Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors / February - March 2022

SPORTSMAN TEXAS

TRACKING OUTDOORS

RECORD RACK

THE RIGHT FEED - PG.

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LUNAR TIMES

PG. 33

TIDE TABLES

PG. 42

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2022

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TABLE OF CONTE T

PG24

Rodriguez 06 / Fred Protein

10 / Capt Brian Spencer

Flounder Tips & Tactics

Perez 16 / Manny Working Dogs

PG06

Corner 20 / Cindy’s Cindy Rodriguez Capt. James Stewart 32 / The Banana Controversy Times 33 / Lunar Best Times for Fishing Johnson 36 / Brent 8 Hours Later

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Tide Tables SPI, TX

44/

Is That You? Reader Photos

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FEBRUARY MARCH

PG20

PG16

2022

T E X A S S P O R T S M A N T R AC KI N G O U T D O O RS | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 2

ENTS

meet the WRITERS

TEXAS SPORTSMAN TRACKING OUTDOORS

Cindy Rodriguez

Albino Mendoza III

Brent Johnson

Brian Spencer

James Stewart

Manny Perez

TEXAS SPORTSMAN TRACKING OUTDOORS

Fred Rodriguez

staff

fred rodriguez The Texas Sportsman fredrsportsman@yahoo.com (956)776-4623

PG36 Volume 9, Issue 1. February 2022. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is a production Sportsman Media LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the writers, photographers and contributors, and are not necessarily those of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors or its publisher. Every effort has been taken to ensure the correctness and accuracy in the material published in this magazine.

Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors reserves the right to edit, rewrite and refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors shall be held harmless and indemnified against any third - party claims. Advertisements appearing in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors present only the viewpoint of the advertisers. All correspondence to the publication become the property of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors.

To advertise in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors Call (956)776-4623 Email: fredrsportsman@yahoo.com

Cindy Rodriguez Mrs. Texas Sportsman Executive Producer cindyrsportsman@yahoo.com Albino Mendoza III Executive Editor albino.txsmagazine@gmail.com (956)873-3457 5

5

Protein

By Fred Rodriguez

D

eer season, Enjoyed a lot of hunts and good times and BBQ. Now that deer season is over the work it just beginning. After the rut and all the deer have finished up their running around it's time now for them to begin eating deer protein. The one that I highly recommend is Record Rack Professional. Deer protein is essential for your deer.

They get the right nutrients that they need. It helps with antler growth, fat and muscle development.

We begin our protein late February all the way through September. For 1,000 acres and 7 feeding stations we go through 2,000 lbs. per month. Along with deer 6

protein you must have water.

Another thing is to have big enough protein stations. That way you have enough room for the deer to move around in.

As we transition into fishing season, we are taking reservations for the next hunting season. I work with 10 different ranches. We have anything from whitetail to Exotics. The Texas Sportsman Company really keeps me busy, from the Television shows, keeping the magazine going and my outdoor report on FM 100 KTEX. We are planning a couple of more hunting trips and then we will venture into some fun fishing trips. Also, we’re planning on more cooking segments,

especially BBQ. There are so many ways to BBQ. I am so excited!! If you would like to be a guest on our show or advertise in the magazine, just give me a call at 956-776-4623 same number to book your hunt. Let's make it happen.

Until next issue, safety first and take your family fishing or hunting. One more thing you can buy your Record Rack Deer Protein at..

El Passe Feed Store, 1250 North, FM492, Mission, Texas Call: 956-581-0591

Fred Rodriguez Texas Sportsman Gotta Have It!!

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F l o u n de r t i p s a n d tactics

By Capt Brian “Flounder Professor” Joseph Spencer

So I have a whole lot of information for everyone so let us begin. Since our last article so much has changed. The flounder run has come and gone.

Do not get me wrong when I say this because there are still flounder around, just not the high concentrations that there should be. In my other article that I also write for I broke the news about what actually happened this year with the flounder, well in Corpus Christi at least. I personally was able to still find commercial limits right after the temp drops but pretty much died out quickly after.

When I do need to find my 30 fish I will have to go from spot to spot for hours and get a few at a time. Although most are gone I can say confidently that you will find them in or near very deep channels if there are more.

