August 2012

August 2012

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TIDE PREDICTIONS & SOLUNAR FEED TIMES INSIDE!

PREDATORBEHAVIORInsight from Mike McBride.

WADING INTODANGERJoe Dogget & Joe Richard discuss reality.EXTREME

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WHat Our guideS HaVe tO Say82DickieColburn’sSabineScene DickieColburn84MickeyonGalveston MickeyEastman86Capt.Bill’sFishTalk BillPustejovsky88Mid-CoastBayswiththeGrays GaryGray90HookedupwithRowsey DavidRowsey92Capt.Tricia’sPortMansfieldReport Capt.Tricia94SouthPadreFishingScene ErnestCisneros

regularS 04Editorial80NewTackle&Gear 96FishingReportsandForecasts 100CatchoftheMonth102GulfCoastKitchen

dePartMentS 25CoastalBirding BillySandifer46Let’sAskThePro JayWatkins48BoatMaintenanceTips ChrisMapp 50FlyFishing CaseySmartt 54TPWDFieldNotes KarenMeador58KayakFishing ScottNull62AccordingtoScott ScottSommerlatte64YouthFishing MarcosGarza66TexasNearshore&Offshore MikeJennings70Cade’sCoastalChronicles CadeSimpson74ExtremeKayakFishing&Sharks... EricOzolins78FishyFacts StephanieBoyd

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YoungCharlieDrostisallsmileswithabeautifulmarshredthatinhaledaSuperSpookaseasilyasagrassshrimp.KudostoCharlie’sfatherWillDrostforinstillingapassionforfishingandstrongconservationethic.~Will Drost photo.

AUGUST 2012 VOL 22 NO 4

4|August2012

ImakeapointtoavoiddiscussingdevelopmentsatTSFMaginthiscolumn,preferringinsteadtopursuemoreworthyandhopefullyinformativetopics.PleaseallowmeadigressionthismonthaswehavemuchgoingonthatIwanttoannounce. Whilemanyprintoutdoormagazinesseemtolanguishinpooreconomictrendsandtherapidriseofelectronicmedia–allIcansayiswehavebeenblessed.Withthesupportofloyalreadersandanuncommonblendofregionalandnationaladvertisers,TSFMagisgrowing. Thisissuemarksthedebutofanewmonthlydepartment;Eric“Oz”Ozolins’Extreme Kayak Fishing and Sharks from the Sand.Alreadyalegendinsharkfishingconservationandfisheryresearch,Ozwillbewritingaboutpaddlingoffshoreforeveryspeciesofgamefishhecanfindandalsohisextremesharkanglingfromthebeach.Oz’sstuffis,inaword…incredible;quiteunlikeanythingyouwillfindinprintanywhere.Weareveryproudtohavehim.LearnmoreaboutOzatExtremeCoast.com. Morenews–CaseySmartthasrequestedreleasefrommonthlywritingchorestoconcentrateonhisotherbusinesspursuitsandteenagedsons.Butthisdoesnotmeanthatfly-fishingwillleaveourpages.ScottSommerlattewilltakeovertheFlyDepartmentinSeptemberandCaseywillcheckinoccasionallywithhisusualfinewritingtotellofadventureswiththelongrod.WewishCaseyandhisfamilywell. ScottNullwillhandoverthereinsoftheKayakFishingDepartmenttoCadeSimpsonandtakeupScottSommerlatte’spositionasskiff-guidecorrespondent…thoughnotnecessarilyinhispredecessor’sfull“AccordingtoScott”style.CadeisnaturalfortheKayakDepartmentasheis“ateupwithit”astheysay. FeaturestoriesarealwaysverypopularandwehavebeenluckytopublishquiteafewpiecesfromJoeRichardandJoeDoggettoverthepastyear.Readerfeedbackfortheseguyshasbeenverygoodandweplantokeepthemaboardasoftenastheirotherwritingscheduleswillallow.McBride,Cochran,Strarup,UzzleandSandifer–ourtriedandtruefeaturecorpsofmanyyears–willcontinuetobringyouthestuffyoubuythismagazinetoread. Lastbutcertainlynotleast,TSFMagisexpandingwithintherealmofdigitaloutdoormedia.Wehaveabrandnewwebsitebeingdevelopedthatpromisestomakeourpresentsitelooklikeasixth-grader’sscienceproject.Lookforabunchofupdatesandchanges;easiertobrowse,maybeevenblogsandinteractiveforums.Time(andthisolddoglearningnewtricks)willtellhowfarwecango. AsIwrite,wearejustreturnedfromthegranddaddyoffishingtradeshows,AmericanSportfishingAssociation’sICAST.ICASTistheacronymforInternationalConferenceofAlliedSportfishingTrades.Thisyear’seventwasheldinOrlando,Floridaanditliveduptoitsnameinmanyways.Lotsofnewtackleandgearwasannouncedaswellasimprovementstoahostofitemswehavebeenusingforyears.Watchourtackleandgearsectiontolearnaboutwhat’snewandbetterforthecomingyear.

WHOle lOt OFSHAKIN’gOin’ On

Watchourtackleandgearsectiontolearnaboutwhat’snewandbetterforthecomingyear.

EDITORIALMEMORY MAKERSMEMORY MAKERSMEMORY MAKERSHiEverett,IamsendingsomerecentphotosofHunter,mysix-year-old.He’salreadycompletelyaddictedtofishing!Thisisoneofmanyupperslotredshe,hisgrandpa(BobBeckettwhosnappedthephotos),andIcaughtthisweekendinCorpusChristiBay…teachingtheconservationthingearly.Itwasprettycooltohavethreegenerationswade-fishingtogether.Hopefullythiswillbejustoneofmanysuccessfultripsinthefuture. IknowHunterwouldbethrilledifyoucouldfindawaytousethisinthemagazinebecauseitwasareallybigdealforhim…meandGrandpatoo!~GregStunz

DearMr.Johnson,Mynine-year-oldsonHarrisonandIhadagreatfather-sonfishingtripoutoftheArroyoColoradorecentlywithCapt.LeroyGonzales.HarrisonhasfishedwithmeseveraltimesbuthealwaysgotupsetwhenIgotoutoftheboatandhetoremainwiththenon-wade-fishingguys.Thiswasabigeventforus. WefoundapairofwadingbootstofithimandhejoinedmeforhisfirstwadethispastSundaymorning,May27th.Thetroutheisholdingishisveryfirstcaughtwhilewade-fishing.Heisdefinitely“hooked”onwade-fishingwithartificials.I’msoproud. Actually,itbroughtatearofjoytomyeyetoseehimouttherecatchingtroutallonhisown.Hemusthavecaughtatleastseven.Halfofthemwereundersizedbutthatworkedoutjustfinehelpinghimperfecttheartofcatchandrelease.ThanksandTightLines,~JeffPhillips

6|August2012

back when the good lord sPoke inKingJames’English,Hesaiduntothem,“havedominionoverthefishofthesea,thefowloftheair,andovereverylivingthingthatmovethupontheearth.” Whatamagnificentassignmentbut…really? Surelysomethingmusthavebeenmisinterpretedalongtheway.Alurefishermanknowsfullwellwecannotcontrolgamefishandforallthoseotherlivingthings,whointheheckeverhaddominionoveradarncat? Bothconceptshavebeenreinforcedlatelybyanewhouseholdarrival,curiouslyintheformofatinyrescuedkitten.Thethinghasactuallyprovokedsomeinterestingandparallelthoughtconcerning

this“sport”wecallfishing.Yeah,it’ssportallright,andsoissparringwithadevelopingyoungpredator’sinstinctivelearningcurve…bothphysicallyandcerebrally.Thelittletwit’snameisHanger. Hangercametousbeforesun-uponemorningattheboatslipwhenCapt.Triciaandherpartykepthearingapitifulcryforhelpcomingfromwherethepilingsmetthewater.Aspotlightrevealedtwolittleeyesbeggingbeneathtwosetsofdeeplyembeddedclaws. Downgoesalong-handleddipnetandthehousehasn’tbeenthesamesince.Bynaturewearedogpeoplebut,kindalikethat“oldcatneedinganewkitten”philosophytorejuvenategusto,wehavebeenenjoyinghowthislittledweeb’santicshaveremindedusaboutlifeingeneral.Wecanevendrawsomecomparisonsbetweenitspre-

STORYBYMIKEMCBRIDE

8|August2012

programmedbutstilldevelopingpredatorinstinctsandlurefishing.Nothingnewperse,justsomereminders,oftencomical,aboutwhatwearedealingwithoutthereintheanimalworldweareoftensopitifullyremovedfrom.Adarncat…gofigure. Apredatorisapredatorhowever,andthislittlefelinetootsymbolizesmanyofthesameinstinctsseenupontheentirefaceofourblue-greenearth,from“lionsandtigersandbears,Ohno”–evenextendingbelowthesurfaceofthesea.Let’shavealittlefunandtrytopitsomerecentobservationstowardsourtroutandreds,justtryingtobetterunderstandthewholeprocessandperhapsknocksomemorepaintoffourlures. Firstoff,thiswackythinghasearslikeabatandmissesabsolutely

nothing.Interestinghowquicklyitlearnedtodistinguishgoodnoisesfrombadandadaptaccordingly.Aloudslamsendsitintothedeepestbowelsofretreatbut,thebarelyaudiblesoundoffoilrippingacrossthetopofaPurrfectlyFishTunapouchwillcallitbackimmediately. Ioncewroteathree-partarticleIcalledSound Advice.Itwasaboutbio-acousticsand,likethisfurry-buttedpredator,afish’ssounddetectionsystemisfarbeyondourunderstanding.Abigtroutcanhearyourclumsysize13bootiefromahundredyardsoffandperhapsevenknowwhetheryouhaveacornonyourleftbigtoemakingyouwalkfunny. Soundcaneitherbegoodorbad.Sowouldthatthoughtlessdeckhatchslambeagoodstimulusinshallowwater?

Sohowdowefindthosepreferredtrails?They’realwayschangingandfishdon’tleavetracks.

TSFMAG.com|9

Wealsomightconsiderthepositiveeffectsfromgoodtopwaterchoicesandpresentationsfortheimmediatemomentathand.Notalltopwaters,northeworkmenbehindthem,arecreatedequal,andwe’relookingforthat“foilrip”here.Wearebasicallytalkingaboutanimalsensoryperceptioningeneraland,again,wejustcan’tcomprehendbutwecanaddress. Besidesincrediblehearing,predatoreyesightisalsomanytimesagainwhatoursis.Thislittlegeekcaneasilyplantawettoothpreciselyontheendofyournosewhenwecan’tevenseewellenoughtoavoiddestroyingashinboneagainstanurgentmidnighttoiletbowl. Samewithfish,andmorethanonestudyhasshowntheirabilitytoeasilypickoffpreyunderzerovisibility,evenwhenphysicallyblindfoldedfortheexperiment.Istillchuckleataninternetmessageboardrulethatyouhavetothrowablacktopwateratnightsotheycanseeit,butonlyafter20+yearsofnighttimefieldexperimentsaboveanighttimeGoogleexperience.Everythingonthesurfacelooksdarkatnightandtheydon’treallyhavetoseeit

Predatorscanbedrawnoutwithashaker-belltoy.

