Texas Fish & Game June 2019 Issue

June 2019 | $3.95

Gamefish How Texas Surprises in Summers the Gulf Affect Ducks 1906-June-CoverDIG.indd 1

Avoiding Danger in the Woods www.FishGame.com 5/15/19 9:10 AM

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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.

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Contents June 2019 | Vol. 36 • No. 2

FEATURE ARTICLES

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SURPRISES FROM THE GULF Gamefish and marine life you might not expect to find on the Texas Coast.

by Chester Moore

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COVER STORY

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In its 30th year, the CCA S.T.A.R. tournament offers more than a million dollars in prizes and scholarships. Here are a few tips on how to win.

story by Chester Moore photo by Grady Allen

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Editor’s Notes

by CHESTER MOORE

Pike on the Edge

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UNUSUAL BAITS Stingrays? Marshmallows?

Lice? Unusual baits that will actually work.

story by Chester Moore

by LENNY RUDOW

TF&G Report • 34 The News of the Nation

Texas Tactical

by CHESTER MOORE

Open Season

by REAVIS WORTHAM

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Hotshots 34 Texas Action Photos Focus 36 Coastal Columns 45 Texas Hotspots 52 Sportsman’s Daybook Tides & Prime Fishing Times

DEPARTMENTS

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN

Inside Bass Fishing

With meth labs and other nasty business invading forest lands, you gotta be careful.

TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

Texas Boating

by LOU MARULLO

BEWARE OF STRANGE CABINS IN THE WOODS

by Chester Moore

by DOUG PIKE

Bare Bones Hunting

Q&A with TPWD’s Waterfowl specialist on how Texas summers affect our ducks.

by Matt Williams

WINNING S.T.A.R. STRATEGIES

COLUMNS

DUCK SUMMER

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Letters

by TFG Readers

Fish & Game Gear

by TF&G Staff

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LETTERS to the Editor True Green

wildlife. We stand for all and the right to fish and hunt throughout our great country.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU for the real outdoor coverage you produce in this magazine. You obviously support and promote the hunter-based North American Model For Wildlife Conservation but you don’t let the right/left political distractions move you.

Kudos to you for standing up not only for hunters’ rights, but for clean water, healthy forests and abundant wildlife of all kinds.

I have a question in this regard. Is this a challenge for you in particular Chester or Texas Fish & Game as a whole? Do you get flack for this stand.

Trout Tantrum I COULD NOT HAVE ENJOYED YOUR story called “Trout Tantrum” any more than I did. It was great and I appreciate how honest you were, even about what you perceived as your own mistakes.

I still feel the same way today, but can’t make that a big priority when there are enough PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxins in Galveston Bay to cause the Texas Department of Health to issue warnings on consuming trout.

Similar warnings exist for gafftops in Sabine Lake and various species in both salt and freshwater around the state.

Isn’t there time and room enough to cover potential cancer causing agents in our water and

Seth Campbell Editor: Thanks for your support.

Conservation is at the epicenter of what we do here because we truly believe in abundant wildlife, clean water, healthy forests, plains and wetlands and incredible hunting and fishing opportunities.

To answer your question we have received huge support in the industry for our philosophy and zero flack from readers. In fact we get a lot of support from readers.

On a personal level I have seen a little resistance. On two occasions I had people ask if I were either A. Against Hunting or B. an animal rights person because I talked more about conservation than the actual hunting part of the equation.

It is hard for me to fathom that low level of thinking, but it exists in small numbers.

Conservation and hunting are tied together, but we have let the political sector dominate instead of the human side. So anything that doesn’t seem right of Rush Limbaugh must be “animal rights” according to a few. In other words, if someone is happier that they hunted in restored elk habitat and expresses that, rather than the fact they shot the biggest bull of their life, they must be an animal rightist.

Mind boggling.

Clean water is a human issue, not a political one.

Ditto for healthy forests and abundant 4

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“Trout Tantrum,” story from the January issue.

What do you think the real problem is with trout and how the public perceives them as a resource?

Reggie Simms Editor: This boogeyman’s name is indifference and most if not all of us who love consumptive outdoor practices have been a part of it.

In the early 2000s, I dedicated four columns in a two-year span to the speckled trout controversy of the day. I was fired up about the push to ban croaker as a live bait and an elitist attitude that seemed to drive sectors of that fishery. I was all for changing size and bag limits to manage, but against telling anglers how they can catch them. |

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fish regulation changes?

On the same note, I think we are missing habitat as the issue. CCA is doing a great job of working to restore fisheries habitat and making it a priority, but it doesn’t resonate with the public as much as limits changes.

We need to get away from a limits-centered standard of fisheries management and realize if we don’t have good habitat we will have poor trout fisheries. Period.

« Email your comments to: editor@fishgame.com

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EDITOR’S Notes

by CHESTER MOORE :: TF&G Editor-in-Chief

Brave New World: GMO and Transgenic Wildlife

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ENETICALLY MODIFIED Organisms (GMOs) are living organisms with genetic material modified by humans in a laboratory.

GMOs are extremely controversial in the realm of food due to concerning findings and the general lack of long-term studies on how consumption of GMO-based food products impact people.

But how could they potentially impact wildlife?

It’s a question no one seems to want to address but that deserves some attention.

As GMOs continue to make their way into the wild, could it impact genetic diversity in plants in a way that causes long-term damage?

An article written by Heather Landy for Harvard University said a major concern of genetically modified organisms is that they will cause reduced genetic diversity of plants and animals in the environment.

A terrifying example of how a lack of genetic diversity contributed to a major agricultural problem is Ireland’s potato famine of the 1800s.

“At this time, Ireland was heavily dependent on potatoes for nutrition, and the type of potatoes they cultivated were not grown from seeds. Instead, they planted sections from a parent potato. In this way, all potatoes were clones of their parents and contained identical genetic information. The lack of genetic variability in these potato crops proved detrimental when an invasive pathogen, P. infestans, wiped out the entire population.”

The author noted a great concern about wild and GMO plants mating. It has already been proved through wild grass species crossing with a grass genetically-engineered to be resistant to a common herbicide used on golf courses.

Imagine a potato-famine-like situation where grasses, seed-bearing flowers and other plants die because of GMO tinkering. The impact on wildlife could be devastating.

An Israeli company is working heavily on a plan to create trees with super growth capabilities.

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pany has spent 11 years trialing thousands of GMO eucalyptus and poplar trees on 100-hectare plots in Israel, China and outside São Paulo in Brazil, and is now at the last stages of the Brazilian regulatory process for commercial planting.

“Thanks to a gene taken from the common, fastgrowing Arabidopsis weed, the company has found a way to alter the structure of plant cell walls to stimulate the natural growth process. The company says its modified eucalyptus trees can grow 16 feet a year, with 20 to 30 percent more mass than a normal eucalyptus.”

Imagine forests of the future totally comprising of GMO-based trees. The push for profits could lead to destruction of many trees favorable to wildlife.

We have already seen this when timber companies annually destroy hundreds of thousands of acres of mast-bearing hardwoods, then plant profitable pines.

Apologists from GMO companies are already saying this will save forests by creating quicker growing, larger trees on smaller tracts of land. Their argument is this will require less overall deforestation.

If anything, this will allow for wiping out more natural forest to create GMO cash crops. Other areas of forest that were once used for timber harvest, and in some cases sustainable harvest, will be turned into tree barren ranchland for cattle. Still others will become settlements for burgeoning human populations in the third world and high-end real estate in the West.

Altered plants are one thing but “transgenic” wildlife is a whole ‘nother level of threat.

According to the University of Calgary a “transgenic animal” refers to an animal in which there has been a deliberate modification of the genome—the material responsible for inherited characteristics— in contrast to spontaneous mutation.

“Foreign DNA is introduced into the animal, using recombinant DNA technology, and then must be transmitted through the germ line so that every cell, including germ cells, of the animal contain the same modified genetic material.”

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ratories around the world.

Transgenic cows are found in many locations. Since 2000, scientists at a company called AgResearch have been successfully producing transgenic cows that make modified milk or produce therapeutic proteins to treat human diseases.

An increasingly common reason for animal endangerment is hybridization. The Scottish wild cat is doing the same with domestic cats in their remaining range and the red wolf of America was declared extinct in the wild in 1980 owing to hybridization with coyotes.

How long will it take transgenic wildlife to enter the field?

What if mixing DNA saved from hides of extinct Irish elk could produce massive modern elk bodies and antlers?

What if mixing DNA from plants into whitetailed deer made the ones grown on farms more disease resistant? What if that DNA got into the wild population?

With deer being a key prey item for coyotes, bobcats, cougars, wolves and even eagles, what would be the result on the entire ecosystem?

I predict we will see the push for transgenics to control populations of non-indigenous feral hogs in America as well as in Australia.

Hogs cause millions of dollars in damage to crops and real estate. Poison has already been used in Australia and is being pushed in America.

What if a strain of hog could be produced and introduced into the wild population that would produce generations of offspring that died at birth or sows that would have stillborns?

What would the implications be as those genetics enter the ecosystem and are consumed by other species?

I don’t know whether any of these things will happen, and I hope they don’t. However someone needs to be asking these questions.

Technology can be a good thing for wildlife.

However, if the hunting and fishing community does not stand guard, technology could radically change the wildlife we love in ways that we might not yet be able to imagine.

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Email Chester Moore at cmoore@fishgame.com

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PIKE on the Edge

by DOUG PIKE :: TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Work For Your License

wildlife and fisheries, recruitment into the outdoors would be a heavily funded, high priority line item.

Ideally, there’d also be ample revenue to cover the costs of additional law enforcement, hatcheries, biologists to monitor populations, and everything else it takes to oversee the incredible natural resources of a state larger than most countries.

In reality, however, the state’s wallet isn’t deep enough to hire additional personnel or maintain its vehicles and buildings.

And, important to this whole piece, significant numbers of families don’t have enough money to license all their members for lawful participation in Texas’s woods and on its waters.

Why is it, then, with all the brain power in Austin, that none of our lawmakers has seen the forest for the trees and proposed some sort of program, anything, through which people willing to invest some old-fashioned “sweat equity” in the state could earn a fishing or hunting license or camping permit.

Paint a building. Mow a pasture. Change the oil in a truck (that’s probably got 300,000 hard miles on it). Sweep a floor. Answer phones. Make a park or historical site or other state-owned structure look more presentable.

Or make its guests feel more welcome.

Work in a gift shop. Stock shelves. Help the people who work there full-time, so they can do the jobs they’re paid to do instead of being overworked. The state doesn’t have the money to hire more people, which makes it tough to devote much of anything to recruitment of new outdoor enthusiasts.

I’ve written and spoken about this for the better part of 20 years. I’ve shared it over those years with more than a couple of people who I thought would make good their promises to look into its feasibility.

Nothing. Not a peep.

Maybe there’s a downside. Insurance?

Have program participants sign release waivers. Insist that they show proficiency in the operation of any machine they volunteer to operate, be that a mower or grader or

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T SEEMS THAT NOBODY IN AUStin has read any of the previous columns or heard my radio shows any of the previous times I’ve written and talked about this. So, I’ve bought a bigger tambourine, built a taller soap box, and planted myself on this busy corner for one more attempt to offer a plausible solution to a couple of problems.

SITUATION 1: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, one of the best of its kind in the nation, lacks critical funding for infrastructure maintenance in state parks, vehicle maintenance throughout its fleet of vehicles and boats and ATVs, law enforcement personnel and the equipment they need to do their jobs safely and completely.

SITUATION 2: The future of outdoor resources and outdoor recreation depends heavily on recruitment, and not only of the children of adults who already hunt and fish and hike and watch birds and like a good summer picnic.

COLLECTIVE SOLUTION: Create a “Work for your license” program that enables anyone willing to invest some time into making state parks and other facilities better to earn a fishing license, a hunting license, or maybe even an annual pass into our state parks.

Ideally, when we visit one of Texas’s magnificent state parks, its buildings would shine, its trails would be maintained, its vehicles would run, and its personnel wouldn’t be overworked.

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paintbrush or broom.

Surely the state has insurance policies already in place to protect it from accusations of negligence. Extend the coverage to “Work for access” volunteers. Work it out.

Come up with something, anything that would allow people who want to hunt and fish—but cannot currently afford licenses— to earn that paper in an afternoon or a weekend.

For the physically challenged, who certainly deserve consideration, perhaps some answering of telephones to get questions answered faster. Or perhaps anyone who can’t do physical labor could coordinate the scheduling of other license-earning projects.

I don’t know how much it costs to hire painters or mowers, electricians or plumbers, cashiers or mechanics. But I know the state needs them, desperately. I know there are thousands of Texans who would work a reasonable number of hours doing whatever work is needed for the chance to go fishing without having to look over a shoulder for the game warden (who isn’t likely to show because he or she already is spread too thin).

It’s highly unlikely that a program such as this would need to be sweetened with further incentives, but how much more work might get done if, for all those who earn their license by working to improve Texas’s outdoor resources, there were an annual drawing for a lifetime license or trophy deer hunt.

Surely there are members of the outdoor industry who would step up and throw down other prizes.

All it takes, as with anything, is two things—thought and action. Here’s hoping both get started soon to generate a way for “economically challenged” Texans to become licensed hunters and fishermen.

« Email Doug Pike at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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HE STATE OF TEXAS ANGLER’S RODEO (S.T.A.R.) tournament is in full swing and anglers along the coast are competing for prizes and scholarships for catching the best of what the Texas coast has to offer.

We thought we would put together a list of tips for catching the biggest and best in the surf. Not all S.T.A.R. anglers can afford boats and truth be told some of the best action comes in the surf anyway.

SPECKLED TROUT: Trout are the most prized fish pursued in this prestigious tournament.

Catching big trout in the surf is hit and miss but in my experience the very best trout fishing comes just before dawn until about 30 minutes after sunrise.

Savvy anglers hit the surf early throwing rattling, jointed swimbaits and topwaters designed to draw the strikes of big trout. Look for deep bowls in the surf and areas with high concentrations of mullet along the banks.

Trout will corral them in the wee hours of the morning, especially on high tides and offer great shots at angling success often within casting distance of the bank.

Slow-sinking lures like the Corky can also be very productive, especially when there is light wave action. Look for emerging slicks (from the size of a fish to garbage can lid size) and for the sound of “slurping”.

Big trout sometimes smack their prey but most of the time they slurp it under. If you get a slurp and a slick know you’re definitely in the zone.

SHEEPSHEAD: Sheepshead are not super abundant in the surf but they do congregate around small rock jetties found in places like Galveston and around Corpus Christi and piers.

And there are some huge ones to be found in these spots.

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Thirty Years of Winning Conservation

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IXTY SPECIALLY TAGGED REDFISH ARE BEING prepped as the STAR-ring attraction in the CCA Texas State of Texas Anglers’ Rodeo (STAR) sponsored by the Texas Ford Dealers, Tilson Home Corporation and Capital Farm Credit.

These tagged redfish will be released throughout 600 miles of Texas coastal waters, from Sabine Lake to South Padre Island. This year’s tagged redfish are even more special than normal. These redfish will represent thirty years of dedica-

tion from CCA volunteers, all with the same goal of recruiting young anglers and adults alike to join their ranks in support of conservation.

“After two consecutive years of over 50,000 total anglers and 9,000 youth anglers, we believe it is safe to say that these countless volunteers have been winning conservation for thirty years,” said Tournament Director Bill Kinney.

From the onset, the State of Texas Anglers’ Rodeo was envisioned by CCA founder Walter Fondren III and a few others,

, Ben Ibara fter a ly rt o h s his catching ip h rs la o h sc g winnin ead. sheepsh

ged Sixty tag re e w reds to be released r major fo t h caug ri p zes.

S.T.A.R.

My favorite method for catching them is using a 1/4-ounce jighead rigged with a small piece of shrimp and fished vertically over rock outcroppings. Imagine fishing for perch from the shore of a pond with a cane pole.

I use a light braided line like Berkley Fireline, which has eight-pound diameter and 20-pound test. The low stretch line helps with hookset in the hard mouth since there is no stretch and it also aid with sensitivity.

The sheepshead’s bite can be so slight you actually have to watch the line because it can be virtually impossible to detect otherwise.

A braided or fusion line can help overcome this but it can still be tough at time. Many times they thump a jig pretty hard but when they go stealth few fish can pick a bait off of a hook quicker.

Fishing a live shrimp under a popping cork is also a great way to catch them.

When the water clears up, these fish can be line shy so use a fluorocarbon leader under the cork for best results. Fluorocarbon virtually invisible and it also has low-stretch 12

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properties, which enhances its sensitivity.

Many anglers use small treble hooks which the fish ingest, but with regulations that require us to throw back many of the sheepshead we catch that is probably not a good idea. I have my best luck with thick, short-shanked hooks. Hook girth is something to consider due to the fact these fish often bite through thin hooks. I have actually had them bite through thick hooks as well but it is a rarity.

If you are serious about catching sheepshead, especially the big ones, you will need lots of patience and focus to get the job done.

When they feed aggressively anyone can catch them but when they are being sort of snobbish it takes true fishing finesse.

GAFFTOP: Gafftops have extra-long dorsal fins that look like a sail on a boat, hence the name gafftopsail. They also have long, stringy whiskers. The fish average 2.5 pounds, but can get as big as 15 pounds.