Spotting them was pretty easy on the sandy drop offs as they stood out like a sore thumb, most were found in between or next to an oyster bed. In October the fish were really nice sized, ranging from 18-24 inches.

As of now you will mainly find little bitty ones or some that are around 15 inches plus a bunch of sheepsheads. When that starts to happen you know the run is over, but in late February and early March they will start to trickle back in.

Right now if you really are wanting to try and find a couple with rod and reel I would definitely suggest using my tandem rig method. It allows you to run two different colors and see what the flounder are hungry for. Mainly I stick to using either double chickenboy bubba cluckers in plum and perfecto pollo pink on a 1/4 ounce jig head.

If running a tandem I use 1/4 on the top and 1/8th on the bottom, it gives it a better action when bumping it across the bottom.

Just work the bait very slowly and try to cover as much ground as possible while feeling for any little thump. I like to say give it about 10 seconds after the hit but if you are releasing the fish just set it when you get the strike.

Some of the time if you wait too long they may swallow it and you might not be able to get your hook back. The best advice I can give is to not give up, they are frustrating but you will get it down.

If you need more tips just go stop my youtube channel “Flounder Professor Outdoors Tv” and subscribe. Trying to make a video a week to help everyone out. If you ever have any questions just email me. Until the next issue, tight lines and sharp gigs.

Capt Brian “Flounder Professor” Spencer Flounder Professor Outdoors TV @ Youtube & Facebook Flounder Professor @ IG and Twitter www.trinityoutfitterstx.com

Thanks to all my Sponsors: Salt Thugz Apparel, Stinky pants fishing, Chupacabra rub, Defishing soap Chickenboy Lures, Berkley, Penn, Fin Addict, Abu Garcia, forEverlast, Marshrat Rods, TR Jig Heads, Redtail Republic, Hodgeman, Mid Coast Popping Corks, Waypoint Marine, Foreverlast, Powerpole, Eddies Taxidermy, Groomers 10

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SCAN AND BOOK YOUR TRIP TODAY!

- GUIDING FISHING TRIPS

Capt. Aaron Wittreich

LET’S GO FISHING! (956)455-1014

South Padre Island, TX awfishingllc.com awfishing@yahoo.com

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Working Dogs

By Manny Perez

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s the fall season finally starts to show itself with the typical late winter in South Texas, I can’t help but reminisce about this year’s hunting season and the dogs that put in hard work all season long. At Coastal Concepts LLC, we live our day to day involving dogs and working dog breeds of all types. We start the early season with our dove and duck retrievers and finish the season strong with pointers and pick-up dogs. These dogs give us their all in the field doing what they were bred to do. For the subject of today’s article, I will be discussing the different breeds of dogs and their uses at Coastal Concepts LLC. Early September’s weather in Deep South Texas is brutal with temperatures near 100 degrees Fahrenheit making it very difficult to enjoy a retriever for dove hunting.

We use Labradors, Field Cockers, German Shorthaired Pointers, and Springer Spaniels to retrieve our downed birds on our hunts. I try to hunt in places that have plenty of water close by. This allows for us to constantly be able to cool them down during and in between retrieves. Another important factor to consider is to work them in spurts and share the chores with as many dogs as possible to avoid overheating a dog.

As October arrives, we now incorporate the use of our wounded deer recovery dogs. All of our dogs used for recovery are Hound/Curr crosses. This cross of breeds seems to give us the best of both worlds as we hope to get the cold nose of the hound and the grit and durability of the Curr. I like a dog that can take an old trail and then bay and catch a wounded deer

when found. Of course each of these characteristics can help and hurt the situation.

A dog with no fight doesn’t know what to do when they arrive at a live deer, and a dog with too much grit /fight goes in too hot and can run off a deer that is not mortally wounded. I like a cold nose dog that bays loose (stays far away and barks at the wounded deer) and catches only when necessary or asked to.

The latter part of the hunting season stretching from November to February brings out the pointing dogs.

We use every pointing breed under the sun that will hustle as well as point and hold quail when encountered.