(Above)Notalltopwatersarecreatedequal.Whatwe’relookingforisthat“foilrip”thatmatchestheconditions.Top:BabySkitterWalk–Smallandquiet.Middle:One-KnockerSpook–Mediumsizeandsound.Bottom:SheDog–Loudastheyget.

10|August2012

TTF Gun Dog Rod• IM-8 blank for light weight

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guides plus tip • Fuji reel seatRapala Skitterwalk Lures

Superior construction assures a perfect swimming bait right-out-of-the-box.Toss it out. Pump. Reel. Pump. Reel.You’re “Walking-the-Dog.”

An Angler’s Best Friend

inthefirstplace.Canwetalkaboutthatmuddywaterthingagain? Watchingsomeoftheinstinctive,overallmovementsofthisfledglingpredatorisinterestingaswell.Mosttravelingroutesareslinkedalongwallsorsomeothertypeofstructure,alwaysusingsomesortofcovertogetfromAtoB.Samewithothercritters,bothpredatorandprey.Evencattleusuallytakespecifictrailstotheirfavoritegroveoftrees,laydownformostoftheday,andthenruntothebellofthefeedtractor. Nexttimeyouaretraveling,picturethatroadsidefieldcoveredwithseveralfeetofwater.Howwouldyoufindthosepreferredtrails?Wherewouldyoufindthosequailatthistimeofday,withoutusingadog?Withfishingit’sevenharderbecausetheirpreferredtrailschangeoftenandtheydon’tleavetracks. Afish’scovercanbemanythings;baitlines,currentrips,colordifferences,etc.Wecanbefiftyyardsoffandmisseverything.JayWatkinswillprobablytalkaboutthose“invisiblelines”soon,andhowcantheybepossiblybetaughtanybetterthanbyexperience?I’dlistenifhegoesthere. Anyway,let’srememberthattheearthis90%water,andbecausesurvivalisthegoal,therearesomehighlyevolvedyetpredictablehabits.Gettingonthemfirstiseverything,soweneedlearntofindthosewallsofcovertobeconsistent. Anotherobservationaboutanimalmovementsingeneralisthatcatscaneasilysleepabouteighteenhoursperday.Weseethesamethinginfishingandtherecaneasilybehoursandhoursoftotaldowntime.Whenit’stimetoassumethemeatloafpositionit’snot

Hopefullygoingtoknocksomemorepaintoffofourlures.

Canwetalkaboutthatmuddywaterstuffagain?

12|August2012

easilyovercome.Justlikefish,whenit’stimetochill,thislittledudecanvanishintosomeprettyinaccessibleplaces.There’snothinglikeafreakingcattoripyouoffthoughandthisguywasquicktofindsomegoodhidingopportunity,likebehindatenyearunfinishedkitchencountertrimboardIcontinuallytakeheatover.Whenfishing,thinkofthosesafebail-off,meatloafspotsduringslowperiods.Also,wecandrawthatpredatoroutwithashaker-belltoy–intheformofanenticinglyworkedtopwater. Speakingofspots,wealsowatchedHangerquicklylearnthemost

comfortableonesfortheconditions;likelyingoncooltilewhenit’shotordivingintoawarmclotheshamperwhentheACcranksdown.Let’sremembertoalwaysrememberthatoneduringtemperatureswings.WherewouldHangerhang? Sowhatdoyouwedowithsomeofthesemanyreminders?Notmuchreally,exceptjusttrytobetterunderstandnatureingeneralbywatchingallofnaturearoundus,especiallytheinnerworkingsofpredatorvs.preybehavior.Wecan’treallycompareintelligencetoasimplebrainstem,butthemasterplanisstillquitetelling,andshouldbeaboveall,quitehumbling.Allofnaturecanrevealsecretsifwe’llwatch.TheApostlePaulsaidin1Corinthians:“Doth not even nature itself teach you…?”Well,forme,ithadtobeadarncat. Speakingofcats,thereisanotheronethathasenlightenedmelately.Mynew23’HaynieCatsitsrightnexttoTricia’satnight,butduringthedaywearebothonthepredatorprowlwithawholenewattitude.Awesome-aswecan“hang”betternowwithmuchbetterdominionofourown,andthere’snothinglikeridinganewhorseingoodcountry.SeeyouthereifIcanfindyourwayoutofthelitterbox.

CON

TAC

T

Phone 956-746-6041Email [email protected] Skinnywateradventures.com/ Three_MudSkateers.wmv

SKINNYWATERADVENTURES

MikeMcBrideisafulltimefishingguidebasedinPortMansfield,TX,specializinginwadefishingwithartificiallures.

MIKEMCBRIDE

Apredatorisapredator-“Dothnotevennatureitselfteachyou…?”

Nothinglikeridinganewhorseingoodcountry.

14|August2012

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STORYBYKEVINCOCHRAN

Willcurrenttimesbelookeduponbyfuturegenerationsasthedawnofanew,enlightenedera,orastheendoftheglorydays?

16|August2012

I’m not a tree hugger.Treesneednohumancompassion.Theythrivewhenleftalone.Alltheyreallyrequireiswateraroundtheirroots,sunshiningontheirleaves.Giventhesesimplethings,theygrowtobeautifyandenhancetheenvironment. Treesdoneedappropriatehabitatinordertosurvive.Allkindsoflivingthingssharethesamerequirements--space,foodsources,freedomfromharassment. Fartoooften,humanculturesareunableorunwillingtoprovidethesenecessarythingstothewildcreatureswithwhichwesharetheplanet.Therichdiversityoflifeformsintheworldisthusthreatened,ashumanpopulationscontinuetoexpand,placinggreaterstressonotherspeciesandthehabitatstheyneed. We’veheardthestoriesofthedemiseofsomecreaturestimeandtimeagain.Inthepast,theAmericanbisonwaspushedtothebrinkofextinction.Intoday’soceans,giantbluefintunaaredisappearing,asthepricefortheirfleshrisesataratedirectlyproportionaltotheirincreasingscarcity.Others,likethewhoopingcrane,clingtosurvivalmostprecariously,onlythroughtheeffortsofthesamegroupsofpeoplewhonearlyextinguishedthem. Somespeciessurviveinrelativeabundance,inspiteofconstantpressurefrompeople.The

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spottedseatroutisonesuchspecies. Whenthedaysgetlong,speckledtrouttendtoprefercoolerwatersdowndeep,andtheybecomekindoflazyintheheat.Thebiggerspecimensbecomedifficulttoenticeintotakingplugsconstructedofplastic,metalandwood,craftedentirelybythehandsofman. Theywillhowever,readilyattackandeatlivefinfishhookedcloseabovetheanalfinandpinnednearthebottomwithslidingleadweights.Theopportunityissimplytooconvenientandrewardingforthemtopassup.Manyofthespeckledtroutcaughtbythismethodarebiggerthanonespeoplewouldlikelycatchanyotherway. InTexas,fishingguidesdiscoveredtheefficacyoftargetingspeckledtroutwithlivecroakers,piggyperchandotherfinfishnearlytwodecadesago.Today,mostofthempreferthismethodoverallothers,sinceithelpsthemmoreconsistentlysendtheircustomershomecarryingfulllimitsoffilletedfish. I’veeatenmyshareofspeckledtroutovertheyears--fried,broiled,grilledandbaked.Ilikethetasteoftroutfillets,especiallythosecarvedoffthebonesofsmallerspecimens.AsIsaid,I’mnotreehugger,noramIfundamentallyopposedtotheideaofresponsiblyharvestingsometrouttoeat. Myconflictwiththelegionsofbaitsoakerswhorelentlesslypursuelimitsofthebiggesttrouttheycanlegallytakestartswiththeconceptofwhatconstitutes“myshare”andendswithwhatitmeansto“harvestresponsibly.”Iandmanyothersbelievethetroutfisheryisnotashealthyasitoncewas,or(moreimportantly)asit“could”be. Plentyoftroutstillpopulatethewatersofthestate,in

allcornersofthebays,beachfrontareas,channelsandotherwaterways.Theaveragesizeofthosefishisnotwhatitwouldbewithoutsomanypeopletakingmedium-sized,healthyspawnersoutoftheschoolssoregularly. Thecausesforthedeclineofthefisheryaremany;oneofthemisclearlythecontinuedhighlevelofharvestamongfishermentargetingthefishthroughtheuseoflivefinfishduringthewarmseason.AccordingtoParksandWildlife’sdata,aboutonethirdofalltroutharvestedstatewidearekilledduringguidedtrips,themajorityofwhichinvolveusinglivefinfishasbait.Still,IwouldnoturgeTP&Wtooutlawtheuseofaspecifickindofbait. Somepeopledeserveandneedtofishwithsuchamethodonoccasion,outofreal,tangibleneed.Mostothersshouldchoosetofishsomeotherway.Doingwhatisrightrequiresnolaw;doingwhat’srightwhennooneiswatchingdefineshonorandintegrity. It’swisetoactasresponsiblestewardsfortheanimalsandresourceswhichhelpsustainus.NativeAmericansknewthis,makinguseofallpartsofthebisonthey

Thecarefulhandlingoflargespeckledtrouthelpsincreasetheirchancesofsurvivalafterrelease.Studiesindicatesomewherebetween80and90%surviveifhandledproperly,regardlessoftheseason.

KeeperredfishliketheoneMindyLucasisholdinghereareabundantthroughoutthestate’swaters,thankstotheeffortsofTexasParksandWildlifeandCCA.

