion on February 29, his 28th birthday. Castle was out for a celebratory morning of fishing when he made an ordinary cast that produced a truly remarkable fish. The 27.5inch bass weighed 15.34 pounds. It’s the biggest bass reported statewide since March 2018, when John LaBove of Greenville landed a 15.48 pounder at Lake Fork. Castle’s fish smashes the 34-year-old lake record of 14.02 pounds from March 1986 and is the lake’s fourth Toyota ShareLunker to crack 13 pounds since the program’s inception. Subsequent genetics testing performed by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fisheries scientists identified the bass as the offspring of a 14.50-pound Toyota ShareLunker caught at Tyler State Park Lake in March 2008. Castle’s 12-year-old fish was stocked in the lake as an “advanced growth” fingerling (six-plus inches) in 2008, according to TPWD fisheries biologist Todd Driscoll. Not surprisingly, word of the Castle’s whopper spread quickly via various news outlets and on social media. The buzz resulted in tall waves of fishing pressure that got even bigger with the coronavirus scare as locals and out-of-towners put a steady beat down on the little lake hoping to get a big bite of their own. Cody Monlezun and Drew Middlebook were among the crowd on the morning of March 16. The young anglers were successful in their search for a really big bass. It just didn’t happen the normal way. Monlezun, 17, said they were probing a shallow water flat along the lake’s northeast shore when he spotted a fish floating on surface. “At first I thought it was a gar,” Monlezun

PHOTO: CODY MONLEZUN/DREW MIDDLEBROOK

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Monlezun, pictured here, says the ﬁsh weighed over 15 pounds on an uncertiﬁed digital scale.

said. “Once I got closer, I could tell it was a big bass, and that it was dead. My first thought was, it’s a 10 pounder.” Monlezun’s uncertified digital scale told a much different story. He said the scale bounced back and forth between 15.10 to 15.79 pounds. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “It was huge. The first thing I did was check to see if it had choked on something, but there wasn’t anything in its mouth or throat.” After taking a few photos, Monlezun said he placed the dead fish back in the water and drove away. The big bass was subsequently recovered by another angler and reported to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The angler froze the bass and still had possession of the fish as of April 6, according Toyota ShareLunker program leader Kyle T E X A S

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ARPON BEGIN THEIR LIVES LOOKING like a clear worm. Adult tarpon spawn offshore: 80 to 100 miles in the Gulf of Mexico and 5 to 10 miles in the Atlantic Ocean. Once eggs fertilize and hatch, tarpon begin their larval stage looking like a transparent flat ribbon. This particular larva, similar to eels, bonefish, and ladyfish, is known as a leptocephalus. Although leptocephali do have the ability to swim, they are mostly drifting with currents to make their way back inshore. A study on the Indian River Lagoon found that tarpon larvae enter the passes at night and make their way into far reaches of the estuary to find calm, tidal backwaters where they metamorphose into juveniles. THEY CAN BREATHE AIR. Although we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly compare juvenile tarpon to Flipper, tarpon have a unique capability of taking oxygen from above the surface instead of relying on dissolved oxygen in the water. Tarpon have a modified swim bladder that has rows of vascularized (i.e. spongy) tissue that can act as an extra set of gills. In contrast, other fish typically have a balloon-like swim bladder that can only help with buoyancy during pressure changes. Gulping air is a major benefit to juvenile tarpon who seem to prefer habitats with low dissolved oxygen that exclude other fish that could be competition or predators.

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THEIR GROWTH RATES DEPEND ON HABITAT QUALITY. Although the scientific literature is limited on juvenile tarpon studies, some show tarpon in captivity and natural habitats exhibit growth rates of 10 to 12 inches per year. Likewise, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) found comparable growth rates of juvenile snook (who use similar habitats) in the Tampa Bay estuary. However, BTT studies in southwest Florida and coastal South Carolina of juvenile tar-

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THEY EAT ANYTHING and everything. Another good strategy for juvenile tarpon in backwater habitats is that they are opportunistic feeders. A study on the east coast of Florida looked at the diets of juvenile tarpon compared with prey availability for seven locations and concluded that tarpon eat everything. The only limiting factor was whether the food would fit in their mouth. Therefore, the larger the juvenile tarpon grows, the more things it could eat. Fish and copepods are the main organisms consumed, but tarpon also eat ants, crabs, shrimp and fly larvae.

Two-thirds of juvenile tarpon habitats are degraded by humans.

pon in human degraded habitats found average growth rates of 1-2 inches per year. These studies underscore how detrimental coastal development; altered waterflows and nutrient runoff are to our fisheries. ABOUT TWO THIRDS of anglerreported juvenile tarpon habitats are degraded by humans. In 2016, BTT started a juvenile tarpon habitat mapping project to find locations of tarpon 12 inches and smaller. Anglers reported almost 300 locations and

were asked to describe the site as natural or altered. About 64 percent of reported sites were described as having some level of degradation. Couple this information with slow growth data in human-impacted sites, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear just how important habitat protection and restoration are. For more information visit bonefishtarpontrust.org.

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

Drifting Away

DRIFT, BUT IN CONTROL No matter what type of fishing is your favorite, nor where you tend to do your casting, it’s a sure bet that at times you fish while adrift. Drift fishing can be incredibly effective, especially when fish are spread over a large area or when you want to offer up a horizontal or vertical presentation over elongated structure, like a channel edge or shoal. But there’s a hitch: different boats drift differently. Try drift fishing from a 22’ or 24’ bay boat, with its low sides and windage, and it’ll be a radically different experience as compared to drift fishing from a cabin boat with its sail-like appendage. Powercats and inboards tend to drift with the beam in the seas, while monohull outboards more often drift stern-to. Deep-V hulls drift slower than flat-bottom boats. And so on, and so forth — every fishing boat has its own unique drifting characteristics. And as an angler, that can make fishing a challenge. Your boat may drift too fast, too slow, at the wrong angle, etc. etc. etc. on any given day in any given conditions. It’s too bad you can’t control the way a boat drifts, right? Wrong!

Turn That Wheel With no added gear or effort, you can change the angle of your drift and possibly slow it just a hair simply by spinning the wheel. In most conditions the effect will be minimal, but noticeable. Generally speaking, the faster your drift is due to wind the bigger an effect it will have, but while drifting due to current it may well be negligible.

Gimmie Five At the low end of the tech scale, you can use a five-gallon bucket to help change the

Stick To It Topping the techy spectrum, most of the joystick control systems available on modern boats with multiple outboards put rather dramatic forms of drift control at your fingertips. They have different names for it (Mercury calls one “Drift Hook” while Yamaha calls another “Drift Point”), but the bottom line is the same: press the button, and the boat’s orientation to the wind and/or current will be maintained while it’s allowed to drift off the position. Twist the joystick, and you can make modifications to the boat’s positioning. Press another button to activate the system’s virtual anchoring feature and the boat will maintain its position but can be allowed to let the wind and current to decide its orientation. Press yet another, and the boat will maintain both position and orientation. One final thing we should mention about controlling your drift: if you don’t have any of the gear or tech mentioned here, it’s always tempting to simply shift into reverse to slow your drift. At times, this is just fine. But keep two important things in mind. First off, shifting an engine into reverse creates a loud “clunk” noise that does travel through the water. When fish are spooky, this metal-on-metal sound can be a total turn-off. Second, you may be tempted to try this trick when your drift is too fast due to high winds. If that wind has kicked up significant seas, think twice—more than one boat has been swamped by trying to reverse into the waves.

Put a Sock In It Slightly higher on the tech scale and much higher on the effectiveness scale is a drift sock. If you have one large enough for your boat it’ll not only keep the bow from being blown down-wind, but will drastically slow your drift and in many cases hold the bow into the wind. If you want the boat to drift beam-to, you can set it from a spring cleat. And serious drift fishermen will carry a couple different sizes, so they can modulate the effect to best meet the conditions. Added bonus: Since they’re just fabric and a few pieces of hardware, drift socks fold up for easy stowage. In fact, you could fit two or three in that five-gallon bucket we just talked about.

Take a Bow If your boat is rigged with a bow-mount electric you can not only adjust your drift, but control it close to completely. Once you start fishing it won’t take you long to figure out how to apply just enough power to slow down or speed up your drift just the right amount, how to cock the motor slightly to put your boat at an ideal angle, and also make directional adjustments to your drift to stay in the sweet spot for longer periods of time. If your motor has it, activating the autopilot to create an artificial “drift” can make up for a lacking breeze. And if you hit on a specific hotspot and want to stop the drift completely you can T E X A S

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use virtual anchoring features at the press of a button (again, if your particular model has that capability).

way your boat’s drifting. Be aware, however, that the bucket trick is also at the low end of the effectiveness scale. It won’t slow you down very much, but if you deploy a bucket tied off with five or 10 feet of line and cleat it on the bow, it will help cock the boat at an angle to the wind. This can be particularly helpful when you have a boat that drifts stern-to and you’re loaded with multiple anglers who are trying to jig vertically or present a bait on bottom. By getting to boat to drift at an angle to the wind, the anglers can spread out along the gunwales, keep their lines apart. and tangles will become less frequent.

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armint hunting ain’t easy. Most hunters enjoy the pursuit not because of the bounty of the game but because of the raw challenge. Varmints whether coyotes, bobcats or feral hogs have incredibly sensitive noses and a haunting “sixth sense” that lets them know danger is there, sometimes even when conditions are perfect for the hunter. As the number of trappers in America has declined, predator numbers have risen and along with them feral hog populations have exploded.

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This deadly one-two punch gives game and ranch animals a problem that not only the issue of predation but of the spreading of diseases at feedlots and waterholes. There is no way hunters can take out all the predators in an area or in many instances even most. What is really important is killing the right ones. Take alpha male coyotes for example. When ranchers see calf or lamb predation but never manage to see the predator or get it on a game camera there is a good chance it’s an alpha male coyote. A study called “Wariness of coyotes to camera traps relative to social status and territory boundaries” by Eveline S. Sequin, Michael M. Jaeger, Peter F. Brussard, and Reginald H. Barret gives proof that animals can purposely avoid these devices. “The primary objective of this study was to develop a better understanding of coyote (Canis latrans) wariness particularly as it related to social status. We determined that territory status (controlling alpha, resident beta, or non territorial transient) affected vulnerability to photo-capture by infraredtriggered camera systems”. “All coyotes were wary of cameras, leading to relatively low numbers of photocaptures, most of which occurred at night. Alphas were significantly underrepresented in photographs and were never photo-captured inside their own territories. Betas were photographed inside and outside their territories, whereas transients were most often

Alpha coyotes are, by their nature, harder to ﬁnd, and harder to hunt.

photographed on edges of territories.” It goes on to say that alphas and betas were photographed more often on territorial edges when outside their territories. “Alphas tracked human activity within their territories and presumably learned the locations of cameras as they were being set

CZ 527 American Synthetic Suppressor Ready

HREADED 5/8×24 (OR 1/2×28 IN 223) for a suppressor, this short, handy 527 is equally happy shooting steel or taking down hogs. Chambered in 223, 6.5 Grendel or 7.62×39, most of those have enough knock-down power for medium game at shorter ranges. Built on a 223-length action, the tiniest of CZ centerﬁre platforms is also one of the most beloved by CZ fans. The CZ 527 American features a classic American

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up. They did this either by approaching our location directly or by moving to a vantage point from where they could observe us. Betas and transients either withdrew or did not respond to human activity.” They went on to say that alphas used vantage points is suggested by their moving to

has no sights but is equipped with a 16mm dovetail for mounting rails or ringmounts.

pattern stock, a sporter-weight hammer forged barrel, a single set trigger and a recessed target crown. Made to be used with optics, the American

CZ 527 American Synthetic Suppressor Ready

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Feral hogs are considered varmints in Texas.

locations that were in direct line of sight of human activity. Hunters wanting to focus on these super sharp predators must do everything right. That means scouting, a high level of scent control and the right gun. The CZ 527 Varmint is one such rifle. The Varmint retains all of the features that made the 527 famous, from its controlled round feed and claw extractor to its single set trigger and hammer forged barrel. Scope mounts are integrated into a forged, square bridge receiver and the rifle comes with a 5-round detachable box magazine. Chambered in .223 this rifle is perfect for taking shots at crafty coyotes, with a round that will not only reach and touch them but kill them dead in their tracks. Feral hogs are considered a varmint in Texas and can spread disease to wildlife and livestock but also prey on turkey nests, outcompete deer for food and will sometimes prey on fawns, lambs and kids. As hogs push further into civilization more human conflict is occuring. In fact, in November 2019, feral hogs killed a woman in a yard in Anahuac, TX. Those living in and around the edge of these suburban wildlife zones, might want

to start profiling hogs and specifically targeting the most dangerous. A study by Dr. Jack Mayer documents 412 wild hog attacks worldwide impacting 665 people. During this time there were four

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bait scout beds and then hunt the ones they think have been used most recently. Big, lone boars will often use several spread over their territory and once you know what you’re looking for they are easy to spot. When you find the hog you better be ready to place a lethal shot. The CZ 527 American Synthetic Suppressor Ready is perfect and gives you the option of being able to make quiet shots in case the big hog happens to have friends nearby. Threaded 5/8×24 (or 1/2×28 in 223) for a suppressor, this short, handy 527 is equally happy shooting steel or taking down hogs. Chambered in 223, 6.5 Grendel or 7.62×39, most of those have enough knock-down power for well-placed shots at hogs or other varmints. There are few things more exciting than pursuing an animal that can pursue you. And with a greater conflict between coyotes and ranchers and hogs and people happening than ever before, hunting them can be a great way to not only stay afield during the time between deer seasons but also make a positive impact on the community. You might make new friends if they know you’re not out to kill all predators, just the ones doing the most damage. But you might have to explain that after you take out the big, profiled boar you plan on killing every other hog you see. There’s just too many of them in Texas to be kind to them in any way. Even nonhunters are starting to see that.

fatal hog attacks in the United States. In his study, hogs that attack are described as solitary (82 percent), large (87 percent) and male (81 percent) and most attacks occurred when there was no hunting involved. In other words, they were unprovoked. Locating these big hogs is a challenge but with a little work it can be done. The first step is locating large tracks and tree rubs in an area where there is not much other hog sign. Rooting is also a positive discovery but an area with much rooting has numerous hogs. You are looking for the zone of the killer and while they certainly move in and out of areas other hogs frequent you are most likely to take them on the fringes of a very definable territory. If a ranch for example has constant hog activity around fields or a creek bottom the big, lone boars will set up usually around ½-mile away or even farther. They will tend to be downwind of the prevailing air currents and either in a super thick spot or what I like to call “obvious cover”. This can be a small set of bushes in the middle of a field or in the thick brush on the levee of a pond or in the crevice of fallen trees. The key is lack of contact with people and all of these areas whether they are cactus thickets of brush piles driven by commuters daily offer security. Searching out beds is another good strategy. Hogs will make multiple bedding areas in their preferred haunt. Hunters in California’s open country who are not legally allowed to F I S H

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HWACK!” A loud crash broke the silence of a quiet morning in the rugged hills of

Real County. “Thwack!” It came again but this time was followed by the more familiar “baa” of a sheep. While glassing the crest of a hill, I could see movement just behind a row of junipers. Two rams were fighting and it looked like there were numerous onlookers just behind them. Even for someone like me who is in fairly decent shape, this was a steep climb, especially carrying a bow and arrows, a camera and backpack loaded with much needed water and electrolyte drinks. It was 92 degrees and fluids were a must. A careful stalk, crouched with my bow horizontal out front to break up the human outline brought me within 40 yards. This was just within effective bow range and here I could see these were two very large snow-white Texas dall rams. One of them seemingly tired from battle started to walk

Jaxon score but an hour after starting the climb back up the big hill, we spotted the arapawa. “Me and Jaxon got this,” Josh said. “We’re going after another herd. You go get that ram of your dreams.” In the months leading up to this hunt, I had spoken with Josh about this breed numerous times. I love wild sheep more than any other kind of game animal but realistically, unless I win one of the lottery tags I apply for in Texas, Nevada or Colorado, I will never hunt bighorns. I don’t have a spare $50,000 laying around to make that happen. But I can afford to hunt exotic sheep and with a bow, it is quite challenging, especially when you choose to spot and stalk in tough country like this. I had thought of saving up for a few years to fly to New Zealand to hunt arapawa where they are super cheap ($750). I would probably be the only hunter in history that traveled there just to get one of these wooly boogers but this wildlife journalist can’t afford red stag and chamois. A big-horned, heavy-wooled arapawa sheep would do me just fine. Working on a book called Higher Calling: A Conservation & Field Guide to Wild Sheep Of The World, since Jan. 2020 made me have an even deeper appreciation for these animals. It didn’t take long to find the herd but they disappeared soon after. After a water break, I caught up with them on a small flat just below the same juniper thicket they came from this morning. The big arapawa was hanging out with a couple of Texas dall and an urial cross but as they often do when pursued, the targeted ram was dead in the middle.

downhill and turned broadside. And just as I drew back and lined the sight pin with the vitals, something caught my attention. Walking at the very top of the hill about 75 yards away was an incredibly large, heavy-wooled chocolate brown, white and black sheep with thick, curl and a half horns. Its face was solid black and it dwarfed everything around it. This was a monster. My heart humped as I realized what I was looking at, so I drew down. It has been 17 years since I hunted exotic sheep and here I was at my friend Thompson Temple’s ranch looking at something I have been dreaming about hunting-an arapawa sheep or at least a very close cousin. A true feral sheep species found in New Zealand, I only knew of one ranch in America that had imported arapawa for hunting and it is in Ohio, yet here I was looking at one in Texas. It seemed like a dream and then as soon as I got my bearings, the big ram disappeared on the other side of the hill. Returning to camp for lunch (and to cool down), Temple told me, my friend Josh Slone, his son Jaxon, nephew Amos Spell and brotherin-law Jeff Busby he had released a couple of unusual looking sheep onto the ranch that fit the arapawa profile a while back. That afternoon I hit the field with Josh and Jaxon, as they tried to get in his first crossbow kill. The goal was to help

Left: Chester Moore and his hunting buddy Josh Slone with Chester’s big ram. This animal has all of the earmarks of an Arapawa sheep.

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Jaxon was all smiles posing with Thompson Temple with his ram.

The author guided Amos Spell on his ﬁrst-ever bowkill.