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along the coast in no small part due to S.T.A.R. Gafftops are like their freshwater cousins in that they are suckers for chum and will hit just about any kind of bait. Taking a small chum basket and fishing from a pier or rock jetty can be extremely effective especially when fishing a dead shrimp or chunk of cut bait.

Chumming in the surf is not recommended if you plan on wading of course. You might invite sharks. Not good.

Rigging up for gafftop is easy. A simple free-line with a 10/0 circle hook connected to 17-pound test or better is usually more than adequate. When pursuing gafftops in the surf, use a typical fish-finder (Carolina) rig with a wide-gapped hook works great.

Popping corks with cut bait fished under them is also a great way to catch these slimy creatures.

Oh, I forgot to mention slime.

For anyone who has never caught a gafftop, all of the talk about slime earlier in the story might seem unusual, but it is true.

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as a fun family friendly summer event with hopes of creating a reason for parents to get kids out on the water for a chance of them winning a scholarship, or the adult a driveway sized prize. As STAR tournament director Kinney often says, “We want to get kids off of X-boxes, and into tackle boxes.”

All the while, these participants are learning more and more about conservation through CCA materials. Through thirty years of hard work by countless volunteers and CCA staff, STAR has come a long way. When STAR first kicked off, it was relatively small compared to today at only 3,400 anglers statewide. In 2017, STAR shattered participation records, with 50,000+ anglers competing for over $1,000,000 in prizes for the first time ever.

Another milestone was recently reached by STAR after the 2018 tournament, $6.5 million in college scholarships have now been awarded to Texas youth, with another $325,000 waiting for this year’s winners. Little did Walter, Bill and others realize what their idea would morph into thirty years later.

« PHOTOS COURTESY CCA-TEXAS

These fish have more slime on them than any other fish in the sea. This slime actually finds its way up your line when fighting these fish.

Gafftops make hard, determined runs, rub-

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bing against the line and depositing the telltale slime in the process. The stuff then oozes along the line toward the spool like an alien visitor from a 1950s science fiction movie.

hip Scholars shton A r e n in w ith w ll ra Sum kle of in H y ll a W arm Capital F . it d re C

But you can win in S.T.A.R. for catching one so who cares, right?

«

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White Marlin

Dwarf Seahorse

Bonefish

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HEN NINE-YEAR-OLD Reese Dearing noticed something floating in the water at the Sandy Shores Addition at Crystal Beach. He thought it was a small clump of sargassum (seaweed).

He simply followed childhood curiosity and picked it up.

What he found however blew his mind and this wildlife journalist’s as well.

Instead of seaweed, it was a tiny seahorse, an adult dwarf seahorse to be exact, a creature he (and I) have never seen alive in the wild.

He brought the tiny creature up to show his parents who quickly shot these photos and video clips, then put the intricate little creature back into the sandy green waters of the Gulf to live a full life.

I learned of the discovery gassing up for a shark fishing trip as his mother Dana proudly showed me the images. Reese beamed with pride at his unique discovery.

This event reminded me of times spent beach combing with my parents searching out shells and sand dollars. And it also reminds me of the fact there are creatures that few people realize that dwell in the Gulf of Mexico.

This includes some amazing fish that anglers sometimes catch.

White Marlin You have undoubtedly heard of the blue marlin, sailfish and perhaps the Pacific’s black marlin. But did you know there is a white marlin?

It is sometimes called the Atlantic blue marlin, but it inhabits of the Gulf of Mexico and is a beautiful creature.

The maximum size is 180 pounds and the total length is no more than 110 inches. Despite typically dwelling in water at least 300 feet deep, they prefer feeding near the surface and are sometimes caught by anglers pursuing the larger blue marlin.

Unfortunately 90 percent of catches are on long lines, killing untold numbers of them before anglers ever have a chance to see them.

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African Pompano This species of jackfish sometimes called threadfin trevally or pennant fish is a super fighter and is sometimes caught around oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

In Texas they are sometimes caught while trolling oil rigs for king mackerel or on party boats seeking snappers and groupers.

Bonefish Did you know bonefish range into Texas?

These hard-hitting, highly sought-after flats-dwelling fish do occasionally pop up in Texas. In fact, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials caught some juveniles in recent years in their net surveys.

A bonefish record from Texas in 1977 was caught by C.W. Morris. It weighed 3.75 pounds and measured 23.25 inches. Don’t expect to catch one anytime soon, but if you don’t be totally shocked.

It is possible.

Bluefin Tuna Bluefin are the world’s largest tuna, and they are a rare catch in the Texas Gulf. Last

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African Pompano

year, however, a number of bluefins were caught off both the Texas and Louisiana coasts.

Looking back, the Texas record is a whopping 808 pounds and was caught

by Trina Isaacs in 1985. Anglers are more familiar with the smaller blackfin tuna and the larger and rare yellowfin catch.

But we also have big eye and skipjack tuna.

On a side note, tunas are not the only fish to be found in Gulf waters. We have received a few inquiries over the years about the big silver and yellow fish that inexperi-

enced anglers have caught in our bays. They thought they had a yellowfin tuna, but it was a jack crevalle.

There may be slight similarities in appearance but definitely not taste.

Oceanic Whitetip Shark A few years back we ran a story on the disappearing oceanic whitetip shark. These beautiful creatures were once extremely common in Gulf waters, but have virtually vanished because of long lining and the mar-

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PHOTOS: CANSTOCK; WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Lesser Electric Ray

ket for shark fin soup. Some estimates show a 99 percent decline in Gulf numbers.

I did stumble across the first and only whitetip catch I can find for Gulf waters. An angler named Blake Oestreich caught a 200 pounder in the Texas Gulf in 2014., So a few are still out there.

Lesser Electric Ray Lesser electric rays normally lie buried in the sand of the surf zone and shallow Gulf. Accidentally stepping on one can be a shocking experience according to TPWD officials.

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“These rays have two specialized organs on their backs that can provide enough electricity to knock down an unwary adult.”

I have never heard of anyone getting shocked by one of these. but there have been some caught along the coast. I would love to see one, but am not sure about how to get one off the hook.

Thinking back to little Reese’s seahorse discovery, there was something beautiful about those times.

For his entire life he will now view the Gulf of Mexico as a place of possibilities.

Not only does he now know it is full of common Texas beach finds such as hardhead catfish, jellyfish and crabs. But now he knows the most iconic small ocean creature—the seahors—also dwells there.

I hope it instills in him a deep appreciation for the grand work God did in the Gulf.

Seeing the whole family light up when I recited the story, further strengthened my resolve to write about what I call the “forgotten sea.”

The Gulf of Mexico and all of its wonders get little attention from the corporate wildlife media, but encounters like this can do what dozens of television programs and bad blogging cannot.

Hopefully this story does the same for anglers and expands appreciation for what lives off our coasts and maybe inspires a little fishing exploration in the process.

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How Do Texas Summers Impact the Following Fall’s Ducks?

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’VE NEVER BEEN MUCH OF A DUCK NUT, BUT I’VE been around long enough to know that no two Texas duck hunting seasons are ever the same.

Such is the case with Texas summers. Each one is entirely different. True, you can always count on the sweltering heat around here, but you can never—ever—depend on the moisture.

Some may not realize it, but timely spring and summer rainfall can play a vital role in the quality of Texas fall and winter duck seasons from one year to the next. That’s largely because moisture feeds the soil that grows the forage on which wintering waterfowl feed.

Take offseason rainfall out of the equation and the all-important habitat is almost certain to suffer to some degree. It could cause migrant ducks to look elsewhere to find food once they arrive.

Jared Laing of Lindale is a hardcore duck guy who knows a thing or two about ducks and duck habitat. Laing, 41, is a 10-year veteran waterfowl biologist who specializes in waterfowl habitat management with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

His experience extends well beyond Texas marshes, playas and riverbottoms, too. In Spring 2018, Laing spent a full month assisting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service in conducting the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey.

The annual survey is carried out by air. Ground crews assess duck populations and habitat conditions on the more than two million square miles that encompass the main breeding areas of many species of North America’s waterfowl. Laing, who flew into parts of northern Ontario,

Q&A with TPWD’s Waterfowl Habitat Specialist

• BY MATT WILLIAMS

northern Quebec, Labrador and Newfoundland, called it the highlight of his career thus far.

“It was a phenomenal experience,” he said.

We recently caught up with Laing. We pitched him a few questions as to how habitat conditions can impact duck numbers and Texas hunting seasons. Here’s what he had to say.

TF&G: How does Texas’s summer weather influence duck hunting success?

Laing: “What happens in Texas when the birds aren’t here plays a huge role in what happens in Texas when the birds return. Moist springs and moderately dry summers are critical for maintaining ‘good’ waterfowl habitat in Texas.

“When discussing good wintering waterfowl habitat in Texas it depends a lot on the species. Dabblers use mostly shallow-water habitats and have a high percentage of seeds in the diet. Divers typically use deeper water and consume more vegetation and aquatic invertebrates. Let’s just focus on dabblers.

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the result of more than a snapshot in time, but rather a swinging pendulum of events that stack on top of each other to make current habitat conditions what they are.”

Summer rains provide a vital source of sustinance for waterfowl and their habitat.

TF&G: Do the best/worst summer conditions for fall/winter hunting vary in the region of the state?

Laing: “Good conditions for wintering ducks are the same throughout the state, it just takes different timing, rainfall amounts, and temperatures depending on where you are. In general, “normal” years, with wet winters, damp springs; intermittent summer/fall precipitation and good winters tend to make great wintering waterfowl habitat conditions in Texas.

“I’ve seen the best years in East Texas with wet springs, moderately dry summers, damp falls and slightly flooded winters. Out west, water at any time typically leads to increased waterfowl use, especially when it leads to pooled water in the winter.”

areas and makes seeds available to waterfowl while also kick starting the process of growing invertebrates.

“Invertebrate populations will continue to build through the winter. This cycle naturally complements waterfowl nutritional requirements. It is critical for good wintering habitat to maintain annual seed producing plants. The two most desirable food plants for wintering waterfowl in Texas are barnyard grass and pink smartweed. Both plants are annuals and must produce seeds for a successful crop of food plants next year.”

“Waterfowl diets shift throughout the year, especially winter and spring. Upon arrival, dabblers typically seek a high-energy diet (mostly seeds) to replenish reserves used during migration and to prepare for winter. Later on they’ll feed more on aquatic invertebrates to incorporate protein and calcium for feather molt and to build reserves for egg laying. During this time, they still need high-energy foods to maintain high fat levels for their upcoming northward migration.

“The natural wet/dry cycle allows many habitats to meet these needs perfectly. In a normal wet/dry cycle, Texas wetlands, lakes, and ponds undergo a gradual drawdown as spring progresses to summer. This allows for the bare ground needed by annual plant seeds to germinate.

“We typically get periodic rains throughout the summer, which allows annual plants to thrive and produce seeds. We typically get fall and winter rains that refill areas that have been dried out over summer, which floods 20

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TF&G: Attracting and holding ducks in Texas is all about weather, water, food and habitat, right?

Laing: “Correct. Timely summer rainfall grows lots of food. Then, fall rains come to flood the summer-produced food making it available to ducks arriving on the wintering grounds. If only it were that simple though.

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TF&G: Even in years when forecasts indicate duck numbers are up, it seems like a lot of Texas hunters still wind up singing the blues for a lack of birds. This is especially true in East Texas. Some hunters contend the flyway has shifted to the west, or that the birds are stopping short of Texas for some reason. What are your thoughts?

Laing: “Of note, people regularly misuse the term “flyway” to speak of how birds travel in a location or an area or from one place to another. In reality, a flyway is nothing more than a regulatory term used in management of migratory birds that denotes generalized broad pathways of migration.

Generally, birds follow migratory pathways, though there is a lot of flyway hopping and moving north/south/and back north again, even during the waterfowl season.

“Interestingly, we are just starting to explore the complexities of migration through new remote tracking technologies.

Birds change their patterns and habitat use for many reasons. These patterns and use are dictated on a landscape scale much larger than any one piece of property in East Texas.

“In Texas, our mid-winter waterfowl survey has shown an increasing trend in birds using non-traditional habitats and areas within the state, especially stock ponds in the Oakwoods, Blackland Prairie and Rolling PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

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Plains Eco regions. While waterfowl abundance in most Eco regions is increasing, waterfowl numbers in the Gulf Coast are declining. The Oakwoods and Blackland Prairies surpassed the Gulf Coast three of the last five years, wintering in excess of one million birds one of those years.

“I know of several hunters who have had great seasons the past few years. They are successful because they spend more time scouting and seeking new locations instead of going to the same old places and expecting the ducks to magically show up the morning they go hunting.”

TF&G: In what areas of the U.S. and Canada does most reproduction occur? Any species-specific percentages available?

Laing: “Typically, the prairie provinces of Canada and the prairie pothole regions of the U.S. are the hotspots for waterfowl reproduction, though that can vary by year depending on habitat conditions. These areas are important for many species, including mallard, gadwall, blue and green-winged teal, northern shoveler, norther pintail, lesser

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scaup, redhead, and a few others. Most other species typically nest farther north and are spread out over a much greater area.”

TF&G: What types of conditions up north are conducive to optimum breeding success?

Laing: “For the prairie pothole region we like a wet, grassy landscape. The more choices they have to nest in dense grass close to water, the greater their chances of successfully reproducing and rearing young.

The boreal forest habitat types rely more on snow and ice melt to fill lakes, string bogs, and beaver ponds, so a heavy snow and ice pack with a normal to early spring typically lead to good production conditions for species utilizing those habitats.”

TF&G: What conditions lend to poor breeding success?

Laing: “Poor breeding success is usually caused by dry breeding grounds. Habitat loss and change also can play a significant role.

These can be further amplified by certain agricultural practices around potholes, con-

version of boreal forest to farmland, strip mining, improper forest management activities, etc. Fortunately these birds are resilient and can have huge population increases in good years.”

TF&G: Do these factors apply to all ducks?

Laing: “Yes. Wet landscapes typically mean good duck production.”

TF&G: This story is set to run in June. Do you have any insight yet as to what numbers are looking like this year for the primary ducks we see in Texas?

Laing: “Nothing yet, but the breeding grounds are looking fair to good right now as far as precipitation goes. Keep an eye on precipitation levels up north to get a basic idea of production. Wet prairies usually mean good production. You can also keep an eye on the pilot biologist blogs on USWFS websites as the surveys start and conclude for regional updates as they are being flown.”

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AM STANDING IN THE COCKPIT OF A Grady White Canyon 456, dropping baits on the wreck below us and hauling up snapper after snapper.

Then the bite drops off, and I’m about to suggest to the captain that we try a new section of wreck.

But before I can open my mouth, the fish start biting again. A little while later they slack off again, but soon enough kick back into gear. The whole day goes like this—fish biting in waves, and as soon as the action slows up, it suddenly seems to get hot again.

I took a short break to grab a bite to eat and sat down next to the helm. As I glanced at the chart plotter, I had an epiphany. The captain has been working different pieces of the wreck, one after the next, all morning long.

That chart plotter shows a zigzagging pattern, moving left then right, hopping forward, then left again, and so on, along the wreck in 10-foot increments. How has the captain adjusted the anchor every half hour or so, with such pinpoint accuracy?

Much less, how has he done it without me even noticing?—by tapping a joystick.

The boat’s rigged with Yamaha’s Helm Master system, which has the Set Point function. At the press of a button, the engines (interfaced with the GPS) hold the boat in place. Tapping the joystick commands those tiny positional adjustments.

For the angler, the shifts are minor enough that even with a line down you feel less motion than you would swinging at anchor. This capability far surpasses any anchoring job.

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By the end of the day we’ve loaded up with groupers, snappers, and triggerfish. We’ve wasted no time raising and lowering the anchor to reposition the boat, and we’ve been able to work every inch of the wreck far more efficiently than old-style anchoring allows. From the angling perspective, this virtual anchoring ability is hands-down better, period.

This is just one of the new-wave anchoring capabilities you can use. No doubt, many inshore anglers are by now familiar with Minn Kota’s Spot-Lock feature.

Again the motor, in this case a bowmounted electric, utilizes GPS data to hover your boat in place as you cast.

Yamaha’s Helm Master and other systems can take the place of conventional anchors.

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This explains why many anglers opt for one of these systems, but still invest in pole anchoring.

Yes, those poles do get in the way when they aren’t deployed and you’re trying to cast or fight a fish up to the boat. Still, these are all minor prices to pay for the advantages you gain.

That brings us to the final downside of both virtual and pole anchoring systems, the additional cost. Even the smallest pole system, the Power Pole Micro, costs a hair over $600, and that’s just for very small boats and kayaks.

Most of us will spend in the thousands for a pole anchoring system. And those outboard joystick systems can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars.

As to whether or not the investment is worth it to you, personally, only you can make the call. Still, having fished extensively with all of the above, my advice is quite simple: if you can afford them, get them. These systems will help you become a much more effective angler, period.

The bottom line? There will come a day when anchors will not only be considered old technology, but an utter handicap from a fisherman’s perspective. Actually, scratch that—this day has already arrived.

Also, like the Helm Master system, you can make minute adjustments in position and creep this way or that. Then lock in your position with the press of a button. If you have the right Humminbird system, you can even do this from your MFD while sitting at the helm.