18|August2012

slewwithbowsandarrows,reveringtheanimalasakindof“fatherprovider.”ThenthewhiteEuropeansettlerscame,bearinglongrifles.Theyblastedtheherdsdowntonearlynothing,makingpooruseofthecarcassesalongtheway. Areweheadeddownasimilarpathwiththespottedseatrouttoday?Haveweforgottenthelessonsofthepast?Isourculturewithoutwisdom? IbelieveIsaiditbestwhenIwroteanarticledetailingthedemiseofthetotuavaintheslender,emeraldoceanlyingbetweenBajaCaliforniaandthemainlandofMexico.Commercialfishermenusinglivebaittheredepletedonce-plentifulschoolsofgiantwhiteseabasstoapointwheretakingonetodayisrareindeed.AnglersfoundtobeinpossessionofonebyMexicanauthoritiescanexpecttohavetheirboatsseized.Whenhumanbeingsidentifythemosteffectivewaytoharvestaparticularspeciesoffish,thendeploythemethodonawidespreadbasis,thesustainabilityofthespecieswillbethreatened. ItpaystorememberwhathappenedsoonafterPaulPrudhommecreatedtherecipeforblackenedredfish.HelicoptersandspotterplanespointednetboatsstraightatschoolsofspawnersintheopenGulf.Withouttheinterventionofforward-thinkingpioneerswhostartedwhatwasthencalledtheGulfCoastConservationAssociation,thecommercialfishingindustrywouldlikelyhavescoopedupenoughfishtocauseacollapseofthespecies. Today,atstateofthearthatcheries,TexasParksandWildlifeofficialsraisemillionsofreddrumfingerlingsandreleasethemintoourcoastalbays.Redfishandtheeconomicentitiesassociatedwiththemareapparentlyheadedforlong-termprosperity,partlybecausetherecreationaldailybaglimitforredsissetatthree. Conversely,thetroutlimitremainsat10,rightwhereit’sbeensince1984,inallpartsofthestateexceptinitssouthernextremes.Manypeoplebelievethisnumberistoohightosustainexcellentfishingover

thelonghaul. I’lladmitI’mnotconcernedaboutthepreservationofthetroutfisheryforpurelyselflessreasons.Onthecontrary,I’mconcernedforselfishreasons.I’dliketoseethefisherythriveandprolongtheexistenceofthelifestyleIlove,awayoflifedependententirelyonthepresenceoflargespeckledtrout. Withoutthesetrout,Ihavenofishinglife.Withoutthefishinglife,Ihavenocontextinwhichtowrite,tomakemovies,totellmystory.Withoutthetrout,Iamdoomedtostridemorequicklyintothedarkarmsofoblivion.Forgivemeforwantingtostayoutalittlelongerinthelight. Iwillnotcomplainhereanymoreabouttheactionsofothers.Ihavenocontroloversuchthings.IwillstatefortherecordtheactionsItaketoensurethepreservationofthespottedseatrout. Ienforceafivefishlimitonmyboat,thoughstatelawallowsmycustomerstokeeptentrouteach.Iofferacatchandreleasediscountwhichequalsabout10%ofthetotalpriceofanaveragecharter.Thoughstatelawallowseachanglertoharvestonetroutover25inchesdaily,wekillandkeepnotroutover22inchesintentionally,exceptforascantfew,extremelylargespecimens,whichclientswishtouseforskinmounts. Idon’tfishtournamentswhichallowandencouragetrouttobebroughttothescalesdead,thoughIregularlyreceivecallsaskingmetodoso.Iturndownopportunitiestomakemoneybyfishinginsucheventsandbyfishingwithlivebaittoo,preciselybecauseIdonotwanttobeinvolvedinthoseactivities. Idotargetbigtroutthroughouttheyear,usingartificialluresexclusively.Icarryacameraatalltimeswhenfishing,soIcandocumentthedimensionsofthetrophieswecatchandrelease.Isendmanyclientsawaywithsomethingtheycanusetopreservelastingmemories. Inessence,Ioperatemybusinessoutofpassionforthesportoffishing,notintheinterestsofgreedandgluttony.Ibelievemyactionsspeaklouderthananywords,providingleadershiptoanglerswholooktoexpertsasamodelforhowthingsshouldbedone.Sadly,manypeopleinthefishingbusinessdonotoperatefromthismindset. Thisimportanceofthe“problem”relatedtotheTexastroutfisherypalesincomparisontosomeothersweface.Withyoungmenandwomenjettingofftowarfrontsdaily,resourcesacrosstheglobedwindling,andwholenationaleconomieswobblingonweakknees,otherissuesundoubtedlycarrygreatersignificance.Still,bigchangescanonlybemadethroughthetakingofsmallsteps. Theperfecttimeforchangingourcollectiveattitudeandbehaviortowardthespottedseatrouthasprobablyalreadypassed,butwecanstillmakeadifference.Theurgencyisgreaterthanever.Ifwechoosetochangeorways,wecanhelpmakethespeckledtrout’sstoryturnoutmorelikethereddrum’sandlesslikethebuffalo’s.Futuregenerationswilljudgeusbythechoiceswemake.

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Phone 361-688-3714Email [email protected] www.FishBaffinBay.com www.captainkevblogs.com

TROUTTRACKERGUIDESERVICE

KevinCochranisafull-timefishingguideatCorpusChristi(PadreIsland),TX.Kevinisaspeckledtroutfanaticandhascreatedseveralbooksanddvdsonthesubject.Kevin’shomewatersstretchfromCorpusChristiBaytotheLandCut.

KEVINCOCHRAN

Troutlikethis26-inchspecimencanbehardtocatchonluresintheheat.Theauthorreleasesallsuchtrout,hopingtocatchthemagainsomeday,whentheyareconsiderablybigger.

20|August2012

LED Marine Lighting

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STORYBYBILLYSANDIFER

Weallknowagreatmanypeoplebutinmyexperienceitisraretomeetsomeonewhoquicklybrushesasideallofthedefensivebarriersallofushaveandalmostimmediatelyworkshiswayintoourheartsandourlives.Mydearfriendrecentlydeceased,RodneyDavis,wasoneofthosepeople.ItwaswithmuchsadnessthatIattendedhisfuneralyesterday.HediedlastWednesdayofaheartattackattheageof53.Hewastotallyfearlessandneverletdifficultiesimpedehisefforts.Oneofhiseyeswasbadlydamagedinafishingaccidentinhisyouthyethewasanextraordinaryanglerandhunter. YearsagoRodneyandIwereonThreeSloughsinAlazanBayinmysmallHell’sBayflatsskiffandithadtobeblowingasteady40milesperhour.TherewasalargecompartmentinthesternandHell’sBayhadneglectedputting“clamshell”fittingsovertheholescutforwiringandcables.Weweresteadilycatchingtroutonplastic

whenInoticedwewereridinglowinthestern.Iopenedthehatchtodiscoveraboutafootandahalfofwaterinthatsterncompartmentandmorecominginwitheachswell. RodneywascastinginthebowsoItoldhimtocrankinaswewereinseriousdangerofsinking.IhadaonegallonbucketandbeganbailingandRodneyjustkeptoncatchingtrout.Ifinallysteppedforwardandshoutedathimabovethehighwindthathecouldeitherhelpmebailorwe’dbothendupswimmingtoshoreaftertheboatsank.HegottheanchorupandIstartedtheengineandattemptedtogetenoughspeedupfortheboattoself-bailbutwestillneededtogetmorewateroutofthatcompartmentfirst. AsIresumedbailingIlookedupandRodneywasbacktocasting.Ifinallygottheboatuptoself-bailingspeedandheadedfortheshallows.AswegainedspeedRodneyputhisrodupandjoined

22|August2012

Right:MydearfriendRodneyDaviswaslaidtorest

recently–asaddayforme.

Below:Rodneywithhisbiggesteverspeck.Caughtandreleased.

(Left)HisfirstandbelovedgrandchildisnamedColt.Notallthatsurprisingisit?Ha.

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meatthecenterconsole.Hesaid,“GeeDad,ifthey’dhavefoundusdrownedtheywouldhavelookedintheicechestandthey’dhavesaidnowondertheydidn’tquitfishing.Theywerecatchinggoodtrout!”Andatthathelaughedandlaughed.Hewasagoodmantoridetheriverwithandmanywillrememberhimtherestoftheirlives. Iwanttocoversomethingoncemoreinhopesfolkswillgenuinelyunderstand.HammerheadsharksarethemostdifficultofallsharksIknowoftosuccessfullycatchandrelease.I’mquitefamiliarwiththeol’“theyfighttothedeath”theoryandI’llbethefirsttoadmitthatisafactINSOMECASESbutbyfarthegreaternumberdiebecausetheyneedtobehandledwithmorecarethanothersharkspecies. Whenananglerrealizeshehasahammerheadofanysizeonhisline,otheranglerswithhimneedtobegettingreadyinadvance.Tags,ropes,pliersandde-hookersshouldallbelaidoutandreadily

accessiblebeforethefishcomesin.Onepersonshouldbedesignatedascameramanandtakeallthepictures.If

everyonetakesaturnatrunningtothetruck,findingtheircameraandtakingpics,thetimeinvolvedwillmostoftenkilltheshark.Toyouitdoesn’tseemlikealotoftimebuttothehammerheaditisthedifferencebetweenlifeanddeath. GettingitalldoneandgettingthatfishbackinthewaterASAPisanabsolutenecessitytosuccessfulcatchandreleaseofthesefish.Don’tdragahammerheadupontodrysandorevenintoafewinchesofwater.Thisdislodgesitsbodyorgansandoftenleadstodeath.Lookatthepictureofmereleasingahammerheadafriendrecentlysentme.It’sobviousIcouldn’tcarelessaboutpicturesandamtotallyfixatedonsuccessfullyreleasingthefishandwhileit’sstillinafewinchesofwater,althoughIpreferitbedeeperthanthattohelpsupportitsbodyweight.Ifyouleaveoneinthewateritwilltwisttoandfrowithitstailbutifyoubringitoutofthewateritwillgyrateaboutandslamitsbodyonthehardsandwithgreatforce,

“Getting it all done and getting that fish

back in the water ASAP is an absolute necessity to successful catch and release of these fish.”

Tohandleahammerheadcorrectlyeverybodymustgetreadyasthefishiscomingin.Keepingitasdeepaspossibleduringunhooking,tagging,photographing,etc.,isequallyimportant.

24|August2012

repeatedly.Obliviouslythishasthepotentialofinjuringthefishbadly. Havetherespecttobuyagoodpairofhook-outsorade-hookerandremovethehookASAP.IfitbecomesobviousyouarenotgoingtobeabletogetthehookoutinaSHORTPERIODOFTIME,cuttheleaderascloseaspossibleandleavethehookinhim. Whenyouwalkoutwiththesharkandreleaseit;ifitarchesitsbackanditsheadandmouthareoutofthewaterasitswimsalongitisnotalright;itisbadlystressed.Ifthishappens,gobackoutandgetitandcontinuetowalkwiththefishuntilitputsitsmouthandheadunderwater.Itcanthenbesuccessfullyreleased.Youmustwalkasharkforwardwhenreleasingit.Topullitbackwardsbythetailwilldrownit.It’snotcomplicated,butdoingitrightmakesallthedifferenceintheworldwhetherthesharklivesordies.It’syourchoice. YesterdayIhadtheprivilegeoftalkingwithCapt.ThomasHilton;ownerofHilton’sOffshoreAtlas,Hilton’sRealtimeNavigatorandvariousrelatedproductsoutofArcola,TX.IwantedhispermissiontoincludeoneofhisdailysurfacetemperatureschartsoftheGulfinthisarticle.Hewasverygraciousandgavepermissionandtoldmehehasdatagoingbackforsometime. Iaskedhimifhewasseeinganythingdifferentconcerningournearshorewatersforthepastfewyearsandhesaidhehadn’t.HischartclearlyshowsthecoldcurrentcomingoutofMexicowhichhesaysisnormal.Itoldhimthatforthepast4or5yearswehavehadanunusualamountofcoldwaterimpactingthesurfzoneinmidsummerwhichwasactuallyturningitintoanoff-colored,nolifezone. Now,don’tmisunderstand;theupwellingshavealwaysbeentherebutnotascoldandnotforsuchlongperiodsoftime.Isurvivedthesargassum,thewindandtheredtideforalongtimebutitisthiscoldupwellinginmidsummerthatfinallymadeitfinanciallyimpossibleformetocontinueguidingonPINS. Thecoldwaterbeingpusheddownbythewarmerwateroftheshallowersurferodesawayattheoffshorebarandturnswaterthatistypicallycleartooff-coloredanditscoldenoughtomovethebaitfishoutandthepredatorsgowiththem.Ourwindowsofopportunityforqualityconditionsforsurffishingseemtogetsmallerandsmallereachyear. Asofthiswriting205Kemp’sridleyturtlenestshavebeenfoundbreakinglastyear’srecordof199.