Ethical hunters only take ethical shots and although I had got to within 30 yards I had to draw down twice due to other sheep in the background. An errant arrow could wound another and that would do no one any good. Luckily, I had the wind to my face and enough cover to try and get a tad closer. As I reached the 20-yard mark, the herd moved to my left and that put the arapawa in

front of a short bush. It would not be a clear shot so I waited and waited. After what seemed like forever, the big ram moved out by itself, I drew back and put the sight pin right on the shoulder. Then I gently tapped my release. “Thwack!” This time the sound on the hill was not rams butting heads but my broadhead penetrating bone and sending the ram downhill.

In 2019, the Lord impressed two words upon me-“Higher Calling”. I could feel the weight and depth of it in my bones, as I knew a significant shift was coming to my life. It was one of those few times where I knew the Lord had a message for me to unravel. That prayer time began a journey of soulsearching and a path back toward the very beginnings of my career as a wildlife journalist and even younger. For starters I knew the Lord wanted me to dedicate more time to Him, studying His word and praying. That was first. But there was more. I started to get back deeper into hunting and a deep personal and journalistic pursuit of mountain and forest wildlife. In 18 months saw me photograph bighorns in four states, the grand slam of turkeys in as many and now harvest the exotic ram of my dreams. I took time to thank God for thinking of me. An arapwa ram in Texas on the ranch I happen to be hunting while I am studying the breed? Are you kidding me? I did not take the moment for granted. It let me know that even during the concern of COVID-19, the chaos happening in America’s streets and outright scary future prospects, that God is real and He has good things for His followers. I’m no one special but I get to do special things. Exotic sheep hunting may not be for everyone but for those who want to hunt beautiful animals on a budget, pursuing them, especially with a bow is incredibly fun. When I collected the ram who died quickly with the heart shot, I felt so excited and was giddy at the prospects of all of the meat. If we kill it, we eat it in the Moore household and wild or exotic mutton is excellent if you know how to cook it. A little while later, Jaxon scored on another arapawa. Add to that Amos’ first bow kill, a beautiful Texas dall he took that morning and Jeff’s strawberry Dall that afternoon and it was an incredible day. A dream of mine came true at the Thompson Temple Ranch and it gave me hope that even greater things lie ahead-perhaps on a higher mountain somewhere in the wild where wildest dreams can come true.

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6/17/20 8:48 AM

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

Whitetail Cartridges

E DEER HUNTERS ARE truly the managers of whitetail deer. It is “us” who determine which individual deer are taken and which ones are allowed to advance the species. We too, directly and indirectly make certain the habitat continues to support deer herds, which greatly benefits many other game and non-game species and perhaps, most important, the habitat itself. As hunters when we decide to take a deer, it is our duty to kill that animal as quickly and humanely as possible. Some of us do so with archery equipment, some with crossbows, many of us with firearms including handguns, muzzleloaders, shotguns and rifles of various actions and designs. In a departure from addressing management and hunting techniques, I thought it might be fun this issue to address some choices when it comes to deer hunting rounds. I will admit up-front, I am not a bowhunter, even though I have taken whitetails and other animals with bow and arrow. As to crossbows I hunted unsuccessfully with one in the past. I quite possibly will again hunt with a crossbow this fall during Texas’s archery season. I have, however, taken more than a few whitetails with rifles, handguns, muzzleloaders and even a few with shotguns (early on with buck shot, and in later years with slugs). I’ve hunted here in Texas, but also throughout the whitetail’s North American range. I further admit to preferring firearms with blued steel with attractive wood stocks. I personally do not own a “modern sporting arm,” but defend the right for someone to do so. My favorite whitetail guns are Ruger No.1 single-shot rifles and Super BlackHawk singleaction revolvers. I also hunt with bolt actions, including those made of stainless steel and

As hunters when we decide to take a deer, it is our duty to kill that animal as quickly and humanely as possible.

at 100 yards from my “deer rifles.” From my handguns, I expect two-inch, three-shot groups at 100 yards. If I failed to mention your favorite, I would like to hear from you about your favorite deer caliber/round, and why you prefer it. You can contact me by sending an email to ContactUs@fishgame.com. I would love to hear from you.

Over the past 60 years I have taken whitetails with bullet diameters from .22 to .50 caliber (muzzleloaders). Like you, I do have preferences when it comes to whitetail rounds. Some of my rifle favorites are: .257 Roberts, .275 Rigby (same as 7x57), .270 Win, .280 Rem, .280 Ackley Improved, .308 Win, .30-06 Springfield, .300 H&H Mag, .300 Win Mag, and .375 Ruger. In revolvers, I prefer.44 Mag, .454 Casull, and .45 Colt (Long Colt). To me the ideal whitetail round and rifle is the one you shoot accurately at distances near and far, using ammo that is accurate and proT E X A S

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duces sufficient down-range energy to quickly and humanely kill a deer. Most deer are and should be killed with the first shot fired. I again will admit liking to shoot long range at steel and paper. However, when it comes to hunting, my goal is always to get as close as earthly possible before pulling the trigger. I expect one-inch, three-shot groups or smaller

stocked in laminate and synthetic stocks. My preference in scopes are those produced by Trijicon, based on my experience of having tried many different brands. Also based on my experience, I shoot and hunt with Hornady ammo. The bullet style, weight and load depends upon my firearm’s preference for accuracy.

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6/16/20 9:04 PM

.S. SECRETARY OF THE Interior David Bernhardt has announced the Bison Conservation Initiative (BCI), a new cooperative initiative that will coordinate conservation strategies and approaches for wild American bison over the next 10 years. The Department of the Interior (DOI) and its partners have been successful in restoring populations of the American bison and supporting healthy herds. With unprecedented interest and cooperation among partners—including states, tribes, nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)—bison conservation is well equipped to move beyond the confluence of strong analytical assessments and toward coordinated conservation action. “Interior is uniquely positioned to lead the way for shared stewardship of this iconic American species,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “This 10-year plan will guide our collaboration with states, tribes, private conservationists and managers across public lands to advance conservation efforts and honor iconic wild bison.” Bison were hunted to near extinction in the late 19th century. Today, there are about 11,000 plains bison in 19 herds on 4.6 million acres of public land across 12 states because of successful public-private conservation partnerships. In 2016, Congress recognized the importance of the American bison to the country’s history, celebrating it as our national mammal. “We are doing something that has never been done. It shows what is possible when business, philanthropy, and government work together to create multiple bottom line initiatives supporting the environment, people, fiscal responsibility, and Native nation building,” said Rosebud Economic Development Corporation’s CEO, Wizipan Little Elk. “The bison looms large in the culture and traditions of Native nations,” said Carter Roberts, President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund. “This announcement matters for several reasons: it represents a homecoming for this iconic species, and it’s also a reunion with the communities who lived with them for centuries in a symbiotic relationship. We are honored to be partners in

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this effort with the Rosebud Economic Development Corporation

and the U.S. Department of the Interior, and we look forward to seeing the bison return to the Rosebud Reservation later this year.” “We are living through unprecedented challenges; times that demand new ideas, new strategies, and a deeper and more diverse partnership,” said Director of U.S. Conservation for Wildlife Conservation Society, Cristina Mormorunni. “Our collaboration with the Department of the Interior’s Bison Conservation Initiative embodies this and represents a pivotal approach to the conservation of a species that is vital to both our ecological and cultural heritage. Launching a collaborative strategy for the ecological and cultural recovery of our national mammal, a symbol of unity, resilience, and health, could not come at a better time for the American people and our unique natural heritage.” The DOI Bison Working Group (BWG)—comprised of representatives from the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Indian Affairs—has worked with its partners to strengthen resource coordination, institute a conservation genetics framework and publish investigations into metapopulation management and herd health. The BWG will now: • Develop and launch a DOI bison metapopulation strategy • Develop and implement a DOI bison stewardship plan • Improve and expand mechanisms to support Eco cultural restoration of live bison • Adopt low stress capture and handling practices These actions will be organized around five central goals: • Wild, healthy bison herds: A commitment to conserve bison as healthy wildlife. • Genetic conservation: A commitment to an interagency, science-based approach to support genetic diversity across DOI bison conservation herds. • Shared stewardship: A commitment to shared stewardship of wild bison in cooperation with states, tribes and other stakeholders. T E X A S

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• Ecological restoration: A commitment to establish and maintain large, wide-ranging bison herds on appropriate large landscapes where their role as ecosystem engineers shape healthy and diverse ecological communities. • Cultural Restoration: A commitment to restore cultural connections to honor and promote the unique status of bison as an American icon for all people. As one of the BCI’s first actions, Secretary Bernhardt announced two bison transfers will take place later this year, demonstrating the focused direction toward enhanced intra-departmental cooperation and partnership. The transfer of bison among the Department’s herds and across bureaus maintains genetic diversity of wild bison populations, especially for smaller herds that are managed in isolation. These transfers will support ecological and cultural restoration of bison. The NPS and FWS will collaborate on the transfer of wild bison from the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Translocated bison will be included in an on-going NPS genetics study to measure the extent of their integration into an existing herd. For the second transfer, the DOI commits to donate wild bison to support the establishment of a new bison herd on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. The Wolakota Buffalo Range will support ecological restoration, cultural practices, economic development, food security and public education on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. The new tribal herd is enabled by a cooperative project with the Rosebud Economic Development Corporation and the World Wildlife Fund. For additional information about the science, benefits and goals of bison transfers, see the population viability analysis conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society, NPS and FWS that was also released today. In addition to these field-based efforts, the BCI directs cooperating bureaus to develop and implement a science-based Department Metapopulation Strategy and work with states, tribes and NGOs to develop a shared stewardship plan that furthers ecological and cultural restoration of bison.

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HE TEXAS PARKS AND Wildlife Commission in their May meeting made several changes to state saltwater fishing regulations, including updates to the recreational and commercial flounder fishery regulations and paddle craft all-water guide license.

into effect on Sept. 1, 2020: • Increasing the minimum size limit for flounder to 15”. • Clarifying language for commercial harvest reporting requirements. • Changing the course requirements to include a paddle craft leading course from the American Canoe Association or another TPWD approved course. • During their discussion, the Commission decided to postpone the proposed fall closure of the flounder fishery to 2021. The proposal to close all flounder fishing from Nov. 1 – Dec. 15 will take effect Sept. 1, 2021.

The following changes to the 202021 Statewide Recreational Fishing Proclamation, details of which will be incorporated into this year’s Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Outdoor Annual and the Texas Commercial Fishing regulations summary, have been adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission and go

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Freshwater The Texas Parks and Wildlife

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Commission has also adopted multiple changes to the freshwater fishing regulations for the upcoming 2020-2021 season at the meeting, held virtually, May 21. Modifications include length limits and harvest regulations at some water bodies for largemouth bass; blue, channel, and flathead catfish; and black and white crappie. The expiration date of August 31, 2020 was removed for the five-fish daily bag limit for alligator gar at Falcon International Reservoir. The changes that were implemented for the 2020-21 license year are listed below. These new regulations will also be detailed the 2020-21 Texas Parks

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and Wildlife Department Outdoor Annual: MOSS LAKE (Cooke County) – Modify the 14-inch minimum length limit for largemouth bass to a 16-inch maximum length limit. BRUSHY CREEK LAKE AND BRUSHY CREEK (Williamson County) – Modify harvest regulations for Brushy Creek Lake by changing from an 18-inch minimum length to the statewide 14-inch limit for largemouth bass. On the section of Brushy Creek downstream from the lake to the Williamson/Milam County line, reduce blue and channel catfish daily bag limit from 25 to 5 fish and remove the 12-inch minimum length limit. Gear

restrictions also adopted limit anglers to pole-and-line angling only and two poles. LAKE NASWORTHY (Tom Green County) – Modify harvest regulations for black and white crappie by removing the current 10-inch minimum length limit. The daily bag limit for crappie will remain at 25 fish. LAKE TEXOMA and Texas waters of the Red River below Denison Dam (Cooke and Grayson Counties) – Standardize harvest regulations for blue, channel, and flathead catfish in the Texas and Oklahoma waters of Lake Texoma and on the Red River below Lake Texoma. In Lake Texoma, remove the 12-inch minimum length

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limit for blue and channel catfish, and for flathead catfish, remove the 18-inch minimum length limit. In the Texas waters of the Red River below Lake Texoma (from Denison Dam downstream to Shawnee Creek), in addition to the removal of the minimum length limits for catfish, reduce the daily bag limit for blue and channel catfish from 25 to 15 fish. FALCON INTERNATIONAL RESERVOIR (Starr and Zapata Counties) — The five-fish daily bag limit for alligator gar will remain in effect.

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Major Waterfowl Cancellation, Gun Rights Concerns, Cautious Re-Openings OR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS 65-YEAR HIStory, the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey has been canceled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) and state partners due to COVID19 restrictions. The USFWS and CWS also cancelled participation in the American Woodcock Singing-ground Survey, Mid-Continent Population Sandhill Crane Survey, and Arctic Goose Banding Program. The U.S. Geological Survey canceled the North American Breeding Bird Survey, data from which is also important in monitoring bird abundance and regulating harvest of some species. The May survey has been successfully completed every year since 1955 and its data used to estimate breeding population size and inform harvest management decisions for many waterfowl species. Cancelation of these surveys will create a one-year gap in the record of waterfowl population estimates. The USFWS, in consultation with the Flyway Councils, will use long-term data from spring/summer monitoring for these species to make regulatory harvest management decisions.

& GAME 36 u FISH FORECAST CENTER SALTWATER

Reported by Capt. Eddie Hernandez, Capt. Mike Holmes, Mike Price, Capt. Chris Martin, Capt. Mac Gable, and Capt. Gerad Merritt

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FISH & GAME FORECAST CENTER FRESHWATER Reported by TF&G Staff

54 u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

& GAME 60 u FISH HUNTING CENTER by Chester Moore

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“Decisions to cancel the May survey and other migratory bird monitoring this spring were based on our priority of protecting the health and safety of the American public, our partners and our employees,” said Ken Richkus, Chief of the USFWS Division of Migratory Bird Management. Duck season regulations are based on the status of mallards in the Mississippi, Central and Pacific Flyways and on the status of four species (green-winged teal, common goldeneye, wood duck and ring-necked duck) in the Atlantic Flyway. Because of recent changes in how harvest regulations are set, survey cancelations will not affect the 2020-21 hunting season. Proposed regulations for the 2020-21 season were based on population and habitat conditions from the 2019 breeding season and are making their way through the approval process. For the 2021-2022 general duck seasons,

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Richkus said the USFWS will use the longterm data and models to predict 2020 spring abundances of ducks and habitat conditions in place of the spring 2020 data. The results from these predictions will be combined with the existing harvest strategies to determine appropriate levels of harvest for the 2021-2022 season. Current travel restrictions in Canada, unless modified, may also affect many goose banding program efforts and surveys as well as high latitude duck banding stations this summer. “These surveys are the bedrock of effective harvest management in North America and have helped sustain waterfowl populations and abundant hunting opportunities for over 60 years,” said Ducks Unlimited Chief Conservation Officer Karen Waldrop.

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“Although we will miss the anticipation and excitement that comes with the annual release of the May survey results, we don’t expect the cancelation of surveys to impact seasons and bag limits for the majority of species. The combination of healthy, robust waterfowl populations and our long-term experience with these data, gives us faith that the waterfowl management community can project populations with a high level of certainty.”

••• Pandemic Gun Rights Concerns

NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT than protecting ourselves and our families— especially during these times of uncertainty. Yet, some anti-gun lawmakers are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to deny you and your loved ones your fundamental right to

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pening in your town or state and across the country. If you need help or would like to alert us to something happening in your town or state, please send us an email at COVID19@nrahq.org.

self-defense and your Second Amendment rights. These anti-gun and anti-self-defense extremists deem gun stores “non-essential,” they shut down issuance of firearm permits, and, in some locations, they have created extreme delays for background checks required for firearm transfers. Some jurisdictions have even put added restrictions on firearm transfers, making it all but impossible for many law-abiding Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights. All of this is happening against a backdrop of reported prisoner furloughs and law enforcement only arresting for the most serious of crimes. Just like you, we know that’s wrong. That is why the NRA will keep a constant watch on what is happening nationwide and will work diligently to ensure that you are able to defend yourself and your family during these unprecedented times. In the past four decades, your NRA has led the way to pass Right-to-Carry, Castle Doctrine, and—most important for the current crisis—protection against gun confiscation during declared emergencies. This time is no different. We hope you find this website useful. Please use it to stay updated on what’s hap-

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••• Salt, Fresh Fishery Centers Re-open WITH TEXAS GRADUALLY RE-OPENing, Sea Center Texas in Lake Jackson and the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens will partially re-open to public visitation on Wednesday, May 27. Both facilities will have enhanced safety measures that comply with CDC guidelines and Governor Abbott’s executive orders. “We look forward to providing a safe, free option for children and families to explore and learn more about saltwater environments,” says Robin Riechers, Coastal Fisheries Division Director. Sea Center Texas (SCT) will be open from 10am to 3pm Tuesday-Saturday with the following safety procedures in place: Guests are encouraged to wear masks and maintain appropriate social distances

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from others outside their party and use hand sanitizer and wash their hands regularly. No groups larger than five people are allowed, except for families or people living in the same household. The aquariums and the outdoor wetlands area are for self- guided viewing only The gift shop will remain closed until further notice No public fishing, hatchery tours, or touch displays SCT will be operating at approximately 25% capacity per the state’s executive order. This will allow up to 75 people in SCT Visitor’s Center and 138 people on the wetland’s boardwalk. As always, admission is free. “Providing the opportunity for Texans to see and experience our fisheries and aquatic resources firsthand is at the heart of our mission” said Craig Bonds, Director of Inland Fisheries. “We are excited to be able to once again offer some of these experiences and benefits at TFFC with a partial re-opening while providing responsible human health safety measures.” The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) will be open 9am to 4pm Wednesday-Saturday and 1pm to 4pm Sunday with the following safety procedures in place: Guests are encouraged to wear masks, maintain appropriate social distances from others outside their party, and use hand sanitizer and wash their hands regularly. No groups larger than five people are allowed, except for families or people living in the same household. To avoid crowding there will not be any tram or hatchery tours offered The indoor portion of the visitor center, including the dive theater, gift shop, and Game Warden museum will remain closed. Water fountains and vending machines will not be operational, but visitors are permitted to bring drinks and bottled water will be available for purchase TFFC will be operating at approximately 25% visitor capacity per the state’s executive order. This will allow up to 100 people at the facility at any time. To be informed on when TFFC is nearing visitor capacity and entrance will require waiting, please NEWS PHOTO:

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follow the TFFC Facebook page and front entrance signage. Admission is temporarily reduced to the group rate of $2.50 per guest. During this partial reopening phase, visitors to TFFC can still enjoy all outside aquaria, recreational fishing (fishing poles will not be available for loan, but tackle and bait will be available), the Angler’s Pavilion, antique lure and fishing equipment exhibit, and wetland trail.