Motorguide has a similar virtual anchoring capability in some of its motors, Optimus by SeaStar offers a joystick control with functions similar to the Helm Master, and Mercury Marine has its Skyhook version.

On inshore boats, all of these systems can be complemented with (or in some cases supplanted by) another anchoring technology that most of us use today in relatively shallow water—Power Poles and Talons. These give you the ability to “drop” anchor at the press of a button and stick to your location. It does this without any engines running, and without you fighting an anchor and chain to keep the noise to a minimum. For maximum stealth fishing abilities these are probably the ultimate (an electric motor does, after all, create a tiny bit of prop noise).

What are the downsides to virtual anchoring and pole positioning? From a sheer fishing perspective, I simply can’t find any with virtual anchoring in deep water.

In the shallows, one could argue that with the outboard engine systems the constant shifting of gears could spook fish—though I’ll note that while fishing it’s smooth and quiet enough that it didn’t bother me one bit.

On the electric side, when fishing in very skinny water there are some scenarios where using SpotLock requires a bit more draft than you might like.

INSET, YAMAHA MOTORS; PHOTOS: BSCKGROUND, GRADY WHITE

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I KI AR “KI K E H T S O LM COULD A the forest. echoing in ” a M a M ity to be in Ma e opportun th t a t n e m in Excite e morning , early in th e n lo a s d ll o ...we ... the wo w turned to o n d a h t c a a remote tr was fright. ek bottom re c ly e n lo of me on a pipes Just ahead ith boards, w r e th e g cobbled to home of a structure iliar to the m fa ly ri e e It looked 13th Pt. 2. and tarps.

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neve it. meone’s just a herm this was so is r e sw n a ld likely oped I wou The more ve always h a h I g in th ome meth lab-s estigate. never find. und to inv ro a k ic st t arvey’s epic I did no urricane H H r te la s y a mes fd nearest ho A couple o e th d n a s a x utheast Te em. This rains hit So water in th f o t e fe -8 tion had 6 if Jason to the loca than that so r e p e e d n . ’ve bee new home spot would to make a d a h e h , there w it turned did live in ask him ho to d e rn tu I haven’t re out.

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nd a s b a L h With Met vities i t c A s u o fari Other Ne and c i l b u P ing Encroach ds, n a L e t a v Even Pri ater e r G e c i t Prac o t e s i W and It is g n i t n u H hile W n o i t u a C as e r A e t o Rem n i g n i h s i F Moore r e t s e h C story by

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r, their dog w days late fe A . n a m st in the gone after und dead ju fo e b to ly issing, on r advencame up m t off on ou se e w re e h near w the woods dow said. nd rickety ture,” Mea ry? If you fi o st e th f o The moral t. Quickly. ods get ou o w e th in or hiding structures hiding out e n o e m so its forest.

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Bare Bones HUNTING

by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

No Boredom Here!

outdoors, took us on a hunt. He loaded us in one of his trucks and took us to a field in the dark night. He shut the vehicle off, and one of us would climb in the bed of the truck where he had a nice comfortable chair and rifle rest ready to go.

We waited about 20 minutes, then turned on a red spotlight in the field. The hogs were out and feeding on something in the field. At least they were for a few more minutes. Two or three shots, and it was all over. Oh yeah, fresh pork steaks baby.

One very hot afternoon nearly 20 years ago, Chester Moore and I decided to hunt for hogs with a bow. It was my very first time, and to say I was nervous is a huge understatement.

The owner of the ranch met us and took us

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OR MOST DEER HUNTERS, June is a pretty boring month. Not so for the hunter of other species. Texas is the one state where you can hunt exotics year-round.

This is the time of year that I love to hunt hogs. It does not matter if it is with a bow or a gun, the excitement is the same. Well, I guess if you have a stick and string and one of those beasts decides to attack, the excitement will be a little higher than normal.

Even if the whitetail hunter reading this is sitting in his or her easy chair anxiously waiting for the season to open, there is still plenty to do to prepare for a successful hunt. If you hunted turkeys last April, you might have found a new hotspot for deer. Or you might have seen a lot of whitetail activity while quietly sitting against a tree waiting for that tom turkey to come strutting in.

It is still a great time to take a walk in your favorite hunting hot spot or venture into some new territory looking for sheds of a whitetail that made it through the past season.

Personally, I rarely go shed hunting. It is not because I do not enjoy a walk in the woods, but my time is very limited and shed hunting is down on the list of things for me to do.

But that’s me. Maybe you do have the time.

If you do, make sure you look not only on the forest floor for sheds, but also at waist level in some of the forest brush. I once found a nice shed of an eight-pointer, and I almost missed it. As a matter of fact, I darn near walked into it.

You might find it a little too warm to spend an afternoon walking in the woods. Hey, I get it. Once, on a warm June night, Chester and I went hog hunting at night with some rifles. Ken Swenson, who spends many hours |

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This is the time of year that I love to hunt hogs.

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to his area that (according to him) was infested with hogs. I explained to him that I have read some horror stories of hunters being attacked by these beasts and was a little concerned for my safety. He assured me that everything will be fine as he patted the revolver that was attached to his belt. Immediately, I felt a sense of relief knowing that if things went south, the revolver would save us from any peril from pigs.

We walked slowly, searching for any unsuspecting hogs. I remember twisting my neck from side to side with every sound that I heard.

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pumping in my chest.

Finally, we found the herd of hogs. They seemed to stay ahead of us offering no shots at all. Every time we tried to walk closer to them, they would move, always staying well out of bow range.

It seemed as if this game would never end.

At some point, the rancher decided to leave us and try to push the pigs in our direction. I never saw the man leave, and my anxiety quickly returned when I realized we were on our own.

It was Chester’s idea to wait at the watering hole for the pigs to come in for water.

That made a lot of sense to me in this 90-plus degree heat.

To the water we went. As we tried to find a comfortable ambush location, I noticed a good spot to sit and wait. I never saw the cactus plant that was right where I planned to sit. I can tell you that as soon as the needles from that cactus penetrated my bottom, I jumped straight up in the air.

You would think that this experience was bad enough. Then the hog that was lying not 20 feet away took off at lightning speed, and I discovered that every nerve in my body is somehow attached to my butt. Thankfully, this hog decided to run in the opposite direction.

I do not think I have ever heard Chester Moore laugh as hard as he did at that moment.

But when I frantically ask where “Ricky Revolver” is now, Chester held his stomach while he was buckled over from laughter— even louder than before.

We finally did take a hog that hot afternoon.

I can assure you that it was one day I will not soon forget. It makes me smile to think about the events of that day, now that I am still here to tell you about it!

Since then, I have taken hogs with the bow and enjoyed it very much. You should as well.

The point is to just enjoy hunting whenever you can no matter what species you are hunting for. Just remember—have fun and hunt safe.

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Texas TACTICAL

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN :: TF&G Contributing Editor

PSAK-47

The PSAK-47 is a good quality, yet affordable US-manufactured version of the famous AK-47. This model included a folding and adjustable MAGPUL stock

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HE AK-47 IS ONE OF THE most iconic firearms worldwide.

Although the AR15 is the most popular rifle in America, the AK can be a viable defensive rifle, or at the very least an enjoyable range toy. Palmetto State Armory agreed and introduced their American-made AK47s dubbed the PSAK-47.

I received the third generation PSAK-47 GF3. The “F” indicates forged parts as opposed to the sometimes produced cast front trunnion, carrier and bolt. In several instances, cast parts have failed in AK47s. PSA made sure to fork out the extra bucks to manufacture hammer-forged vital pieces for the PSAK-47 GF3.

The PSAK-47 is available in several stock options, from classic red wood, blonde wood, folding triangle stock, braced pistol versions, and Magpul’s “MOEkov” stocks of various colors. My test rifle was the latter “MOEkov” with an adjustable and side folding stock. I really like the folding feature for compactness in travel.

And that feature alone would cost you $200 extra on an AR15!

As expected the PSAK-47 was 100 percent reliable in my testing. I probably have sent close to 500 rounds downrange so far without a single issue. Obviously it’s chambered in 7.62x39mm.

I shot a limited amount of Fort Scott Munitions ammo for accuracy sake, and then several hundred rounds of Wolf and Tula of FMJ, soft point and hollow point. I used the included Magpul AK magazine, Xtech’s MAG47, old steel surplus I’ve had around for more than a decade, and some 20-round Tapcos without any issues.

However firing the PSAK-47 reminded me of why I prefer AR15s—the AK47 “cheek slap.” I have a very solid cheek weld. But with the design of the AK47 it tends to flex and jar so every shot is unpleasant to your cheekbone.

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While you can’t expect sub 2” groups from the more popular surplus ammunition, the Fort Scott Munitions ammo grouped quite well.

AK, it’s also an improvement. I heard some other owners say replacing the traditional slant muzzle brake with a modern muzzle brake can help with this issue.

While on the subject of the muzzle, the threads on the PSAK-47 are concentric to bore which means you won’t have to worry about baffle strikes should you choose to mount a silencer on the rifle.

The trigger had long travel like any other AK47 without a crisp wall. It only took about four pounds, six ounces of pressure. The safety lever stays where it should, but it is easy enough to activate with only one finger.

I’ve shot many AK47s with such a stiff lever it took an entire hand to move. The safety lever also has a “Full Auto” detent halfway just like the real AK47s. But don’t get too excited, it’s just for looks and cool factor—nicely done PSA. I was limited to the stock iron sights for my accuracy test although the PSAK-47 does have a side rail for mounting optics.

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sight adjustment tool to the range. My brass hammer wouldn’t budge the front sight post, and the rifle did need some zeroing. However it would consistently put every round out of a magazine dump in a sub-five-inch group at 100 yards—even with cheap steel cased Wolf and Tula ammo. My best three-shot group with the limited amount of Fort Scott Munitions shot a 1.75-inch group at 100 yards. I might be looking for an optic mount in the future to see what I kind of accuracy I can really squeeze out of this rifle.

The best thing is the price. Long gone are the days of $399 WASR rifles. Those are running $700 now. But the American made PSAK-47 with a $200 Magpul stock is running $599, and they are always selling out quick.

You can find out more and see a video of the PSAK-47 in action at www.fishgame.com

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Email Dustin Ellermann at ContactUs@fishgame.com PHOTOS: DUSTIN ELLERMAN

5/10/19 9:02 AM

Inside BASS Fishing

by CHESTER MOORE :: TF&G Editor-in-Chief

Bass Fishing Hall Of Fame Has Class

D

AVY HITE HAS DONE IT ALL. From winning the Forrest Wood Cup to taking both a Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Angler of the Year title, he is among the elite in professional bass fishing.

But he just received perhaps the biggest honor of his career.

Hite has been announced as part of the 2019 Class of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.

Founded in 2001 and now housed at the Johnny Morris Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, MO., this prestigious institution has created a worldclass system of recognizing those who have contributed to bass fishing.

“It is an incredible honor to be inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. The 2019 class has some amazing inductees and to be recognized by my peers from an industry I love so much is humbling,” Hite said.

Hite will go in with other top-level anglers including Mark Davis and David Fritts but this institution does not just recognize tournament anglers. It also honors those who have contributed to the industry in other ways.

For example this year’s inductees include noted artist/ illustrator, the late Chris Armstrong, and the founder of Zoom Bait Company, the late Ed Chambers.

Past inductees have included everyone from the legendary four-time Bassmaster Classic champion PHOTO: BASSMASTER

1906-BassUniversity.indd 29

When I surfaced, it hit me that I drove my BMX bicycle right pass this very property to rent “Bigmouth” from the video club 30 years earlier. I would have never experienced that without renting that VHS (over and over again).

As an outdoors journalist, I have followed closely the inductees to this institution and have always had a smile on my face thinking of how the skilled, passionate and conservationminded inductees have not only impacted bass fishing but the aquatic resources of North America.

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has class and it is not just because it is a place to honors the world’s best bass fishermen. It is because it truly recognizes those who have made the largemouth bass the most important sport fish on the planet and inspired millions to care about abundant bass, clean water and great fishing opportunities.

The 17th Annual Banquet and Induction Ceremonies will be Thursday, September 19, 2019, at the White River Conference Center in Springfield, Missouri next to Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium – Home to the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.

Rick Clunn to groundbreaking videographer Glen Lau who created the way-ahead-of-itstime underwater bass feature “Bigmouth”.

While Clunn is my all-time fishing hero, my love of bass has as much to do with watching “Bigmouth,” which I rented from a local video club in 1984, and seeing Chris Armstrong’s incredible illustrations in Bassmaster. Some of Armstrong’s art even graced the pages of TF&G before he died in 2014.

Hall of Famers like Bill Dance and Roland Martin inspired their fans and television viewers to hit the water while Armstrong and Lau gave them an idea of what things were like beneath the surface.

I got certified to scuba dive at age 25 and the bulk of my diving was actually in freshwater and much of it due to wanting to see the underwater realm like Lau. One day I dove with an underwater video camera in an extremely clear pond near my home and captured up-close footage of a 10pluspound bass.

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Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee Davy Hite T E X A S

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COMPOSITE PHOTO: TF&G

5/13/19 4:55 PM

WHILE BACK I WENT OUT WITH SURF fishing expert Marcus Heflin. One of his friends was talking about putting on some stingray for bait.

Savvy surf fishermen know that stingray is primo shark bait. In fact, certain species such as hammerheads specialize in preying on these potentially dangerous creatures.

The rays about the size of a dinner plate rigged on a large circle hook in the surf or set out behind a chum bag at a rig or wreck is an excellent way to lure in a big shark.

Some Texas bait camps carry rays, which are caught in shrimp nets as bycatch.

I thought it would be fun to look at different types of strange bait found at Texas

REPORT: NEWS 34 u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

HOT 34 u TEXAS SHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

36 u TEXAS COASTAL FORECAST

Stingrays, goldfish, bullheads, even marshmallows can be effective baits.

by Capt. Eddie Hernandez, Capt. Mike Holmes, Mike Price, Capt. Chris Martin, Capt. Mac Gable, Tom Behrens, Capt. Sally Black and Calixto Gonzales

camps as well some you will have to catch for yourself.

Tadpoles—Throw a live tadpole under a cork around a farm pond and you are liable to be slammed by a big largemouth bass or a catfish. Both love tadpoles as well as frogs and the bigger the tadpole the better.

They are rarely used in Texas. However, in some states they’re common among live bait specialists who are more about catching fish than the art of luring them in.

Bullheads—Also known as “mud cats,” are arguably the best bait for large flathead catfish. A good portion of the big flathead photos submitted to this magazine over the years have noted the fish was caught on these small catfish.

Popular, especially with jug and limb line fishermen, the big flatheads cannot seem to resist them.

45 u TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

52 u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE u

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PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

show up in bait camps in East and Central Texas.

Once again, these are typically used by trotline and jugline fishermen but occasionally someone will hook one up below a bobber in search of “Old Whiskerface.” If you do use goldfish though, do not be surprised if a largemouth bass hits it first.

Marshmallows—No one knows why, but it seems rainbow trout have a sweet tooth. Some anglers who catch the ones stocked by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department do best with marshmallows— for real.

Seems a couple of marshmallows threaded on a hook is a great way to catch rainbows.

I caught my biggest rainbow trout ever— a five-pounder— on a marshmallow/earthworm combo on Eagle Mountain Lake in California in 2006. A few minutes later my wife outdid me and caught a seven-pounder on the same baits.

Weird or not sign me up if it catches fish.

Right?

Sea lice are actually effective bait for big black drum.

Sea Lice—These strange looking creatures are marine parasites that feed on the mucus, skin and blood of host fish. They look like a crab crossed with something from the Alien films. They make great bait for black drum, especially the big ones.

A number of bait camps along the coast carry these disgusting looking creatures.

Besides drum, they are effective for sheepshead and redfish Goldfish—Goldfish are another bait popular with catfish enthusiasts although introducing them into certain ecosystems is probably not a good idea. They are not as popular as they used to be, but they still PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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Frogs, of course, are killer bass baits. So are tadpoles.

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The NATIONAL

Sporting Goods Excise Tax To Fund State Parks

News of TEXAS

Commission and a founder of the Texas Coalition for State Parks.

“Chairman Cyrier has been a determined champion for our parks and today’s vote demonstrates the Legislature’s collective commitment to conserving our state’s natural environment and outdoor heritage for generations to come. Now that the legislation has passed both chambers, we are eager to get this issue in front of Texans who we are confident will support the measure.”

The SGST was designed to create a steady stream of funding for our state and local parks.

However, from 1993 to 2017, the state has collected nearly $2.5 billion in revenues from the SGST, yet only 40 percent has been appropriated for parks. The legislation calls for the constitutional dedication of these funds to ensure consistency in

THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENtatives passed Senate Bill 26 and Senate Joint Resolution 24, which had previously passed the Senate on April 10.

The legislation calls for the constitutional dedication of revenue from the Sporting Goods Sales Tax (SGST) to fund the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. State Representative John Cyrier (R-Lockhart) had led efforts in the House while Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) was the Senate author.

“We are grateful for the overwhelming support the Texas Legislature has shown for our state and local parks,” said Joseph Fitzsimons, former chair of the Texas Parks and Wildlife

funding for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission.

In 2014, the Texas State Park Advisory Committee recommended that a constitutional amendment permanently guaranteeing revenues generated from the SGST be dedicated to supporting state and local parks.