Ifwedon’tleaveanytherewon’tbeany.–BillySandifer

SandyBakercapturedthisimageJune02,2012ontheshoresofMatagordaBay.

Please rePort FlamIngo sIghtIngs

WhileflamingosarenotcommoninTexas,oneGreaterFlamingoandoneAmericanFlamingohavebeen

documentedonoccasionfromTampicotoLouisianasince2005.Flamingosarelargewadingbirds,thesizeoftheGreatBlueHeron,withlongbentbillsusedtostrain

foodfromshallowlakesandlagoons.TheAmericanFlamingowashatchedatRioLagartosBiosphereReserve

inNorthernYucatanandhasayellowbandonitsrightleginscribed-HDNT.Thisbirdisbrightcoralpink.The

GreaterFlamingoisanoldworldspecieswhichescapedfromazooinKansas.Pleasereportsightingsatssi@stx.

rr.comorbytelephone361-980-8865.

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Phone 361-937-8446Website www.billysandifer.com

Retiredafter20+yearsofguidinganglersinthePadresurf,BillySandifer(“PadreofPadreIsland”tofriends&admirers)isdevotedtoconservingthenaturalwondersofN.PadreIsland&teachingallwhowillheedhislessonstoenjoythebeautyofthePadreIslandNationalSeashoreresponsibly.

BILLYSANDIFER

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so we were In Port mansFIeldtakingabreakafteramorningfishingtripandIwassittinginmyfavoriteandmostuncomfortablechaireatingaJimmyDeansausageandeggcroissantandwatchingtelevisionwhenacommercialinterruptedsomeguytryingtocatchbigtoothywolffishoutofano-nameriverinsomeGodforsakenjungle.IwasirritatedbecauseasthecommercialbeganIcouldtellitwasgoingtobeoneofthoseinfomercialsthatgoonforeverandeverandIwantedtoseeifthe

wolffishgottoeatthefishermanthatwastryingtocatchhim. Icanstillheartheannouncer’svoice,“WiththeBubbaBlade,onecutandyou’rethrough!” Wellalittlechucklingwentthroughourgroupaswesnickeredatthename“BubbaBlade”andnaturallycommentsweremadeastowhetherornotitcamewithagimmefishingcapandacanofcheapbeer. Butwaitasecond…lookatthewayitslicesthroughthattuna!We

STORYBYMARTINSTRARUP

26|August2012

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watchedastheBubbaBlademadeshortworkofanuntoldnumberofbigfishandImadethecommentthatI’dliketohaveonetoreplacemyoldRapalabladethathasservedmesowellforsolong. AfewweekslaterapackagearrivedaddressedtomysonandlaterthateveningSterlinghandedmeanearlyFather’sDaypresent;myveryownBubbaBlade9-inchflexbladefilletknife.Ireallydidn’trealizethattheknifeIhadseenontelevisionwassobigorthatthehandlewassowellthoughtout.WhatIwasholdinginmyhandwastrulyanewconceptinfilletknives. NowtheBubbaBladehasaTefloncoatedbladethatprotectsthebladefromcorrosionandactuallyhelpsitslidethroughfish.Itismadeof8CR13MOV,ahighcarbonstainlesssteelwithaRockwellhardnessof56-58.Whatthatmeansisthatthebladecanbemadeincrediblysharpandthenholdsthatedge…ashavingsharpedge,Imightadd. TheBubbaBladeknifehasafulltangwhichmeansthatthepartofthebladethatisinthehandlegoesfromtheguardtothehiltmakingforastrongerknife.ThehandleisunlikeanythatI’veseenonaknife.WhatthemakersoftheBubbaBladedidisaddedathermoplasticpolymerhandleandwrappedthatwithaspecialsyntheticrubbermadeoutofthestrongestcompoundsonthemarkettoday.Thehandleisbigandfitsmyhandwellandyoucangetagoodgriponit.Ithasmultiplethumbandfingerdepressionsthatallowyoutoapplydifferent

pressureswhenworkingtheblade.Thisheatandchemicalresistanthandleisengineeredtostaystickyasitgetswetwhichgivesyouagreatgripontheknife. Nowthemanufacturerstatesthateachknifeishandsharpenedtorazorsharpnessbeforeitleavesthefactorybutwhileminewassharpitwasn’tquitethatsharp.Afewstrokesonthecrocksticksfixedthatthough,bringingitshavingsharpwithlittleeffort.Icouldn’twaittouseitonsometroutandredfish. OnournextfishingtripIwasabletotrytheBubbaBladeoutontroutandreds.Itslicesthroughtrouteffortlesslyanditmadeshortworkoftheredfish;Iwasimpressedaswerethosewhowatchedmeuseit.Theknifewouldstillshaveafterfilletingareallygoodmessoftroutandredfish…Cool.Thisthingwouldtakecareof

zombieswithnoproblematall. NowIwillsaythatthebladedoesn’tflexaseasilyasfilletkniveswithsmallerbladesandpeoplewithweakforearmsorwristsmayfindittoughtouseonalotoffish.ButformetheknifefunctionsflawlesslyandIhavenoproblembendingthebladetoadjusttothecut.Thehandlereallygivesyouleverageandwiththethumbpadsonallsidesoftheknifeitmakesiteasytouse. UnfortunatelyIdidn’tgetanypicturesofthatfilletingsession,but… Thismorningwehadalightnorthwindandaquicktriptoaprotectedshorelinefoundthetopwaterbiteonatdawn.IthasbeenalongtimesinceIwasinafeedingfrenzylikewefoundthismorning.Thetroutweren’tjustblowinguponourbaits;theywereattackingandtryingtoassassinatethem.NoneofustookthetimetotakeanypicturesoftheactionalthoughIdidtakesomepicturesoftheBubbaBladeinactionwhenwegotbacktothehouse. We’vebeengettingalotofrainlatelyandthemosquitoesatmyhouseareviciousandbloodthirstysoIconvincedmywifetoletmeuseherkitchentofilletsomefishandtakesomepictures.SherelentedontheconditionthatIcleanthemessupandIquicklyagreed. Icleanedmyfishnexttothesinkandhadmysonwhoisnotaphotographertakeafewpictures.NowIknowthattheydonotshowyouhoweasilythisknifeslicesthroughatroutbuttrustmeitdoes.Healsotooksomepicturesoftheknifeonthedeckoftheboatsoyoucangetanideaofwhatitlookslike.Ifyoureallywanttoseeitinactionifyougotowww.bubbablade.comyou’llfindpicturesandvideosofthisfilletknifeandastiffbladeknifethattheyalsooffer. OkaymywifesaidImissedsomescalesontheedgeofherstainlesssteelsinksoIhavetogo,butcheckthisknifeoutifyou’relookingforareallygoodfilletknifethatdoesn’tneedelectricitytofunction.I’llkeepusingitonfishandwilltryitondeerwhenbowseasonstarts. BeSafe.

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Email [email protected]

MartinStrarupisalifelongsaltwaterenthusiastandoutdoorsman.Martinisalsoacollectoranddealerofvintagefishingtackleandlures,especiallythosemadeinTexas.

MARTINSTRARUP

28|August2012

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I’m not sure what they call ItbutI’mguessingbynowsomebodysurelyhascamewithanameforthediseasethatplaguesallfishermenandcausesthemtopickupeveryfishingrodtheyseeandexamineitasiftheyweresearchingforExcalibur. It’salwaysfuntowalktherodaislesofyourfavoritetacklestoreandwatchasanxiousanglersremovethemfromtheracksandputthemthroughtheirownbrandoftesting.Shakingtherodinanexaggeratedhooksetorcastingmotionseemtobethemostpopularteststhatperspectiverodbuyersperforminanefforttofindjusttherightone.IoncewalkedbyarackofrodsandthoughtIwasinanoldcowboysandIndiansshoot‘emupbecauseoftwofishermenwereshakingrodssoviolentlyitsoundedlikearrowswhizzingthrough

theair.IraisedthewhiteflagasIwalkedupinhopestheywouldn’tmistakemefortheenemy. Tryingtogetthefeelofarodandhowitrespondsinyourhandiswhatweareallafterandthereiscertainlynoone-size-fits-allproductoutthere.Ihaveseenatonofdifferentrodmodelsincountlesssizesandconfigurationsthataremadetocatcheverythingfrompanfishtogrouperandeverythinginbetween.Somefolkswantastraight-upweapon,afish-whoopingpieceofgraphitethatwillmakeeventhetoughestadversarytrembleinfear.Otherspreferamoreforgivingrodthatallowsananglertoplaytheircatchandenjoythefight.Eachstyleservesapurposeandisawelcomeadditiontonearlyanyangler’sarsenal. OnethingthatIhavenoticedovertheyearsishowdifferent

STORYBYCHUCKUZZLE

It’simportanttoputareelonanyrodyouaretryingoutinthestoretogetatruefeelofhowtherodbalancesandreacts.

30|August2012

FastactionsandlighterblanksarethenormformostTexasanglers.

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stylestendtoberelatedtodifferentareasofthecountry.OnecomparisonthatweoftenmakehereisbetweenTexasandFloridafishermenwhichareusuallyreallyentertaining.IknowIhavepersonallywitnessedFloridafishermenpickTexasanglersoutatthedockbecausetheywereusingbaitcastreelsinsteadofspinninggear,whichisthenorminFlorida.AnotherthingIhavewitnessedfirsthandisthatnearlyalltheFloridafishermenIhavebeenontheboatwithorbeenaroundusefishingrodsthatarecomparabletobroomsticksorthehandlesofgardentools.Theserodsareusuallyultra-stiffno-nonsensemodelsthatwouldjerktheteethoutofamuleifneedbe.Theserodsaregenerallypairedupwithhigh-endspinninggearthat’sspooledupwithheavytestbraid.TheonlyconclusionIcancometoonthissetupisthatFloridaanglersneedtobepreparedforanynumberofspeciesfromtarponondownsotheyrarelyventureoutunder-gunned. IlearnedthislessonthehardwaywithmygoodbuddyBinkGrimesandmysonHunterseveralyearsbackwhilefishingintheIndianRiverandalongthebeachfrontnearFortPierceFlorida.WewerearmedwiththelatesttravelrodsfromaveryreputableTexasrodcompanyatthetimeandweregiveninstructionstoputthesenewrodstothetest.TherodswerestandardissueTexastroutandredfishmodels,surelycapableoftamingFloridafish,orsowethought.Afterthreedaysofchasingtroutandsnookitwasveryevidentwhytheseguysfishwithsuchheavygear. ArrivinghomeIwalkedintotherodmanufacturer’soffice,openedthetravelcases,andpouredoutwhatwasleftoftheshinynewgraphiterodsintoanicepileofsplinters.Snook,jacks,andafewotherunidentifiedspecieshadeffectivelyblownupeveryrodwebroughtandleftthelocalslaughingatusasweloadedupandwentbacktoTexas. Ishould’veknownbetterwhenwestartedtalkingtootherfishermenaroundusandtoldthemwewereusing12poundmonowith25

Newerandbetterengineeredtravelrodskeepanglersreadytotakeadvantageoffishingopportunitiesinfarflungplaces.