••• Social-Distance with a Special Trout Challenge TROUT FISHING ON BEAUTIFUL western streams is one of the greatest things a person can experience. Stunning landscapes and equally stunning fish make for memories that will last a lifetime. “By attempting to catch native trout in 12 states anglers can enjoy the adventure of a lifetime. Although rainbow and brown trout are

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no doubt the most widely sought species, they are not native to many of the streams they swim. In fact, brown trout are not even native to North America. Both of these wonderful sportfish have their place, but so do a wide variety of native trout. That’s what the Western Native Trout Challenge is all about. The Challenge invites anglers to help celebrate America’s western legacy. Anglers are challenged to catch native trout and char in each of the 12 participating states, at their own pace. By attempting to catch these native trout in 12 states anglers can enjoy the adventure of a lifetime. For every $25 program registration fee, $23 goes toward helping to conserve these species. In 2020, registration fees and donations supported West Slope cutthroat trout in a project called Cottonwood Creek Fish Passage Barrier Project for Native Trout Security in Montana. All participants will receive a full-color certificate featuring the graphic designs of noted artist Joseph Tomelleri to commemorate their catch. Ambitious anglers can take things to

the next level by catching six species in at least four states and becoming an “Expert Caster.” Those who catch 12 species in at least eight states qualify as “Advanced Caster”. “Master Casters” are those who catch and photograph 18 species across all 12 states. Follow these steps to participate: 1. Register for the challenge at westernativetroutchallenge.org Registration is available at the end of a short presentation about aquatic invasive species prevention. Cost is $25 for adults 18 and older and free for youths 17 and under. 2. Plan your journey. Be sure to buy your license for each state, and go fishing. Catch and photograph fish in their native or historic waters. 3. Certify your catch by submitting a photo and description of each trout or char and when and where you caught it. 4. Get your official certificate, hat, or medallion (depending on the challenge level you complete) and share great stories of your adventures.

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Live Bait Cures Hot Weather Lockjaw summer yet, which we should get to experience sometime next month. For now though, it’s plenty hot enough and all the indicators are saying that summer is officially here. We will worry about next month when that time comes. Another sure sign that summer is upon us is that the fish seem to get lockjaw for no apparent reason when it comes to striking artificial baits. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you can’t catch fish with plastics on hot summer days, because you can. It happens a lot. It’s just that, at times, some game fish, (speckled trout especially) for whatever reason, will turn up their noses at any potential meal that doesn’t have a soul. What they want is the real thing and they won’t settle for anything less. They seem to get away from the artificial bite sometimes on very hot summer days. This is especially true if you’ve got gin-clear water conditions. If you can’t get your hands on live bait, try downsizing your lures, fishing deeper water and hitting it as early as possible to give yourself a fighting chance. That’s CAPT. HERNANDEZ the best advice I ContactUs@Fishgame.com

SABINE Reported by CAPT. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

ELCOME TO JULY ON Texas’s upper coast. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s a little warm. Okay, it’s more than just a little warm. It’s a little hot! All right I admit, it’s actually a lot hot. It’s dripping-with-sweat-and-your-clothesalready-wet-before-you-even-leave-the house hot! That’s just from loading the boat with gear, drinks and ice before the sun is even up. Sadly, we’re not even to the hottest part of

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can give to those who can’t get live bait when the fish decide to get finicky. For those who can though, live shrimp and croakers are very hard to beat. Whether free-lined, with a split shot or under a popping cork, they can work like magic when nothing else will draw strikes. Shad and finger mullet are not bad substitutes either, and at times can be just as effective. The great thing about these baits is they’re a whole lot cheaper, unless of course you’re lucky enough to catch shrimp with your cast net. Whether I’m fishing Galveston Bay or Sabine, the jetties are one of my all time favorite places to use live bait. If the conditions are favorable in July, it’s almost hard not to catch fish. Have one rigged about 24 inches beneath a popping cork, one with a ¼ ounce split shot about 18 inches above a khale or treble hook and another free-lined. One of these setups should let you know pretty quickly how they want it. Quite often, the fishermen using live bait at the jetties will be netting one fish after the other while those throwing artificials will be struggling to get a bite. This isn’t always the case, but I have witnessed it on multiple occasions. So, when the July heat really starts showing off, and the fish turn up their noses at artificial baits, give them what they want, something with a soul.

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GALVESTON Reported by CAPT. MIKE HOLMES

HERE IS MAGIC IN THE Gulf waters this month. Probing the shallow back bay waters and feeder streams or working the mostly calm surf beyond the fabled third sandbar brings happiness to just about any angler. It’s also true for those exploring the deeper waters beyond for fish species of all sizes and types. We should plan our trips for early and late in the day to avoid the worst of the CAPT. HOLMES summer sun and ContactUs@Fishgame.com

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Tarpon will often be seen jumping in the surf. They’ll sometimes take a big live mullet, or even a fresh chunk of cut mullet. For those who seek the pull of a big fish that might be more commonly encountered, sharks of various sizes work the summer surf—some of them reaching “monster” size. Less glamorous, but just as sporting, are stingrays, which can be a strong challenge even on stout tackle. In calm summer seas, even fairly small boats can be used to reach out a bit farther from the beach as long as the operators are safe and careful. For those who would rather keep their feet dry, fishing from one of the beachfront piers is a good bet—or even a rock groin or jetty rocks at times. Boats a bit larger and better equipped can be the entry into a wonderful offshore fishing world, beginning just past the beachfront sandbars. Underwater rocks and other formations hold all sorts of fish. Oil rigs of various sizes are always home to many species from snapper on the bottom to kingfish and ling nearer the surface. At times, schools of dolphins will roam close to shore. When the water is clear and calm the possibilities for sportfish are very, very good. Of course, folks on private boats as well as commercial charter and party boats ply the further offshore waters for kings, ling, snapper, tuna, wahoo—even billfish. The Texas coast is a wonderful world for fishermen, regardless of their preference in fish size and species.

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HOTSPOTLIGHT:

SMITH POINT

SMITH POINT IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF WHERE GALVESTON, TRINITY and East Galveston Bays intersect. It is located on on Farm Road 562, twenty miles from Galveston in southern Chambers County. Selected HOTSPOTS are shown in the table below, and on the map above. SPECKLED TROUT KEY

HOTSPOT NAME

Van-Ta-Un Flats

GPS

Willies Head Island

REDFISH

Smith Point Flats

Spoonbill Reef

Willies Head Island

N 29 31.258, W 94 45.095 N 29 33.667, W 94 46.517 N 29 32.155, W 94 48.524

FLOUNDER

Ving-et-un Island

Richard’s Reef

N 29 32.920, W 94 46.419 N 29 31.429, W 94 45.323

WADEFISHING

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KEY FACILITY NAME

N 29 32.176, W 94 47.020 N 29 31.471, W 94 45.838

Robbins Shoreline

FACILITIES

Robbins Park

BEST BAIT & TACTIC

N 29 32.794, W 94 45.805 N 29 32.155, W 94 48.524

GPS

Suspending twitch baits, wade shallow early, drift late Live shrimp under cork, live croaker, anchor or drift

Pumpkinseed soft plastics, gold spoon; watch boils Live shrimp under cork, mullet; ﬁsh reef top and edges Gold spoons, live shrimp, troll/wade/drift close to bank

Live mud minnows, soft plastics; wade or drift slowly

midday-afternoon

live shrimp or crab under pop-n cork, anchor or drift;

midday-afternoon

LOCATION

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409-267-8364

Reported by MIKE PRICE

N JULY IT IS BEST TO GO FISHing early in the morning because that’s when the fish will most likely be searching for prey—and you will not get too hot. Early in the morning the water temperature in East and West Matagorda Bays will be about 83°F. By MIKE PRICE 4 pm the water ContactUs@Fishgame.com

a school of mackerel into the mix. Sand trout and croakers will usually add fun on very light tackle and support a tasty fish fry. The summer surf is a wonderful location for sport fishermen, with these same fish being targets for larger species as well as for fishermen. This is not the prime time for “bull” reds, but they’ll still be among the catches, along with hard fighting jack crevalle. T E X A S

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MATAGORDA

live shrimp or crab under pop-n cork, anchor or drift;

N 29 32.611, Hawkins Camp Road W 94 47.223 SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2020

find feeding speckled trout and redfish— either from a drifting shallow-draft boat or wade fishing. Live bait or fresh dead natural bait under popping corks will bring action from either species. Shallow bay waters over oyster reefs and the expansive sandbars behind inlets such as San Luis Pass will be productive. Closer to the pass will occasionally bring a big jack or

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Mud minnows, shrimp, ﬁsh shore and shell ridge

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guts or in the open water of the bay.

UPPER COAST temperature will have increased to 88°F. Consequently the fish move to deeper water and stop feeding. Shortly after first morning light, you may find redfish feeding off the shorelines. You may also find flounders, but redfish feeding signs are different from flounder. Redfish trap bait fish or shrimp against the bank and create a big commotion when attacking. When you see this, watch which way the reds are going, be very quiet, even though they are being very noisy. Position your soft plastic or gold spoon in front of the redfish. If your lure lands over shell, you will have to reel immediately.Keep your rod tip high to prevent it from getting hung up on oyster shell, and hope it is a perfect cast. If your lure lands on sand or mud, you can leave it until just before the redfish gets there, and then start moving it. Flounders usually feed right next to the shoreline. When they attack prey, you see a burst of little baitfish or small shrimp. When

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that happens, watch that spot and be ready to drop your lure right on it when the burst happens againYou know that’s a flounder, so be prepared to play the strike as a flounder. When fishing a soft plastic, after you feel a hit, wait until you feel the flounder swim, then set the hook. Many times, a flounder will strike the back of a soft plastic lure, missing the hook. They do this to stun their prey. Then they turn the “fish” so it goes down headfirst. If you’re using a spoon, set the hook when you feel the bite. In contrast to reds and flounders, although trout sometimes work the shorelines, they are usually found in the

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If you intend to fish the surf, try to time it so that you’re fishing at first light on an incoming tide. If the incoming tide is later in the day, you may find that the fish are still biting. Fishing an incoming tide yields more action. Baitfish are being pushed into the guts along the shoreline by the water movement, and predator fish follow the bait. If the surf is calm and the tide on the beach is incoming, you will probably fare better fishing the surf than in the bay. Wave action in the Gulf of Mexico and cooler water coming up from depth mixes with warm surface water oxygenates the water, whereas water in the bays on a hot, calm day is oxygen deprived. If the surf is too rough to wade-fish, you can either fish the surf from the beach using live or fresh dead shrimp, or you can fish the bay very early in the morning. Jeff Wiley and I were catching trout, hardheads, whiting, and small sharks in the surf shortly after first light. He caught a small hammerhead and netted and released it with no problem. But when I hooked and then watched a three-foot blacktip shark jump high out of the water, my desire to net the shark did not work out. With the net deep in the water at the ready, I worked the shark up to it, but the blacktip shark avoided the net and darted past my right side and came around my back to my left side where my leg and butt meet and clamped down. I felt the searing pain and reached down and grabbed the shark on its underside, just below its mouth, which was not letting go, and tore it off. Then I removed the hook and turned the little blacktip loose. What did I learn from that experience? I am not going to try to net a shark; instead, I will cut the line. I was glad I had a first aid kit in my truck. An open wound in warm salt water should be treated immediately. In the Gulf of Mexico in July you may see a concentration of diving birds and jumping fish over a large area. This is most likely Spanish mackerels rounding up a huge school of sardines. I was offshore in late July and witnessed this, sardines jumping as Spanish mackerels and bottleneck dolphins attacked them. We tried to catch Spanish mackerel by using light tackle and running a silver spoon through the

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melee quickly, but we could not get the boat in a position to make continuous casts before the whole business moved. However, if you see king mackerels jumping among baitfish and birds attacking, there is a good chance that you will land some of those kings. We had that situation and positioned the boat to troll near the action and caught several kings that were acrobatic jumpers. Red snappers will be in season in federal waters throughout the month of July. Usually snappers will be found below the thermocline, which can be seen on the boat’s fish-finder. I like to drop my bait to a depth which is a little below the thermocline and wait about a minute. If no bite, I’ll drop another 10 feet. I’ll continue to lower the bait until I feel a bite or until I feel the weight hit the bottom. Then I’ll bring the weight up a little and wait for the bite. Be sure to bring a device to deflate the expanded bladders of red snappers that you return to the water and use circle hooks. Circle hooks catch in the side of the fish’s mouth and are easily removed leaving the fish undamaged, whereas J hooks sometimes hook deep inside the fish and kill it.

LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Ship Channel GPS: N 29 35.22, W 94 55.8059 (29.5870, -94.9301)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp or croaker CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: “Fish the channel from about marker 36 through 50. There are some occasional humps with water depth changes from 12-15 feet. Locate with your sonar, and use a Carolina Rig with live shrimp or croaker.

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UPPER COAST HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Campbell Bayou HOTSPOT: Sand Island GPS: N 29 20.3141, W 94 54.0286 (29.3386, -94.9005)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Drifting Campbell’s Bayou can produce trout in the 16-17 inch trout. Look for bird action.

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captpaul@goﬁshgalveston.com www.goﬁshgalveston.com TIPS: As you approach an area that is holding a number of boats, use your trolling motor to ease in. When using your big motor, try to use idle speed only to not create a wake.

UPPER COAST LOCATION: Galveston HOTSPOT: North Jetty GPS: N 29 21.272, W94 43.091 (29.3545, -94.7182)

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Little Hanna’s Reef GPS: N 29 27.5209, W 94 42.3989 (29.4587, -94.7067) 281-788-4041 captpaul@goﬁshgalveston.com www.goﬁshgalveston.com TIPS: Topwaters early such as the She Pup or the Baby Spooks. Good colors are black, chrome and chartreuse. Slow presentation, just barely walk it.

SPECIES: Shark, Redﬁsh, and Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Scott Wheat 361-746-8134 speckelTrout15@aol.com TIPS: One of Capt. Wheat’s favorite summer places to ﬁsh is under the anchored tankers and container ships waiting to come up the Galveston ship channel.

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@goﬁshgalveston.com www.goﬁshgalveston.com TIPS: The trout have been forced out of Trinity and upper regions of Galveston Bay into East Galveston and Campbell’s Bayou area.

HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef GPS: N 29 28.92, W 94 43.6559 (29.4820, -94.7276)

LOCATION: Galveston HOTSPOT: South Jetty GPS: N 29 19.67, W94 41.411 (29.3278, -94.6902)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: East Bay will be crowded with trout because of the spring water runoffs, but also a lot of boating traffic. Be careful to monitor you talk because of the close proximity with other boaters. There have always been difficulties with improper boat activity.

SPECIES: Shark, Redﬁsh, and Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Scott Wheat 361-746-8134 speckelTrout15@aol.com TIPS: Wheat uses live shrimp, but also frozen sardines for some ﬁsh.

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

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Little Pasture Bayou GPS: N 29 31.254, W 94 32.3179 (29.5209, -94.5386)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwaters early CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041 captpaul@gofishgalveston.com www.gofishgalveston.com TIPS: Pockets along the bayous will hold significant numbers of fish in the seven pound range. Fish the drains and bayous.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio 281-788-4041

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwaters early CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay HOTSPOT: Robinson Bayou GPS: N 29 35.0637, W 94 34.4947 (29.5844, -94.5749)

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LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Dows Reef GPS: N 29 38.932, W 94 48.436 (29.6489, -94.8073)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: “We definitely try to fish the jetties because you get a chance to catch a mixed bag of fish. On an incoming tide, fish the outside of the jetty; on outgoing tide, fish the channel side.” Capt. Frazier LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Raymond Shoals GPS: N 28 40.449, W 95 53.898 (28.6742, -95.8983)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp Shad or live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-1871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventues.com TIPS: Kersh uses Berkley Gulp with a 1/4-ounce jig head, jigging it, or under a popping cork. If he is using the Gulp under a popping cork, he places it about 2 1/2 or 3 feet under the cork. LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Long Reef GPS: N 28 40.3998, W 95 53.0899 (28.6733, -95.8848)

CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-1871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventues.com TIPS: In dirty water Kersh prefers a light color or a really bright chartreuse. In clear water he likes to throw a lot of pink colors LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Drulls Lump GPS: N 28 42.285, W 95 50.0659 (28.7048, -95.8344)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp Shad or live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Kendall Kersh 979-248-1871 kendallkersh@gmail.com www.puresaltadventues.com TIPS: Kersh say he catches big trout all year round here. A lot of it deals with the weather. In July a lot of the big fish move into deep water. Drifting the deeper reefs especially in Matagorda East Bay can pay off. LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay HOTSPOT: Peninsula Shoreline GPS: N 28 28.801, W 96 15.753 (28.4800, -96.2626)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic shrimp tails or topwater baits CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennging@gmail.com www.glennsguideservice.com TIPS: “If the water is fairly clear, I will throw a lot of natural colors…Chicken on a Chain and Roach. For topwaters I like chrome/black back or chrome/pink back.” Capt. Ging

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Jetties GPS: N 29 38.6029, W 93 49.584 (29.6434, -93.8264)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: 3 inch Swimming Shad soft plastic CONTACT: Capt. Adam Jaynes 409-988-3901 amjaynes@gmail.com www.justfishsabine.com TIPS: Fish the channel side of the jetties when there is slow moving water. Fish the Gulf side on fast moving water. LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Sabine Channel GPS: N 29 59.87, W 93 46.171 (29.9978, -93.7695)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp or soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 97862018@sbcglobal.net www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: Capt. Watkins reports trout and redfish will be off the jetties and ship channel. Trout be at the short rigs and beachfront. Look for birds working popping shrimp.