In a public opinion survey, 70 percent of voters would support a constitutional amendment to permanently dedicate sales tax revenue for state parks. These numbers have held steady over a decade of polling.

••• Dickinson Bayou to Be Restored WHEN HURRICANE HARVEY ROLLED ashore in Texas in August 2017, it left a trail of destruction that is still

SCAMP GROUPER

WHITETAIL

Gulf of Mexico

Menard

Brice Sanchez of Houston brought home a beautiful scamp grouper that has been certified as a Texas State record. Brice caught the 40-inch, 28.2-pound scamp in the Gulf of Mexico in January.

Jacob Cooper shot this buck while bowhunting at Mendard last November. It was his biggest to date, and it scored 198 with 23 scorable points.

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being repaired today, and a habitat project underway along the banks of Dickinson Bayou will put back repaired marsh that washed away in the storm’s extraordinary floods.

CCA Texas supported the original Dickinson Bayou Restoration Project that enhanced and protected approximately 18 acres of tidal wetlands in 2016, but Hurricane Harvey took a heavy toll.

Now CCA Texas, the Building Conservation Trust—the national habitat program of CCA—and Shell Oil Company are supporting efforts to replant two acres of marsh that will help protect an additional 18 acres of wetlands.

“This is an area that is clearly vulnerable to erosion and so there is a need to make sure this project is solidly in place and can perform as originally intended,” said John Blaha, director of the CCA Texas habitat program.

“We saw some real improvements in this area after the original project and we weren’t about to walk away from it just because of an unfortunate setback. When it comes to habitat work, you have to

play the cards that Mother Nature deals you and just keep persevering.”

The Dickinson Bayou Restoration Project protect is ultimately expected to improve water quality in the area and provide erosion protection for the surrounding marsh.

Even in the short time before Harvey did his damage, the project was observed to have improved fish and wildlife habitat in the area and enhanced stormwater filtration in Dickinson Bayou. CCA Texas and BCT have contributed $100,000 to both phases of

the project. The current replanting work will utilize 10,000 smooth cordgrass plants from the NRG Energy Eco-Center.

—TF&G Staff Reports

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BASS Toledo Bend Jennifer Britton caught this 8-pound largemouth while fishing at Lake Toledo Bend.

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5/13/19 4:55 PM

Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt.

EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Full Throttle Fishing

S

EE YOU LATER, SPRING. Or did you even make an appearance this year? If you did, it must’ve been a quick hello and goodbye because I really don’t recall seeing you.

Whether you did or not, the calendar now says it’s June. That means summer has officially ridden into town and has every intention of

sticking around for a while.

The initial, dreadful thought of triple-digit heat index with barely a hint of a breeze is quickly set aside. It’s replaced by thoughts of virtually every inshore species fighting for their lives at the end of our lines.

That’s exactly what this month brings. Full throttle fishing begins now and will continue for the next few months. Every species known to these parts will be at your fingertips, for the taking.

Those big winds have pretty much blown themselves out. We are staring at hot, humid days, green water with lots of rod-bending action.

Now it is just a matter of figuring out what you want to do. The near-shore Gulf waters will produce everything from pompano to kings.

The inshore waters of the channel, lake and bayous will be giving up the Big Three like it’s nobody’s business.

Fishing the open near-shore Gulf waters can be an exciting change of pace, and my goal is to do more of it this summer. Leaving the trout and reds alone every now and then is not that big of a sacrifice when sight-fishing for tripletail on a nice weed line, or catching bull reds and lings in a massive school of pogies.

I promised my kids we would do more shark fishing this year. You can bet I’ll be out there taking advantage of some of those ultra calm days chasing sharks, tripletails, lings and whatever else we can coax into taking our bait.

As for the Big Three, you should have little problem catching at least a few at most inshore honey holes. Tidal movement and the presence of bait are two very important ingredients that should put you in the money.

Two to six foot depths over mud and scattered shell can be prime real estate when you’ve got current and bait thrown into the mix.

Greedy trout and reds will make their presence known in these areas. They should be more than willing to accept your offering of topwaters, crank baits and soft plastics. Skitterwalks and She Dogs as well as Rat-L-Traps, Heddon Swimming Image, Assassins and MirrOlure Lil John’s are some of our go-tos.

These same areas, as well as the points at the mouths of the bayous on the eastern side of the lake will also hold some nice flounders.

GULP! Swimming Mullet and other curl-tail grubs tipped with fresh shrimp and live mud minnows will work well. Just drag them along the bottom and wait for the thump.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: South Revetment Road SPECIES: Trout, reds, flounder, croaker, drum BAITS/LURES: Topwaters, Soft plastics, live shrimp, dead shrimp, mud minnows BEST TIMES: All day, with moving tides.

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Email Eddie Hernandez at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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5/13/19 4:55 PM

Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt.

MIKE HOLMES

A June Night Is A Fine Night For A Fish Bite!

years.

With June the temperature and weather patterns of summer become established. This means lots of sun, and daytime temperatures from warm to very hot. Although most tropical storms wait until later in the summer to visit us, June is a prime time to start watching and preparing for them.

Fishing is about as good as it gets, with daytime temps not being as deadly hot as they may be in a couple of more months.

Our bays in the Galveston-Freeport area will be filled with bait, from baitfish species such as mullet and “mud minnows” to shrimp. These will attract gamefish such as sand and speckled trout, redfish, and croakers—along with more exotic visitors from the Gulf at times.

Spanish mackerels are fairly common inside the passes, and the surf will see more of them, and also an occasional king mackerel.

Sharks of various sizes, from “ankle biters” to monsters will be found close to the gulf beaches, especially at night. Tarpon catches are not uncommon, and many more are hooked and lost than landed.

For those looking mostly to get their rods seriously bent, Jack crevalles will feed voraciously on mullet in the surf at times. When this happens, look for bull reds and stingrays, among other species, to be following the action, feeding on dead and injured mullet the jacks “missed.”

Farther out, even the close rigs and rocks will see gulf trout and some red snapper in residence. Smaller grouper might also be in the mix. Large schools of hungry bluefish will herd baitfish toward the beach, and skipjacks

will be following. Flounders are found both in the bays and near-shore Gulf.

“ Fishing is about at good as it gets.

Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@fishgame.com

Surf fishing can be good for many and varied species, but specs are the big draw

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“

J

UNE BRINGS THE BEGINning of our REAL summer on the Texas coast, even though we will have earlier “warm spells” in most

now. When the trout are in, they will eagerly attack silver spoons and plastic tails, as well as top water lures and sinking plugs at times.

Even when feeding activity is not aggressive and obvious, trolling a Russel Lure along the outside edge of the third bar can keep anglers busy with hungry jacks. The occasional king will join the catch.

“Long rod” surf anglers baiting with a live mullet might get action from species ranging from reds and jacks to tarpon and big sharks—all while casting from the beach (or close to it). I have greatly enjoyed catching Spanish mackerels and skipjacks on ultralight spinning gear while waiting for a “run” on larger gear.

All things considered, June is a great month for the Texas coastal angler.

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Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

Bottlenose Dolphins Like to Eat Snappers & Trout

R

ED SNAPPER SEASON opens on June 1 and should close August 22. To get updates on the season end date and fishing regulation information, go to www.tpwd.texas.gov.

Red snappers, like other fish, are not always found in the same place. They move around, so you have to have patience. You have to move around until you find them.

I went offshore out of Freeport with Chip Homesly and four other fishermen aboard his 40-foot Viking Huntress on opening day.

We started at Tall Rock, a reef 25 nautical miles offshore. The reef usually holds red snappers, but we caught only four undersized snappers.

Lots of other boats were on the reef, so we decided to look for more fertile fishing

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grounds. We went an additional eight miles offshore to a wreck, but did not find keepersized snappers there either. Then the boat’s fish finder quit working.

Our only choice without a fish finder was to go to visible structure, the rigs. At the first rig we boxed two 20-inch snappers, but then the bite stopped. When we approached the next rig, we saw bottlenose dolphins, and we soon found out why they were there. The dolphins had no doubt benefited from anglers who had been at the rig before us and had returned undersized snappers to the water.

Snappers tend to school with fish that are similar in size, and we found that the snappers on this rig were either a little over or a little under the keeper size of 16 inches.

Every time we dropped a bait, it was taken by

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a red snapper, and it was not long before long we had our limit of two each.

I had my camera and snorkeling equipment with me. So, I asked one of the guys to keep his undersized snapper in the water behind the boat so I could get a photo of the bottlenose dolphins showing interest in that fish.

I got in the water and soon the fisherman had a small snapper on and was playing it behind the boat. Three bottlenose dolphins came over. A big female, the mother and her baby would go right up to the snapper and then turn away without taking it. A very large male, (I guessed the daddy) positioned himself vertically close by, making sure that the mother and baby were safe.

In this position, the male dolphin could see everything in front and to the sides. The big male made me nervous, but I did my best to put out calm vibrations and got a photo of the female and baby.

Bottlenose dolphins have sonar that enables them to “see” the hook.

Consequently, they will not take a fish with a hook in its mouth. When the fish was landed, hook removed, and put back in the water, the female dolphin took it.

When you catch undersized red snappers and bring them up rapidly from depth, they sometimes have their swim bladder inflated and protruding out of their mouths. This happens because the bladder contains enough gas at depth to keep them neutrally buoyant, but when brought up fast, the gas expands.

If you toss a fish with an expanded bladder in the water, it will float and die, or be eaten by a predator. It’s best to either deflate the bladder by inserting a sharp ice pick sized object under the pectoral fin and down a little, or to use a weighted device to quickly send the fish back to depth (www.seaqualizer.com).

If you use the weighted device, the bottlenose dolphins will leave the fish alone because they “see” the metal device attached to the fish.

To ensure a successful red snapper fishing PHOTO: MIKE PRICE

5/13/19 4:55 PM

I was reeling in right up to my kayak in two feet of water. The bottlenose dolphin was half out of the water when it made a 90 degree turn less than a foot from me.

When you fish in either the bay or offshore, the presence of bottlenose dolphins may mean that trout or red snappers are in the area. You might catch them if the bottlenose dolphins have not taken them all.

THE BANK BITE Female bottlenose dolphin and her baby checking out an undersized red snapper that a fisherman returned to the water.

trip, make sure that you have at least three locations pre-selected and programmed into your GPS so you don’t waste valuable fishing time looking up coordinates and then entering them into your GPS.

Dolphins Chasing Trout David Dunham lives on the Tres Palacios River a mile north of FM 521. When the river

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adjacent to his house is mostly salt water brought in by tides, baitfish are chased by speckled trout, and the trout are chased by bottlenose dolphins. David said, “The bottlenose dolphins make a half circle around the trout and push them up against the bank and then attack.”

This happens in West Matagorda Bay also.

I once had a bottlenose dolphin chase a trout

CHARLIE’S BAIT CAMP in Sargent (979-2451853) sells bait, and you can fish from his property.

He asks only that you leave no trash. To get to Charlie’s Bait Camp from FM 457, take CR 201 1¼ miles. A good place to eat in Sargent is Crab Trap, a half-mile from Charlie’s Bait Camp. If you want to fish from the beach, continue on FM 457 over the Intracoastal Waterway.

« Email Mike Price at ContactUs@fishgame.com

5/13/19 4:55 PM

Coastal Focus: MID COAST :: by Capt.

CHRIS MARTIN

June Trout: Tides, Birds, and the Moon

J

UNE WATER TEMPERATURES will continue to climb. Trout will be found roaming into the shallows atop sand and grass flats after waiting months for the comfort of warmth and a steady food supply.

The winter and spring months are behind them now, and they’re hungry. Fooling a really nice speck into swallowing your favorite artificial bait shouldn’t become too much of a chore this month, that is if you present the bait properly.

The water is constantly warming right now.

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Remember you should be able to speed your retrieve a little bit more with each passing day.

This is the month when trout will start becoming a bit more aggressive when chasing a fast moving dinner. Keep that in mind as your experiment this month in developing a successful retrieval cadence.

Topwater baits presented during low light hours of the day just after sunrise, and just before sunset will work with the trout. Any of a myriad of subsurface slow-sinkers and twitch baits, along with the ever-popular shrimp imitation plastic tails are also good.

Work your top water lures along the more shallow portions of the flats. Pay special attention to any areas where you find pods of mullet schooling or floating on the surface during the cooler parts of the day.

As the shallows against the shoreline begin warming under the morning sun, the bait will start to migrate to deeper water. Tie on a slow-sinker or subsurface twitch bait and move to deeper water with the bait.

Another quite effective tactic for June trout will use the movement of the tide. During a period of low tide, and when the current is slack (non-existent), try placing yourself over any type of structure located in deeper water.

An example in our Texas bay systems may include mid-bay oyster reefs or substantial sand flats covered by lots of grass located just adjacent to some type of deep water access. This might be sudden drop-offs, tapered shorelines, or an undulating bay floor consisting of a number of troughs that continue to deepen as they progress away from the shoreline.

On an outgoing or falling tide, position your wade session outside area drains and sloughs that empty water out of a back lake into the main bay system. The water current can often become very swift in the narrow portions of these sloughs and bayous.

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free food samples to wash their way in the midst of the falling tide.

Don’t forget to look for the birds this month, as well. Shrimp, croakers, and mullet will all be thriving this month in our Texas bays, and the trout will be stuffing their gut at every opportunity.

The birds in the sky can be used as our eyes upon the water. Pay particular attention to birds when you see groups of them diving from midair down to the surface of the water. Granted, the big birds (such as the pelicans) can sometimes indicate feeding fish beneath them, but right now is the time to pay special attention to the larger seagulls.

As the trout chase baitfish to the surface, these big gulls will suddenly appear out of absolutely nowhere, feeding on anything and everything that makes its way to the water’s surface.

When this happens, the trout that are feeding below will hit almost anything. However, the trout are more than likely going to be quite skittish also.

You’ll want to make sure you approach them in a quiet manner (either drift into the working birds, or use a trolling motor if you have one).

Birds you see sitting on the water are also a good sign. They’re probably right above the fish, as they wait for the trout to chase bait to the surface. All in all, birds are a good thing this month!

Lastly, when trout are feeding, they tend to overindulge at times. When this happens, the trout will often regurgitate the food they’ve just eaten during their feeding frenzy. Then an oil substance makes its way to the water’s surface.

This is known as a “slick.” You’ll often smell it before your eyes pick up on it, especially if you happen to be downwind. It smells very close to the scent of fresh-sliced watermelon. The smaller the slick, the closer the trout will be. You can track movement of the fish by watching the progression of these slicks, so pay close attention to their size and movement.

If you’re looking to catch a Texas trophy trout in June, try fishing two or three days before, and two or three days after a full moon. The trout in our neighboring bays will often congregate on the many mid-bay reefs of San Antonio Bay, large sand bars, or other structural flats areas during this time period.

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Contact Capt. Chris Martin at bayflatslodge@gmail.com

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5/31/19 9:31 AM

Coastal Focus: ROCKPORT :: by Capt.

MAC GABLE

Trump this, Trump that!

T

HIS IS NOT ABOUT A CARD game, although it probably should be as that would make more sense than the endless bashing and nonnews rhetoric, hung out like dirty laundry on the social media clothes line about OUR president.

Yes, he IS your president if you are an American citizen. He was voted into office through the processes founded by our forefathers. If you don’t like it, then get involved and change it. Instead of discussing real issues that need to be addressed, our news networks talk about the latest tweet, text, or the bad taste of the first lady’s choice of shoes.

The bubble headed newscasters talk about deaths with a gleam in their eyes. One death is not enough, but 10 or more, well, that’s national news.

Men and women in our armed forces are getting blown to bits, yet they come home to the political spin that they were fighting for no justifiable reason. We hear social security is running out of money, but we never hear welfare is running out of money. The first group (social security) worked for THEIR money the second group (welfare) did not.

We are advised to NOT judge religions other than Christianity by the actions of a few lunatics, BUT gun owners are judged by the actions of a few lunatics.

I voted for Trump. Honestly I didn’t care for either candidate; one was a professional politician the other a corporate white collar professional, both having been raised on the less-than-moral fat earned by us blue-collar workers.

At the very least, Trump is shaking the tree in our government, and my hope casting my vote was that not a single rotten fruit would be left. Better yet, the shallow rooted tree would fall to the ground allowing us to grow a NEW

ARANSAS BAY: Deadman’s Reef is holding some trout with either mud minnows or shrimp under a rattle cork as a good bait choice. Long Reef is a good spot for reds and trout using a croaker on a very light Carolina rig.

CARLOS BAY: Cedar reef is a good spot for black drum using live shrimp under a popping cork. Reds frequent this area during high tide.

MESQUITE BAY: The shoreline between Third Chain and Cedar Bayou is a good spot for reds using free-lined finger mullet.

The small reefs on the east shoreline close to the ranch house is a good spot for black drum and a few flounders using free-lined live shrimp.

AYERS BAY: The northwest shoreline just off Rattlesnake Island is a good spot for black drum and sheepsheads using fresh dead shrimp on a light Carolina rig. Reds travel this shoreline as well, especially late evening, with finger mullet the best bait.

THE BANK BITE THE AIRPORT SHORELINE on the south bank of Copano Bay is a good spot for reds and trout using free-lined croakers. Wading is best, especially early morning. Wade out far enough so you can cast back into the shoreline.