Microrodsarefastbecomingpopularwithbothfreshwaterandsaltwaterfishermenastheyaddanotheroptiontotheirfishingarsenal.

32|August2012

poundfluorocarbonshockleadersandtheylaughedatuswhilesayingsarcastically,“Goodluckwiththat.” NowontheotherendofthespectrumisatypicalTexassetup,arodthathandlesatopwaterplugwitheaseandcanscalebacktoaccommodatealightjigheadandsoftplasticoffering.HereinTexasweareunbelievablyblessedwithsomefantasticrodmanufacturersfromrighthereintheLoneStarState.Fortunatelyforustheserodmakersareveryintunewiththewaycoastalandfreshwateranglersliketofishsothechoicesarenearlyendless.Top-endrodsthatweighjustafewouncesandcomeinamyriadofactionsallowanglerstheopportunitytofishacomfortablesetupandnotcompromisetheirabilitytofightbigfish.FromlightningquickmodelswithonlyafractionofflexinthetiptoadownrightsoftandwhippymodelthatisasforgivingasyourbestfriendtheserodssayitallaboutTexasfishingandtheanglersthatusethem. Anewtrendthatseemstobegaininginpopularityarethesmallersizedrodsoftenreferredtoas“micro-rods.”Thesemodelsareperfectfortravelingorjustscalingbacktoenjoyfightingfishofsmallersizes.Takingoneofthese4or4.5footrodsontheboatordowntoyourfavoritefishingholecanopenupawholenewworldfortheanglerwillingtogivethematry.It’sverysimilartothethrillaflyfishermangetswhentheyuseasmallersetuporwhenahunterputsdownagunandpicksupabowinstead.It’sanewchallengethatheightensthesenseofaccomplishmentandthrillofthepursuit.Tacklingevenanundersizedratredfishonamicro-rodandlightlineisnothingshortofariot,arealeyeopenerifyouwill.Smallspeckledtroutunderthebirds,swarmingladyfishorevenagafftopbecomeextremely

entertainingwhenthesizeofthetacklegetsscaledback–trustme. Iguessinthegrandschemeofthingsit’sgreattohaveoptionswhenitcomestoyourfavoritefishingsetup.Ifweallhadtousethesamegearthatwouldbelikeatriptothedentistorpayingtaxes,notmuchfunatall.VaryingyourgearandexploringnewmethodswillinevitablymakeyouamuchbetteranglerandI’msureweallwouldlikethattobethecase.Thewaywefishandhowwegoaboutchasingourfavoritespeciestosomedegreeactuallydefinesusasanglers.It’softenbeensaidtherearefourstagesoffishermen.Firststageanglersjustwanttocatchafish.Secondstageanglerswanttocatchalotoffish.Thirdstageanglerswanttocatchabigfish.Andlastbutnotleastisthefourthstageanglerwhowantstocatchfishtheway“they”wanttocatchfish.Iheardthatstoryaboutthestagesandcouldn’tagreemore,weallfitintheresomewhereandthereisplentyofroomforeveryone.

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Waist-Deepwaderplaysathrashingsnookwhilehopingasharkisn’tdrawntothecommotion.

Asharkfollowingahookedfishorshadowingastringerisguaranteedtogetthewader’sattention.

34|August2012

a salty FrIend recently stated,“WhenI’minwaist-deepwater,Iwanttobewading.Iseenoreasontostayinaboat,andit’sjustmorefunwhenyou’reintherewith‘em!” Thatisasentimentechoedbymanyable-bodiedanglersalongtheTexascoast;wadingisourschoolofplugging,onethatdatesbackmorethan75years.Ofcourse,severalexceptionsmustbeconceded. Forexample,attemptingtotraversetheseeminglybottomlessgoo-piemuckofa“backlake,”sinkingtoakneewitheachlaboriousstep,canbebrutal.Alsoaconsideration,adeliberatewadealongavastshorelineofunknownpotentialmightwastetoomuchtime.Youcanonlymovesofastwhileeffectivelyfishing;driftingorpolingisamuchmoreefficientapproachforcoveringwatertolocatefish. Butwhenthebottomismanageableandprimewaterwaitsjustdownwind,thecelebrated“TexasTwo-Step”isagreatwaytogo.Thelowprofilehelpspreventspookingshallowfishandyouhavethetimetopositionforaccuratecasts. And,fortheuninitiated,here’sthesecretthrillofwading:Eachfishtrulyseemslargerthanlife.Abigstrikeattheendofalongandunencumberedcastacrossashimmeringflattakesthegametoahigherlevel. Unfortunately,“whenyou’reintherewith‘em,”thecozyassociationisnotjustconfinedtospeckledtroutandredfish. Here’salookatthetoptwomarqueehazardsofsaltwaterwading:SHARKS–The“GrayfinExpress”istheapexnightmare.We’renottalkingaboutthree-footankle-snappers;no,we’relookingatafull-blownbullorlemonorblacktipmeasuringsix-to-sevenfeetandappearingfromnowhereinpursuitofahookedorstrungfish. Evenanhonestfivefootercangiveyouamajorcaseofthespooks.Whenarevved-upsharkofthiscaliberisflyingallitsflagsasitpasseswithinrod-tiprange,itwillseriouslygetyourattention. Ofcourse,thesharkisafteryourfish–notyou.TheinshoreGulfspeciesareplentifulbutnoneisaroutineman-eater.Thebitesthatdooccur(mostofteninFlorida)almostcertainlyaretheresultofmistakenidentity.Asplashinghandorkickingfootcanresembleabaitfish,especiallyamidthelimitedvisibilityoffoamingwavesorsandycurrents. LargersharkstraditionallyareassociatedwiththeopenGulfbuttheBigBoyscanshowintheprimarybays.Physicalsizeisn’tadeterrent;lookattheplayfulschoolsofdolphinoftensightedinsidethepassesandshipchannels. Bayorbeachfront,keepinmindthatthesuccessfulwadereitherdraggingastringerorfighting/landingafishis,literally,trollingforsharks.Akeensharkisattractedbythescentandsoundof

astrugglingfish-yoursix-poundsowtrout,youluckyrascal-andshootsinforthekill. Thebitefromasixfooteronahookedorstrung“keeper”specktypicallyseverstheentirebodyinacleancrescentrightbehindthegillplates.Ofcourse,thestrickenheadpromptlystreamspuffsofblood,notexactlythebestsharkrepellentknowntoman. Ifthishappens,yousincerelywanttoeasequietlyoutthearea.Unloadthefish-ladenstringerandshuffleforthebeachorboat.Youareusinga10-to12-footcordstringerwithabigcorkontheend,right?Andaquick-releaseknot,yes? It’sarookiemistaketofirmlyknotaflimsylittlesix-footperchstringertoyourbelt.Don’teventhinkaboutthehorrifyingmatadorpassesthatcouldoccurwhenyouaretangledinawaist-deepgirdleoftroutanda

Bigstingraysusuallyarecaughtindeeperwaterbutoccasionallymovethroughpassesorwithinreachofthebeach.

–PartOne

STORYBYJOEDOGGETT

TSFMAG.com|35

“litup”lemonisintentonfeeding. Afishbasket(liferingfloatwithmeshbagunderneath)mightpreventafewgill-choppedfish,butthedragofthebasketcanbeanordealamidbreakingsurforrunningcurrent.I’veseldomusedthem,buttheconceptisvalid. Asaltyployifyouseeacurioussharknosingcloseistoviciouslysmackthewaterwiththerod.YoumightevenpoketheBadBoywiththetip-“Havesomeofthis,sucker!” Butthekeywordhereis“curious.”Acautioussharkoftenisspookedbyaggressiveswordplay;however,oncetheinvaderhitsafish,Iquestionthetactic.Thesuddenrodcommotionnearthelit-uppredatormightsendthewrongsignalandexciteareflexiverushforafollow-upsnap.No,myadviceonceanagitatedsharkhasgrabbedafishistoremainmotionlessorbackquietlyaway. Youknowwhattheysayabout“tuggingonSuperman’scape.”Repeat,statisticssupportthefactthatinshoreGulfsharksalmostneverknowinglyattackhumans.Whatyouwanttoavoidisaclose-quarterscaseofmistakenidentity. Frankly,Iamsurprisedmorewadersarenotaccidentallyhitwhileattemptingtohand-grabfish.Youslidethesplashingspeckcloseandthegraspinghandisrightthereasajacked-upsharkboilsuptohittheeasiesttarget. Severalyearsago,whilepluggingwaist-deepintheFloridaEverglades,Ihadafive-poundsnooksnatchedoffthesurfacebyabigbullshark.Thebeatensnookwasonitsside,justbeyondmyoutstretchedhand. Thesharkwasmovingfastasfreightandlookedalmostblackin

thetannin-stainedwater.AllIsawwasthebluntsnoutandopenjawslungingstraightinmydirection;Iheardthe“Clop!”asthesharkseveredthepoorsnookandIfeltthewashagainstmythighsasthedamnedthingblewpast. Thatwasonlyoneofseveraldramaticencounters. Ayearortwoprior,Iwasyankedbackwardsinthigh-deepbaywaterwhenablacktipgrabbedthecordstringertrailinginmywake.Eightkeeperspeckswerewaddedunderthecorkandthesharktooktwofishintwobites.Itmadealazyanddeliberatecircle,passingwithinseveralyards,thenvanished. StrapmetothenearestpolygraphandI’llswearsevenfeet.Well,atleastsix-and-a-half. Anothertime,afive-footlemonchasedahookedskipjackthroughthetidewashalongabarrierisland.Theterrifiedskipjackracedupontoonthesand-andthesharkfollowed,scatteringshellandsprayinafuriousrush.Iwasstandinginknee-deepfoamandthesharkwashalfoutofthewaterbehindme,feedingonthedrybeach.Don’tletanyoneevertellyoulemonsdon’thavea“Hot”button. Yetanothertime-well,yougettheidea. WadetheGulfCoastlongenoughduringthewarm-watermonthsandyouwillhavealegitimatesharkmakeaclosepassatafish.Countonit.Book‘em,Danno. AndIdon’tcareifyouroldmanwasTarzanandyourmotherwasWonderWoman,youareoutofyourelement.Inwaist-deepwater,thesalvationofdrysandmightaswellbeinadifferentzipcode.Thinkaboutit;youareutterlyhelplessandroyallyscrewedifthewrongsignalssomehowshootacrossthetide. Isupposeit’sagreattributetosharksthatthistragedyalmostneveroccurs. STINGRAYS–Thenotorious“maleflounder”isapestilencethatposesamuchgreaterrealthreatforpainandmiserythananyGulfCoastshark.