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp Shad or live shrimp

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Locating Hot Summer Time Specks beach, summertime speckled trout can be found roaming the shallows. Here, they find refuge away from deep-water predators. July anglers fishing a cooperative surf can often catch some extremely nice trout an hour before sunrise between the beachfront and the first submerged sand bar. The fish will be there searching the very shallow water for an early morning snack. If you have a good trolling motor, you can fish the shallows from the boat. However, the moment the sun rises, you’ll need to move out to the second and third sand bar. A lot of people like to wade the surf on a calm day, as you’ll often make a lot less noise walking atop a sand bar instead of fishing out of the boat. Fishing the jetties is somewhat similar, except the shallow water along the big rocks may be upwards of four to five feet deep. A good trolling motor is extra handy amid the jetties because you can keep your preferred distance while casting up to, or parallel to the rocks. Plus, you don’t have to mess with the problems an anchor can present. If you want to enjoy the absolute greatest trout fishing experience in either of these locations, try throwing top water baits. Along the beachfront before the sun rises, or predawn along the jetties, try a medium size bait in either bone, black, or other darker color. As the sky begins to lighten, the bite will often move off into deeper water, and the top water baits may not be as effective. At that point, reposition yourself in a bit deeper water and try your luck with a subsurface bait like a slow sinker or crankbait. If it happens to be an overcast day, try going with some of the lighter colors, or just experiment until you discover what the fish prefer. Other prime July spots will also include the tapering banks and shores of the stretch of the ICW between Port O’Connor and San Antonio Bay. If you’re really quiet early in the morning, you might be able to actually see a big trout sitting still near the surface of the water along the ICW flats. The light might be poor; but if you look closely, you might just get lucky. Another July favorite will be ends of oyster reefs out in San Antonio Bay that slowly

SAN ANTONIO BAY AREA Reported by CAPT. CHRIS MARTIN

T’S JULY, AND EVERYTHING IS hot—you’re hot, your truck is hot, the boat is hot, the air and the water are hot, and even your rod and reel are hot. However, there’s one thing that can be even hotter than all that other stuff right now, and that’s the speckled trout bite. If you ask Coastal Bend anglers where they like to fish for trout in July, you’re going to get mixed answers. Yet, it’s almost certain that a couple of comCAPT. MARTIN monly known bayﬂatslodge@gmail.com areas along the mid-coast of Texas will be on the list. These favorite locations feature shallow water sitting just adjacent to deeper water. Among these are the Matagorda Jetties and the miles of beachfront along the Gulf side of Matagorda Island. In July, when winds die down to nothing, or when a small breeze is blowing off the

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drop-off into a little deeper water. Focus your attention away from the reef as the morning light gets progressively brighter, and you should be able to find them if they’re there. Slow-sinking baits and plastic tails often prove the most effective on the summertime reefs. Try a top water near the reef itself if you pull up and lower the power-pole before the sun comes up. As a general rule, start your day extra early if at all possible. This allows you to enjoy the comfort of fishing during the coolest part of the day. It will also give you a chance to find some nice trout in shallow water, where it’s much easier to maneuver, especially when wading. Have fun out there, and be safe!

• • •

ROCKPORT AREA Reported by CAPT. MAC GABLE

T’S HARD TO KNOW AT THE time of this writing just where the country and the planet will be with the many challenges the virus pandemic has posed. Boat ramps are supposed to be open soon. Fishing piers are open with all the rules of social distancing in affect: • Maintain at least a sixfoot distance from anyone not in your group. • No groups CAPT. GABLE larger than ContactUs@Fishgame.com five people are allowed, except for families or people living in the same household.

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water. This doubled as a drain and fresh saltwater intake. I observed all this within five or so strides as I jogged. At which time I stopped, grabbed my mask, did a Michael Jackson pivot, and asked the man if I could talk/bother him for a moment. “You look familiar,” he said. “I live down the road,” I replied. “Are you Capt. Mac?” “Depends on who’s asking,” I laughed. He grinned and waved me over. “You have quite the setup here,” I commented. He smiled, “Well, so I’ve been told.” I decided to inquire. “What’s that all about?” I asked, pointing to his bumper. “That’s my nightlight and an air tank to blow the sand off,” he beamed. “Look at this.” He pointed to the bed of his truck. “Speakers for music,” he said, “all blue tooth from my truck stereo and it’s remote controlled. Those speakers are good ones.” He beamed as he cranked up the sound so loud, I swear his lug nuts were rattling.

4 5 2

1 1

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HOTSPOTLIGHT:

SHAMROCK COVE

SHAMROCK COVE AND ISLAND ARE LOCATED ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF CORpus Christi Bay, accessible via State Highway 361 from Port Aransas to the North and Corpus Christi to the South. Selected ﬁshing hotspots are shown on the map above and on the table below. SPECKLED TROUT KEY

HOTSPOT NAME

Corpus Christi Bay Wells

Shamrock Cove

FLOUNDER

East Shore Boot Cove

Shamrock Cove

Shamrock Channels

BLACK DRUM Hotspot Name

WADEFISHING

1 2 3

GPS

BEST BAIT & TACTIC

N 27 44.764, W 97 11.141 N 27 45.437, W 97 09.717

Anchor casting distance from well, cast to & around; morning-afternoon.

N 27 44.017, W 97 09.747 N 27 44.017, W 97 09.747 N 27 45.685, W 97 08.932

Shrimp, 1/8 oz. jighead, ﬁsh channel edges; dawnmidday.

N 27 44.017, W 97 09.747

Live/dead shrimp, ﬁsh island edges and cuts; morningmidday.

Tops, shrimp, drift shallow ﬂats, great on outgoing tide; dawn, morning dusk.

Live mullet, ﬁsh channel edges with tidal movement; dawn-afternoon. Freeline minnow w 3/16 oz. jighead, ﬁsh drops, edges; dawn-midday.

N 27 45.159, Speckled trout, redfish, black drum, live shrimp, crab; drawn-midday. W 97 10.022 N 27 44.641, Freeline croaker, start in 3”, work deeper, find pockWisconsin Cut Area ets; dawn to noon. W 97 09.239 N 27 46.018, Trout, reds, flounder, wade flats, CAUTION stingrays; Shamrock Cove dawn to dusk W 97 09.239 SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2020 Shamrock Island

• Park staff will be wearing face coverings. We strongly encourage you to do so, as well Of course, this is all subject to change so stay connected and remember ignorance of the rules and laws is no excuse. I personally find the facemasks suffocating, but I am using them. (Don’t try exercising with them on, as hyperventilating is a real possibility. Don’t ask me how I know) Earlier this spring, after ditching the mask on a run/walk down Lamar Beach Road, I

came across an angler who seemed to have bank fishing down to a science. An umbrella protruded from the receiver hitch on his truck. Rod holders were fastened to the side of the tailgate covering, which had cup holders molded into it. He had a fresh water wash-down tank that ran off the truck battery, and he had an ice dispenser adjacent. His live well was under the tailgate. A bubbler was humming away with a tube that ran down to the edge of the T E X A S

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MIDDLE COAST

MESQUITE BAY: You’ll find some reds in Beldon Dugout using free-lined finger mullet. In high wind a light Carolina rig works well. The San Jose shoreline (N 28 06.831, W 96 50.314) is a good spot for reds early morning, high tide is best, using mud minnows or fresh cut mullet on a light Carolina rig.

“All you need is a margarita,” I jested. “Will on the rocks be okay?” He smiled as he divvied out some ice. At this point I wondered why I was jogging and not grabbing a pole and joining him. “Catch anything?” I asked. He opened the ice chest under the tailgate and showed me three black drums and two reds. His chair was a sling-type from Cabela’s with an ice-cold Coke in a holder on the arm. “Nice rods,” I said. One was a Penn Fierce the other a Daiwa Saltist. “I have lost several the past two months,” he said. “I never fish with more than two at a time. Besides that’s all that fits on the tailgate. These fish move down the shoreline in small schools and hit the bait at about the same time. “It’s exciting, but I tend to grab both rods and twice have had a rod jerked from my hands. Once I had two bites and missed the first only to lay the rod down. While I was fighting the other fish, the first rod got pulled into the water! Never lay a rod down that’s in the water. It’s like the fish are watching!” he laughed. “I have an expensive boat at home, but I can’t use it these days. To be honest, I was at home licking my wounds feeling sorry for myself because I couldn’t fish. “I think my wife was tired of me moping about. She said, ‘You used to fish without a boat!’ She was right, so I adapted, overcame, persevered and had a blast getting all this stuff together. “To tell you the truth I might just sell the boat, this style of fishing is so relaxing, and I meet a lot of people.” “Well, you have some nice fish to clean when you get home,” I said. “Home?” he quipped, “I fillet them, wash the fillets, bag’m and put them on ice right here, then I wash down my rods and am ready for the next fishing day.” This man was truly in his element. It was fun just listening to him. “When do you think they’ll open the boat ramp?” he asked as I started to jog off. “May 1st is what I heard,” I answered back, “and please keep that stereo volume at a happy medium, I live here.” As I broke into a fast walk he said loudly “May 1st? Maybe I WON’T sell the boat just yet!” 44

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With both thumbs up, I jogged on. They say Covid19 doesn’t like hot weather. All I can say is let the July Texas sun have at it! Burn baby burn! • • • MORE LARGE TROUT ARE CAUGHT this time of year in the early morning and late evening. Gator trout are energy conserving experts; they are most active in the cooler temperatures of the morning/late evening, with many large trout being caught around midnight. COPANO BAY: Drifts across Redfish Point (N 28 06.879, W 97 03.329) are good for reds using free-lined finger mullet. Slowing the drifts down with a drift sock works best. The north end of Copano Reef (N 26 08.862 W 97 06.542) is a good spot for trout using free-lined croakers with high tide being the best time. ST CHARLES BAY: Wades near Big Sharp Point with mud minnows or finger mullet is good for reds. In high wind, freelined is best, keeping the rod tip close to the water. A bubble cork works well here. Bird Point (N 28 08.228 W 96 57.333) is a good spot for reds and flounders. Use free-lined finger mullet for the reds and live shrimp jigged across the bottom for flounders. ARANSAS BAY: The shell reefs just south of Long Reef (N 28 02.742, W 96 57.834) is a good spot for trout using freelined croakers. Deadman Island is still holding black drum with live shrimp under a popping cork being best. CARLOS BAY: Wades near Cape Carlos shoreline early morning are good for reds and some large trout using grape colored sand eels. Drifts across Carlos Lake are good for trout using imitation shrimp under a rattle cork. |

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AYERS BAY: Ayers Reef (N 28 10.440, W 96 50.238) is a good spot this time of year for some big black drum. Wide-gapped Kahle hooks with cracked crab works best. This is patience fishing. So let the bait sit and resist reeling in unless you get a bite. Wades near Ayers Point (N 28 10.990 W 96 48.270) are good for trout using free-lined croakers.

• • •

CORPUS CHRISTI BAY Reported by JOEY FARAH

HE PEAK OF SUMMER FUN along the South Texas Coast brings bay fishing to a boil in the Corpus Christi and Laguna Madre area. Summer conditions move the best fishing to the extremes, very shallow and the deepest areas in the bay. Targeting the four big gamefish for coastal fishing can be a hunt, but here are some game plans to get your crew into tight lines: Sight casting shallowwater redfish can bring up close and personal experiences. When CAPT. FARAH I say shallow, jfarah@yahoo.com I’m talking shin deep or less, redfish can swim without breaking the surface in only a few inches of water. Crabs, shrimp, and small minnows seek the shallows away from many would-be predators. At night redfish hunt these flats where they can smell and feel vibrations easier.

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At first light, anglers can catch them exposing their backs and tails as they hunt in the shallow water. Be in position at grey light, walking with or parallel to the wind at a slow quiet pace. Casting lightly weighted soft plastics such as the DOA 1/4 ounce shrimp in near clear or fire tiger colors will keep your presentation light and natural, as well as weedless. Casting to everything that breaks the surface might bring some success. However, you should learn to see the difference between a mullet’s forked tail and round head compared to the body shape and fins of a redfish or black drum. Determine what direction the fish is moving and make a cast that will bring the bait before the fish. As the sun rises in the sky, look for the tails to go sub-surface and use the sun to see into the water. Some great places to start are the marshes behind Padre Island at the Fish Pass in Mustang Island State Park. Here, you’ll find miles of marsh you can walk into. The shoreline south of Bird Island Basin in the National Seashore is another great place. There, you can pull up and walk forever along a beautiful sand bottom on the backside of Padre Island. Flounders will move toward deeper water, as they are sensitive to temperature. Look for them along the bottom up against pier poles and passes to the Gulf. The jetties at Packery Channel are full of summer flounders. They also congregate at channel intersections within a few miles of the JFK Bridge. Key on areas with good, clean water and tidal movement. I like white, soft plastics for flounder, or small mud minnows and finger mullet. When you catch one, a school is usually hanging in the same area. Stay out and keep fishing. Black drum split their time in July between the skinny water with the redfish, and deeper water. Sight casting to them in both deep and shallow water can be tricky as they are very finicky eaters. Fresh dead or live shrimp on a light 1/16th ounce jig head is a good way to make a cast but still have the bait float quietly toward the fish. At times I just peel the shrimp and use a clear leader and a #4 owner circle hook for sight casting a black drum. Look toward the Packery Channel area, the Boat Hole, and the many undeveloped housing canals

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on North Padre for schools of drum in deep water. The miles of shin-deep flats in Yarbarrow Pass is where we will be sight casting them in less than knee-deep water. Summer fishing with live bait for speckled trout is at its peak in July and is very productive. The bait stands offer live croakers and piggy perch, but they are expensive. So, make sure you’re using them correctly. We free-line them with no, or very little, weight. Some inline rattles can replace your swivel and add noise to your presentation. Texas Rattler is a great brand to use with a big #5-6 Owner wide-gap hook. Pass the hook through the hip of the bait above the anal fin. The trout will strike the bait headfirst. Let it take the bait without pressure for a few feet by giving line or dipping the rod tip. Allow it to a swallow the bait before you set the hook. We will be catching trout on soft plastics in the Land Cut every morning. Using a trolling motor to ease along the edge of the channel, we see explosive blow-ups on topwater baits at sunrise. The rest of the day we find schools of trout along the cabin piers and channel crossings. Soft plastics with a 1/4-ounce jig head will be best for fishing the edge of the deeper water. Don’t forget about the beach. Some of the best summer fishing is along the prettiest beaches in the world here on North Padre Island. Try silver spoons in the surf all day for Spanish mackerel. Then, top-waters at sunrise and sunset in the first two guts for big surf trout. The big beach piers are a great place to take the family and fish out to 600 yards into the gulf for all species. You’ll find sharks, kingfish, ling, tarpon, sheepsheads, mackerel, trout, reds, and drum, along with any and all the fish in the sea. July is the peak of summer, and most of the busy traffic slows down on the water after the July 4th weekend. Take some time to build memories out on the inland bays of the Coastal Bend. We have it all.

MIDDLE COAST HOTSPOTS

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

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 www.facebook.com/billy.freudensprung TIPS: Look for shell piles and work the edges from a boat. Trout, redfish, and an occasional flounder can be caught. The trout are the easiest to catch using a croaker freelined. LOCATION: Carlos Bay HOTSPOT: Cedar Reef GPS: N 28 8.251, W 96 53.049 (28.1375, -96.8842)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder BEST BAITS: Paul Brown Devil Eyes and Chickenon-a-Chain soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 www.facebook.com/billy.freudensprung TIPS: Capt. Freudensprung’s favorite soft plastic is Devil Eye in a chrome with a chartreuse tail and a 1/4ounce jig head. “It’s a great redfish lure.” LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Pita Island GPS: N 27 36.169, W 97 17.1989 (27.6028, -97.2867)

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LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Chicken Foot Reef GPS: N 28 16.204, W 96 46.813 (28.2701, -96.7802)

MIDDLE COAST SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Live Shrimp CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.net www.facebook.com/captjohnlittle TIPS: Capt. Little says the month of July is a great time to ﬁsh around the island using live croaker. LOCATION: Nueces Bay HOTSPOT: East Nueces Bay GPS: N 27 52.2799, W 97 19.9979 (27.8713, -97.3333)

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

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Live Shrimp CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.net www.facebook.com/captjohnlittle TIPS: Fresh water runoff doesn’t affect the trout like it does on other bays. The trout are used to it, and the rain cleans up the water for us, reduces high salinity.

SPECIES: Redﬁsh BEST BAITS: Crab CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.net www.facebook.com/captjohnlittle TIPS: Redﬁsh are going to be thick around Shamrock Island especially with all the rain we have had this spring. They will be looking for new crabs, new areas to feed in the shallows.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Flappin Shad soft plastic by Gambler CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.net www.facebook.com/captjohnlittle TIPS: Nice and easy, slow and easy, pump straight up, and let it drop down. Let the tail do all he action. You will get most of your bites as the lure drops.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redﬁsh and Flounder BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 www.facebook.com/billy.freudensprung TIPS: Close to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge, use live croaker over shell and mud where the edges drop off.

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

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Live Shrimp CONTACT: Capt. John Little 361-816-9114 captjohnlittle@sbcglobal.net www.facebook.com/captjohnlittle TIPS: Use a 4/0 Kale hook because the croaker down here aren’t very big, along with a 1/8 ounce barrel weight. The more natural the presentation, the better.

LOCATION: Redﬁsh Bay HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 27 56.035, W 97 5.119 (27.9339, -97.0853)

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

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redﬁsh and Flounder BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung 979-997-2244 www.facebook.com/billy.freudensprung TIPS: “The perfect size for the croaker for trout and redﬁsh is between 3 to 3 1/2 inches. Use a #5 Mustad Ultra Point Hook.” —Capt. Freudensprung

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Summer Fishing is Fun on the Lower Coast BAFFIN BAY

LOWER COAST HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Long Bar GPS: N 26 8.592, W 97 14.2249 (26.1432, -97.2371)

Reported by CAPT. GERAD MERRITT

ULY IS ALWAYS A FUN month on Baffin Bay. The winds have started to die down and the fish are plentiful. This is one of my favorite times of the year to fish, even though the heat and humidity can make it tough. The fish have finished developing their patterns and are now exactly where I expect them to be. Larger rock structures and reefs are now consistently holding nice table trout and make it exciting to throw a live croaker. Although it does not take CAPT. MERRITT much for a seageradmerritt@gmail.com soned angler to get a solid thump on a croaker, some methods and techniques will work better than others. You need to have an idea of when a fish is around your bait. Some days are different from others in that the fish just seem to be more hungry or “interested” in a bait. On these days, it’s as if you can do no wrong. When it seems tough to accurately place a bait, it’s key to learn how to work the bait correctly. With a croaker, a slight wiggle on the end of the hook is a good sign. Once you feel the movement from your croaker, you want to get a good “pop” on the bait, to ensure it makes it a croaking sound. This lets other fish around the bait know what and where it is, in case there was any question. And then the fun begins! Croakers are a favorite of mine and most of my customers, so I have learned plenty of tricks over the years. The most important is to pay attention to the size of your bait. In July, a croaker is normally bigger than previous months, so you have a few things

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Rudy “Jawbreaker” Romero 956-226-3561 Wheelsonfire.sk8@gmail.com TIPS: Capt. Romero with July he will be fishing further south with live croaker, always looking for the big trout.

to keep in mind. When a trout bites a croaker, it ambushes it and hits the croaker from the side. However, the bigger bait this time of year isn’t always going to be bite-sized. A fish hits a croaker from the side, so it has to turn the croaker head-first in its mouth to eat it. This means that you cannot just set the hook as soon as you feel a thump, because normally the hook is in the tail of the bait and is not in the fish’s mouth yet. Allowing the fish to free-line and swim with the bait for a few seconds is the key here. After waiting, set the hook and land the fish. Some days they are hungrier than others and will feed more aggressively, thus allowing you to set the hook sooner. Just remember the basics and you will be successful.