COPANO BAY: Early morning is best especially with a moving tide. The area near Turtle Pen is a good spot for reds using finger mullet free-lined. Some keeper trout may be found on Shell Bank Reef and the many smaller reefs in this area using free-lined croaker.

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

ST. CHARLES BAY: Wades just off Big T E X A S

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Sharp Point are good for trout using croakers or Super Spook lures in bone and red colors. East Pocket is a good spot for reds during high tide. Finger mullet on a light Carolina rig is a good choice here.

tree with firm roots in a rich soil, nourished in the ideals this country was founded on.

We should be sick of liberals, sick of conservatives and not stand for religions that want to control our country. Those that try to tell us, sell us, or dictate to us, their angle on God or a higher power, should be given an escort out of this country. Millions have died to give us the RIGHT to choose how we believe spiritually; there is no greater sacrifice than that.

So, as outdoor men and women, we should be focused on what’s best for our country.

Then we should choose the candidates who allow us the freedom to pursue our conservation efforts, such as fishing and hunting.

In the past election it was from the beginning a two-horse/candidate race. Trump, in multiple interviews, STRONGLY supported a person’s right to hunt and fish. He even went on the say it kept him out of trouble when he was younger.

Social media and politicians can twist or spin the deficit, foreign affairs, healthcare, separation of church and state, racial injustice and renewable energy. However, supporting the rights of 101.6 million Americans (according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) who participate in hunting and fishing, conservation, and the Second Amendment is a yes or no question.

You either support it, or you don’t. Our current President, like him or hate him, supports the rights of the outdoorsman. Trump that.

• • • This is the live bait time of year, but hard baits like Super Spooks, Broken Backs and top water poppers can be very effective as the temperatures go into the three-digit range.

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

Artificial, Live Baits and Big Money Fish

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HAT’S YOUR OPINION ON whether artificial lures or live baits is the correct, ethical way of catching our saltwater spe-

know how to use croakers or other live baits.”

So, how do you rig up for fishing with a live croaker? Williams uses a number 2 Kahle hook, 20-pound test monofilament leader, about 20 inches long. Attach a small black swivel between the end of the leader and the reel line.

The big secret is that you want to get the croaker down on the bottom. “You want to use enough weight to get it down. In most cases between a 1/8 to a 1/4-ounce slip weight above the swivel will get the job done.

Fishing near one of the reefs or shell pads is going to produce results.”

cies?

I don’t think anyone is going to argue against the fact that live baits catch more fish.

Live shrimp, live croakers, live mullet and other live items are going to out-fish a soft body plastic tail or hard body creation.

If you check with fishing guides in areas such as Rockport, Aransas and other popular areas where many of their clients are visiting guests, just about all will be using some type of live bait. They want to put fish in the boat.

Live shrimp under a popping cork, or free-lined will get just about any coastal fish’s attention. Live croaker is a bait that has the ability to make a fish curious, especially speckled trout.

However, if you have been fishing the coast for a while you might remember back to the 80s. An angler using a live croaker to catch trout was definitely looked down on by other fisherpersons. As if it was unethical to use croakers, a croaker angler was using an unfair advantage on the fish. Now in the 2000s, the croaker is a go-to bait for the pros and newbies alike.

The argument for artificial baits: Capt. Nathan Beabout fishes San Antonio Bay most of the year, using only artificial offerings. He says that if one of his prospective clients wants to use live bait, he will give them a couple of names and phone numbers of guides who do specialize in only live bait.

He made the decision to fish only artificial baits early in his career. Live bait was impossible to find in the winter months, and you had to use an artificial. Why not use the artificial bait all the time?

He’s partial to Down South soft plastics, not because he gets them free from Down South, but because they catch fish. He buys the lures in bulk from Down South.

“It’s durable and doesn’t get shredded or tore up,” said Beabout. The biggest thing about the lure is it swims, flutters on the fall.

They’re very user friendly for the angler just beginning his learning cycle with soft plastic baits. I give them a handful of them because it will work for them. Match it up with an 1/8-ounce jig head and allow the bait to flutter down to the bottom.” His favorite color is

Croakers: Capt. Mike Williams, one of the old-time legends of Texas coastal fishing said everyone uses croakers now. “People were brain washed by media, tackle shops, guides, and the makers of artificial lures that if you used a croaker, or any other live bait, you were an inferior fisherman. Croakers as bait really got hot when several guides—David Dillman and Gary Hahn—start getting some press for the catches that they were making.

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Pumpkin Seed because it matches up to the live bait color in the water he fishes.

Soft plastic Rat Tail Bass Assassins in strawberry/white, chartreuse or limetreuse, are Capt. Williams favorite soft plastic lures.

He goes so far as to say, “it’s the most lethal trout lure ever made by man for trout. Walk the piers at Galveston Yacht Basin and see what the guides have tied on after they come in from fishing in June. It will be the limetreuse Rat Tail.

“Probably one of the most overlooked lures is the plain jane, Johnson Sprite silver spoon, a really great lure,” adds Williams.

“It’s been around 40 to 50 years and still going strong. It works both good in the surf and wading in the bays for speckled trout.

Gold is good for reds.”

Money fish, anyone?

Red is the first thing to know to be successful, redfish for The State of Texas Angler’s Rodeo (STAR) Tournament, and red snapper for the study being conducted by the Harte Research Institute (HRI) for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi.

You can register for the redfish tournament by becoming a CCA member. All kinds of great prizes such as boats, motors, trucks, and college scholarships can be won (www. joincca.org/startournament).

For the A&M study, download the iSnapper and log your fishing trip results. (tamucc.edu/news/2018/05/052118_ iSnapper.html#.XKEHaZhKiUk) There is no registration charge to participate in this study. Some of the fish will have $250 tags and others $500 tags.

Remember to have your Texas Fishing License and appropriate tags. Look for tags on the fish, and you can catch them with live or artificial baits, your choice.

«

Email Tom Behrens at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Coastal Focus: BAFFIN BAY :: by Capt.

SALLY BLACK

Summer in South Texas

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OR ALL OF US WHO PURSUE our finned friends in the shallow waters of Baffin Bay and the Upper Laguna Madre, this is our favorite time of year.

Finally, the waders have been retired for another season. It doesn’t take much convincing to get folks on the water these days either. The Big Girls are here.

This has been and will continue to be a banner year for the famous Trophy Trout of Baffin Bay. Even though our year started out slow, it has shown that there is good reason to believe that Baffin will retain her title as the Mecca of Trophy Trout.

Twin ten pounders have already been caught here at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun, not to mention several others by anglers from all over the state who come here to take their shot at a once in a lifetime fish.

Our bay appears to be as healthy as we have seen in many years. Rafts of mullet and baitfish are along most shorelines and drop offs, and the rocks are just teeming with tiny crabs, baitfish and shrimp.

We have seen many black drums and even a few “Ghosts of Baffin,” the giant resident redfish that patrol these waters. But we all know what draws most people here, and that is trophy trout.

Big trout are consistently found in shallow water. Our band of fishing guides here at BBR&G report that most big trout are in knee-deep to hip-deep water. Spawning activity will continue most of the warm months but the peak, which happens in April most years, has passed. This means these Big Girls are shallow for one main purpose—to

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ducers.

Although that topwater action will definitely get your heart rate up, the more consistent catching will always be with soft plastics.

Our go-to lures almost all have some type of paddle tail, which creates a vibration in the water at almost any speed of retrieve.

Saltwater Assassin Sea Shad in 4-inch or 5-inch, Die Dappers in 5-inch, Kelly Wiggler Willow Tail, Gambler Paddletail are all in our arsenals.

The ability to keep that lure in the strike zone for the longest possible time is the key to our success. We enhance that by using Black’s Magic jigheads in 1/32 ounce. These ultralight jigheads add more “life” to the lures we use by leaving more plastic behind the hook, which allows more movement over the whole body of the lure. It also allows a slower sink rate, which is important when fishing the super skinny waters we see on a daily basis. Even with the slowest of swimming retrieves you can keep your lure above the grass and anywhere you want it to be in the water column.

Baffin is hot right now and like the upcoming summer, promises to only get hotter.

It really doesn’t get any better than this in South Texas.

With our customer’s success in mind, all of the guides here at BBR&G work together closely to make sure we all stay on fish. If you are looking for a first class experience and a legitimate shot at your trophy trout of a lifetime, look no farther than the premier fishing and hunting lodge, Baffin Bay Rod and Gun. See you on the water.

eat.

Trout are opportunistic predators and will eat most anything that will fit in their mouths and gullet. A trout can consume a meal two-thirds its body length. For example, a 24-inch trout can eat a 16-inch mullet. A 30-inch trout can eat a 20-inch mullet. That’s something to keep in mind when you are thinking that that Super Spook topwater might be too big.

Trout are also ambush feeders. They prefer to conceal themselves and let their natural camouflage hide them from their prey. We have often seen trout near the edges of large potholes and especially in depressions along the bottom. Specifically, we see them lying in old prop scars on shallow flats. Keep this in mind as you are wading. Pay close attention and make multiple casts to these features.

One common occurrence we have all experienced while wade fishing is to get a “bump” or “strike” as we work our lure through an area. We immediately make a cast just past the area of the “bump” and work the lure down the exact same track.

A trout that misses a shot at your lure will very often go right back to the same spot where they were successfully concealed before. Many times, that second or third cast will produce a fish.

One other tactic we use when wading a shallow flat is to cast with purpose. By that we mean to make each cast to a specific target.

With the water in Baffin as clear as it is, you can see many underwater features that can and do hold fish. As mentioned above, prop scars, depressions, potholes and grass lines are all likely areas that might harbor a predator. Instead of randomly “shotgunning” casts all over a flat, methodically work over the primary features you can see. Casting with purpose will increase your success.

Topwaters are about the most thrilling way to catch fish this time of year. The warmer water temps make the fish a little more likely to attack an offering on the surface. YoZuri 3DB, One Knocker Spooks, Skitterwalks, and Spook Jrs are our top proF I S H

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

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

June Delights

stable population of snook that take up residence from mid-Spring until the first major cold front in Fall (which could be as late as early December).

The mangroves that line the shoreline, the grassy flats, deeper channels and boat guts offer ideal habitat for the linesiders.

When the tide is up or incoming, snook will gravitate to the cover provided by the mangrove trees and strafe mullet, pilchard, and small pinfish. When the tide starts moving out, they’ll head back into deeper water and wait for the current to flush bait off the flats to them.

While fishing around the mangroves, your best bet is to move stealthily into position, either by poling or using a trolling motor.

Watch for fish holding in the shadows, under roots and overhangs.

When you spot one, cast a soft plastic such as a ¼ ounce DOA Shrimp, a chartreuse or pearl Bass Assassin, or a Live Target Mullet.

Do not cast directly in front of the fish or you may spook it. Work the bait past the hidey-hole. Use a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader tied to your line with a uni-to-uni knot or blood knot to prevent a breakoff if your quarry drags you across a limb.

Early on calm mornings, you might spot a snook chasing bait along the surface near the mangroves. When these fish are actively feeding, your favorite topwater can really prove effective.

Try a Spook, Jr. or a Mirrolure Top Pup in bone or white. If the fish are missing the plug on the strike, switch to a sub-surface bait such as a Catch 2000 or Yo Zuri Crystal Minnow, also in bone or white for better hookups. Soft plastics such as the afore-mentioned Bass Assassins and DOAs work well, too.

I have also begun playing around with a DOA Airhead, which is a soft-plastic swimbait. The broad body and larger-than-normal paddletail have a unique action whether twitched or retrieved with a “Do Nothing” action.

The broad profile of the bait also gives the appearance of a pinfish or other broad-

W

HEN YOU THINK ABOUT it, the variety of fish species that Laguna Madre fishermen have in their home waters is

astounding.

Besides the usual suspects, speckled trout and flounders are roaming the bay. Also, there are mangrove snappers and sheepsheads. They’re all milling around structure and waiting to go knuckle-and-skull with anyone who dares flip a live shrimp into the shadows of their dens.

Tarpons patrol along the Brazos-Santiago jetties and in the surf. Sometimes they’ll school up and go on wilding parties in the bay itself to terrorize unsuspecting fishermen. Spanish and king mackerels are within casting distance of surf and jetty-bound anglers (the latter of which are partial to large chrome/blue lipless crankbaits).

Then there is the snook.

The robalo of Lower Laguna Madre has developed quite a following among Texas anglers in recent years. The lack of a fishkilling freeze in recent memory has enabled snook numbers to grow steadily over the last decade, and the fish’s availability has correspondingly increased.

I have run into fishermen from as far away as the Texas Panhandle and just south of the Canadian River who have made trips to Port Isabel and South Padre Island for the sole purpose of latching into “Ol’ Linesides.” The fish has an exotic mystique to it that speaks of the tropical and wild, but still possesses a defiant contrariness that is equally appealing. The snook is pure Texan—vulgar and refined, genteel and Bohemian.

If you are looking to pick a fight with a Lower Laguna Madre snook, your best shot is to look to South Bay. South Bay holds a 44

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bodied bait. Whether this gives the appearance of a more familiar forage fish to the snook is open to conjecture. I just know that they work well.

Of course, natural baits are also very effective for treed snooks. The first choice is a live finger mullet, with large shrimp a very close second.

Hook the mullet just above the anal fin, use the smallest weight possible for casting distance, and lob it toward the mangroves.

Popping corks are more a liability than an asset in this application because they often get snared in the limbs of a tree. Moreover, the water averages two feet or less, so a cork is not necessarily effective.

If you are using a soft plastic or live bait, do not be surprised if you latch into a big flounder. Flatties hide in ambush along the mangroves sometimes. They aren’t averse to taking a shot at a finger mullet or a soft plastic that should meander by.

I had a saddleblanket climb all over an Airhead that I was swimming along some mangroves in back of South Bay on a recent snook trip. I didn’t catch any linesiders that day, but that flattie was a worthy consolation prize.

Even when you are looking for a specific target, you can end up with a little variety.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Dolphin Cove SPECIES: Mangrove Snapper, panfish.

TECHNIQUES: Fish with shrimp or cut bait on a float rig. The float keeps the bait above the rocks and away from snags.

« Email Cal Gonzales at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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

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

SALTWATER

Join the Jetty Set to Catch Specks

GPS COORDINATES are provided in two formats: “Decimal Degrees” (degrees.degrees) and “Degrees and Minutes” sometimes called “GPS Format” (degrees minutes.minutes).

Examples (for Downtown Austin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777, W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N30 16.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manual for information specific to your GPS device.

by Tom Behrens

•••

SPOTLIGHT LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: North Jetty GPS: N 29 21.352, W 94 43.15 (29.3559, -94.7192)

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

•••

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Van-Ta-Un Flats GPS: N 29 32.794, W 94 45.805 (29.5466, -94.7634)

•••

LOCATION: Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Moses Lake GPS: N 29 26.808, W 94 55.712 (29.4468, -94.9285)

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LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay HOTSPOT: Dollar Reef GPS: N 29 26.339, W 94 52.356 (29.4390, -94.8726)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Rat Tail Bass Assassin soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 www.galvestonfishingguides.comg TIPS: “Gold for Reds and Silver for Speckled Trout”

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Rat Tail Bass Assassin soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 www.galvestonfishingguides.comg TIPS: Capt. Williams’ favorite colors are strawberry/ white, chartreuse or Limetreuse.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Rat Tail Bass Assassin soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 www.galvestonfishingguides.comg TIPS: Fish the lower portions of Galveston Bay in June. “The trout are moving in from the Gulf.”

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Rat Tail Bass Assassin soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 www.galvestonfishingguides.comg TIPS: “Probably one of the most overlooked lures is the Johnson Sprite Silver and Gold Spoons. They work good in the surf and wading the Bays.”

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Rat Tail Bass Assassin soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 www.galvestonfishingguides.comg TIPS: Wade the eastern and both sides, north and south of East Bay.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Rat Tail Bass Assassin soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 www.galvestonfishingguides.comg TIPS: Croaker fished on the bottom next to the deeper reefs should catch trout.

GPS: N 29 26.614, W 94 54.316 (29.4436, -94.9053)

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Sabine Channel GPS: N 29 59.866, W 93 45.182 (29.9978, -93.7530)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Live baits such as mullet or croaker CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams 713-256-9260 www.galvestonfishingguides.comg TIPS: “Beginning in April and May the water temp is edging to 70 degrees, By June it will be in the 80s with all the fish moving up the Pass into the Lake. Free line live mullet or croaker in the channel for trout.” Capt.

Williams

••

•••

Copano Reds Like Crab and Shrimp

BEST BAITS: Cracked crab or frozen shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “If the fish are in the cut, you’ll see the pods of fish pop up. If you aren’t seeing any fish, move off to the flats or spoils.” Capt. McPartland

(28.2016, -96.7859)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Nathan Beabout 210-452-9680, 210-391-6518 nmsaguide.com nmsportsmansadventures.com TIPS: “If the wind is light, fish the reefs in San Antonio Bay; If wind is blowing hard, fish a protected shoreline” Capt. Beabout

LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Brown & Root Flats GPS: N 27 51.236, W 97 6.344 (27.8539, -97.1057)

by Tom Behrens

•••

SPOTLIGHT • LOCATION: Copano Bay HOTSPOT: West Copano Shoreline GPS: N 28 7.346, W 97 10.014 (28.1224, -97.1669)

••

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Bird Island Reef GPS: N 28 16.356, W 96 44.035 (28.2726, -96.7339)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Cracked crab or frozen shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Where you find them is usually away from the boat traffic.” Capt. McPartland LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Shell Reef GPS: N 28 12.0932, W 96 47.155

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastic shrimp tails

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Cracked crab or frozen shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Capt. McPartland uses a 6/0 circle hook. “If I can’t get close enough to the fish free lining without using a weight, then I will add a jig head, 1/16-1/8 oz. to get a little more distance.”