We use mainly English Pointers, Llewellin Setters, English Setters, and German Shorthaired Pointers. We also incorporate our retrievers as “pick up” dogs to find

Manuel Noel Perez Jr. “Manny” has been an outdoor enthusiast for most of his life. He began training his own hunting dogs at the early age of nine. He has been guiding deer and quail hunts for over twenty years and has a wealth of dog knowledge in the field. When not on a hunt of his own, Manny would rather be found working behind a blood trailing dog, a water dog, or a well-trained pointer.

Coastal Concepts, LLC Follow me on Facebook at Coastal Concepts, LLC and on Instagram @coastalconceptsllc 16

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and retrieve any downed birds. Most of our pointing dogs do not retrieve which allows us to take advantage of having retrievers.

Lastly, as winter winds down and the quail season ends, we once again bring out our wounded recovery dogs for Nilgai hunts and recovery. These dogs are really an asset to have around as Nilgai are really tough and don’t bleed very much when shot. These dogs also allow us to increase our recovery rate by having the dogs close by and ready to track immediately.

As you can see, working dogs is a pivotal part of our success at Coastal Concepts LLC. Every dog here has a job and gets to enjoy their days in the field training as well as working. We look forward to these days every year as we look forward to the next adventure.

- Manny Perez

i and welcome back! I must say it was a very busy deer season. I am amazed at the different hunts that my husband, Fred Rodriguez, Texas Sportsman, had to juggle throughout the season. It’s incredible to see how he accommodated young hunters, first time hunters, a family of hunters, a father- daughter hunt, his own daughters and of course his own wife, me, harvesting my own doe.

The best part of it is seeing that sparkle in their eyes as they harvest their deer. As for us, we will have plenty of venison mixed with beef for the whole year. My husband will be making venison

Chile con carne, venison burgers, tacos on Taco Tuesday, fideo con carne, or mix the venison with pork for chorizo, jalapeño and cheese sausage and can’t forget the venison jerky.

The other best part is the memories being made by each family. As we come to the end of this deer season, I am super excited and really looking forward to another successful fishing season.

As most of you all know, I recently retired, so it left us with no choice but to purchase our own condo at the island. I’m really looking forward to spending more time at the island as we continue to make a difference in families

By: Cin

R

dy Ro

drigue

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and organizations by helping out and instilling the love of fishing and making memories while spending quality time with our loved ones in the water.

If you would like to go fishing with me and Fred, or be on our show, please do not hesitate to call me at (956)648-8938 or email me at cindyrsportsman@yahoo.com and let’s go make memories! #Gottahaveit - Stay safe and until next time

Cindy Rodriguez

Mrs. Texas Sportsman (956)648-8938 cindyrsportsman@yahoo.com 20

CORNE

H

CINDY’ S

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The Banana Controversy

By Capt. Alan Stewart

First of all, I think it's a hoax.

The superstition dates all the way back to the 1700’s, when many lost or ill-fated ships were noted to have been carrying bananas to their destination. It is perhaps because of this occurrence that bananas became known as omens of danger and misfortune for ships.

If you’re a boater, there’s a good chance you’ve been told to never bring any bananas on board with you or else risk misfortune on your next fishing trip.

But have you ever wondered why this superstition is in place, and whether there’s any truth to it? Well, I may have the answers for some of you. We are going to explore a few of the most popular theories behind this classic superstition.

Stowaways like venomous spiders, snakes and other critters could be lurking in the bananas. Some of you may have heard of boaters being bitten by these venomous creatures would naturally be a bit hesitant to bring a bunch of bananas on board, even if the incidents were not widespread.

Locally, I have heard that captains or deck hands will not have anyone get onboard their head boats if they have bananas. They even take it to another level, like no banana pudding, banana breads, banana boat sun screen or anything that has bananas on it or in it.

So future fisherman that want to head out to the blue seas of the Gulf of Mexico or Laguna Madre, please don’t take bananas of any type or you may not have a snack as the crew will definitely throw it overboard.

As always, be safe and see you on the water.

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8 Hours Later

By Brent Johnson

When I hit the water, I like to have a plan of where, when and how I am going to catch fish that correlates to the major and minor moon phase.

