Hook, Line & Sinker

PG.38 LADIES OF THE LURE

A SPOTLIGHT ON THE AREA'S FEMALE ANGLER COMMUNITY

A sea change in the sport of fishing has happened in the last decade, with women leading the way. Following female pioneers who blazed a trail for women in fishing, these three local female anglers are not just reeling in their own catch, they're inspiring other women to do the same.

Jen Merchant grew up running and fishing the creeks and lakes in East Texas with her dad and brother, and has spent more than a decade as the first female surf fishing guide on Padre Island National Seashore. The thrill of not knowing what's going to be on the line, what's going to bite next, is one element that fuels Merchant’s love for saltwater fishing. Always an outdoorsy type, Merchant shares how she had to learn for herself the differences between fresh- and saltwater fishing.

“I would look up a different species, let's say redfish. I know how to target redfish. So, I would read up on them, watch YouTube videos about when they're biting, what they're biting on and the best time of the year to catch them. Then I would target that species until I caught it. I did that with every single species until I got what I was going for,” she says of her early angler days.

Upon moving to the Coastal Bend, she didn’t see many women fishing — so she decided to change that. What started as basic lessons for women and children evolved into a full fishing guide service, Fishing with Jen. Now, Merchant is sharing her knowledge to help others learn and experience the joy of fishing. "There were some women who wanted to learn to fish, but didn't know [where to start]. They felt intimidated, which got me thinking about teaching them how and doing lessons for women and children — that's what got me started with guiding,” said Merchant. “I get joy from fishing when I put somebody else on a fish they've never caught, especially women and children. I love seeing the white in their eyes open. It's so much fun to put that drive and love for fishing into somebody else.”

Another female angler who carries a hands-on approach to empowering women to fish is Kelli Green, who owns and operates Blonde Bomber Guide Service. Specializing in bay fishing trips, Green guides in the shallow waters where redfish, black drum and spotted sea trout can be found. She believes consistency is key for a woman in a male-dominated field. "I was super lucky getting into this field. I credit so much of what I've learned and done to Jennifer DeLeon, who's been a guide for about seven or eight years now. She taught me a lot about what to expect being a woman in this field: Just don't stop. There are bullies everywhere. Just keep doing your thing and let them deal with it," Green said confidently.

Her motivation to keep going stems from the sheer happiness and excitement she sees on customers when they nab their first catch.

“Whenever you have a little kid on the boat and it’s their first-ever fish, you see their face light up. Or when you [hook] into the fish and the customers are so excited. Seeing them light up is the best,” Green said.

For local angler Nina Stenholm Garrett, the love of fishing goes beyond catching the biggest fish. Garrett and her husband volunteer their time on the water with

different organizations to help disabled veterans rediscover their purpose and improve their life. Garrett's husband works in public safety, bringing him face-to-face with veterans who have built a career as first responders. Initially, Garrett says her husband's focus on shark fishing with veterans was intimidating for her, but she continued to join him and eventually became more proficient. "The first few trips, I just observed and cooked catches,” Garret said. “I wasn't really all that hands-on, but once we started going year after year, I got more active to the point where I was like, ‘Okay, now we got to get lines in the water, let's do this and that.’ I saw the satisfaction after that because we would stay there all weekend, shark fishing day and night, camping on the beach and cooking all their meals, sitting around talking. It became valuable to me because I saw how much they enjoyed it.”

Having experienced that fulfillment time and time again, Garrett found a way to become a more active angler with kayak fishing. Her volunteering journey brought her to take veterans out on kayaks with Heroes on the Water, where she became the organization's first female fishing team leader.

The beauty of fishing is that there is something there for everyone, whether you aspire to become a guide, volunteer your time or simply get out there and try on your own. These women are rewriting tradition and inspiring observers of all ages by using their love of fishing, and determination to learn new fishing skills, to set an example of how female anglers can make waves of their own.

PG.39

LOCATION, LOCATION

The Coastal Bend is a fishing paradise for multiple reasons. Aside from a robust variety of species, the South Texas coast offers some of the most accessible and affordable fishing methods. While particular sportfish are only reachable by boat, there are plenty of local fishing spots to sink your next line.