•••

LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Morris Cummings Cut GPS: N 27 52.851, W 97 6.661 (27.8809, -97.1110)

SPECIES: Black Drum

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FISHING HOTSPOTS CONTACT: Capt. Nathan Beabout 210-452-9680, 210-391-6518 nmsaguide.com nmsportsmansadventures.com TIPS: The marshes in the back of bay can be good for redfish, if you mind wading the muddy bottom.

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Panther Reef GPS: N 28 14.684, W 96 42.771 (28.2447, -96.7129)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Nathan Beabout 210-452-9680, 210-391-6518 nmsaguide.com nmsportsmansadventures.com TIPS: Jig head size is 1/8 oz. “It lets the lure to sink slowly, fluttering on the way to the bottom…draws strikes on the drop.” Capt. Beabout LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Pita Flats GPS: N 27 35.066, W 97 17.658 (27.5844, -97.2943)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Nathan Beabout 210-452-9680, 210-391-6518 nmsaguide.com nmsportsmansadventures.com TIPS: Capt. Beabout’s favorite soft plastic colors are Pumpkin Seed, Victorious Secret, and Blue Moon.

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Panther Reef GPS: N 28 13.634, W 96 41.834 (28.2272, -96.6972)

SPECIES: Black Drum BEST BAITS: Cracked crab or frozen shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Drum can be found just about everywhere in the bays…from Carlos to Ingleside, around reefs, flats or deep drop offs.” Capt. McPartland

••

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastic shrimp tails CONTACT: Capt. Nathan Beabish 210-452-9680, 210-391-6518 nmsaguide.com nmsportsmansadventures.com TIPS: For redfish, Capt. Beabout will have a bone/ silver topwater or a gold spoon.

Laguna Specks Are a Slam Dunk

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay HOTSPOT: Halfmoon Reef GPS: N 28 20.274, W 96 46.347 (28.3379, -96.7725)

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by Tom Behrens

• • • SPOTLIGHT • LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Dunkin House GPS: N 26 18.034, W 97 17.808 (26.3006, -97.2968)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Popping Cork with Gulp as bait CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 TIPS: Capt. Prado usually can count on the Duncan House area to produce some good catches of trout.

“Anytime it’s blowing, it’s time for the popping cork.”

•••

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: South Cullen Bay GPS: N 26 13.652, W 97 17.573 (26.2275, -97.2929)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Popping Cork with Gulp as bait CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 TIPS: In clear water, he likes Gulp in Pearl White or New Penny. If the water is stained, he will switch to a Root Beer, Chartreuse or Purple Chartreuse.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: South Cullen Bay GPS: N 26 12.528, W 97 18.381 (26.2088, -97.3064)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Popping Cork with Gulp as bait CONTACT: Capt. Joe Prado 956-357-1301 TIPS: He also will throw the Kelly Wiggler soft bait if he thinks the fish need to see a different type of bait.

••• FRESHWATER ••

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Livingston White Bass Hit the Road

by Dustin Warncke

• • • SPOTLIGHT • LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: 190 Road Bed GPS: N 30 45.15, W 95 10.3212 (30.7525, -95.1720)

••

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

CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakefishing.com TIPS: Fish the open flats in these areas. Watch for sections of hydrilla and lily pads. Fish top water lures early and on cloudy days. Fish the soft plastics during the daytime hours. Colors of watermelon/red and white work well this time of the year.

on a slip bobber with a bobber stop tied to my line so I can adjust the depth so my minnow swims just above the brush. This method has proven itself over several years and helps you avoid snagging in the brush.

When I use a jig, I always know the shallowest point of brush and use the countdown method: (1001,1002 and so on). This keeps my bait where I want it without hanging up. The kicker to the whole thing is if you get distracted you will probably hang it up. For jig fishing I like using a 6-8 pound line so there is not much room for error. Good luck and good fishing! Bank Access: Stowaway Marina

LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Lewis Creek GPS: N 30 24.564, W 95 36.8519 (30.4094, -95.6142)

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Dale Creek GPS: N 32 49.524, W 95 33.63 (32.8254, -95.5605)

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows and crappie jigs CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-661-7920 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: The crappie will be finished spawning and move out to the brush piles this time of year. I like to focus on brush in 12 to 14 foot of water early in the mornings and, as the day wears on, move out to the 16 to 20 foot brush piles. I like using minnows rigged up

SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Crappie jigs in chartreuse pepper or junebug/chartreuse CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: June crappie fishing on Lake Fork is one of the

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

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Swimbaits, top waters, flukes, plastic worms T E X A S

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Texas-zigged zoom lizards CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxfishingguide.com TIPS: This year will be a little different than past years in a good way. Due to this year’s excessively high water the water level in June will likely still be above full pool. This means there will be a shallow bite through June both inside and outside the hay grass mats. It should be a great month!

best, if not the best, month to catch crappie all year!

The spawn is over, and they move back to deeper water, to the brush piles, to feed after the spawn. I have a lot of brush piles around the lake and catch a lot of slabs fishing the brush. Jigs is my favorite bait to use and best color will be chartreuse pepper or junebug/ chartreuse. Crappie will be located in 14-18 feet of water and best areas will be main lake points in Little Caney, Dale, Ray and Burch Creeks.

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 53.892, W 95 37.254 (32.8982, -95.6209)

LOCATION: Toledo Bend Lake HOTSPOT: Clear Creek GPS: N 31 11.616, W 93 39.7739 (31.1936, -93.6629)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Vicktory Jig by Finch Nasty Jig Company with Grandebass Air Tail Wiggler CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: “June is the perfect balance of summer fishing on Lake Fork . Start the day out fishing top waters lures and top water frogs around grass beds.

When it starts getting hot, the fish on off shore structures like points and humps. One way to catch them is a Victory Jig by Finch Nasty Jig Company. I designed this stand up football jig for big bass on Lake Fork.

With a screw lock trailer holder that stands the trailer up of the bottom, this is a great jig to choose on Lake Fork. To attract big bass from further away, rig with a Grandebass Air Tail Wiggler. With the Air Tail Wiggler the worm stands up off the bottom at all the times and you can add a rattle for more attractive qualities. Fish this rig slowly along the hard bottom spots for big bites. Good fishin’ to all! “

LOCATION: Toledo Bend North HOTSPOT: Browns Bend, River Bend Sand Bar GPS: N 31 42.33, W 93 47.826 (31.7055, -93.7971)

LOCATION: Sam Rayburn Lake HOTSPOT: Sandy Creek GPS: N 31 5.934, W 94 12.288 (31.0989, -94.2048)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slab spoons, tail spinners, Rat-LTraps CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: We’re heading into summer and, as the water |

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Carolina rigs, drop shots, football jigs CONTACT: Mike Knight 936-635-2427 notechmike@hotmail.com www.easttxfishingguide.com TIPS: Most of the bass have returned to their deep water summer haunts. Some can be caught before the sun breaks the horizon on shallow points using top water baits and unweighted plastic stickbaits, but they head back to deep water very soon. The rest of the day fish humps and ridges in 20 to 30 feet with Carolina rigs, drop shots and football jigs.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Top water lures, spinnerbaits, senkos,

continues to warm, the white bass will be moving further south down the lake following the old river channel, holding and feeding on the inside bend of sand bars. Use your electronics to find the baitfish and the whites will be close by. Schooling activity will be increasing so keep a Rat-L-Trap handy. As the schooling increases, look for the sea gulls feeding on the bait fish. The whites have usually pushed the baitfish to the surface.

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by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

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

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Top water plugs, slabs and jigs.

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

Bank Access: Washita point and Texas Flats” LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 51.5699, W 96 51.396

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FISHING HOTSPOTS (32.8595, -96.8566)

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

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Dam Area GPS: N 32 10.8239, W 96 4.914 (32.1804, -96.0819)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: Fish the rocks at the dam and spillway with punch bait under a bobber set about 3’ deep with a #6 treble hook and a 1/8th oz. split shot. Focus on 3’ to 6’ and give it time as the bite gets better once you start catching fish.

LOCATION: Lake Eagle Mountain HOTSPOT: Dam GPS: N 32 52.693, W 97 28.006 (32.8782, -97.4668)

SPECIES: Hybrids, White Bass BEST BAITS: Hell Pet or deep-running lure CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnystevens@1scom.net 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 Lake Bridgeport during a flood hang out in this area. An effective method is to troll a very deep running lure. A hell pet with a bell sinker on the front of the hell bender to make it run very deep.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: White spinnerbaits, RatLTraps, French fry/Power Bait soft plastics CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 TIPS: Work points and banks with submerged brush.

Topwater action is great early and late. Use crankbaits to work a lot of water to locate fish. Soft plastics are great near points and drop-offs near creek channels and sloughs. Granbury water temperatures are in the 80’s and summertime is here. Striped bass are located on the lower ends of the lake where feeding flats are close to deeper water. Live bait and slabs continue to be effective for striped bass as well as downrigged jigs/roadrunners with curly tail trailers.

LOCATION: Fayette County Res. HOTSPOT: South East Trees GPS: N 29 55.044, W 96 43.23 (29.9174, -96.7205)

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, shad, worms CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Tie off to trees and fish in 18-24 foot of water.

Chum around the boat and fish straight down using a #6 treble hook and CJ’s punch bait or cut shad for bait.

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 42.87, W 97 19.968 (30.7145, -97.3328)

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek Reservoir HOTSPOT: Lotus Flats GPS: N 30 37.4339, W 96 2.8139 (30.6239, -96.0469) SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Crappie jigs tipped with Berkley Crappie Nibbles CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: Right now the crappie fishing is going full blast at Granger Lake. They are biting all over the lake in any made structure (either plastic or brush). The ideal depth is from 4 to 10 feet. Most of the larger fish are in the shallower water. Some are still spawning in early June and spawn in the 4 to 8 foot depths. Crappie jigs tipped with Berkley Crappie Nibbles do the trick.

Just fish vertical and hold the jig real still, suspended just over the structure. If a spot does not produce in 5 minutes, move to another. The crappie are real nice

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Lily pads are starting to grow in this area.

Anchor out from the lily pads and fish a slip cork, letting it drift along the pads. Use #4-#6 treble hook with CJ’s punch bait.

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LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Brazos River Above Granbury GPS: N 32 34.559, W 97 49.295 (32.5760, -97.8216)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS size due to the high water all winter. Good luck and good fishing.

GPS: N 33 21.806, W 97 4.779 (33.3634, -97.0797)

LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: White Bass pass GPS: N 30 18.462, W 96 31.884 (30.3077, -96.5314)

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 5.382, W 96 26.928 (33.0897, -96.4488)

SPECIES: White Bass, Crappie BEST BAITS: Slabs, minnows, jigs CONTACT: Justin Wilson 214-538-2780 TIPS: The summer weather is heating up and so is the fishing. The white bass are spawned out and in large schools. Starting to see some topwater schooling early in the mornings but not consistently. The best way to catch these fish right now is slabbing off the bottom on points and humps where these fish congregate. They can also be caught drifting flats near these points and humps when they are really feeding. The crappie bite is still good, just having to pick through smaller fish to get a decent cooler of keepers. We’ve been fishing brush piles anywhere from 12 to 25 foot of water using slip bobbers keeping our baits from getting completely hung up and making it easy to change depths per pile.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: White lizards with a chartreuse dipped tail rigged Texas-style, white and chartreuse spinnerbaits, top water lures like frogs and Tiny Torpedoes CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: “June is a great time on Lake Lavon. White lizards with a chartreuse dipped tail Texas rigged will usually get smashed. Early morning, fish white and chartreuse spinnerbaits paralleling the shoreline and top waters right against the bank like frogs or torpedoes in 1 to 5 foot of water. After they’re done with the spawn at the end of May or mid-June, the bass will move out to deeper water, around 5 to 18 foot.”

SPECIES: White Bass & Hybrid Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Blue/chrome Rat-L-Trap CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: “As spring turns into summer, the white bass top water action kicks in gear on RC. If you get lucky and have a cloudy, breezy morning, you can sometimes have literally hours of top water action with the whites feeding on shad. Check out the south shoreline from Fisherman’s Point to Ferguson Point, the Hwy 309 Flats and the always dependable Pelican Island area. Tie on a blue/chrome Rat-L-Trap or almost any small, shiny bait and skim it across the surface and through the feeding fish. This is about as much FUN as an individual can stand and it’s “”Fishing made for kiddos”” this time of year!”

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crankbaits, Shimmy Shakers, Big Eye Jigs, Carolina rigs CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 Ricky@rickysguideservice.com www.rickysguideservice.com TIPS: Bass fishing is traditionally good on Palestine when fishing early using Shimmy Shakers and Big Eye Jigs in shallow water around brush. Later in day move to 14-18 feet of water and catch them on crankbaits, Big Eye Jigs and Carolina rigs. Good fishing to all!

LOCATION: Lake Ray Roberts HOTSPOT: Culp Island |

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LOCATION: Lake Tawakoni HOTSPOT: Waco Bay GPS: N 32 52.59, W 96 2.214 (32.8765, -96.0369)

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: Highway 309 Flats & Pelican Island GPS: N 31 58.9439, W 96 10.5959 (31.9824, -96.1766)

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Saline Bay GPS: N 32 9.996, W 95 27 (32.1666, -95.4500)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Punch bait, shad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Just outside the pass to the east of here are rocks along the bank. Fish are in these rocks spawning. Use a drift cork and fish close to the bank using punch bait.

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SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Carolina rigs, live shad CONTACT: Andrew Taylor, Lake Tawakoni Guide Service 903-269-6587 etxbass@gmail.com www.Laketawakoni.guide TIPS: In June I’ll be Carolina rigging shad on 24” leaders. Typically I’m structure fishing early in the day, hitting humps and sides of embankments. Once 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. Once a school is located and depending on 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 spot lock and let them feed under us.

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

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FISHING HOTSPOTS CONTACT: Michael D. Homer Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife 325-692-0921 michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov TIPS: Ft. Phantom Hill has had about three years for its bass fishery to recover after catching water in 2016, and anglers have been catching some large fish.

Recently, the lake record was broken by an angler that caught two fish larger than 11 pounds. Fishing shore-

Curly Tails on jigs. Start the morning fishing the flats, humps and points. Then, back off on the edge of the old river channel and fish the breaklines. Remember that Possum Kingdom is one of only 2 lakes in the state with natural spawning stripers (and the ONLY lake entirely in Texas!). Take a picture of the big ones and release them—they have 25,000 eggs per fish and will restock the lake for next year.

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad, live perch CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: “Post-spawn patterns are here, and the big fish bite is on. Anchor up and use live gizzard shad on a Carolina rig, dropping baits to 18’ of water. Quick limits coming early and late. Along the bluffs out from Big Rock, drift live perch and/or shad along the bluffs between 18’ and 21’ down below the boat. Stripers will move up and down along the bluff gorging on perch that are spawning. Bank Access: Walling Bend.”

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Call PK’s Bluff for Stripers & Whites

by Dustin Warncke & Dean Heffner

• • • SPOTLIGHT • LOCATION: Lake Possum Kingdom HOTSPOT: Bluff Creek GPS: N 32 50.556, W 98 29.221 (32.8426, -98.4870)

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SPECIES: Stripers, White Bass, Hybrids BEST BAITS: Live shad, jigs CONTACT: Dean Heffner 904-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: June is one of our favorite months. The weather has settled out and the fish are back out of the creeks from spawning and ready to migrate to the deep end of the lake. As always, fresh caught shad right out of the lake is best. But we also like to troll Mister Twister

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

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: 10” plastic worms, deep diving crankbaits, bass jigs, spoons CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net http://www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm TIPS: “Fishing in June is when I like to start fishing at night. I do not like hot days so I choose to fish as much as I can at night using 10-in. worms with a glass rattle in them. I fish a lot of the main lake points around the dam area. Usually in the first part of June will still find some bass on beds and a lot of post-spawn bass. A bunch of the bass will be starting to school up in deeper water where you can catch them on jigs, spoons, and deep diving crankbaits. To find these schooling bass, you will need to use your electronics and then fish vertically in the schools. These schools might be found anywhere. Start looking at the mouth of any of the creeks and in the dam area. Early is also a good time to fish top water lures and fish until the bite stops. Any flat is a good place to start. Fish fun and fish safe!”

LOCATION: Fort Phantom Hill Res. HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 35.31, W 99 42.1979 (32.5885, -99.7033)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Senkos, worms, RatLTraps, crankbaits T E X A S

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FISHING HOTSPOTS line vegetation and drop-offs should produce a good bite. Texas-rigged Senkos, darker-colored trick-worms, RatLTraps, and crank baits should work well for bass.

This season is also great to catch schooling hybrid striped bass. For hybrids, consider chrome RatLTraps, chrome or white slabs, and blade baits.