• • •

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Oil Well Flats GPS: N 26 15.079, W 97 15.943 (26.2513, -97.2657)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live Croaker CONTACT: Capt. Rudy “Jawbreaker” Romero 956-226-3561 Wheelsonfire.sk8@gmail.com TIPS: Look for areas that have long thin grass, shell along with soft clay bottoms…real thick, real long grass. LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: El Realto Bay GPS: N 26 15.354, W 97 18.4649 (26.2559, -97.3078)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

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1 6

TIPS: Capt. Romero says the deeper water further south, 3-4 feet deep. Also the water “has more color, greener.”

8 3

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Grass Flats GPS: N 26 1.399, W 97 10.5606 (26.0233, -97.1760)

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

BRAZOS SANTIAGO PASS

BRAZOS SANTIAGO PASS IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHERN TIP OF PADRE ISLAND and is the main pass between the Lower Laguna Madre and the Gulf of Mexico. The pass is bracketed by jetties on the north and south sides. SPECKLED TROUT KEY

HOTSPOT NAME

Mesquite Flats

Turning Basin

GPS

REDFISH Del Mar Beach

FLOUNDER South Bay Pass

4 5

Bridgepoint Channel

Railbed

SNOOK

Old Queen Isabella Causeway

Barracuda Cove

North of Jetties

WADEFISHING

Coast Guard Station (S. Side)

Causeway

FACILITIES

KEY FACILITY NAME

Isla Blanca Park

BEST BAIT & TACTIC

N 26 03.668, W 97 11.409 N 26 03.761, W 97 09.482

Mansﬁeld Mauler, 118/4 oz. jig head, drift with wind; dawn through dusk.

N 26 03.388, W 97 08.961

Live/cut mullet, ﬁsh 1st / 2nd gut, cast parallel to shore; dawn through midday.

N 26 02.889, W 97 11.031 N 26 05.306, W 97 10.140 N 26 03.830, W 97 09.920

Anchor @ edge of channel pt. look for wht. poles; avoid afternoon.

N 26 04.380, W 97 10.947 N 26 03.761, W 97 09.482 N 26 04.143, W 97 09.081

Live shrimp, ﬁnger mullet, ﬁsh piling and shade; morning through afternoon.

N 26 04.360, W 97 10.031 N 26 05.088, W 97 10.353

GPS

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Mud minnows, ﬁnger mullet, ﬁsh bed stones on btm; morning through midday.

Finger mullet, shrimp, ﬁsh rocks with moving tides; morning through afternoon.

Trout, redfish, snook, flounder & sheepshead, live bait. Trout, redfish, snook & flounder, live bait, soft plastics.

PHONE

956-761-5494

CONTACT: Capt. Rudy “Jawbreaker” Romero 956-226-3561 Wheelsonﬁre.sk8@gmail.com

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LOCATION: South Bay HOTSPOT: South Bay East Table Top GPS: N 26 1.431, W 97 11.089 (26.0239, -97.1848)

Soft plastics w 118/4 oz. jig heads, anchor or drift cove; morning through afternoon.

LOCATION

BEST BAITS: Live Croaker |

Jig minnow slowly off btm. count 5 before setting hook; dawn-morning, night.

N 26 04.522, 33714 State Park Rd 100 W 97 09.772 SOURCE: TEXAS LAKES & BAYS FISHING ATLAS 2020

LOWER COAST

Live shrimp, shad tails, ﬁsh dropoffs after cold front; morning through midday.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Skeeter Walker, Super Spook, or Corky CONTACT: Capt. Rudy “Jawbreaker” Romero 956-226-3561 Wheelsonﬁre.sk8@gmail.com TIPS: Capt. Romero likes to use topwater lures, but not “broken backs” or soft plastic tails.

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics with a 1/16 oz jig head CONTACT: Capt. Ismail Yamez 956-202-5550 TIPS: Look for fish sitting there in pockets, or fish swimming by you. Cast past the fish and bring the bait back to the fish.

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along the channel on the north end of the lake, throw some range cubes out and give it about 30 minutes. I use sponges to absorb the dipping bait with a #6 treble hook with a small egg sinker. Let it go to the bottom and wait on a little resistance. Once you feel it set the hook and hold on! LOCATION: Lake Cooper/Chapman HOTSPOT: Dam 1 GPS: N 33 20.183 , W 95 38.372 (33.3364, -95.6395)

Crappie, Catﬁsh & Stripers Get ‘Catchy’

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Punchbait, shad CONTACT: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 903-593-5077 TIPS: Fish with Carolina-rigged punchbait or shadand work in about 6-15 feet of water. Action good all day.

BEST BAITS: V&M Paddletail Frog and V&M Porkpin Worm CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakeﬁshing.com TIPS: Fish the edges of these creeks on the upper end of Caddo Lake with the white frogs on top and 1/8 oz. weighted junebug colored worms on the bottom along the edges of the grass. Give extra attention to the bends and points.

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake Humps and Points GPS: N 32 49.5059, W 95 33.3 (32.8251, -95.5550)

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

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Chrome 1/2 oz. Rat-L-Trap, a Storm swim baits that look like shad, spoons in chrome or gold and a white slabs. CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: July ﬁshing on Lake Fork can be fun for the person who does not get out on the lake very much but wants to spend time on the water and catch something. White Bass are schooling and following the big shad schools this time of the year. You can ﬁnd them on top chasing shad or in schools located on main lake humps or some of the deeper main lake points. Places to look will be SRA point, the hump in the mouth of Little Caney, Bell Hump, and several humps in the dam area.

Reported by TF&G STAFF

EAST TEXAS HOTSPOTS

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

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Primos stink bait CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: In July the cats have finished eating all the shad they can along the bulkheads after the shad spawn. They are back in the deep water along channel edges and are fairly easy to catch. Just find a stump T E X A S

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CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxﬁshingguide.com” TIPS: Work bridge pillars with live minnows and drop jigs.

EAST TEXAS LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 32 50.754, W 95 35.1839 (32.8459, -95.5864)

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 31 14.336, W 94 18.745 (31.238933, -94.312417)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Topwater lures, Carolina rigs, big Texas rigged worms and Shaky Heads with Grandebass Airtail Shake CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: “July is the month of heat and I like it hot on Fork. Good shallow topwater bite over grass in the morning. Deep worm bite on roadbeds, humps and points during hottest part of day. Fish 15 to 30 foot deep. Good ﬁshing to all!”

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Cut bait, stink bait CONTACT: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 903-938-1007 TIPS: Cast and drift. Dusk and night. LOCATION: Lake Nacogdoches HOTSPOT: Anderson Point GPS: N 31 37.422, W 94 48.915 (31.6237, -94.8153)

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

LOCATION: Lake Sam Rayburn HOTSPOT: 147 Bridge GPS: N 31 13.768, W 94 19.269 (31.229467, -94.32115)

LOCATION: Lake O the Pines HOTSPOT: Alley Creek North Shore GPS: N 32 47.286, W 94 34.103 (32.7881, -94.5684)

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LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Still Water GPS: N 31 44.928, W 93 50.2619 (31.7488, -93.8377)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs CONTACT: TPWD District Fisheries Ofﬁce 409-698-9114 TIPS: Fish live minnows or red/chartreuse jigs under slipcork near trees. Avoid midday.

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

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: Night crawlers CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxﬁshingguide.com” TIPS: Fish night crawlers on either a Carolina rig or Texas rig. Work the grass beds.

SPECIES: Black & white bass BEST BAITS: Top water plugs, Rat-L-Traps, crank baits, slab spoons and plastics. CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: In July the main lake points will be active with plenty of schooling activity for both the Black and White Bass. Typically, early morning and late evening will be the prime feeding times. Start off shallow and back out to deeper water if need be with deep diving crank baits and soft plastics.

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows, jigs

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CURRENT LAKE LEVELS LAKE

EAST TEXAS

CAPACITY AC. FT. Addicks -n.a.B A Steinhagen 69,186 Barker -n.a.Bob Sandlin 192,417 Bonham 11,027 Caddo 29,898 Coleto Creek 31,040 Conroe 410,988 Crook 9,195 Cypress Springs 66,756 Fork 605,061 Houston 130,147 Houston County 17,113 Jacksonville 25,670 Jim Chapman 260,332 Lake O’ the Pines 268,566 Livingston 1,741,867 Monticello 34,740 Murvaul 38,285 Nacogdoches 39,522 Palestine 367,303 Pat Mayse 113,683 Sam Rayburn 2,857,077 Striker 16,934 Sulphur Springs 17,747 Toledo Bend 2,236,450 Wright Patman 553,344 As of 6/15/2020

CURRENT AC. FT. -n.a.68,067 -n.a.192,417 10,827 29,898 23,588 389,247 9,070 66,756 602,412 122,378 16,997 25,623 260,154 268,566 1,730,405 29,791 38,079 37,952 366,611 113,683 2,813,293 16,913 17,674 2,155,249 519,160

% FULL -n.a.98% -n.a.100% 98% 100% 76% 95% 99% 100% 100% 94% 99% 100% 100% 100% 99% 86% 100% 96% 100% 100% 99% 100% 100% 96% 94%

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LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Myrick Reach (Green Willow Point) GPS: N 31 45.0359, W93 50.226 (31.7506, -93.8371)

Basic Directions

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

BRANDY BRANCH RES. LOCATION: On Brandy Branch Creek in Harrison County, 10 miles east of Longview, off FM 2625. SURFACE AREA: 1,242 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 50 feet IMPOUNDED: 1983

of Longview to install additional structure made of recycled Christmas trees. Brandy Branch is a power plant cooling reservoir. Fishing for largemouth bass is good. Bluegill and redear sunﬁsh are present in high numbers.

NATURAL HABITAT IS PRESENT IN THE form of inundated timber and aquatic vegetation. TPWD has worked with American Electric Power and the City

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the ﬁrst drop and throw a tail spinner or slab spoon.

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Rat-L-Traps, tail spinners and slab spoons CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: White bass will be schooling in the ﬂats, roadbeds and off main lake points close to deep water. Schooling activity is usually the best early morning and late evening. Look for sea gulls feeding on shad and whites are usually close by. Rat-L-Traps, shallow diving crankbaits, tail spinners and slab spoons work best. If the top water action slows down, back out to

LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Clear Creek GPS: N 31 11.616, W 93 39.762 (31.1936, -93.6627)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Bass: Dropshot rigs, Carolina rigs, deep crankbaits | Crappie: minnows, jigs CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxﬁshingguide.com

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TIPS: The bass fishing should be great this time of year but T-Bend in the summer is a deep, deep water fishery. Look for bass in 25 to 35 feet on river ledges, humps or channel conflu-ences. Crappie will be bunched up on man-made brush piles in 20 to 25 feet.

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Bass Head for Cover, Other Species Go Deep LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 51.1859, W 96 52.014 (32.8531, -96.8669)

CURRENT LAKE LEVELS

CENTRAL TEXAS

LAKE

As of 6/15/2020

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Small rooster tails and small creature baits (3-4 inches long) CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Bass are on fire shallow along the banks. Fish in 1-5 feet of water. Cast along the banks parallel as the fish are no more than five foot from the banks.

Reported by TF&G STAFF

CENTRAL TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Main Lake Rocks, Shade Trees, and Shaded Docks GPS: N 30 19.464, W 97 50.316 (30.3244, -97.8386)

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Lower End GPS: N 30 44.646, W98 26.148 (30.7441, -98.4358)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut Shad CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@gmail.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Catfish are good with live bait right now in 30- 40 foot of water on ridge drop offs. Anchor and fish with rod and reel or fish juglines with cut shad in 15-28 foot of water.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: V&M Baby Swamp Hog, Pacemaker Jigs, Picasso Inviz-Wire Spinnerbait, Picasso Shock Blade, Gandy Crankbaits CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 TIPS: Bass will be searching for cover and ambush positions throughout the lake. Throw spinnerbaits and early when the ﬁsh are still on the feed. Later, move closer to the docks and shaded cover, ﬂipping the jigs. Evenings, go back to the morning routine and change to darker colors.

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T E X A S

F I S H

Aquilla Arlington Athens Austin Bardwell Belton Benbrook Buchanan Canyon Cedar Creek Choke Canyon Corpus Christi Eagle Mountain Georgetown Granger Grapevine Halbert Hubert H Moss Inks Joe Pool Lavon Lewisville Limestone Lyndon B Johnson Marble Falls Martin Medina Mountain Creek Nasworthy Navarro Mills New Terrell City Ray Hubbard Ray Roberts Richland-Chamb. Somerville Stillhouse Hollow Tawakoni Texana Texoma Travis Tyler Waco Waxahachie Weatherford Whitney Worth

CAPACITY

(Acre Feet)

43,243 40,157 29,503 23,972 46,122 435,225 85,648 816,904 378,781 644,686 662,820 256,062 179,880 36,823 51,822 163,064 6,033 24,058 13,962 175,800 406,388 563,228 203,780 115,249 6,901 75,726 254,823 22,850 9,615 49,827 8,583 439,559 788,167 1,087,839 150,293 227,771 871,685 159,566 1,243,801 1,113,348 72,073 189,418 10,780 17,812 553,344 553,344

CURRENT

(Acre Feet)

43,243 37,244 29,503 22,895 46,122 435,225 85,648 813,650 371,578 636,865 281,389 178,590 179,880 26,066 51,822 163,064 5,230 23,864 12,862 175,726 406,388 563,228 201,923 111,432 6,760 74,395 171,157 22,850 8,343 48,749 8,583 435,394 788,167 1,085,699 149,505 227,771 871,685 156,091 1,243,801 950,860 72,073 189,418 10,780 17,315 519,160 519,160

% FULL 100% 93% 100% 96% 100% 100% 100% 100% 98% 99% 43% 70% 100% 71% 100% 100% 87% 99% 92% 100% 100% 100% 99% 97% 98% 98% 67% 100% 87% 98% 100% 99% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 98% 100% 85% 100% 100% 100% 97% 94% 94%

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6/23/20 1:35 PM

20 Miles North of Austin

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

LAKE GEORGETOWN LOCATION: Williamson County, just west of Georgetown, 20 miles north of Austin. SURFACE AREA: 1,297 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 85 feet IMPOUNDED: 1980 LAKE GEORGETOWN IS A TYPICAL highland type reservoir with steeply sloping banks covered with limestone rock in sizes ranging from gravel to boulders. Water ﬂuctuations are common and prevent aquatic vegetation from establishing itself. Most of

the shoreline is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, so private boat docks are not present along the water’s edge. Water clarity changes from clear to slightly stained from the lower to upper areas. A moderate amount of standing timber can be found in the backs of coves and along some shoreline areas, but most cover is in the form of rock ledges and boulders. Lake Georgetown has a sizeable largemouth bass population, with

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main GPS: N 30 47.478, W98 26.4239 (30.7913, -98.4404)

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Turkey Creek Point GPS: N 29 51.7079, W98 12.948 (29.8618, -98.2158)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live perch and shad CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: On Lake Buchanan stripers will be on the lower end of the lake towards the dam. Some will be caught downrigging. A few top water ﬁsh as well.

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Sassy Shad in pearl color CONTACT: Capt. Steve Nixon, Fishhooks Adventures (210) 573-1230 capt.steve@sanantonioﬁshingguides.com http://www.sanantonioﬁshingguides.com TIPS: Trolling this area with downriggers seems to produce the best catches. Set the downriggers from 40 to 60 feet deep and look for schools of striped T E X A S

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several largemouth catches over 10 pounds documented. There is a moderate smallmouth bass population at the lower end of the reservoir. The reservoir also has a good white bass population. Hybrid striped bass have been stocked annually since 2003. White crappie, blue, channel, and ﬂathead catﬁsh are also present in the reservoir.

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bass. When located, vary trolling speeds until the ﬁsh strike. Tight lines and ﬁsh on! LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Humps and Points GPS: N 32 22.476, W 96 10.05 (32.3746, -96.1675)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Carolina and Texas Rigs CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com

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effective method is to troll a very deep-running lure. A Hell Pet rig with a bell sinker on the front of the Hell Bender to make it run deep is a good bet.

CENTRAL TEXAS TIPS: Fish all main lake humps and points focusing in 8’ to 20’ near dropouts. Constantly be on the lookout for brush or debris.

LOCATION: Fayette County Res. HOTSPOT: Third Boat Ramp Point GPS: N 29 55.878, W 96 43.368 (29.9313, -96.7228)

LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 28 43.644, W 97 10.3919 (28.7274, -97.1732)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Buzz baits: half-ounce white or green. Pearl white fluke: rigged weightless with a four ought worm hook rigged weedless CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: Hot, hot, hot! Now that it’s summer, remember to take plenty to drink. I take extra just in case someone else runs out. The lake is good and full and there is lots of water to fish. Early morning I love the sound of a lunker buzz baits. I usually throw a half-ounce buzz bait in white or green. It’s always been a big bass bait. Another favorite is my usual pearl white fluke rigged weightless with a four ought worm hook rigged weedless. Just stay around grass and you’re sure to get plenty of action. LOCATION: Lake Eagle Mountain HOTSPOT: Dam GPS: N 32 52.693, W 97 28.006 (32.878217, -97.466767)

SPECIES: Catﬁsh BEST BAITS: CJ’s punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: There is a 20’ deep point here. Anchor on this point and chum straight down beside the boat. Tight line near the bottom and set the hook at slightest rod tip movement. LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Res. HOTSPOT: Trees at Intake Channel GPS: N 30 36.8999, W 96 4.29 (30.6150, -96.0715)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s Punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Anchor near stumps/trees in 4-12 foot water. Be sure to chum and expect fish to be near the bottom. Use a treble hook.