Havinganicefishchoppedbehindthegillsatpoint-blankrangebyabullsharkisaguaranteedattention-getterinwaist-deepwater.

Largestingraysoftenmoveontoflats,butatleastinclearwateryoucanseethem.

36|August2012

Theyflourishduringwarm-watermonthsinallthemajorbaysystemsandbeachfronts.Iamreferringtothebottom-huggingstingrays,notablythesouthernstingrayandtheAtlanticstingray,notthefree-swimmingspeciessuchascownoseraysandspottedeaglerays. Theaverageinshorestingrayisbetweenonefootandtwofeetindiameter.Buttheygrowmuchlarger;theoldTackleTimeTournamentheadquarteredeachJuly4thweekendatthebaseoftheTexasCityDikehadastingraydivisionthatroutinelyproducedfishweighingmorethan100pounds(nottomentionreallybigsharks,notablytigers). ThesehideousstingraysusuallyarecaughtintheopenGulfbutIwouldnotcaretobeteverythingIownthatonedoesnotoccasionallyflutternearthebeachorthroughthenearestpass. Towalkupthebackofsuchaghastlycreature-well,let’snotgothere. Regardlessofsize,thestingraycoziedintothemuckcanbeatrip-wreckerforthecareless(orunlucky)wader.Youblunderontooragainsttheray,anditreactswithaslashingstabofthetail.Thenastyserratedspinewithitspoisonoussheathislocatednearthebaseofthetail,andthereflexiveaimusuallyisexcellent.Yougetstruckwitharipping,tearingspike,usuallyinthefoot,ankle,orcalf. Thegoodnews:Youalmostcertainlywon’tdie(withallrespectstothelateSteveErwin,the“CrocodileHunter,”whosomeyearsagocaughtthespineinthechestwhileswimmingwithabigone). Thebadnews:Theimmediatepaincanbeexcruciating(mitigatedgreatlybyimmersioninhotwaterduringtheracetothenearestemergencyroom).Andthestabfromthespineis“dirty,”withfragmentsoftherupturedsheathoftenremaininginthewoundchannel.Seriousinfectioncanresult,requiringmonthsofhealing. Thesaltywisdomofshufflingyourfeetwhenwadingiscertainlytrue,andthissimplepracticeprobablykeepsyououtofharm’sway99-percentofthetime.Itworksbyalertingburiedraysofyourapproach.Getinthehabit,always,unlessyoucanplainlyseethebottominshallow“ginclear”water. Fortunately,stingraysarenotaggressive.It’stheraythatyoublunderontowithoutwarningthatwillnailyou.Keepingthatinmind,beforebailingfromaboatforawade,takeamomenttopoketheimmediatebottomwitharodtip.Thistimely“tip”mightsparealotofgrief. Stingraysarenotevenlydistributed.Theyprefersoftbottomanddislikeoysterreefs.But,asarule,ifyouseeone,othersprobablyareinthearea.Theydon’tschoolbuttheydotendtocongregate,onehere,oneoverthere,thatsortofthing.Thisisnotallbad;keepinmindthatstingraysandredfishoftengotogether.Themuckybottomfavorsfeedingforboth,soseeingtheoccasionalraymightsuggestaproductiveshoreline. Whatyoudon’twantisanover-abundance. Once,Ibailedfromtheboattowadeasmallcovebehindabarrierisland.Thewaterwasclear,maybethighdeep.TheboatdepartedtodropotheranglersandwithinmomentsIsawastingraysnuggledintothesand.Thenanother.Andanother. Thebottomwaslitteredwithstingrays,dozensofthem,frompancake-sizedzapperstobrutesaslargeastrashcanlids.Maybeitwasaspawningritual;Ineverbeforeorsincehavewitnessedsucharendezvousofrays. Ihaltedandlookedaround.Thedryshorelinewas50yardsaway.Castingthe1/2-ouncecopperJohnsonSpritespoonneverenteredmymind.Liketheratintheoldsaying,Ididn’twantthecheeseanymore;Ijustwantedmyfootoutofthetrap. ByshufflingawakelikeaMississippipaddle-wheelerandstabbingmyrodlikeaminedetectoreveryfewyardsIreachedthebeachwithoutgettingbarbed. IhopeIdon’tjinxmyselfhere,butin50yearsoffishingandsurfingI’veyettobehitbyastingray.Severalofoldpluggingfriendshave,afewseveraltimes.MyclosestencounterwasinabackbaynearPortO’Connor;thiswasbackwhenwewadedinhigh-toppedcanvastennisshoes. Ifeltaflutterunderfootandanalarming“Whap!”butnopain.FollowingthewadeIchecktheshoe-aone-inchslicefromthewhippingspinewasontheside. Various“stingrayguards”areavailable,suchasheavyleggingsandre-enforcedbooties.Mostsemi-work,andIcannotdiscredittheusealongtarget-richshorelines.Pleasedonthemifyouaresoinclined.ButtheyaremiserablyuncomfortableinhotweatherandIseldomwearthem. Ofcourse,thiscavalierattitudemightcomefromneverhavingbeenbarbed. Stingraysareoutthereovermudandsandandgrass,lotsofthem.Regardlessoffootwear,ifvisibilityisanissueremembertoshuffle,shuffle,shuffle.Thissimplehabitisyourgreatinsurance. PARTTWO:Currentsandwaves,sunburnandskincancer,exhaustionanddehydration,plusflesh-eatingbacteriaandotherissuesthatcanmakethewhitebassrunonLakeLivingstonlookprettygood.Butwedocherishourwading.

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BowfishingguideEdMcCormickwithanarrowedstingray.Inthewarofmanversusstingray,therearen’tnearlyenoughpeoplestickingtherays.

38|August2012

let’s talk turkey about stIngrays,sinceAugustistheworstmonthforstinger-relatedinjuriesinTexas.Inthislittlebattlebetweenmanandbeast,it’sbeentouch-and-go,withseveralthousandcasualtiesamonganglersandwadersinrecentyears.Focusedonthattrophytroutsomewhereupahead,it’seasytogrowcarelessandspeedupabit,trompingoveraseriouscaseofmisery. GettingwhippedwithapoisonstingeruptosixincheslongisoneoftheworstthingsyoucanexpectfromNaturealongthecoast,ifyoudiscountsharkattacks,whicharerareasdiamonds.Stingrayinjuriesarefairlycommon;somewadershavebeenhitmorethanonce,andcoastalinfirmarieshavebeenfilledwiththeinjuredonoccasion,whenlargenumbersofswimmers,springbreakersandtouristshitthebeach. Stingraysareatoughfoe,nearlyimpossibletosee.TheirstingersaremadeofVasodentin,averystrongcartilage.Itisastingray’ssoledefenseandtheycanrotateandjabinanydirection,likeaMusketeer’s

rapier.Twingroovesonthestinger’sundersidecontainvenom-secretingcells.Whenspinesbreakoffinsidethewound,theyoftencontinuetosecretevenom. Wadingbathersaroundtheglobeareoftenhit,butTexasnodoubtleadstheworldinwadefishermen—someofwhomlimphomeafterbeingstuck.Injuriesrangefromsurfacecutsmoreeasilytreated,andthendeeperpunctures,orevenbroken-offstingersthat,withmanybarbs,havetoberemovedinsurgery.It’sagrimbusiness,andwadefishermenshouldknowwhatthey’regettinginto.Precautionsincludeshufflingslowlyinmurkywater,wearingstingrayleggings,orstickingtoclean,veryshallowwaterwhilekeepingasharplookoutwitheverystep.Wadingbarefootisbeggingfortrouble,ofcourse. Guideshavebeenhitandcareersthreatened.WadingguideMikeMcBrideofPortMansfieldwasstruckthreeyearsagoandwaiteduntilthefollowingdayfortreatment.Bythenhisfootswelledupandturnedblack.Hemissedalotofworkwhilerecovering,andreportedlystilllimpstothisday.

Thedayfollowinginjury,infectiongrowingworseveryrapidly,leavingfortheER.

SeveralhourslaterinER,infectionraging,beginantibiotics,scaryserious.

Thegrimrealityofstingraywounds.

Afterseveralsurgeries,infectiongone,longrecoveryperiodahead.

STORYBYJOERICHARD

TSFMAG.com|39

OneanglerreportedlydiedwhilewadingBoggyatPortO’Connorinthe1990s.ItwasearlyAprilandhewasclosetotheboat,butsteppedintoamuddyholewherelayahugestingray,thatpiercedhisupperthigh.Theguydiedrightthereinshocknexttotheboatandhisbuddy,severalhundredyardsaway,wadedovertoseewhattheproblemwas,thoughtoolate. It’sawonderweweren’thitduringourbeachseiningpartiesbackinhighschooldaysnearSabinePass.Outthere,scootingalongwiththetideandneckdeepinthesurf,coveringafewhundredyardsatabriskpace,youcouldstepontoarealmonster—thoughbigoneslurkinthebaysaswell.Sofar,I’veledacharmedlifeinstingrayhabitat,butthenIdidn’twadenearlyasmuchassome,exceptovershallowgreenrocks.(WeearnedourvisitstotheERbywalkingandpluggingfromalgaeandoyster-coveredjetties,instead). Asforthosebig,life-threateningstingraysintheback-country:Someapparentlyspawninmud-bottomtidalpondseveryspring;guideCurtissCashactuallytargetsthem,notwithabow,butforbigtroutthathovernearby.Hesaysifyoupoletheboataroundand

searchforbigrays,youcanfindsomeseriousbrutesspanningfourfeet,inwateroftentrompedbywaders.Fromthevantagepointofapolingplatformonaboat,hesaysyoucanlayastreamerflyrightonastingray’sbroadback,andoftenabigtroutwillberighttheretopounceonit.“I’veseenthesebigfemalestingraysattendedduringSpringbyseveralsmallermales,thatmovedtowardsuswiththeirstingersupraised,likescorpions.Itwascreepy,”Curtisssaid. TheonlytimeI’vebecomeattachedtoastingray,Iwashelpingremovethemfromapurseseinepulledbystatebiologists.Itwhippeditstailaround“quickerthanacatcanlickitsass,”andthebarbwaspinnedflattomyglove’sopenVelcrostrap,acrossthewrist.Therethestingrayhung,bigasapieplate,flappingitswings,itsstingeraquarterinchfromtendonsinmywrist.Islunghimoff,andheskippedacrossthewaterandslunkaway.Iwastheonlycrewmemberwhoavoidedadirecthit,thoughImadefewerfieldtrips.Ourboatwassuppliedwithchemicalheatpackstotreatstingraywounds,whichsoundslikeagoodidea.Likeacyalumelightstick,theyonlyworkoncewhenyoupopthecontentsinside.They’resaidtoproduceplentyofheatforup

Stingraymissingatailshufflesalong.Unfortunately,theirstingerwillquicklyregenerate.They’realsoagilewiththestinger,thrustinginalmostanydirection.NOAAphoto.