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Buchanan Stripers Rock the Dam

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Deep Thoughts on Amistad Bass

by Dustin Warncke

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@gmail.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Fish drifting or anchored with live bait from 30-50 feet concentrating on humps and ledges. Midmorning, move out to the tops of the trees and fish that area well.

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Crank baits, soft plastic worms, topwater lures CONTACT: Stan Gerzsenyl 830-768-3648 stan@amistadbass.com www.amistadbass.com TIPS: Fish the major points that drop-off into 20 feet of water. The bass will be feeding on crawfish so crawfish-colored lures will produce the best catches.

Try topwaters early in the backs of the coves.

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

LOCATION: Lake Lyndon B. Johnson HOTSPOT: Lighthouse Point GPS: N 30 33.788, W 98 21.717 (30.563133, -98.36195)

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LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 49.116, W 98 25.4459 (30.8186, -98.4241)

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

• • • SPOTLIGHT • • • LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Rocky Point to the Dam Area GPS: N 30 48.102, W 98 24.402 (30.8017, -98.4067)

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

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and bait and use the one that seems to work for YOU! Have fun and tight lines!”

SPECIES: Striped Bass & White Bass BEST BAITS: Live shad CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: “Stripers and hybrid stripers will be along tree lines along the old river channel and also on humps and ridges along river channel. Trolling jigs with downriggers will be much better in June due to fish starting to move downstream, towards deeper cooler water around the dam. White bass will be on the upper end of the main lake along humps and ridges as well. Just get out on Lake Buchanan and try different methods |

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SPECIES: Largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Black buzzbaits, Zara Spooks, Berkley Craws, Rat-L-Traps CONTACT: Barry Dodd 210-771-0123 teachemtofish.net TIPS: Fish the black buzzbait early in the morning, along with topwaters like the Zara Spook. Work Berkley Craws rigged Texas style with 1/8th ounce Tungsten weight along the edge of riprap at night and around docks and points near the Kingsland area.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Coleto Creek Bass Talk Turkey

210-573-1230 steve@sanantoniofishingguides.com www.sanantoniofishingguides.com TIPS: Locate the creek channel and anchor just off the edge of it. Freeline live shad or shrimp off the bottom. by Dustin Warncke

• • • SPOTLIGHT • LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Turkey Creek GPS: N 28 44.7479, W 97 10.278 (28.7458, -97.1713)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Pearl white Zoom fluke rigged weightless CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: June usually means that the water is warmer, and that fish are feeding more on the regular. Lots of little fry, mainly shad, perch and crawfish along with baby bass and baby catfish are abundant. Buzzbaits can be productive in the early mornings and late evenings. I seem to always find more bites up the rivers right where the lake ends. Anywhere there is hydrilla there will usually be fish. There are a lot of 3-5 pound class fish in Coleto lake. As a rule, go deep during the day but evenings can produce 6-8 lb. class fish also.

Anything bigger is probably lurking in deeper water (main lake). I like fishing for numbers, hoping for a couple bigger bites , just because I like the action .

This is where my fluke keeps me entertained!

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Long Point Brushpiles GPS: N 26 40.46598 W 99 10.16694 (26.674433, -99.169449)

LOCATION: Falcon Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Points GPS: N 26 55.78452 W 99 21.01284 (26.929742, -99.350214)

SPECIES: largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Fire-tiger crankbaits, Sexy Shad, DD-22, Mans-20 CONTACT: Robert Amaya 956-765-1442 robertsfishntackle@gmail.com www.robertsfishntackle.com TIPS: Fish the submerged brush piles off Long Point, pausing the bait or ripping it when you come in contact with brush. Summer bass fishing is at its best so get ready for some big fish.

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

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

SPECIES: redfish BEST BAITS: live shad, shrimp CONTACT: Steve Nixon

Online: FishGame.com/books T E X A S

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK JUNE 2019

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

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

T12

T4

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

T7

T3 T2 T1

T5

T14

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

T18

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

T19

T20

PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the influence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest influnce of the month.

PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 minutes to an hour of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these periods will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Solunar Period, expect the best action of the season.

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

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

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

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

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

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

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

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

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

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

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

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

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

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

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

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

READING THE GRAPH

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

Moon Overhead

Fishing Score Graph

Moon Underfoot

Day’s Best Day’s 2nd Score Best Score

n

Best Day Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter «= Good Day by Moon Phase 56

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J U N E

TexasOutdoorNation-1906DIG.indd 56

2 0 1 9

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T E X A S

F I S H

&

G A M E ®

5/13/19 4:56 PM

JUNE 2019

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

27

Low Tide: 5:15a High Tide: 12:56p Low Tide: 8:00p

TUESDAY

28

0.53ft.

1.29ft.

0.82ft.

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

FEET

12:32a 6:15a 1:13p 8:02p

1.02ft.

0.66ft.

1.26ft.

0.66ft.

WEDNESDAY

29

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

1:53a 7:13a 1:28p 8:14p

1.11ft.

0.80ft.

1.24ft.

0.49ft.

THURSDAY

30

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

2:59a 8:08a 1:42p 8:34p

FRIDAY

31

1.22ft.

0.92ft.

1.23ft.

0.30ft.

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

3:56a 9:02a 1:52p 9:01p

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Jun 1 «

1.34ft.

1.03ft.

1.24ft.

0.11ft.

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

4:48a 9:55a 1:59p 9:34p

2l

1.46ft.

1.14ft.

1.26ft.

-0.07ft.

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

5:38a 10:48a 2:03p 10:10p

1.57ft.

1.23ft.

1.29ft.

-0.23ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 AM Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:10p Moonrise: 2:28a Moon Set: 2:03p

AM Minor: 12:49a AM Major: 7:00a PM Minor: 1:10p PM Major: 7:21p

12p

6p

BEST TIME

1:30 — 3:30 AM Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:11p Moonrise: 3:00a Moon Set: 2:56p

AM Minor: 1:29a AM Major: 7:40a PM Minor: 1:50p PM Major: 8:01p

Moon Overhead: 8:14a Moon Underfoot: 8:35p

TexasOutdoorNation-1906DIG.indd 57

Moon Overhead: 8:56a Moon Underfoot: 9:17p

12a

6a

12p

6p

BEST TIME

9:00 — 11:00 AM Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:11p Moonrise: 3:32a Moon Set: 3:49p

AM Minor: 2:07a AM Major: 8:18a PM Minor: 2:28p PM Major: 8:39p

Moon Overhead: 9:38a Moon Underfoot: 9:59p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 AM Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:12p Moonrise: 4:03a Moon Set: 4:44p

AM Minor: 2:44a AM Major: 8:55a PM Minor: 3:06p PM Major: 9:17p

Moon Overhead: 10:21a Moon Underfoot: 10:43p

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

10:30A — 12:30P Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:12p Moonrise: 4:36a Moon Set: 5:40p

AM Minor: 3:22a AM Major: 9:34a PM Minor: 3:45p PM Major: 9:57p

Moon Overhead: 11:05a Moon Underfoot: 11:29p

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

11:00A — 1:00P Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:13p Moonrise: 5:12a Moon Set: 6:39p

AM Minor: 4:04a AM Major: 10:16a PM Minor: 4:28p PM Major: 10:40p Moon Overhead: 11:53a Moon Underfoot: None

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:13p Moonrise: 5:52a Moon Set: 7:41p

AM Minor: 4:49a AM Major: 11:02a PM Minor: 5:15p PM Major: 11:28p Moon Overhead: 12:44p Moon Underfoot: 12:18a

5/13/19 4:56 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

3« FEET

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

6:30a 11:44a 2:03p 10:51p

TUESDAY

4«

1.65ft.

1.32ft.

1.34ft.

-0.35ft.

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

7:23a 12:52p 1:56p 11:36p

1.70ft.

1.38ft.

1.38ft.

-0.42ft.

WEDNESDAY

5«

High Tide: 8:18a

1.71ft.

THURSDAY

6

Low Tide: 12:25a High Tide: 9:13a

FRIDAY

7

-0.43ft.

1.69ft.

Low Tide: 1:17a High Tide: 10:05a

SATURDAY

8

-0.37ft.

1.64ft.

Low Tide: 2:12a High Tide: 10:50a

SUNDAY

9

-0.23ft.

1.56ft.

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

3:12a 11:27a 6:31p 9:26p

-0.04ft.

1.46ft.

0.92ft.

0.97ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

12:30 — 2:30 PM Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:14p Moonrise: 6:37a Moon Set: 8:43p

12p

6p

7:30 — 9:30 PM

AM Minor: 7:41a AM Major: 1:26a PM Minor: 8:11p PM Major: 1:56p

TUESDAY

11

Low Tide: 5:28a High Tide: 12:23p Low Tide: 7:17p

6a

0.47ft.

1.29ft.

0.38ft.

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

1:33a 6:48a 12:45p 7:53p

6p

12a

6a

1.09ft.

0.72ft.

1.24ft.

0.10ft.

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

9:00 — 11:00 PM

9:30 — 11:30 PM

6p

12a

6a

5:00 — 7:00 AM

6p

12a

11:00P — 1:00A Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:16p Moonrise: 12:45p Moon Set: 1:13a

AM Minor: 10:54a AM Major: 4:40a PM Minor: 11:22p PM Major: 5:08p

Moon Overhead: 5:33p Moon Underfoot: 5:04a

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:16p Moonrise: 11:39a Moon Set: 12:28a

AM Minor: 9:51a AM Major: 3:37a PM Minor: 10:21p PM Major: 4:06p

Moon Overhead: 4:35p Moon Underfoot: 4:05a

12p

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:16p Moonrise: 10:33a Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 8:46a AM Major: 2:31a PM Minor: 9:16p PM Major: 3:01p

AM Minor: 11:53a AM Major: 5:39a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:06p

Moon Overhead: 6:29p Moon Underfoot: 6:02a

Moon Overhead: 7:22p Moon Underfoot: 6:56a

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

12

12p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:15p Moonrise: 9:28a Moon Set: 11:39p

Moon Overhead: 3:35p Moon Underfoot: 3:05a

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

0.21ft.

1.36ft.

0.66ft.

0.98ft.

12a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:15p Moonrise: 8:26a Moon Set: 10:44p

Moon Overhead: 2:36p Moon Underfoot: 2:07a

MONDAY

FEET

6a

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 6:38a AM Major: 12:24a PM Minor: 7:07p PM Major: 12:53p

READING THE GRAPH

4:17a 11:58a 6:46p 11:44p

12a

7:00 — 9:00 PM

Moon Overhead: 1:38p Moon Underfoot: 1:11a

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

6p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:14p Moonrise: 7:29a Moon Set: 9:45p

AM Minor: 5:41a AM Major: 11:55a PM Minor: 6:09p PM Major: 12:22p

10 º

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

13

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

n

3:02a 8:14a 1:04p 8:31p

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

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

14

1.24ft.

0.93ft.

1.22ft.

-0.14ft.

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

4:16a 9:37a 1:22p 9:10p

SATURDAY

15

1.39ft.

1.09ft.

1.22ft.

-0.32ft.

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

5:17a 10:56a 1:36p 9:49p

SUNDAY

16 «

1.50ft.

1.20ft.

1.24ft.

-0.43ft.

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

6:11a 12:15p 1:44p 10:29p

1.55ft.

1.26ft.

1.26ft.

-0.47ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

7:00 — 9:00 PM Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:17p Moonrise: 1:48p Moon Set: 1:54a

8:00 — 10:00 PM

AM Minor: 1:09a AM Major: 7:21a PM Minor: 1:33p PM Major: 7:46p

Moon Overhead: 8:13p Moon Underfoot: 7:48a

|

6p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:17p Moonrise: 2:51p Moon Set: 2:32a

AM Minor: 12:20a AM Major: 6:33a PM Minor: 12:45p PM Major: 6:58p

58

12p

BEST TIME

Moon Overhead: 9:02p Moon Underfoot: 8:38a

J U N E

TexasOutdoorNation-1906DIG.indd 58

2 0 1 9

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 1:54a AM Major: 8:06a PM Minor: 2:18p PM Major: 8:30p

6p

12a

4:00 — 6:00 AM

6p

12a

5:00 — 7:00 PM

AM Minor: 3:20a AM Major: 9:32a PM Minor: 3:45p PM Major: 9:57p

Moon Overhead: 10:40p Moon Underfoot: 10:16a

F I S H

12p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:18p Moonrise: 5:54p Moon Set: 4:22a

AM Minor: 2:37a AM Major: 8:49a PM Minor: 3:01p PM Major: 9:13p

T E X A S

6a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:18p Moonrise: 4:53p Moon Set: 3:44a

Moon Overhead: 9:51p Moon Underfoot: 9:27a

|

12p

BEST TIME

8:30 — 10:30 AM Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:18p Moonrise: 3:52p Moon Set: 3:08a

6a

&

Moon Overhead: 11:31p Moon Underfoot: 11:05a

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

11:00A — 1:00P Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:19p Moonrise: 6:55p Moon Set: 5:03a

AM Minor: 4:05a AM Major: 10:18a PM Minor: 4:31p PM Major: 10:44p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:56a

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

12:00 — 2:00 PM Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:19p Moonrise: 7:54p Moon Set: 5:47a

AM Minor: 4:53a AM Major: 11:06a PM Minor: 5:20p PM Major: 11:33p Moon Overhead: 12:22a Moon Underfoot: 12:49p

G A M E ®

5/13/19 4:57 PM

TexasOutdoorNation-1906DIG.indd 59

5/13/19 4:57 PM

Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

17 «

High Tide: 6:59a Low Tide: 11:08p

TUESDAY

1.56ft.

-0.44ft.

18 l

High Tide: 7:44a Low Tide: 11:48p

1.53ft.

-0.38ft.

WEDNESDAY

19 «

High Tide: 8:27a

1.49ft.

THURSDAY

20 «

Low Tide: 12:28a High Tide: 9:08a

-0.27ft.

1.43ft.

FRIDAY

21

Low Tide: 1:08a High Tide: 9:46a

SATURDAY

22

-0.14ft.

1.36ft.

Low Tide: 1:47a High Tide: 10:20a

SUNDAY

23

0.01ft.

1.30ft.

Low Tide: 2:26a High Tide: 10:48a

0.18ft.

1.25ft.

FEET

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

6:30 — 8:30 PM Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:19p Moonrise: 8:50p Moon Set: 6:34a

12p

6p

8:00 — 10:00 PM

AM Minor: 7:34a AM Major: 1:22a PM Minor: 8:00p PM Major: 1:47p

TUESDAY

25 »

Low Tide: 3:48a High Tide: 11:32a Low Tide: 6:46p

6a

0.54ft.

1.17ft.

0.58ft.

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

12:26a 4:38a 11:47a 7:00p

6p

12a

6a

0.88ft.

0.72ft.

1.14ft.

0.40ft.

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

9:00 — 11:00 PM

AM Minor: 8:30a AM Major: 2:17a PM Minor: 8:54p PM Major: 2:42p

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

9:30 — 11:30 PM

12a

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 12:27a Moon Set: 11:54a

AM Minor: 10:14a AM Major: 4:03a PM Minor: 10:37p PM Major: 4:26p

Moon Overhead: 4:39a Moon Underfoot: 5:02p

6p

5:00 — 7:00 AM

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: None Moon Set: 11:01a

AM Minor: 9:23a AM Major: 3:12a PM Minor: 9:47p PM Major: 3:35p

12p

BEST TIME

10:00P — 12:00A

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 11:52p Moon Set: 10:07a

Moon Overhead: 3:50a Moon Underfoot: 4:15p

AM Minor: 11:03a AM Major: 4:52a PM Minor: 11:24p PM Major: 5:13p

Moon Overhead: 5:25a Moon Underfoot: 5:47p

Moon Overhead: 6:08a Moon Underfoot: 6:30p

MOON PHASES

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

26

12p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 11:13p Moon Set: 9:13a

Moon Overhead: 3:00a Moon Underfoot: 3:25p

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

0.36ft.

1.20ft.

0.74ft.

0.83ft.

12a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:20p Moonrise: 10:30p Moon Set: 8:18a

Moon Overhead: 2:08a Moon Underfoot: 2:34p

MONDAY

FEET

6a

BEST TIME

AM Minor: 6:39a AM Major: 12:26a PM Minor: 7:05p PM Major: 12:52p

READING THE GRAPH

3:06a 11:12a 6:44p 10:33p

12a

7:00 — 9:00 PM

Moon Overhead: 1:15a Moon Underfoot: 1:41p

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

6p

Sunrise: 6:19a Sunset: 8:19p Moonrise: 9:42p Moon Set: 7:25a

AM Minor: 5:45a AM Major: 11:58a PM Minor: 6:11p PM Major: -----

24

12p

BEST TIME

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

27

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

n

1:58a 5:42a 11:57a 7:23p

0.99ft.

0.89ft.

1.14ft.

0.20ft.

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

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

28

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

3:09a 7:03a 12:03p 7:54p

SATURDAY

29

1.14ft.

1.03ft.

1.15ft.

-0.00ft.

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

4:05a 8:30a 12:06p 8:29p

SUNDAY

30 «

1.30ft.

1.15ft.

1.19ft.

-0.20ft.

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

4:54a 9:49a 12:10p 9:09p

1.43ft.

1.23ft.

1.25ft.