SPECIES: Hybrids, White bass BEST BAITS: Hell Pet, deep running lures CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnlu1313@gmail.com johnnysguideservice.com TIPS: This area just north of the dam is a series of humps with deep water all around them. As the water heats up, the hybrids that have come down from Bridgeport during a ﬂood hang out in this area. An

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903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com

LOCATION: Lake Granger HOTSPOT: Main Lake Humps and Ridges GPS: N 30 42.1979, W 97 21.8819 (30.7033, -97.3647)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: 1/2 oz. white slab spoon CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: As always in the hot summertime at Granger Lake, the crappie fishing is excellent. However during the month of July, the white bass fishing can be just as good. This time of year, the whites school up on humps and ridges feeding on shad. They can be caught very easily on slab spoons. The color really doesn’t matter but I like white. The smaller 1/2 oz. slabs also work a little better than the larger ones. They key is to find the whites feeding close to a high spot like a hump or raised roadbed. The top of the roadbed would be 10 to 12 feet under water with deep water all around. Position your boat on top of the high spot and jig the slabs off the bottom. Sometimes it works to drag the spoon along the bottom like you would a Carolina rigged bass setup. If you see the whites hitting the top away from the ridge don’t be lured into chasing them. Stay on top of the ridge and they will run the shad to you and be easier to catch. The final and most important thing is to fish for the whites in the middle of the day when it is the hottest. Good luck and good fishing. LOCATION: Lake Joe Pool HOTSPOT: Lynn Creek Ridge GPS: N 32 37.367, W 97 02.088 (32.6228, -97.0348)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, spoons CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 whitebassﬁshingtexas@gmail.com whitebassﬁshingtexas.com

TIPS: Fish the creek channel slow and ﬁsh the stumps and brush along the channel. Also, ﬁsh the islands with the big eye jig and a chartreuse/white spinner bait

TIPS: Fish white jigs or spoons. Throw across the ridge, then bounce back to the boat. Avoid midday. Good spot for night ﬁshing. LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake Brush and Standing Timber GPS: N 33 4.5839, W 96 27.7379 (33.0764, -96.4623)

SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: RatLTraps & topwaters CONTACT: Cliff Spindle 940-727-3493 cliffspindle@yahoo.com spindleguideservice.com TIPS: This is a great time for white bass on Ray Roberts. Roberts has a huge number of white bass and the schooling action has started, hard and heavy. You can ﬁnd the “sandies” schooling at many areas of the lake. One of the hottest and most consistent areas is Barn House Point, on the west arm of the lake. Some people call it Long Point, because it is close to two miles long. Most any kind of topwater sandbass rig works good. Or, a shallow-running cranbait like a RatLTrap is also productive.

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: 1/8 & 1/16 jigs with a painted pink head in black and chartreuse and white and chartreuse. CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Concentrate on ﬁshing 7ft-15ft as that will be the target for brush and standing timber. Some ﬁsh are still spawning in the button willows and submerged green willows around 2ft-6 ft. Finding any slack areas in 1ft-5ft below the dam when the gates are open will hold crappie hiding from the turbulent water.

LOCATION: Richland-Chambers Res. HOTSPOT: 309 Flats GPS: N 31 58.368, W 96 6.99 (31.9728, -96.1165)

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

SPECIES: White Bass and Hybrid Striper BEST BAITS: Clear or White Tiny Torpedos CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.goneﬁshin.biz TIPS: July is often the HOTTEST month of the year in Texas! It can also yield some of the HOTTEST White Bass ﬁshing you’ll experience the entire summer! The

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Big Eye Jig in black/brown amber and chart/white spinnerbaits CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff T E X A S

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LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Barn House Point GPS: N 33 24.221, W 97 06.338 (33.403689, -97.105636)

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LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Alberta Creek GPS: N 33 57.54, W 96 36.012 (33.9590, -96.6002)

CENTRAL TEXAS White Bass on Richland Chambers normally begin their early a.m. & late p.m. topwater schooling activity in July and it will last through September! Check out the Hwy 309 Flats on the North Shoreline directly across from Fisherman’s Point Marina. Look for the terns and egrets picking up bait over large schools of Whites. Sometimes, the schooling ﬁsh will literally be chasing shad in 1 to 5 acre size schools. Tie on a Clear Tiny Torpedo or just about any small silver or white bait and you’re in business. This is a thrill you won’t soon forget! TIPS: Troll here using Hellbenders or other deep diving lures. Get your spoons down close to the bottom. Watch for schooling right after daylight. LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Little Crappie Point GPS: N 30 18.4979, W96 31.758 (30.3083, -96.5293)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Chartreuse jigs and minnows CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.ﬁshtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Sunken trees and rocks can be found here. Fish straight down around brush until you determine the correct depth for the ﬁsh on that day. LOCATION: Lake Tawakoni HOTSPOT: Wichita Bay GPS: N 32 55.932, W 95 59.178 (32.9322, -95.9863)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Carolina rigs, live shad CONTACT: Andrew Taylor, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service 903-269-6587

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etxbass@gmail.com www.Laketawakoni.guide TIPS: In July I’ll be Carolina rigging shad on 24” leaders. Typically I’m structure fishing early in the day, hitting humps and sides of embankments. After the sun gets up and the water starts to turn warm, I typically head out to deep water, around 35’-45’, and spend a lot of time on my electronics searching for schools of stripers. Once a school is located and depending on the size, I figure out how we will set up on them. If the schools are moving super-fast, I like to set up a slow drift, dragging large threadfins. If the schools seem to commit and hold under the boat, we will “Spotlock” and let them feed under us.

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Slabs and topwater plugs CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: Top water fishing at its best. Early morning, several large schools will surface around the lake. These schools of fish can be a mile long and a halfmile wide. Cast Pencil Popper Topwater plugs for great action. After the surface action ends, locate the schools of fish with your electronics. Then, vertically drop slabs and use a fast retrieve. The fish will try to pull the rod out of your hands!

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Juniper Point East and the Islands GPS: N 33 51.888, W96 49.8779 (33.8648, -96.8313)

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Hwy 22 and McCowan Flats GPS: N 31 57.2879, W 97 25.224 (31.9548, -97.4204)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures, Sassy Shad jigs CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: “The big fish move onto the flats in August. Early mornings, cast Pencil Poppers and Chug Bugs on the shallow banks. Mid-morning, change your lures to sassy soft plastics. Concentrate on the flats that run about 20 feet in depth. Locate the creek channel and drop offs as these are the routes the fish use to move up from deep water. Later in the month the seagulls arrive. Pay close attention to the birds as they are the best fish finder. Bank Access: West Juniper Point and Mill Creek Flats”

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Down riggers with a 1/2 oz. buck tail jig with plastic trailers CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: The thermocline has set in and the stripers are hanging out on top of it. This time of year turns into a reaction type strike a lot of times. The ﬁsh will feed early, late or even at night when it’s cooler. Using down riggers with a 1/2 oz. buck tail jig with plastic trailers. Troll the ﬂats and ledges and edges anywhere from 13’ to 18’ down. Keep in mind the thermocline usually sets in at 22’ on Whitney so keep your baits above it.

•• |

T E X A S

F I S H

•••

G A M E ®

6/23/20 1:35 PM

A Few Adjustments to Beat the Summer Heat LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Mouth of Rocky Creek GPS: N 33 1.698, W 101 6.504 (33.0283, -101.1084)

Reported by DEAN HEFFNER

WEST TEXAS HOTSPOTS

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Little Grape Creek GPS: N 33 2.7719, W 101 3.8159 (33.0462, -101.0636)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Large soft plastic worms CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net www.lakealanhenry.com/fishing-guides.html TIPS: August is the perfect month to try to fish at night and beat the heat. I fish mostly the clear water area on Alan Henry with big worms. The clear water will mostly be found near the dam area. If fishing in the day time, you will need to use your depth finder to locate the schools of shad. If you find the shad, you will find the bass. The bass this time of year will be schooled up in the channels of the creeks and in the mouths of the creeks. The shad schools can be anywhere, and change day to day. LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: Point at Marker 17 GPS: N 29 31.558 , W 101 15.262 (29.5260, -101.2544)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Deep diving crank baits, worms, and flukes worked on a drop shot CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: July will heat up and send the bass into the channels of all the creeks and rivers. The Shad will bunch up, and the bass will follow. The main river, the Brazos, will have many schools of shad and I will be using my electronics to locate the schools. These schools will be one of the main keys to finding the bass. The creeks of Ince, Little Grape, and Big Grape will have schools of shad out over the channels. I follow the channel until I locate the schools of bass or shad. Then, I will concentrate my efforts there.

TexasOutdoorNation-2007DIG.indd 57

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Jigs CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com www.amistadbass.com TIPS: From midday to afternoon, Pitch jigs to hydrilla 10-12 feet off bottom in 25 ft. water.

GPS: N 29 36.31098, W 100 58.377 (29.605183, -100.972950)

SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Pop Rs, buzzbaits, Zara Spooks CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com amistadbass.com TIPS: Fish topwaters from the main lake grass beds to the backs of the creeks. Zara Spooks are my favorites but Pop Rs and buzzbaits also can be effective. Look for schooling fish throughout the day. LOCATION: Lake Amistad HOTSPOT: Hydrilla Pocket GPS: N29 32.53482, W101 12.918 (29.542247, -101.215300)

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Texas and Carolina-rigged plastic worms, topwater lures, crankbaits CONTACT: Larry Scruggs, Amistad Lodge and Adventures 210-789-1645 fisherofmenlrs@hotmail.com TIPS: Fish topwater lures in the far backs of all the pockets here during the early-morning hours and then target the underwater hydrilla beds at 12 to 15 feet with bright-colored plastic worms and crankbaits during late-morning and afternoon hours. LOCATION: Lake Coleman HOTSPOT: Rear Cove GPS: N 32 2.3976, W 99 27.6871 (32.0400, -99.4615)

LOCATION: Amistad HOTSPOT: Rough Canyon T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ® | J U L Y / A U G U S T

2 0 2 0

6/23/20 1:35 PM

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Spinnerbaits, soft plastics, crankbaits CONTACT: Robert Amaya, Robert’s Fishing Tackle 956-765-1442 www.robertsﬁshntackle.com TIPS: Fish shallow early, hit numerous cuts, points & drop-offs until the action slows in the afternoon.

WEST TEXAS SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Live shad, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, slabs CONTACT: Michael D. Homer, Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 325-692-0921 TIPS: Coleman Reservoir is now full, and largemouth bass production has been great. The coordinates listed mark an old concrete structure that is surrounded by flooded brush. Fishing that shoreline into the rear cove works best with spinner baits, whacky worms, Senkos, and trick worms to catch bass. Sunrise often produces a great top-water bite in the rear cove. Occasionally hybrid striped bass can be caught in this cove, which these fish will put up a nice fight. Anglers targeting hybrids may have the best luck using live shad for bait or spinner baits, chrome or white suspending jerk baits, or slabs.

LOCATION: Lake Falcon HOTSPOT: Alejandrejas Roadbed GPS: N26 44.22498, W99 11.9439 (26.737083, -99.199065)

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, plastic worms, spinnerbaits CONTACT: Robert Amaya 956-765-1442 robertsfishntackle@gmail.com robertsfishntackle.com TIPS: Fish the brush here early with topwater lures, Texas-rigged plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Carolina-rigged soft plastics also work well off the roadbed and in the openings where the water drops off from five to 8-12 feet. Also fish nearby humps.

LOCATION: Hubbard Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Goat Island GPS: N 32 45.764, W 99 00.499 (32.762738, -99.008317)

LOCATION: Lake Falcon HOTSPOT: Dos Creeks GPS: N26 55.44252, W99 19.56072 (26.924042, -99.326012)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: topwaters, deep-diving crankbaits CONTACT: Michael D. Homer, Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 325-692-0921 michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov TIPS: July is hot here. The ﬁsh know it too. Out deep around the sunken bridge and between Goat Island and the Dam are the hot spots. Bass like the deep divers and during early morning and late evening they will hit a topwater like a rocket.

J U L Y / A U G U S T

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Plastic worms, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, topwaters CONTACT: Robert Amaya 956-765-1442 robertsfishntackle@gmail.com robertsfishntackle.com TIPS: Fish shallow points early with topwater lures and buzzbaits. Once the sun is up, move out to six to eight feet of water and fish the thickest brush with a Texas-rigged plastic worm.

TexasOutdoorNation-2007DIG.indd 58

2 0 2 0

SPECIES: Hybrid striped bass and largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Slabs, crankbaits, soft plastics, spinnerbaits CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 325-692-0921 TIPS: Hybrid striped bass ﬁshing has ramped up at the reservoir, and largemouth have been biting as well. Fishing off some of the drop-offs with slabs, deepdiving crank baits, and rattletraps may be the best way to land a hybrid. Fishing along the shoreline, consider throwing Texas-rigged soft plastics, spinnerbaits, or suspending jerk baits for largemouth. LOCATION: Possum Kingdom Res. HOTSPOT: Stump Patch GPS: N 32 51.600, W 98 29.700 (32.860, -98.495)

LOCATION: Lake Falcon HOTSPOT: Cox Point GPS: N 26 43.298, W 99 11.697 (26.7216, -99.1950)

LOCATION: Fort Phantom Hill Res. HOTSPOT: Rocky Point GPS: N 32 35.2862, W99 40.8191 (32.5881, -99.6803)

T E X A S

F I S H

SPECIES: Striped bass, hybrids BEST BAITS: Live shad, jigs, shad-imitating soft plastics CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 Fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: It’s the heat of the summer. Look for the bite to be early and late, and under cloud cover. Stripers

G A M E ®

6/23/20 1:35 PM

CURRENT LAKE LEVELS LAKE

WEST TEXAS

As of 6/15/2020

Abilene Alan Henry Amistad Amon G Carter Arrowhead Brady Creek Bridgeport Brownwood Champion Creek Cherokee Cisco Coleman Colorado City E V Spence Elephant Butte Falcon Fort Phantom Hill Graham Granbury Greenbelt Hords Creek Hubbard Creek J B Thomas Kemp Kickapoo Leon Lost Creek Mackenzie Meredith Millers Creek Mineral Wells Natural Dam Nocona N. Fork Buffalo Cr. O C Fisher O H Ivie Oak Creek Palo Duro Palo Pinto Pat Cleburne Possum Kingdom Proctor Red Bluff Squaw Creek Stamford Sweetwater Twin Buttes White River

CAPACITY

(Acre Feet)

7,900 96,207 1,840,849 19,266 230,359 28,808 366,236 130,868 41,580 40,094 29,003 38,075 30,758 517,272 1,960,900 1,551,007 70,030 45,288 132,949 59,968 8,109 313,298 199,931 245,307 86,345 27,762 11,950 46,450 500,000 26,768 5,273 54,560 21,444 15,400 115,742 554,340 39,210 61,066 26,766 26,008 538,139 54,762 151,110 151,250 51,570 12,267 182,454 29,880

CURRENT

(Acre Feet)

7,062 96,207 1,074,215 19,266 226,318 25,114 366,236 118,395 26,507 40,094 24,989 36,014 12,703 132,573 357,875 495,277 68,241 45,165 132,134 11,611 5,887 297,856 45,463 245,307 82,982 26,180 11,882 4,949 202,169 26,592 5,273 26,398 21,444 15,175 9,745 387,753 35,154 1,803 24,292 25,899 532,786 51,981 92,249 151,250 51,570 11,793 118,827 5,631

% FULL 89% 100% 58% 100% 98% 87% 100% 91% 64% 100% 86% 95% 41% 26% 18% 32% 97% 100% 99% 19% 73% 95% 23% 100% 96% 94% 99% 11% 40% 99% 100% 48% 100% 99% 8% 70% 90% 3% 91% 100% 99% 95% 61% 100% 100% 96% 65% 19%

•

will be feeding early on shad, so live shad or shad imitations work best. Perch sometimes will work, but you need the right size: about 4- to 6-inches, and we trim the top ﬁn off. Downrigging with jigs and Mister Twister Curly Tails. Trolling big stickbaits can also work. They will be on natural highways under water, and like 20 to 40 feet depths. Fish hybrids the same way—especially with chartreuse colors.

SEE INSET BELOW

15 Miles North of Seymour

HOTSPOTLIGHT:

LAKE KEMP LOCATION: On the Wichita River, 15 miles north of Seymour, off US 183. SURFACE AREA: 15,590 acres MAXIMUM DEPTH: 50 feet IMPOUNDED: 1923 LARGEMOUTH BASS NUMBERS HAVE boomed since the lake level has risen. White bass are abundant in the reservoir and provide a good fight. White crappie numbers have improved. Channel, blue, and flathead catfish are

•

LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Gaines Bend GPS: N 32 52.689, W 98 28.001 (32.8782, -98.4667)

fav77334@aceweb.com TIPS: Summertime translates into early morning bites, so set that alarm early! Shad are best, but we have found that the hotter it gets, the faster the ﬁsh want the bait moving past them. That’s why we do so good downrigging and trailing with Mister Twister Curly Tails. Watch your graph and look for ﬁsh suspended at 16 to 42 feet, in 50 feet or deeper water. The magic number has always been 24 feet. Remember: The early bird gets the worm!

••

SPECIES: Striped, White Bass BEST BAITS: Shad, Mister Twister CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNation-2007DIG.indd 59

present in good numbers and sizes. The lake has a rocky shoreline with multiple points. There is an abundance of ﬂooded terrestrial vegetation throughout the lake. Most ﬁsh species will be found near the Wichita River mouth, around Rattlesnake Island, and near the west side channels and coves.

F I S H

G A M E ®

•••

J U L Y / A U G U S T

2 0 2 0

6/23/20 1:35 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK JULY/AUGUST 2020

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

Day’s Best Day’s 2nd Score Best Score

Moon Underfoot

Best Day Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter «= Good Day by Moon Phase 60

J U L Y / A U G U S T

TexasOutdoorNation-2007DIG.indd 60

2 0 2 0

T E X A S

F I S H

G A M E ®

6/23/20 1:35 PM

JULY/AUGUST 2020

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

Low Tide: 3:44a High Tide: 9:43a Low Tide: 5:27p

TUESDAY

Jun 30

0.56 ft. 0.96 ft. -0.10 ft.

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

FEET

1:44a 5:37a 9:15a 6:05p

0.96 ft. 0.86 ft. 0.94 ft. -0.50 ft.