Stingraybedsdowninthesand.Theycancoverthemselvescompletely,exceptforeyesandgillopenings.NOAAphoto.

40|August2012

wound treatment

Whenwading,keepa hotwaterthermosoranothersourceofquickheatontheboat.Heatquicklycooksorde-naturesastingray’sproteinvenom.Heatisyourbestfriendifyou’reeverstruck,andhotwaterpenetratesfarbetterthandryheat.Boilaquartofwaterinthemorninginthemicrowaveandstoreitinathermos,butcoolitslightlywithextrawaterwhentreatingastingraywound.Youdon’twanttoburnthevictim,whohasenoughtrouble.Afterthat,youhavetoworryaboutdamageandlong-terminfection,andthenearestemergencyroomcanprovidetreatment.IfyouwaitanextradaytovisittheER,astingrayinjurycanseriouslyworsen.

stIngray leggIngs

Forstingrayleggings,ForEverlastFishingandHuntingProductsofHallettsville,TexasoffersalineofRay-Guardshields,reefbootsandwadingbootswithshieldsattached.Findthematyourlocaltackleshoporatwww.foreverlast.com.

toanhour. Mostanglersstruckbystingraystakethepainwithoutreallygettingeven.Inthestingraywarssomefloundergiggers,safeintheboat,havepokedafewasameansofpayback.Inthepastfewyears,afewguideshavestartedtakingclientsouttoarrowrays.Waterclarityandcalmshorelinesarerequirements,butrayscanbeshotdayornightfrominexpensivealuminumboatsriggedwithorwithoutlights.Goodvisionandsunglassesarerequiredduringtheday.Theconceptisprettysimple;youfireawayattherayofyourchoice,andhaveabout50feetoflinestoredinabottle,whichfeedsoutatarapidpacewhenacrippledraytakesflight.Afterscoringahit,youfighttheraywiththehandline.Ofteninagingerlyfashion,toavoidpullingthearrowhead

CrystalRulandlandsadinnerplate-sizedstingray.Theseprobablyinjuremorewadersandfishermenthananyothersize.

Paybacksarehell.Thisglumstingrayhasgivenupafteraspiritedfight,afterbeingarrowedsome20feetfromtheboatbyCrystalRuland.

Edwithmystingray,shotatleast50feetfromtheboat,thebarbbarelyholdingon.Edkeepsaseriousgaffforbiggerprey—hisclientshaveshotmonsterstingraysthatrequiredthreearrows.Greenbottleonthebowholdsthefishingline.

Asix-inchstinger,capableoffearfuldamage.Imageatrightshowsthemanybarbsinjustthe

firstinchofsamestinger.PhotobyArlonMotsch.

42|August2012

loose.Ifyoumiss,aprimitivereelquicklycranksthelinebackinthebottle. GuideEdMcCormickinFloridamakesafull-timelivingtakingguidedtripstoshootrays,flounder,sheepshead,andinfreshwater,tilapia,garandmullet.Raysarehiseasiesttarget,ofcourse,beingbroadandslow-moving.Normallyyoufiredownwardatasharpangle,likegiggingflounder,butEdwasshockedwhenIletfly50to60feet,andtwicemyarrowquiveredinaray’sback.Welandedbothfish,thoughthefightwastouch-and-gowiththehandline,eacharrowbarelysticking.Onedoveintoa12-footchannelandclampedtothebottom,butweeasedhimupwithingaffingrangeandhewassoonlimponthecleaningtable.Besidesprovidingdinner,thatwasonelessraytobesteppedonbywaders. Womenaregettingintotheaction;Ed’sgirlfriendCrystalRulanddrilledafewrayswithherowncompoundbow,andshe’srackedupquiteafewinthepasttwoyears.Ed’sjonboatiswideenoughfortwoshootersatthebow,andCrystalandIjostledforpositionwhenatemptingraypresenteditself. Withbowfishing,theaimingpointshiftswithamovingtarget’sdirection,complicatedbyangleofrefraction.Anapproachingrayrequiresaimingagoodwaysshortofhim.Witharaydepartinginahurrygoingstraightaway,youpullbackand“putthebeadrightonhimandgood,”asourCajunneighborssay.Thud!Notaseasyasitsounds:Multiplytherefractionvariablesofarayswimmingtowardsanypointofthecompass.Abeddedraymakesaneasytargethowever,unlessarookiemistakehappens. Edkeepsahugegaffandicechestonhisboat;hisclientshaveshot

raysthatweresobig,theyabsorbedthreearrowsbeforebeinglanded,andafteraconsiderablefight.Thesomewhat-tastywingsarecarvedfromeachrayandtherestdiscarded. Shootingraysiscertainlymoreofachallengethancatchingthemonhookandline;theygenerallyputupaglumfightwithahookintheirmouth,thoughnotalways.Big“barndoor”rayswillsprintaround,pullingdragfromabigreel,whenthey’renotclampedtothebottom.Inouryouthfuloffshoredays,wedealtwiththesemonstersbyblazingawaywithanautomatic.22rifle,whenabighookedonepassedbyonthesurface.Fortunatelywewereoffshore,andourfusilladeseitherthumpedintorayorskippedandsplashedacrossemptywater. Astheysay,paybacksarehell.

Onthecleaningtable:Edbeginscuttingthewingsfromatastystingray.Hesayscuttingthroughon

softlawngrassiseasierontheknifeblade.

TSFMAG.com|43

LegaL notice LegaL notice

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

DeepwaterHorizonSettlements.com 1-866-992-6174

If you have economic loss or property damage because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, you could get money from a class action settlement with BP Exploration & Production Inc. and BP America Production Company (“BP”). Go to DeepwaterHorizonSettlements.com for more information, including information on how to file a claim.

Who is included in the economic & ProPerty damages settlement?

The Economic and Property Damages (“E&PD”) Settlement Class includes people, businesses, and other entities in the states of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, and certain counties in Texas and Florida, that were harmed by the oil spill. The website DeepwaterHorizonSettlements.com has detailed descriptions and maps to help you determine whether a geographic location may be included in the E&PD Settlement. Additionally, you can call 1-866-992-6174 or e-mail [email protected] to find out if a geographic location is included.

What does the economic & ProPerty damages settlement Provide?

The E&PD Settlement makes payments for the following types of claims: (1) Seafood Compensation, (2) Economic Damage, (3) Loss of Subsistence, (4) Vessel Physical Damage, (5) Vessels of Opportunity Charter Payment, (6) Coastal Real Property Damage, (7) Wetlands Real Property Damage, and (8) Real Property Sales Damage. There is no limit on the total dollar amount of the E&PD Settlement; all qualified claims will be paid.

hoW to get Benefits from the economic & ProPerty damages settlement

You need to submit a Claim Form to request a payment. You can get a copy of the various Claim Forms by visiting the website or by calling 1-866-992-6174. Claims can be submitted online or by mail. If you have questions about how to file your claim, you should call the toll-free number for assistance.

The deadline to submit most E&PD claims will be April 22, 2014 or six months after the E&PD Settlement becomes effective (that is, after the Court grants “final approval” and any appeals are resolved), whichever is later. There will be an earlier deadline to submit E&PD Seafood Compensation claims. The earlier deadline to submit Seafood Compensation claims will be 30 days after final approval of the Settlement by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (regardless of appeals). Actual claim filing deadlines will be posted on the website as they become available. Valid claims will be paid as they are approved, beginning shortly after the Court-Supervised Settlement Program commences. It is highly recommended that E&PD Settlement Class Members complete and submit their claim forms promptly. Please read the Medical Benefits Settlement notice because you may also be eligible for benefits from that settlement.

your other oPtions

If you do not want to be legally bound by the E&PD Settlement, you must Opt Out or exclude yourself by October 1, 2012 or you won’t be able to sue BP over certain economic and property damage claims. If you stay in the E&PD Settlement, you may object to it by August 31, 2012. The Detailed Notice explains how to exclude yourself or object.

The Court will hold a hearing on November 8, 2012 to consider whether to approve the E&PD Settlement. You or your own lawyer may ask to appear and speak at the hearing at your own cost. The Court will also consider Class Counsel fees, costs, and expenses including an interim payment of $75 million and additional awards equal to 6% of class claims and benefits paid. Class Counsel fees, costs and expenses under the Economic and Property Damages Settlement Agreement and the Medical Benefits Settlement Agreement jointly cannot exceed $600 million. Class members’ payments will not be reduced if the Court approves the payment of Class Counsel fees, costs, and expenses because BP will separately pay these attorney fees, costs, and expenses.

Economic and Property Damages SettlementProviding Money to Individuals and Businesses

DeepwaterHorizonSettlements.com 1-866-992-6174

If you have a medical claim related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, you could get benefits from a class action settlement with BP Exploration & Production Inc. and BP America Production Company (“BP”). Go to DeepwaterHorizonSettlements.com for more information, including information on how to file a claim.

Who is included in the medical Benefits settlement?

The Medical Class includes (1) clean-up workers and (2) certain people who resided in specific geographic areas in coastal and wetlands areas along the Gulf Coast during specific periods in 2010. The website DeepwaterHorizonSettlements.com has detailed descriptions and maps to help you determine whether a geographic location may be included in one of these zones. Additionally, you can call 1-866-992-6174 or e-mail [email protected] to find out if a geographic location is included.

What does the medical Benefits settlement Provide?

The benefits of the Medical Benefits Settlement include: (1) payments to qualifying people for certain acute (short-term) and chronic (ongoing) medical conditions occurring after exposure to oil or chemical dispersants; (2) provision of periodic medical examinations to qualifying people; and (3) creation of a Gulf Region Health Outreach Program, consisting of projects to strengthen the healthcare system. Benefits (1) and (2) will be provided only after the Court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved.

hoW to get Benefits from the medical Benefits settlement

You need to submit a Claim Form to request benefits. You can get a copy of the Claim Form by visiting the website or by calling 1-866-992-6174.

Claims can be submitted by mail. If you have questions about how to file your claim, you should call the toll-free number for assistance.