PG.40

Pier Fishing

Numerous pier fishing options offer anglers easy access to over-water fishing. One local favorite is Red Dot Pier. Open 365 days a year, anglers come here to catch popular varieties of fish that lurk alongside the Humble Channel. Plus, it sells tackle, beer, soda and snacks to make your fishing an enjoyable experience.

Wade Fishing/Fly Fishing

Driving along the JFK Causeway, you'll see anglers wading out in the Laguna Madre with their rod in hand. Wade fishing requires patience as anglers stand in the water targeting fish with conventional or fly fishing gear. For those new to saltwater fishing, consider booking a lesson with Doc's Fishing Clinic

and Guide Service.

Surf Fishing

Corpus Christi offers miles of easily accessible shoreline that's great for reeling in redfish, trout and even sharks. Padre Island National Seashore combines nutrient-rich estuaries with the Gulf of Mexico, creating an excellent habitat for an array of sea animals. Just be sure to know and follow park and state regulations.

Kayak Fishing

Many popular fish species prefer to skim across barrier island reefs and shallow flats that are best accessed by boat or kayak. Near the north-side ferry landing in Port Aransas are the

Lighthouse Lakes Paddling

Trails, which are a popular kayak launch spot and provide bank fishing along the channel.

Charter Fishing

Corpus Christi is home to multiple top-notch fishing guides. Booking a charter guarantees you the best spot for fishing, depending on the type of adventure you choose. Search for toothy apex predators from the beach with Eric Ozolins

at Ocean Epics Fishing

Charters, or choose a deepsea fishing trip with Coastal Cowboy Fishing Charters to catch the next "big one."

THE HOT RODS

KNOW WHICH FISHING ROD IS RIGHT FOR YOU

The options can be overwhelming when deciding which fishing rod to go with, as different builds of rods come in various lengths and materials. Regardless of the type of fishing you pursue, a good fishing rod is the foundation of your fishing success. Roy’s Bait and Tackle Outfitters lend us their expertise on the topic.

Spinning Rods

Spinning rods are excellent general models for beginners and commonly utilized for pier fishing and kayak fishing. Their versatility and light weight make casting easy to master.

Fly Fishing Rods

Fly rods are preferred among experienced fishers when wading or fly fishing. These flexible and lightweight rods are ideal when casting fly fishing lines with light lures. A forewarning: This rod takes time and practice to master, as well as a decent amount of space when casting.

Surf Casting Rods

These rods come in different sizes and thicknesses to support the variety of large gamefish often caught at sea. Generally, surf casting rods are built long to enhance casting distance and are made with durable materials to withstand rough waves and sturdy fish.

Boat Fishing Rods

Although most offshore charters provide fishing equipment as part of your reservation, boat rods are specially designed to catch big fish. Short in length, these rods are typically stout and heavy for added strength when pulling up a deep-sea catch.

PG.41

PG.42 A GUIDING LIGHT

BOOKING A FISHING GUIDE AND CHARTER IS THE ULTIMATE WAY TO ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THE WATER

If you're looking for a first-class fishing experience, the Coastal Bend offers hundreds of fishing guides with various specialties. No matter your expertise, fishing guides are an added advantage to any fishing experience if you want to learn about the fish you catch, tactics and much more. All you need is a fishing license, sun protection and a good pair of polarized sunglasses, leaving the rest to the guides. Depending on the type of fishing you're looking to do, guides tailor the experience so you can maximize the enjoyment of your time on the water.

Captain Marcus "Doc" Haralson is the owner and operator of Doc's Fishing Clinic and Guide Service. He serves as a full-time professional fishing guide specializing in year-round fly and light tackle fishing trips in Corpus Christi and Port Aransas.

Doc describes fly fishing as a tranquil and intimate experience that requires patience. However, fly fishing in the Coastal Bend is slightly different than most places. With the added factor of wind, fly fishing can be challenging and intimidating to anglers as it requires a certain technique. That's where the benefit of a guide comes in. "It cuts down the learning curve a substantial amount. We're able to help you with your casting, critique you and work with you to get you dialed in better and more efficiently that way. I'd say it's more technique. It's like golf," said Haralson. Whether it's a family-friendly fishing adventure, slow-paced fishing immersed in an appreciation of nature or an adrenaline rush while reeling in a big catch, considering which type of fishing you'd like can narrow your guide or charter search.