WEDNESDAY

Jul 1

High Tide: 3:18a Low Tide: 6:48p

THURSDAY

1.20 ft. -0.83 ft.

High Tide: 4:26a Low Tide: 7:34p

FRIDAY

1.38 ft. -1.07 ft.

High Tide: 5:23a Low Tide: 8:22p

SATURDAY

4«

1.49 ft. -1.19 ft.

High Tide: 6:16a Low Tide: 9:10p

SUNDAY

5«

1.52 ft. -1.19 ft.

High Tide: 7:06a Low Tide: 9:58p

1.51 ft. -1.09 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

8:00 — 10:00 PM Sunrise: 6:22a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 2:53p Moon Set: 2:02a

AM Minor: 12:55a AM Major: 7:08a PM Minor: 1:20p PM Major: 7:33p

12a

12p

1.46 ft. -0.90 ft.

AM Minor: 1:41a AM Major: 7:54a PM Minor: 2:07p PM Major: 8:20p

High Tide: 8:32a Low Tide: 11:28p

1.40 ft. -0.65 ft.

1.33 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:00 — 7:00 PM

12a

Sunrise: 6:24a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 9:10p Moon Set: 6:42a

AM Minor: 5:01a AM Major: 11:15a PM Minor: 5:30p PM Major: 11:44p

Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:01p

7:00 — 9:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:24a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 8:15p Moon Set: 5:44a

AM Minor: 4:06a AM Major: 10:21a PM Minor: 4:35p PM Major: 10:49p

12p

BEST TIME

6:00 — 8:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:23a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 7:15p Moon Set: 4:51a

Moon Overhead: 11:32p Moon Underfoot: 11:03a

AM Minor: 5:58a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:27p PM Major: 12:12p

Moon Overhead: 12:30a Moon Underfoot: 12:59p

Moon Overhead: 1:28a Moon Underfoot: 1:57p

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY High Tide: 9:02a

12a

AM Minor: 3:15a AM Major: 9:29a PM Minor: 3:43p PM Major: 9:57p

Moon Overhead: 10:35p Moon Underfoot: 10:08a

8«

Sunrise: 6:23a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 6:10p Moon Set: 4:02a

AM Minor: 2:27a AM Major: 8:40a PM Minor: 2:54p PM Major: 9:07p

TUESDAY

12p

4:30 — 6:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:23a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 5:04p Moon Set: 3:18a

Moon Overhead: 9:41p Moon Underfoot: 9:15a

7«

BEST TIME

4:00 — 6:00 AM

3:30 — 5:30 PM

MONDAY

12a

BEST TIME

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

READING THE GRAPH

High Tide: 7:53a Low Tide: 10:44p

Sunrise: 6:22a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 3:58p Moon Set: 2:39a

Moon Overhead: 8:49p Moon Underfoot: 8:24a

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

Low Tide: 12:09a High Tide: 9:20a

-0.37 ft. 1.25 ft.

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

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

Low Tide: 12:48a High Tide: 9:27a

SATURDAY

-0.07 ft. 1.16 ft.

FEET

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

1:24a 9:26a 4:24p 7:56p

0.22 ft. 1.08 ft. 0.66 ft. 0.71 ft.

SUNDAY

12 » Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:58a 9:15a 4:41p 11:29p

0.48 ft. 1.01 ft. 0.44 ft. 0.74 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

7:30 — 9:30 PM Sunrise: 6:25a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 9:58p Moon Set: 7:42a

AM Minor: 6:56a AM Major: 12:43a PM Minor: 7:24p PM Major: 1:10p

12p

BEST TIME

8:00 — 10:00 PM Sunrise: 6:25a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 10:40p Moon Set: 8:42a

AM Minor: 7:54a AM Major: 1:41a PM Minor: 8:20p PM Major: 2:07p

Moon Overhead: 2:25a Moon Underfoot: 2:52p

Moon Overhead: 3:18a Moon Underfoot: 3:44p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

8:30 — 10:30 PM Sunrise: 6:25a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 11:17p Moon Set: 9:41a

AM Minor: 8:50a AM Major: 2:38a PM Minor: 9:14p PM Major: 3:02p

Moon Overhead: 4:09a Moon Underfoot: 4:32p

T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNation-2007DIG.indd 61

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

4:00 — 6:00 AM

AM Minor: 9:42a AM Major: 3:31a PM Minor: 10:04p PM Major: 3:53p Moon Overhead: 4:55a Moon Underfoot: 5:17p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:26a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 11:50p Moon Set: 10:38a

F I S H

4:30 — 6:30 AM

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 6:27a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 12:21a Moon Set: 12:24p

AM Minor: 10:30a AM Major: 4:20a PM Minor: 10:51p PM Major: 4:41p

AM Minor: 11:15a AM Major: 5:05a PM Minor: 11:36p PM Major: 5:25p

Moon Overhead: 5:39a Moon Underfoot: 5:59p

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:26a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 11:32a

G A M E ®

Moon Overhead: 6:20a Moon Underfoot: 6:40p

J U L Y / A U G U S T

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 6:27a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 12:50a Moon Set: 1:16p

AM Minor: 11:57a AM Major: 5:47a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:07p Moon Overhead: 7:00a Moon Underfoot: 7:20p 2 0 2 0

6/23/20 1:35 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

Low Tide: 2:30a High Tide: 8:56a Low Tide: 5:07p

0.71 ft. 0.97 ft. 0.21 ft.

TUESDAY

High Tide: 8:19a Low Tide: 5:37p

0.96 ft. -0.02 ft.

WEDNESDAY

High Tide: 3:36a Low Tide: 6:10p

1.04 ft. -0.24 ft.

THURSDAY

High Tide: 4:07a Low Tide: 6:46p

FRIDAY

1.17 ft. -0.44 ft.

High Tide: 4:41a Low Tide: 7:24p

SATURDAY

18 «

1.27 ft. -0.61 ft.

High Tide: 5:18a Low Tide: 8:05p

SUNDAY

19 «

1.37 ft. -0.75 ft.

High Tide: 5:56a Low Tide: 8:47p

1.45 ft. -0.83 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 PM Sunrise: 6:28a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 1:18a Moon Set: 2:08p

AM Minor: 12:17a AM Major: 6:28a PM Minor: 12:38p PM Major: 6:48p

2:00 — 4:00 PM Sunrise: 6:28a Sunset: 8:19p Moonrise: 1:48a Moon Set: 3:01p

AM Minor: 12:56a AM Major: 7:07a PM Minor: 1:17p PM Major: 7:28p

Moon Overhead: 7:40a Moon Underfoot: 8:01p

12p

4:00 — 6:00 AM Sunrise: 6:29a Sunset: 8:19p Moonrise: 2:21a Moon Set: 3:56p

AM Minor: 1:35a AM Major: 7:46a PM Minor: 1:58p PM Major: 8:09p

Moon Overhead: 8:22a Moon Underfoot: 8:43p

MONDAY

20 l

High Tide: 6:35a Low Tide: 9:30p

1.52 ft. -0.85 ft.

High Tide: 7:12a Low Tide: 10:15p

1.54 ft. -0.79 ft.

High Tide: 7:43a Low Tide: 11:01p

12a

1.50 ft. -0.63 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

6:00 — 8:00 PM

7:00 — 9:00 PM

12a

8:00 — 10:00 PM

12a

9:00 — 11:00 PM Sunrise: 6:31a Sunset: 8:17p Moonrise: 5:19a Moon Set: 7:46p

AM Minor: 3:46a AM Major: 9:59a PM Minor: 4:13p PM Major: 10:26p

Moon Overhead: 10:43a Moon Underfoot: 11:09p

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:30a Sunset: 8:18p Moonrise: 4:25a Moon Set: 6:50p

AM Minor: 2:59a AM Major: 9:12a PM Minor: 3:24p PM Major: 9:37p

Moon Overhead: 9:52a Moon Underfoot: 10:17p

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:30a Sunset: 8:18p Moonrise: 3:38a Moon Set: 5:52p

AM Minor: 2:15a AM Major: 8:28a PM Minor: 2:40p PM Major: 8:52p

AM Minor: 4:36a AM Major: 10:51a PM Minor: 5:05p PM Major: 11:19p

Moon Overhead: 11:37a Moon Underfoot: None

Moon Overhead: 12:33p Moon Underfoot: 12:04a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

22 «

12p

Sunrise: 6:29a Sunset: 8:19p Moonrise: 2:57a Moon Set: 4:53p

Moon Overhead: 9:06a Moon Underfoot: 9:29p

TUESDAY

21 «

BEST TIME

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

READING THE GRAPH

12a

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

High Tide: 8:04a Low Tide: 11:48p

1.41 ft. -0.39 ft.

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

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

High Tide: 8:15a Low Tide: 1:58p High Tide: 4:28p

1.26 ft. 0.92 ft. 0.96 ft.

FEET

SATURDAY

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

12:36a 8:17a 2:20p 7:01p

-0.07 ft. 1.11 ft. 0.62 ft. 0.83 ft.

SUNDAY

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

1:28a 8:10a 3:00p 9:48p

0.30 ft. 1.00 ft. 0.26 ft. 0.85 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

6:30 — 8:30 PM Sunrise: 6:32a Sunset: 8:17p Moonrise: 6:18a Moon Set: 8:39p

AM Minor: 5:31a AM Major: 11:46a PM Minor: 6:00p PM Major: 12:14p

12a

7:00 — 9:00 PM

AM Minor: 6:29a AM Major: 12:15a PM Minor: 6:58p PM Major: 12:43p

TexasOutdoorNation-2007DIG.indd 62

12p

7:39 — 9:30 PM Sunrise: 6:33a Sunset: 8:16p Moonrise: 8:27a Moon Set: 10:11p

AM Minor: 7:29a AM Major: 1:15a PM Minor: 7:56p PM Major: 1:43p

Moon Overhead: 2:27p Moon Underfoot: 1:59a

J U L Y / A U G U S T

12a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:32a Sunset: 8:17p Moonrise: 7:21a Moon Set: 9:28p

Moon Overhead: 1:30p Moon Underfoot: 1:01a

12p

BEST TIME

2 0 2 0

12a

8:00 — 10:00 PM

AM Minor: 8:29a AM Major: 2:15a PM Minor: 8:55p PM Major: 2:42p

T E X A S

Moon Overhead: 4:16p Moon Underfoot: 3:50a

F I S H

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:33a Sunset: 8:16p Moonrise: 9:33a Moon Set: 10:51p

Moon Overhead: 3:23p Moon Underfoot: 2:55a

12p

BEST TIME

4:00 — 6:00 PM Sunrise: 6:34a Sunset: 8:15p Moonrise: 10:39a Moon Set: 11:28p

AM Minor: 9:27a AM Major: 3:14a PM Minor: 9:53p PM Major: 3:40p

Moon Overhead: 5:07p Moon Underfoot: 4:42a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

4:30 — 6:30 AM Sunrise: 6:34a Sunset: 8:15p Moonrise: 11:43a Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 10:23a AM Major: 4:11a PM Minor: 10:48p PM Major: 4:36p Moon Overhead: 5:57p Moon Underfoot: 5:32a

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:00 — 7:00 AM Sunrise: 6:35a Sunset: 8:14p Moonrise: 12:46p Moon Set: 12:04a

AM Minor: 11:17a AM Major: 5:05a PM Minor: 11:42p PM Major: 5:30p Moon Overhead: 6:46p Moon Underfoot: 6:21a

G A M E ®

6/23/20 1:35 PM

JULY/AUGUST 2020

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

27 º

Low Tide: 2:29a High Tide: 7:54a Low Tide: 3:48p

TUESDAY

0.66 ft. 0.96 ft. -0.10 ft.

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

FEET

12:40a 4:12a 7:13a 4:40p

1.04 ft. 0.98 ft. 1.02 ft. -0.43 ft.

WEDNESDAY

High Tide: 2:36a Low Tide: 5:34p

1.27 ft. -0.68 ft.

THURSDAY

High Tide: 3:43a Low Tide: 6:30p

FRIDAY

1.44 ft. -0.85 ft.

High Tide: 4:36a Low Tide: 7:24p

SATURDAY

Aug 1

1.54 ft. -0.91 ft.

High Tide: 5:24a Low Tide: 8:17p

SUNDAY

1.57 ft. -0.88 ft.

High Tide: 6:08a Low Tide: 9:07p

1.55 ft. -0.77 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 6:35a Sunset: 8:13p Moonrise: 1:50p Moon Set: 12:40a

AM Minor: ----AM Major: 5:57a PM Minor: 12:09p PM Major: 6:22p

12a

12p

7:30 — 9:30 PM

AM Minor: 12:33a AM Major: 6:47a PM Minor: 1:00p PM Major: 7:13p

2:00 — 4:00 PM

AM Minor: 1:22a AM Major: 7:36a PM Minor: 1:50p PM Major: 8:03p

1.50 ft. -0.60 ft.

High Tide: 7:15a Low Tide: 10:35p

1.44 ft. -0.37 ft.

FEET

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

7:35a 12:01p 2:10p 11:15p

12a

1.36 ft. 1.22 ft. 1.24 ft. -0.12 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 PM

4:00 — 6:00 PM

12a

5:00 — 7:00 PM

12a

11:00A — 1:00P Sunrise: 6:39a Sunset: 8:09p Moonrise: 7:51p Moon Set: 5:29a

AM Minor: 3:53a AM Major: 10:08a PM Minor: 4:22p PM Major: 10:36p

Moon Overhead: 11:18p Moon Underfoot: 10:49a

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:38a Sunset: 8:10p Moonrise: 7:01p Moon Set: 4:31a

AM Minor: 3:02a AM Major: 9:16a PM Minor: 3:30p PM Major: 9:45p

Moon Overhead: 10:21p Moon Underfoot: 9:53a

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:38a Sunset: 8:11p Moonrise: 6:05p Moon Set: 3:36a

AM Minor: 2:12a AM Major: 8:26a PM Minor: 2:40p PM Major: 8:54p

AM Minor: 4:46a AM Major: 10:59a PM Minor: 5:13p PM Major: 11:27p

Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:46a

Moon Overhead: 12:14a Moon Underfoot: 12:42p

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

5«

12p

Sunrise: 6:37a Sunset: 8:11p Moonrise: 5:04p Moon Set: 2:45a

Moon Overhead: 9:24p Moon Underfoot: 8:57a

TUESDAY

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:37a Sunset: 8:12p Moonrise: 4:00p Moon Set: 1:59a

Moon Overhead: 8:30p Moon Underfoot: 8:03a

MONDAY

12a

BEST TIME

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

READING THE GRAPH

High Tide: 6:45a Low Tide: 9:53p

Sunrise: 6:36a Sunset: 8:13p Moonrise: 2:55p Moon Set: 1:18a

Moon Overhead: 7:37p Moon Underfoot: 7:11a

3«

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

Best Day Overall

THURSDAY

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

7:45a 12:21p 3:34p 11:51p

1.27 ft. 1.11 ft. 1.17 ft. 0.14 ft.

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

FRIDAY

High Tide: 7:47a Low Tide: 12:51p High Tide: 4:59p

SATURDAY

1.19 ft. 0.96 ft. 1.08 ft.

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

12:25a 7:40a 1:27p 6:37p

0.39 ft. 1.11 ft. 0.79 ft. 1.00 ft.

SUNDAY

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

12:56a 7:25a 2:06p 8:42p

0.63 ft. 1.06 ft. 0.61 ft. 0.97 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 6:40a Sunset: 8:09p Moonrise: 8:36p Moon Set: 6:28a

AM Minor: 5:38a AM Major: 11:51a PM Minor: 6:04p PM Major: -----

12p

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 PM Sunrise: 6:40a Sunset: 8:08p Moonrise: 9:14p Moon Set: 7:28a

AM Minor: 6:30a AM Major: 12:18a PM Minor: 6:55p PM Major: 12:42p

Moon Overhead: 1:08a Moon Underfoot: 1:34p

Moon Overhead: 2:00a Moon Underfoot: 2:24p

12a

12p

BEST TIME

7:30 — 9:30 PM Sunrise: 6:41a Sunset: 8:07p Moonrise: 9:49p Moon Set: 8:26a

AM Minor: 7:21a AM Major: 1:10a PM Minor: 7:44p PM Major: 1:33p Moon Overhead: 2:48a Moon Underfoot: 3:11p

T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNation-2007DIG.indd 63

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:30 — 4:30 AM

12a

3:00 — 5:00 AM

4:00 — 6:00 AM

AM Minor: 9:44a AM Major: 3:34a PM Minor: 10:04p PM Major: 3:54p

Moon Overhead: 4:15a Moon Underfoot: 4:35p

G A M E ®

12p

Sunrise: 6:43a Sunset: 8:05p Moonrise: 11:19p Moon Set: 11:07a

AM Minor: 8:58a AM Major: 2:48a PM Minor: 9:19p PM Major: 3:09p

Moon Overhead: 3:33a Moon Underfoot: 3:54p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:42a Sunset: 8:06p Moonrise: 10:50p Moon Set: 10:15a

AM Minor: 8:11a AM Major: 2:00a PM Minor: 8:32p PM Major: 2:21p

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:41a Sunset: 8:06p Moonrise: 10:20p Moon Set: 9:21a

F I S H

Moon Overhead: 4:56a Moon Underfoot: 5:16p

J U L Y / A U G U S T

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

4:30 — 6:30 AM Sunrise: 6:43a Sunset: 8:04p Moonrise: 11:48p Moon Set: 11:59a

AM Minor: 10:29a AM Major: 4:19a PM Minor: 10:49p PM Major: 4:39p Moon Overhead: 5:36a Moon Underfoot: 5:56p 2 0 2 0

6/23/20 1:35 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

10 FEET

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

1:27a 7:01a 2:48p 11:42p

TUESDAY

11 »

0.84 ft. 1.05 ft. 0.42 ft. 1.03 ft.

Low Tide: 1:59a High Tide: 6:22a Low Tide: 3:34p

WEDNESDAY

1.02 ft. 1.08 ft. 0.24 ft.

High Tide: 2:26a Low Tide: 4:22p

1.17 ft. 0.07 ft.

THURSDAY

High Tide: 2:59a Low Tide: 5:13p

1.31 ft. -0.09 ft.

FRIDAY

High Tide: 3:34a Low Tide: 6:04p

SATURDAY

1.44 ft. -0.23 ft.

High Tide: 4:09a Low Tide: 6:55p

SUNDAY

1.56 ft. -0.35 ft.