-0.38ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

11:30P — 1:30A Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 1:00a Moon Set: 12:46p

12:30 — 2:30 PM

AM Minor: 12:06a AM Major: 6:19a PM Minor: 12:30p PM Major: 6:40p

Moon Overhead: 6:51a Moon Underfoot: 7:11p

|

6p

Sunrise: 6:20a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 1:31a Moon Set: 1:38p

AM Minor: 11:47a AM Major: 5:37a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 5:58p

60

12p

BEST TIME

Moon Overhead: 7:32a Moon Underfoot: 7:53p

J U N E

TexasOutdoorNation-1906DIG.indd 60

2 0 1 9

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

7:00 — 9:00 AM Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 2:02a Moon Set: 2:31p

AM Minor: 12:49a AM Major: 7:00a PM Minor: 1:10p PM Major: 7:21p

6p

12a

8:00 — 10:00 AM

6p

12a

3:30 — 5:30 PM

AM Minor: 2:08a AM Major: 8:19a PM Minor: 2:31p PM Major: 8:43p

Moon Overhead: 8:57a Moon Underfoot: 9:19p

F I S H

12p

Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 3:07a Moon Set: 4:23p

AM Minor: 1:28a AM Major: 7:39a PM Minor: 1:50p PM Major: 8:01p

T E X A S

6a

BEST TIME

Sunrise: 6:21a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 2:33a Moon Set: 3:26p

Moon Overhead: 8:14a Moon Underfoot: 8:35p

|

12p

BEST TIME

&

Moon Overhead: 9:42a Moon Underfoot: 10:06p

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

4:30 — 6:30 PM Sunrise: 6:22a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 3:44a Moon Set: 5:23p

AM Minor: 2:49a AM Major: 9:02a PM Minor: 3:14p PM Major: 9:27p

Moon Overhead: 10:31a Moon Underfoot: 10:57p

6a

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

5:00 — 7:00 PM Sunrise: 6:22a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 4:27a Moon Set: 6:25p

AM Minor: 3:34a AM Major: 9:48a PM Minor: 4:01p PM Major: 10:15p Moon Overhead: 11:24a Moon Underfoot: 11:52p

G A M E ®

5/13/19 4:57 PM

JUNE 2019

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

TUESDAY

Jul 1 « FEET

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

5:41a 10:52a 12:31p 9:53p

2l

1.54ft.

1.30ft.

1.30ft.

-0.53ft.

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

6:28a 11:38a 1:13p 10:39p

WEDNESDAY

3«

1.60ft.

1.34ft.

1.35ft.

-0.62ft.

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

7:14a 12:19p 2:10p 11:27p

1.63ft.

1.34ft.

1.35ft.

-0.64ft.

THURSDAY

4«

High Tide: 7:59a Low Tide: 1:05p High Tide: 3:16p

1.60ft.

1.30ft.

1.32ft.

FRIDAY

5

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

12:17a 8:41a 1:59p 4:36p

-0.57ft.

1.54ft.

1.19ft.

1.22ft.

SATURDAY

6

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

1:07a 9:19a 3:00p 6:19p

-0.41ft.

1.46ft.

1.02ft.

1.08ft.

SUNDAY

7

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

1:59a 9:53a 4:02p 8:19p

-0.17ft.

1.36ft.

0.79ft.

0.95ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

BEST TIME

5:30 — 7:30 PM Sunrise: 6:22a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 5:15a Moon Set: 7:29p

AM Minor: 4:25a AM Major: 10:39a PM Minor: 4:53p PM Major: 11:08p

12p

6p

12a

BEST TIME

6:00 — 8:00 PM Sunrise: 6:23a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 6:11a Moon Set: 8:30p

AM Minor: 5:21a AM Major: 11:36a PM Minor: 5:51p PM Major: 12:06p

Moon Overhead: 12:21p Moon Underfoot: None

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7:00 — 9:00 PM Sunrise: 6:23a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 7:12a Moon Set: 9:29p

AM Minor: 6:22a AM Major: 12:06a PM Minor: 6:52p PM Major: 12:37p Moon Overhead: 2:22p Moon Underfoot: 1:51a

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8:00 — 10:00 PM Sunrise: 6:23a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 8:19a Moon Set: 10:22p

AM Minor: 7:26a AM Major: 1:11a PM Minor: 7:56p PM Major: 1:41p

Moon Overhead: 3:23p Moon Underfoot: 2:52a

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8:30 — 10:30 PM Sunrise: 6:24a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 9:27a Moon Set: 11:10p

AM Minor: 8:31a AM Major: 2:17a PM Minor: 9:01p PM Major: 2:46p

Moon Overhead: 4:22p Moon Underfoot: 3:52a

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4:30 — 6:30 AM Sunrise: 6:24a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 10:35a Moon Set: 11:53p

AM Minor: 9:35a AM Major: 3:21a PM Minor: 10:03p PM Major: 3:49p

Moon Overhead: 5:17p Moon Underfoot: 4:50a

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5:00 — 7:00 AM Sunrise: 6:25a Sunset: 8:21p Moonrise: 11:41a Moon Set: None

AM Minor: 10:36a AM Major: 4:22a PM Minor: 11:02p PM Major: 4:49p

Moon Overhead: 6:10p Moon Underfoot: 5:44a

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Fish and Game GEAR Yamaha V8 XTO for Offshore Power

at trolling RPM and up to 72 amps net charging at around 1,500 RPM, where it’s needed most. Exhaust is routed away from the propellers, resulting in up to 300 percent more reverse thrust that the F350.

Boats powered by the V8 XTO Offshore are easier than ever to service. The unique gearcase lubricant exchange system allows fluid change in the water, meaning that the beat never even has to leave the dock for a lower unit service. The motor is also backed by the best-trained dealer network in the industry and comes with a five-year limited warranty. Simply put, with the V8 XTO Offshore, you’re boating experience will be second to none.

The reception to the new Yamaha V8 XTO Offshore has been overwhelmingly positive in the market. These outboards, accompanied with systems such as the latest generation of Helm Master and Yamaha’s CL7 Display, provide boaters the best expe-

THE V8 XTO OFFSHORE OFFERS the extreme of power, toughness, integration, and convenience. Using cutting-edge industry technology, Yamaha has created a true game-changer in the outboard motor market. The V8 XTO has 5.6-liters of thrust and features an impressive 425 horsepower.

It is also the first four-stroke powerhead in the outboard market to use Direct Injection, providing maximum power and fuel efficiency.

The V8 XTO Offshore is also the first outboard motor of its kind to have fully integrated electric steering. The electric motor moves and secures the outboard directly, resulting in a faster, more precise steering system, all without sacrificing power.

Combine that with Yamaha’s new upgraded Helm Master, and you’ve got the most precise and responsive steering experience available.

The Offshore XTO’s alternator delivers 90-plus amps of total available power, with up to 58 amps

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Hooking Sharp with New Trokar Designs EAGLE CLAW TROKAR, THE U.S. manufacturer of premium quality fish hooks expands on the popular line-up of award winning Trokar hooks with the TK137 Finesse hook. Available with (TK137W) and without (TK137) hand tied weed guards, these hooks are meticulously designed to be the ultimate tool in finesse fishing. Featuring Trokar’s patented Surgically Sharpened Technology in the hook point ensures faster, deeper penetration with less required pressure for hookset. The Pro-V bend holds soft plastics in place when wacky or neko-style fishing and is tested and proven stronger than its round bend cousins.

Bassmaster Elite Series angler Chris Zaldain, known for his finesse fishing prowess, served as a product

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rience to enjoy time on the water. As seen in the market, XTOs are offered in single to quint application

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tester fishing with the TK137 Finesse Hook during the 2018 AOY tournament on Georgia’s Lake Chatuge. “ I just weighed the second biggest bag of the tournament” Zaldain said after Trokar clinching TK 137 his 2019 Bassmaster Classic spot, “and I owe it all to the TK137. The really cool thing about this hook is the Pro-V bend. Of course the Trokar hook point is super sharp, the barb is strong, but that Pro-V Bend is the feature I love on this hook because it keeps the o-ring right where it needs to be when neko-style rigging.”

Shedding Light Below the Surface THE STORY OF UNDERWATER FISH Light is one that symbolizes the true American dream. What has now become a successful business, was born out of John Molle’s garage in 2005 when he simply wanted to make a working fish light for himself. All other fish lights on the market were above the water, causing the fishermen to cast a shadow and scare away the fish. John then came up with the idea to put the lights under the water to avoid this problem. After countless hours of testing and trials, John put the first official Underwater Fish Light in the waterway behind his house. People were drawn to the strange green glow by his dock and wanted to get one for themselves. He started out just making them for neighbors and friends, but as word spread, he started selling them on Craigslist and EBay. A few months later, Underwater Fish Light grew too big for a simple garage, so John moved it to a warehouse.

Over the years, John’s business has continued to grow. He has moved from the warehouse, to a storefront, and now to a 5,000-square foot manufacturing facility in Port Charlotte, Florida, which is about to be outgrown as well. As a family-run business they have always prided themselves on going above and beyond for their customers.

Providing excellent customer service as well as the highest quality lights on the market

Underwater Fishlight headquarters in Port Charlotte, Florida. Right, the 12-volt LED portable system.

have always been their top priorities. Every customer that purchases any of light systems from Underwater Fish Light will receive a 60-night money back guarantee as well as a 3-year manufacturer warranty.

As their business has grown, so has their product line. Underwater Fish Light now offers three different color series in dock light systems, portable versions of the dock light systems, LED systems for fishing piers, as well as accessories to protect and customize each system. Everyone at Underwater Fish Light takes pride in the fact that everything manufactured and sold is made in the United States of America. Over the years, they have proved themselves time and time again as the producers of some of the best dock lights anyone can find. Not only do they have customers nationwide, but they also have customers and lights all around the world, from the Bahamas and Bermuda, to Israel and Dubai. After almost 12 years and through these changes, two things remain the same. Underwater Fish Light is dedicated to their customers and they stand by their product. Try one of their lights today; Fish Guaranteed.

LED Information Underwater Fishing Light’s 12-Volt LED portable system is one of the most versatile fish lights on the market. The Their LED Fishing Lights offer huge power in a compact package with true 360° coverage.

For their innovative design, they use the brightest LEDs in the world as the foundation and assemble them with the same high standards as all of our professional-grade lighting products. At only 23 inches, these lights are easy to transport, handle, and deploy, but don’t let the small size fool you.

They include two different weights with each light to allow you to either sink it to your preferred depth, or keep it up near the surface to give you maximum flexibility.

They warranty all of our lights for a full three years.

Single Light System Information Underwater Fish Light systems are designed and manufactured in the United States and come with a three-year warranty to guarantee fish and fun for years to come!

By reflecting off microorganisms in the water, these lights attract baitfish, and in T E X A S

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return, attract predator fish. For over a Decade, Underwater Fish Light has been producing the highest-quality fish lights and bringing natural aquariums to homes all around the world.

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Open SEASON

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

Retrievers & Chicken Fried Steak

Axelrod came through the door with a half-grown lab puppy on a long leash. Smiles bloomed around our table, and a few female customers squealed with delight at his big floppy feet, long wet tongue, and adorable antics. I’m talking about the puppy, not Delbert.

Doreen wheeled around. “Get that dog outta here.”

“Aw, he’s just a puppy. He’ll behave himself.”

Delbert gave the dog some line when the pup saw ninety-year-old Miss Pennington and her daughter having lunch at a nearby table.

Miss P’s reactions are a bit slow, and she’s hard of hearing, but her mind is still as sharp as it ever was.

She paused in dissecting her chicken fried steak and pushed back from the table. She extended her long, bony hand to the lab, who ran over on his clown feet to get some attention.

She rubbed on the pup for a few seconds, then scratched his ears, murmuring baby talk. He settled down in a half-sit, half-flop position on one hip and closed his eyes. The second she quit scratching his ear, and with his eyes still closed, the pup’s nose flexed and he scented Miss P’s gravy-covered steak only a foot away.

His eyes snapped open. We could see it coming from our booth, and Miss P’s daughter recognized the danger as well. “Mama, you better scoot up to the table.”

“What hon?”

“Howdy boys,” Delbert said with his back to Miss P’s table.

The air turned thick as molasses. In slow motion Doc extended one hand, “Noooo…”

Miss P’s daughter’s eyes widened and she also held out a hand. “Mom…” Wrong Willie hid his eyes.

Woodrow hollered and it came out slow and distorted…“Stoooooppp!!!”

Mouth in a silent O, Miss P pulled back her head at the same time the twenty-pound lab pup launched himself with the dexterity of a scud missile, all out of control and flailing around. He landed in her lap, his rear in her face, her nose right in… anyway, the dog’s tail slapped Miss P’s glasses completely off her head. They flew away in slow motion.

That’s when the pup became as perfectly coordinated as a rattlesnake strike and time resumed normal speed. Mouth open, white teeth exposed,

T

HE HUNTING CLUB MEMBERship seated in the round corner table of Doreen’s 24 HR Eat Gas Now Café was unusually quiet. For once no one was complaining about the wind, the humidity, or Doreen’s coffee.

My stomach rumbled, and I dug out a bottle of antacid. Doc watched me shake one into my hand.

“I didn’t think you took medicine like the rest of us.”

“I have to take a blood pressure pill every day, but lately I’ve had to pop these to keep my stomach acid down.”

Doreen hollered from behind the counter. “Your blood pressure’s high from hanging around with those guys all the time.”

Wrong Willie sipped at his coffee. “I have stomach acid, too. I think it’s from drinking too much coffee.”

“Probably the coffee in here,” Woodrow mumbled.

“What was that!!!???”

He recovered quickly. “Uh, I said we probably need more coffee over here.”

She came around with the pot in one hand and an aggravated look in her eye. “That’s not what I heard.”

“Well, too much fried food gives me acid.” Doc burped.

I looked at his greasy plate that twenty minutes earlier was stacked with fried catfish, French fries, and fried okra. “You should have ordered fried coleslaw, too.”

He held out a hand. “Too late now. The good thing is these days you can enjoy what you want, and then pop a little modern chemistry and you’re good to go.”

I shared a pill as Doreen glared across the round table at Jerry Wayne. “What gives you stomach acid?”

“You being mad at me.”

I was about to comment, when Delbert P.

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and back toenails dug securely in Miss P’s skinny lap, he slapped both front feet on the table, snatched the steak off the plate, and bolted for the nearest safe location to consume his manna from heaven.

It was right under our feet.

Gasps.

Screams.

Curses.

Struggles in our booth to evacuate lest the guys incur Doreen’s wrath.

Trapped in the center, I froze in place.

Slapping feet as the Hunting Club membership launched themselves out the front door.

Doreen lunged for the dog as Delbert dropped the leash and crawled under the table on his hands and knees, whether to grab the dog or hide from Doreen, no one knew.

I raised my feet out of the way. Doreen kicked him in the rear and Delbert flattened on the floor.

The dog evacuated his safe haven, slinging gravy across the tile and walls, and charged around behind the counter to finish his chicken fried. Delbert finally gathered himself and grabbed the leash. He reeled the pup in like a struggling bass. “Sorry Doreen.

We’re leaving.”

“You bet you are.”

The dog swallowed the last bite of steak and looked around. Then nature took its course.

Obviously some training was in place, because as soon as the pup licked his lips one last time, he had to do what comes natural.

“Uh oh,” I said.

“What?” Doreen spun to see the future duck dog hunker beside Miss P’s table and leave a warm deposit.

I heard Doc through the open door. “That pup’s gonna make a great retriever, if he lives.”

Doreen’s legs gave out and she dropped into the booth beside me. She stuck out her hand. “I tell you what gives me acid. You guys.”

Standing outside and looking in, the boys pointed at their stomachs, then at the pill bottle in my hand. Instead of defending myself, I dropped an antacid into her palm and slid my water glass over.

“I completely understand, and that’s why I take ‘em, too.”

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Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Outdoor DIRECTORY Guides & Outfitters

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BASS Private Pond Landyn Cooper shows off a bass he caught while fishing on a local private pond.

BLACK DRUM Upper Laguna Madre Ten-year-old Brenden Moore caught this gigantic drum while fishing the upper Laguna Madre with his dad, Casey.

AXIS San Angelo John Anselmo got his first Axis buck in San Angelo, at the Texas Divide Ranch.

One of the tines was broken when the buck tumbled on a hill of rocks.

ROOSTER FISH Panama Ron Wendt caught this large rooster fish on a recent trip to Panama.

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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 Post Your Photos Online: FishGame.com/hotsots No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

REDFISH Sabine Pass Amanda Longlet caught this big red at Sabine Pass while on Spring Break from Texas A&M with her boyfriend Brent. They were fishing with Amanda’s uncle Carl.

BASS Fayette County Reservoir Peters Laksbergs caught this 21-inch, 3.5-pound bass on a white chatterbait at Fayette County.

PRONGHORN Dalhart Hatcher Railsback brought down his first pronghorn antelope while hunting with his dad, Kevin, at Dalhart.

DUCKS Undisclosed Jonathan Holland and his friend Jake Pool, both 13 years old, took these ducks the last day of the season this year.

BASS SALMON

Dayton Braden Evans caught this bass in his uncle’s pond at Dayton.

Alaska Ralph and Dianne Davis caught these coho salmon on spinners, in a creek at Petersburg, Alaska.

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