One fast-growing popular type is shark fishing. Texas is known for big shark fishing, and while the practice has been iconic in Texas since the ’60s, the mentality of shark anglers has evolved to a conservation mindset. Eric Ozolins of Ocean Epics Fishing Charters has been shark fishing for more than 20 years. As the only licensed shark fishing guide in South Texas, Ozolins focuses his charter experience on education when taking people fishing. "I'm a guide in the surf, the vast majority of my fishing is from the surf, and it's all land-based,” he said. “Most of my [guiding] is done at Padre Island National Seashore. I mainly target sharks and big game. I do a lot of cooperative research with the Harte Research Institute, so I do a lot of tagging and releasing of all the various sharks I catch. My charters display more of an educational aspect, whether it's kids or people who do it all the time; I do more teaching, educating [about] the resources, what we have around here and just the general fishery."

While every guide service is unique to a fishing specialty, an excellent fishing experience leaves you with new things learned, laughs and stories to share. Whichever type of adventure you choose, using a fishing guide will leave you with an enriched experience.

BAIT& TACKLE

When deciding which bait to choose for fishing, there are a few tips to produce the most bites. In general, fishing enthusiasts can find most live bait in the same waters they choose to fish. However, if you want to go straight for the jugular, live bait, such as shrimp or croaker, can be purchased from local bait and tackle shops. Marker 37 bait-house manager Ayden Smith breaks down the most common types of live bait and artificial lures Marker 37 provides.

Live Bait

According to Smith, this time of year is when guides tend to use croaker and shrimp for inshore fishing, attracting the likes of trout, flounder and redfish. "Typically the pros know how to use croaker properly, and the laymen [fishers] use shrimp. Guides usually switch [to live bait] in the summertime. They use five-gallon buckets of the same water we use in our tanks, so the water follows the fish on the boat," said Smith. “When you throw croaker, you'll want to use a chatter weight. Throw it out and let it swim, and when you feel it stop, you just twitch it to make it start swimming again."

Shrimp are among the most common live bait, because nearly every fish species eats them. However, if you want to fish like the pros, Smith says juvenile croaker is the choice for catching trophy fish like trout and redfish. Marker 37 offers a wide selection of live bait and artificial lures, including ribbonfish and offshore trolling lures, which are best for catching kingfish.

Local Bait & Tackle Stands

MARKER 37 MARINA

133317 S. PADRE ISLAND DR • 361-949-4750

ROY’S BAIT & TACKLE OUTFITTERS

7613 S. PADRE ISLAND DR • 361-992-2960

HARD LIFE’S BAIT AND TACKLE

1902-A S. PADRE ISLAND DR • 361-334-2171

CASTAWAYS BAIT & TACKLE

10557 S. PADRE ISLAND DR • 361-353-4599

Artificial Lures

Lures come in various shapes and sizes, each uniquely designed to catch a wide variety of fish species. Some of the most common include spoon, soft plastic and topwater lures.

SPOON LURES

Spoon lures were originally actual spoons with the handles cut off. Now they have evolved to a much more efficient concave shape, which makes them glimmer through the water to resemble injured bait fish.

SOFT PLASTIC LURES

Soft plastic lures are small rubber baits resembling various sea critters, from worms to minnows, to help anglers fish effectively without using live bait. The color of soft plastics should blend in with the natural surroundings.

TOPWATER LURES

Topwater lures mean the lure floats on top of the water, allowing anglers to work with a twitching action to make it walk on top of the water. Smith recommends using this lure in the early morning, as redfish and trout love to bite this bait when the sun is coming up.

PG.43

COS WAY BAIT & TACKLE

11645 S. PADRE ISLAND DR • 361-939-7513

CLEM’S MARINA

13304 S. PADRE ISLAND DR • 361-949-8845