High Tide: 4:46a Low Tide: 7:45p

1.65 ft. -0.43 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12p

12a

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM

8:00 — 10:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:44a Sunset: 8:03p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 12:51p

AM Minor: 12:18a AM Major: 6:29a PM Minor: 12:41p PM Major: 6:53p

Moon Overhead: 6:59a Moon Underfoot: 7:21p

MONDAY

17 «

High Tide: 5:20a Low Tide: 8:34p

TUESDAY

18 l

1.70 ft. -0.45 ft.

High Tide: 5:50a Low Tide: 9:22p

19 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

FEET

6:13a 10:58a 1:17p 10:11p

12p

12a

1.61 ft. 1.40 ft. 1.43 ft. -0.23 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 PM

2:30 — 4:30 PM

12a

3:30 — 5:30 PM

12a

4:30 — 6:30 PM Sunrise: 6:47a Sunset: 7:58p Moonrise: 4:00a Moon Set: 6:27p

AM Minor: 2:35a AM Major: 8:49a PM Minor: 3:03p PM Major: 9:16p

Moon Overhead: 9:23a Moon Underfoot: 9:50p

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:47a Sunset: 7:59p Moonrise: 3:04a Moon Set: 5:32p

AM Minor: 1:47a AM Major: 8:00a PM Minor: 2:14p PM Major: 8:27p

Moon Overhead: 8:32a Moon Underfoot: 8:57p

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:46a Sunset: 8:00p Moonrise: 2:14a Moon Set: 4:35p

AM Minor: 1:02a AM Major: 7:14a PM Minor: 1:26p PM Major: 7:39p

AM Minor: 3:25a AM Major: 9:39a PM Minor: 3:53p PM Major: 10:08p

Moon Overhead: 10:18a Moon Underfoot: 10:46p

Moon Overhead: 11:14a Moon Underfoot: 11:43p

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

1.69 ft. -0.39 ft.

Sunrise: 6:45a Sunset: 8:00p Moonrise: 1:31a Moon Set: 3:37p

Moon Overhead: 7:44a Moon Underfoot: 8:07p

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

READING THE GRAPH

12a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:45a Sunset: 8:01p Moonrise: 12:53a Moon Set: 2:40p

AM Minor: 11:57a AM Major: 5:46a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:08p

Moon Overhead: 6:16a Moon Underfoot: 6:37p

1:00 — 3:00 PM

Sunrise: 6:44a Sunset: 8:02p Moonrise: 12:19a Moon Set: 1:45p

AM Minor: 11:13a AM Major: 5:03a PM Minor: 11:34p PM Major: 5:23p

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

20 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:26a 11:04a 3:04p 11:01p

1.48 ft. 1.22 ft. 1.39 ft. 0.01 ft.

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

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

21 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

6:31a 11:32a 4:44p 11:52p

1.32 ft. 0.95 ft. 1.33 ft. 0.33 ft.

SATURDAY

High Tide: 6:28a Low Tide: 12:12p High Tide: 6:31p

1.18 ft. 0.63 ft. 1.30 ft.

SUNDAY

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

12:48a 6:17a 1:00p 8:33p

0.67 ft. 1.11 ft. 0.30 ft. 1.32 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:00A — 1:00P Sunrise: 6:48a Sunset: 7:57p Moonrise: 5:02a Moon Set: 7:18p

AM Minor: 4:17a AM Major: 10:32a PM Minor: 4:46p PM Major: 11:00p

12a

12:00 — 2:00 PM

AM Minor: 5:11a AM Major: 11:26a PM Minor: 5:40p PM Major: 11:54p

TexasOutdoorNation-2007DIG.indd 64

12p

12a

AM Minor: 6:07a AM Major: 11:50a PM Minor: 6:35p PM Major: 12:21p

2 0 2 0

12p

12a

2:00 — 4:00 PM

AM Minor: 7:04a AM Major: 12:51a PM Minor: 7:31p PM Major: 1:18p

T E X A S

Moon Overhead: 2:58p Moon Underfoot: 2:32a

F I S H

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:49a Sunset: 7:54p Moonrise: 8:24a Moon Set: 9:26p

Moon Overhead: 2:05p Moon Underfoot: 1:37a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 PM Sunrise: 6:49a Sunset: 7:55p Moonrise: 7:16a Moon Set: 8:47p

Moon Overhead: 1:09p Moon Underfoot: 12:41a

J U L Y / A U G U S T

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:48a Sunset: 7:56p Moonrise: 6:08a Moon Set: 8:04p

Moon Overhead: 12:12p Moon Underfoot: None

12p

BEST TIME

3:00 — 5:00 PM Sunrise: 6:50a Sunset: 7:53p Moonrise: 9:30a Moon Set: 10:03p

AM Minor: 8:02a AM Major: 1:49a PM Minor: 8:27p PM Major: 2:15p

Moon Overhead: 3:50p Moon Underfoot: 3:24a

12a

12p

BEST TIME

3:30 — 5:30 PM Sunrise: 6:50a Sunset: 7:52p Moonrise: 10:36a Moon Set: 10:39p

AM Minor: 8:59a AM Major: 2:47a PM Minor: 9:25p PM Major: 3:12p

Moon Overhead: 4:41p Moon Underfoot: 4:16a

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

4:30 — 6:30 PM Sunrise: 6:51a Sunset: 7:51p Moonrise: 11:41a Moon Set: 11:17p

AM Minor: 9:57a AM Major: 3:44a PM Minor: 10:23p PM Major: 4:10p Moon Overhead: 5:33p Moon Underfoot: 5:07a

G A M E ®

6/23/20 1:35 PM

JULY/AUGUST 2020

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

24 FEET

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

1:56a 5:54a 1:55p 10:53p

TUESDAY

1.01 ft. 1.14 ft. 0.02 ft. 1.42 ft.

Low Tide:

2:56p

WEDNESDAY

26 º

-0.20 ft.

High Tide: 1:02a Low Tide: 4:01p

1.58 ft. -0.34 ft.

THURSDAY

High Tide: 2:26a Low Tide: 5:09p

1.72 ft. -0.39 ft.

FRIDAY

High Tide: 3:24a Low Tide: 6:14p

SATURDAY

1.79 ft. -0.37 ft.

High Tide: 4:11a Low Tide: 7:16p

SUNDAY

1.80 ft. -0.30 ft.

High Tide: 4:49a Low Tide: 8:11p

1.77 ft. -0.16 ft. FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

4:30 — 6:30 AM

12p

12:30 — 2:30 PM

AM Minor: 12:17a AM Major: 6:31a PM Minor: 12:45p PM Major: 6:59p

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

5:39a 9:58a 1:20p 9:46p

2«

1.63 ft. 1.47 ft. 1.55 ft. 0.21 ft.

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

5:52a 10:11a 2:37p 10:26p

12p

12a

1.54 ft. 1.36 ft. 1.55 ft. 0.43 ft.

12p

12a

BEST TIME

2:00 — 4:00 PM

3:00 — 5:00 PM

12p

12a

4:00 — 6:00 PM

12a

5:00 — 7:00 PM Sunrise: 6:55a Sunset: 7:43p Moonrise: 6:33p Moon Set: 4:20a

AM Minor: 2:52a AM Major: 9:05a PM Minor: 3:19p PM Major: 9:32p

Moon Overhead: 10:09p Moon Underfoot: 9:41a

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:54a Sunset: 7:44p Moonrise: 5:48p Moon Set: 3:22a

AM Minor: 2:02a AM Major: 8:16a PM Minor: 2:30p PM Major: 8:44p

Moon Overhead: 9:13p Moon Underfoot: 8:45a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:54a Sunset: 7:45p Moonrise: 4:56p Moon Set: 2:25a

AM Minor: 1:10a AM Major: 7:24a PM Minor: 1:38p PM Major: 7:53p

AM Minor: 3:40a AM Major: 9:53a PM Minor: 4:06p PM Major: 10:19p

Moon Overhead: 11:03p Moon Underfoot: 10:36a

Moon Overhead: 11:54p Moon Underfoot: 11:29a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

Sep 1 «

1.71 ft. 1.54 ft. 1.54 ft. 0.01 ft.

Sunrise: 6:53a Sunset: 7:46p Moonrise: 4:00p Moon Set: 1:32a

Moon Overhead: 8:16p Moon Underfoot: 7:48a

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

MONDAY

12a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:53a Sunset: 7:47p Moonrise: 2:58p Moon Set: 12:43a

Moon Overhead: 7:20p Moon Underfoot: 6:53a

READING THE GRAPH

FEET

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 11:50a AM Major: 5:37a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:04p

Moon Overhead: 6:26p Moon Underfoot: 5:59a

5:19a 10:16a 11:31a 9:01p

12a

Sunrise: 6:52a Sunset: 7:48p Moonrise: 1:54p Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 10:54a AM Major: 4:41a PM Minor: 11:21p PM Major: 5:07p

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

6:30 — 8:30 PM

Sunrise: 6:52a Sunset: 7:49p Moonrise: 12:47p Moon Set: None

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

3l High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:56a 10:33a 3:46p 11:05p

1.45 ft. 1.22 ft. 1.53 ft. 0.64 ft.

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

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

4« High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

5:53a 10:58a 4:54p 11:42p

SATURDAY

1.36 ft. 1.07 ft. 1.50 ft. 0.85 ft.

5«

High Tide: 5:41a Low Tide: 11:26a High Tide: 6:05p

1.30 ft. 0.91 ft. 1.46 ft.

SUNDAY

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

12:20a 5:21a 11:57a 7:25p

1.03 ft. 1.26 ft. 0.75 ft. 1.45 ft.

FEET

+3.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

11:30A — 1:30P Sunrise: 6:55a Sunset: 7:42p Moonrise: 7:13p Moon Set: 5:19a

AM Minor: 4:27a AM Major: 10:39a PM Minor: 4:52p PM Major: 11:04p

12p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 7:41p Moonrise: 7:49p Moon Set: 6:17a

AM Minor: 5:13a AM Major: 11:25a PM Minor: 5:36p PM Major: 11:48p

Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 12:19p

Moon Overhead: 12:43a Moon Underfoot: 1:06p

12p

BEST TIME

7:00 — 9:00 PM Sunrise: 6:56a Sunset: 7:39p Moonrise: 8:21p Moon Set: 7:13a

AM Minor: 5:58a AM Major: ----PM Minor: 6:20p PM Major: 12:09p Moon Overhead: 1:28a Moon Underfoot: 1:50p

T E X A S

TexasOutdoorNation-2007DIG.indd 65

12a

12p

12a

BEST TIME

1:00 — 3:00 AM

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3:00 — 5:00 AM Sunrise: 6:58a Sunset: 7:35p Moonrise: 10:19p Moon Set: 10:44a

AM Minor: 8:58a AM Major: 2:48a PM Minor: 9:19p PM Major: 3:09p

Moon Overhead: 4:13a Moon Underfoot: 4:34p 2 0 2 0

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TPWD’s desert bighorn program has been a huge success with the population going from 40 in 1976 to around 1,500 in 2020. The property also boats a healthy herd of desert mule deer. “We’ve got a pretty good mule deer population and hunters take some nice bucks on the drawn hunts,” he said.

Texas’ Most Rugged Public Land

EMOTE AND RUGGED. Those two words best describe the Sierra Diablo Wildlife Management Area (WMA) that rests along the Hudspeth and Culberson County lines in the Trans Pecos region.

and along with Elephant Mountain WMA it serves as a sort of a sanctuary for the species in Texas. This WMA began for helping sheep and continues to be an important part of the sheep program,” McEntire said.

A bonus for those lucky enough to draw a hunt or the researchers from all around who use the grounds to study everything from snakes to sheep is elk sightings. “There are quite a few free-ranging elk that come onto the property,” McEntire said. Surrounding private properties manage for elk and overall numbers in the area seem to be on the rise. All hunters must stay on premises during any hunt’s duration, primitive camp only and note that high road clearance 4X4 vehicles are recommended. “Nothing here is easy,” McEntire said. “But it’s an extremely beautiful place with some of Texas’ most unique game animals.” Bighorns, mule deer and elk in Texas! How cool is that?

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story by CHESTER MOORE

The remoteness can be summed in the WMA’s official online profile that notes, “The nearest comprehensive medical complex is El Paso, 150 miles from the Area.” That’s a couple of eastern seaboard states away. Rugged means it’s 11,624 acres are covered in rough hills and steep canyons with an average elevation of 6,200 feet that in some locations drops 1,000 feet to the desert floor. “It’s a rough, beautiful piece of Texas,” said Sierra Diablo WMA Director Cody McEntire. “It’s closed to the public, except for special draw hunts so few get to see it. But those who do always seem to comment on its rugged beauty.” The property was acquired by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) in 1945 to serve as a sanctuary for the last remaining herd of desert bighorn sheep in Texas. Today, sheep conservation is still at the heart of the property. “We have a healthy sheep population here 66

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Elk are present on the Sierra Diablo WMA, making it one of the few public lands in Texas with free-ranging elk.

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PHOTO: CODY MCENTIRE/TPWD

6/16/20 9:17 PM

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BLACK DRUM

BASS Lake Naconiche

Carancahua Bay

Five-year-old Landry Chapman caught this bass while ﬁshing with her Pop on Lake Naconiche.

Karen Smith caught and released this 40-inch black drum on Carancahua Bay, using a $2.50 Zebco spincast she found at a garage sale.

CATFISH

REDFISH

Private Pond

Aransas Bay

Bill Eggar shows off a nice channel catﬁsh he caught from a farm pond near Aledo.

Nina Garrett caught this beautiful, coppery 28-inch redﬁsh while wading Aransas Bay. She released the red during a spectacular sunset. 68

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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 Upload them to our Website: FishGame.com/Hotshots No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

TURKEY Graham

CRAPPIE Lake Tawakoni J.R. Solomon caught these crappie by the dock at Tawakoni State Park.

Hatcher Railsback bagged this gobbler while hunting with his dad, Kevin, in Graham.

BLACK DRUM Pleasure Island

Pleasure Island

Scarlet Daws caught this 36-inch black drum at a pier on Pleasure Island. She caught it at night using shrimp on a 6-foot medium-action rod with 12-pound test.

Eleven-yearold Bella Daws caught this gafftop while night ﬁshing with her sister, Scarlet (see left) at Pleasure Island.

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

Iaconelli’s Strategies for Brutal Heat

UGUST IS HOT JUST ABOUT anywhere in the country, but there may be no place where the heat is more oppressive – for both humans and fish – than deep in the heart of Texas. “That’s about as far into a summertime pattern as you can get,” said Bass University founder Mike Iaconelli. “So my strategy for fishing consists of three words: deeper, thicker and current.” It’s a three-pronged strategy for continuing to locate and catch fish as long as you can stand to be outside. “Deeper” is key because on traditional reservoirs like Toledo Bend, Fork and Conroe the forage goes deep. That’s a relative term, but typically means 15 to 30 feet. “Their food source is there,” Iaconelli said. “Barfish, shad and bluegills. That’s because it’s cooler, and the oxygen content is sometimes better.” To attack this situation he relies on lures like a Carolina Rig with a Power Lizard, a ¾ ounce football jig, and Rapala DT16 and DT20 crankbaits. He’ll spend long periods of time looking for the key spots throw them. “The main thing I want to find out there is change,” he explained. “If there’s a long main lake point, I’ll idle and look for a different, the one spot where there’s a patch of grass. Of maybe on a hum there’s one little spot with a lot of timber. When I see fish or bait it’s a bonus, but I never rule those spots out if I don’t see them. Sometimes they’re so tight to the bottom that you can still find the motherlode.” While “deeper” is often key, on most lakes there are populations of fish that remain close to the bank all the time. When Ike wants to find them he’ll go “thicker.” “There are a ton of fish shallow in August if you find thick cover,” he said. “I look for the thickest available cover. That could be massive lily pad fields, shallow hydrilla or milfoil, or hyacinths. It could also be wood like |

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“ Finesse lets that bait drift naturally in the current, almost like trout ﬁshing.

“

thick laydowns, bushes or salt cedars. It could even be docks.” Why do those fish stay shallow? Because “what they’re eating is there,” he stated. Also, under a canopy of grass they’re protected from the direct impact of the sun, so the water can be cooler, and the greenery often provides oxygen.

Traditionally, he’s approached thick cover with a punch rig or big jig to get through it, or a topwater frog on top of it, “but what has taken over for me is the Tokyo Rig.” He’ll rig it with a short and stubby soft plastic bait like a Berkley Bunker Hawg or Chigger Craw and affix it to heavy line – usually 50 to 65 pound test Berkley X9 braid, but sometimes 20 to 30 pound test Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon if the fish are spooky or the water is exceptionally clear. The frog still stays on the deck, not only because it’s fun, but also because it can be deadly for big bites. He wants what he calls a “pushing frog” for thick grass, specifically the Molix Supernato, which is heavy in the rear and pushes down to create an impression. He likes black, white and shad patterns, but noted that “it’s all about the pushing more than the color.” |

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The final element of his triumvirate of factors is “current,” which is not any less important than the other two, but may not be as readily available. It can result when there’s generation at the dam, from a rain event or even from wind and boat traffic. Even marina entrances, where boats come in and out, can create an artificial current. Bait relates and reacts to the flow, and that’s what positions the bass. “A lot of times I’ll use a good old spinnerbait,” Ike said. “Especially during a rain push. I especially like a Molix ½ ounce chartreuse and white Venator, Colorado and willow when I want more flash, and a double Colorado in stained to muddy water.” When the current is being caused by generation at the dam, which is typically not as heavy as that cause by rain, he’ll often rely on finesse. That was his strategy during a Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Conroe where he finished second to Brian Snowden, and a shakey head was his lure of choices. “Finesse lets that bait drift naturally in the current, almost like trout fishing,” he explained. “People were beside themselves that I was throwing 8 lb. line, a 3/16 ounce head and a straight tail worm.” One of his favorites is the Berkley Bottom Hopper, which he’ll throw on a VMC Rugby Head. He’ll utilize weights from 1/8 ounce on up, but the 3/16 commands most of his time. Ike’s final commandment for fishing when the temperatures are pushing triple digits is to allow for changes as the day goes on, and not to get fixated on any one of these three elements. Sometimes he’ll start on thick shallow cover and then transition to deep structure as the day goes on. Where there exists a generation schedule, you can often predict when the current will start. With a little bit of research or a simple phone call, you can know when to get on the juice. “I bounce back and forth until I get a response,” he said. “Ultimately the fish have to tell you what to do.”

Email Pete Robbins at ContactUs@ﬁshgame.com

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