Sometimes my strategy pays off and sometimes it turns into running “the mail route” of proven areas that have worked time and again during different situations. On a great moon day, “Should I Stay or Should I Go” is the song playing in my head when I know fish are feeding somewhere… (expletive) … Sometimes it is a matter of being patient and allowing the bite to develop, and sometimes it is recognizing the fish are not there and it is time to go find em. Well recently I didn’t have to run my engine at all.

The longitude and latitude I found was a spot you have probably fished a million times. The kind of spot everyone knows about and it isn’t a secret.

The kind of area that always produces at least a couple keepers, because fish are just traditionally in abundance there feeding and so are the boats trying to catch em. We had a few boats in the area that day and they would come and go, but not us we stayed. In two foot of water over potholes in the trout green half murky half clear water we were flat out hammering the reds with an occasional speck!

It didn’t hurt that we had a 99% moon phase with the moon at polar opposite of the sun. When the sun was rising the moon was setting and when the sun was directly overhead, the moon was directly under foot. Also a low barometric pressure was at play as it was the day before a cold front would arrive. What culminated was the absolute perfect conditions for a knock-down drag-out, feast or famine, fish feeding frenzy!

weedless copper spoon. Bait jumping and blow ups on the top tell me we are in for something good. It doesn’t take long for Smith to hook up with a fat red.

Soon I join in with a 19” speckled trout. Then Chase catches another, and another, and another while I’m over here getting a blow up or two but no tuggers. I say heck with it and since I ain’t beatin him I may as well be joining him. I throw on a gold spoon except I decide to pull out one of my old AM baits that had too many bites from a previous day. I cut off the curly tail and tip my hook with this added garlic teaser. I don’t give out secrets too often, but this combination seems to give the spoon even more enticing incentive to the monster fish lurking the shallow flats. Before long I am jacking jaws and rippin lips. After releasing a nice slot redfish I get hooked up again, but this time the fish has even more fight and has decided to take a good bit of my line. I fight the fish for maybe 5 minutes and it pulls a Houdini on me. I shake off my disgust and Chase yells out he’s got another, then all of a sudden my line gets hammered again, and we are both fighting quality pesca. I reel my redfish in, but Chase is still fighting his and I swear this fish is trying to break his rod as it rainbows under the boat several times.

Incredibly his Shimano GLF (Gulf) Inshore Medium Light rod is holding up on a 36” brute and it looks like it is gonna snap but proves to be worth every penny

We arrive at our destination 30 minutes late, but it is still early on this December morning and only a few boats are in the area. The water looks perfect and the air temperature is Chamber of Commerce weather in the upper 60’s low 70’s. The wind is 10 to 15 out of the due south. Bright and sunny with clouds, bone and chartreuse gets the nod and it is just enough wind to justify a She Dog while my compadre Chase Smith is throwing an old 36

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of the $89.00 he bought it for. Double hook up is just icing on the cake for what already has been a good day.

Here we are in this popular spot and by now no boats are anywhere to be seen. We seem to have the bay all to ourselves and we are literally catching one after another. What a way to end the year! As I look at my watch I realize we have drifted the whole day without firing the engine and driving the mail route. All of life’s trials and tribulations ceased to exist in the span of 8 hours. I’d say we drifted a good 10 miles based off the land marks of where we are. This is the longest we have ever fished without our normal bickering over who is captain and everything else under the sun for that matter. That’s what best friends who were born out of the same litter a pups do. Grumpy old men we are, but as the old sports adage the late John Madden would always say “winning is the best deodorant”.

water and increased our odds casting to every pot hole and/or nervous water targets. The nice long 8 hour drift erased our troubles and allowed us to witness all the subtleties of nature that is the Laguna Madre. We kept a couple reds to cook on the half shell later that evening and it was an excellent way to cap off what I consider the best fishing day of 2021.

- See you on the water my friends

It has been close to one year since the catastrophic snowpocolypse freeze of February 2021, and while the Speckled Trout population is not what it was prior to that freeze, we managed to catch and release over 20 trout and 50 redfish with 4 reds being oversized.

Methods used back in the day that were tried and true proved to still shine on this day, and we turned reel handles instead of turning the engine. Another technique that made us successful that day was fan casting a 180 degrees. In doing so we covered more 37

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TIDE TABLES 2022

MARCH FEBRUARY

N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9'

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