The deadline for filing a Claim Form is one year after the Medical Benefits Settlement becomes effective (that is, after the Court grants “final approval” and any appeals are resolved). The exact date of the claim filing deadline will be posted on the website. It is highly recommended that Medical Class Members complete and submit their claim forms promptly. Please read the Economic and Property Damages Settlement notice because you may also be eligible for a payment from that settlement.

your other oPtions

If you do not want to be legally bound by the Medical Benefits Settlement, you must Opt Out or exclude yourself by October 1, 2012 or you won’t be able to sue BP over certain medical claims. If you stay in the Medical Benefits Settlement, you may object to it by August 31, 2012. The Detailed Notice explains how to exclude yourself or object.

The Court will hold a hearing on November 8, 2012 to consider whether to approve the Medical Benefits Settlement. You or your own lawyer may ask to appear and speak at the hearing at your own cost. Class Counsel will ask the Court to consider an award of fees, costs, and expenses of 6% of the value of the benefits actually provided under the Medical Benefits Settlement Agreement. Class Counsel fees, costs, and expenses under the Medical Benefits Settlement Agreement and the Economic and Property Damages Settlement Agreement jointly cannot exceed $600 million. Class members’ payments will not be reduced if the Court approves the payment of Class Counsel fees, costs, and expenses because BP will separately pay these attorney fees, costs, and expenses.

Medical Benefits SettlementProviding Benefits to Clean-Up Workers and Certain Gulf Coast Residents

Iamoftenaskedhowonepickstherightareaalongtheshorelinewhenyouhavesomuchthatlookssomuchthesame.It’sagreatquestionandonethat,tobehonest,Ihaveansweredindifferentwaysasmyknowledgeoftheshorelinecontinuedtoincrease. Barrierislandshorelines,minebeingSanJoseandMatagordaIslands,changefromyeartoyear.Duringnormalyearsweseesubtlechangessuchaslessgrowthofbottomgrassduringdroughttoanabundanceofsubmergedgrassinyearsofsubstantialrainfall.Moredrasticchangescanoccurtotheactuallandmassesaftertropicalstormsorhurricanes.Soit’sagiventhattheshorelineschangeandthatwemustchangewiththembut,whatisitthatwelookforthatdistinguishestherightareafromalltheotherareasalonganygivenshoreline.SinceIamlimitedinspaceIwilltrytoexplainwhatitisthatIlookforonanyshorelinenomatterwhatbaysystemIamfishing. Theobviousareaswillhavesometypeofbottomstructure.Thecommononesaresubmergedgrassandsmallareasofscatteredshell.Thesetwoparticularstructuretypesoffergoodambushpointsforpredatorspeciesduetothegenerallyflatandbarenatureofthemajorityoftheshoreline.AddtotheareasofsubmergedgrassandshellsomecontoursuchasparallelgutsandsandbarsandtheareastartstotakeonalookIlike.Ofcourseyou’regoingtoneedsomefoodsogivemesomestringsorpodsofbaitfishresidingintheareaandIamstartingtofeelmoreconfidentbytheminute.

Nowcomesthetrickypart.AfterIhavelocatedtheareaIlikeIbegintolookforfunnels.Funnelsareareaswithinthestructurewherethestructureitselfnarrows,formingwhatIcallafunnel.Afunnelcanbeanareawheretwosandbarsnarroworitcanbeanareaofheavygrasswithlittletonobrokenbottom.AreasofwhatIcallbigsandwithseveralscatteredgrassbedswithinit,allsurroundedbyheaviergrassthatnarrowsononeendismostdefinitelyafunnel.Thistypeoffunnelmightevenbecomeaformofcul-de-sacwherefishtravelfromoneendtotheotherandthenbackagain. IoncehadanareaoutonTraylorIslandthatfitthisdescription.IcalledittheSevenMinutePothole.Whythename?OnedayIhadagroupofguysandthedayhadbeenslowandwewerewindingitdown.Afterwadinguptothebigsandyareaoneinthegroupstuckaniceredfish.AfterafewminuteswithoutanotherfishIsuggestedwegiveitfivemoreminutes.Ataroundsevenminuteswecaughtanotherfish.Thistimeitwastheanglerontheoppositeendofmystringofwaders.Anotherfivetosevenminutespassedandwecaughtanotherfish,theanglerthatscoredfirstdiditagain.Ittookmealmosttenmorefishtorealizethatitwastakingthescatteredfishinthebigsandyareaaboutsevenminutestomakethefullcircle.WhataterrificlessonitwasandIstillusethatknowledgegainedfromthatdaytothisday. Nowcomesthepartthatmanyjustdon’tunderstandandthat’sfindingthelineeachandeverydaythatthefishareholdingonwithintheareayou’vechosentofish.If

J A Y W A T K I N S

A S K T H E P R O

LOCATING & WORKING THE LINE

AniceAransasBayspecimencomingtohandle;the“line”wasalongthescatteredgrassbedsbarelyvisibleatthetopofthephoto.

46|August2012

we’relucky,thelineisalongadropofforunderwaterstructurechange.Theselineswecanactuallyseegiventherightamountofsunlightandpropereyewear.Costahasdevelopedlenscolorsforeverytypeofwaterandlightconditionsbutthatisanarticlewithinitself.YoucangoonlineandsearchtheCostaDelMarwebsiteforthetypeoflensthatmeetyou’refishingneeds.IhavethreedifferentlensesthatIusetomatchtheconditionsthatIcanfacethroughoutaseason.Solet’ssaythatsomeorallofthethingswelookforinagoodfishingareaarerightthereinfrontofus. Nowyouneedtofindthelinewithinthatareathatholdsthelargestnumbersoffish.Asaguidethisisthemostdifficultconcepttoteach.Thereasonbeingisthatmanytimesalineisfeltversusseen.That’sright–Isaidfelt. Wecallthefeeling,fishsavvy,itissomethingthatcomeswithtimeandhonestlysomejustdon’thaveit,notdotheybelieveinitsexistence.Ilocatethelinebyeasinginandoutalongunderwaterstructure.Icallitbird-doggingbecauseitresemblesthemethodsabirddogusestolocatethescentofbirds.BeautifultowatchaseasonedpointerweaveacrossaSouthTexaspasturesearchingforthatlineinwhichthebirdsarefeedingalong.Whentheygetbirdy,theweavebecomesshorterandthepacequickensbeforelockingin.SowhenIget“birdy”myweavingbecomesnarrower. However,thehardpartisnotoveroncethelineisestablished.Nowyoumustpositionyourselfinsidetheline,concentratingoncastingatananglesocoverageandlureplacementiscorrectallthewhilestayingontheestablishedline.Thislinemovesduetofactorsstillnottotallyunderstoodbutourabilitytostaywiththelineiscrucialtothesuccessofthewade.

Somehelpfulsignstoestablishingandstayingonalinecanbethelocationonwhichthepelicans,ospreyandgullscontinuetosearchandfeed.Notalwaysdothebirdshavetobeactivelyhittingthewaterforthemshowusthelineweneedtobeon.Ihavewatchedbirdsonalinealongdistanceawayonlytoconfirmthattheirlinewastheproperlineformetofollow.Forme,findingthelineisthemostcriticalaspecttoeachdayofwadefishing.Itchangeshourlyandwemustbeabletointerpretthechangesifwecanexpecttobeconsistent. Ihopeyoucangainsomeinsightfromthismonthsattemptathelpingyougainaconfidentsenseoflineestablishment.Thisisextremelyimportant,verydifficultofteachorputintowords.MikeMcBrideandItalkedforalmostanhourafewdaysbackaboutthepatternandbothagreedthatit’sdifficulttoacquirethisknowledgeandevenmoredifficulttoteach. AsforourfishinginRockport,it’sbeenconsistentwithtonsofsmallerbutveryhealthytroutandstillgoodnumbersofredfishalongourshorelines.StillneedraintohelpmaintainstablesalinityinthebaysoverthenextfewmonthsbutotherthanthatIamfeelingmuchbetteraboutwhatIamseeingandcatchingthissummer. Mayyourfishingalwaysbecatching.-GuideJayWatkins

CO

NTA

CT

JayWatkinshasbeenafull-timefishingguideatRockport,TX,formorethan20years.Jayspecializesinwadingyear-roundfortroutandredfishwithartificiallures.JaycoverstheTexascoastfromSanAntonioBaytoCorpusChristiBay.

Telephone 361-729-9596Email [email protected] www.jaywatkins.com

TSFMAG.com|47

Boatownersfrequentlycallorcometotheshopwithhydraulicsteeringproblems–turningthesteeringwheelandtheboatisnotresponding.Theproblemcanbeencounteredwithboth

centerconsoleandside-mountedsteeringsystems. Whenthisconditiondevelops,ithasusuallybeenhappeningintermittentlyand/orgrowingsteadilyworseoveraperiodoftime.Quiteoftenthesteeringstopsworkingcompletelywhenleastexpected. Theproblemisairenteringthehydraulicsystemduetofluidleakingout. Therearetwomainareastoinspectonaregularbasistoavoidthisproblemandtheseshouldbepartofyourregularpreventivemaintenanceprogram. Thereareshaftsealslocatedintheendcapsofthehydraulicsteeringcylinder.Thesesealsarethemostcommonsourceoffailure.Sand,salt,orotherdebrisbuildingupontheshaftovertimeactasabrasivesandeventuallydestroytheintegrityofthesealsandsometimestheshaftcanbedamagedaswell. Thehydrauliclinesconnecttothesteeringcylinderviatwo90°fittingsonthebodyofthecylinderandtheseshouldbeinspectedperiodicallyforleaks.Weseetheseleaksoccurringfromthefittingsbecominglooseovertimeorsometimesbentduetocontactingthetransomwhileover-tiltingtheoutboardmotor.

Wipingyourfingerundereachcylinderendcapandboth90°fittingswillindicatealeakifayellowfilmisdetected. Thehelmsealwouldindicatealeak(yellowfilm)eitherunderthesteeringwheelorbehindtheconsole. Thefluidreservoirislocatedinthehelm.Thereisafillpluglocatedjustbehindthesteeringwheelatthetopofthehousing.Removingthiscapwillallowtheuseofanapplicatortoscrewinandfillthesystemusinghydraulicsteeringfluidor,inapinch,tiltandtrimfluid. Addingfluidwillgetyoubyforashorttimebutarepairmustbedonetocorrecttheproblem. WashingthecylinderwithsoapywaterwhilecleaningtheboatwillreallyhelppreventdebrisbuildupandalightapplicationofCorrosionX(red)whenputtingtheboatupisanothergreatpreventivemeasure. AlwayskeepabottleoffluidandanapplicatorontheboatinasealedZiplocbag.Thisisgoodinsuranceintheeventanemergencyrefillhastobedoneonthewater. WerecommendSeastarHydraulicFluid#HA5430andSeastarHydraulicApplicator#HA5438.

Haveagreatfishingseason.

ChrisMappCoastalBendMarine|PortO’ConnorTXcoastalbendmarine.com | 361.983.4841

Chris Mapp’sBoat Maintenance Tips

Hydraulic Steering

48|August2012

OnasultryJunemorningIsteppedaboardCaptainJohnSpencer’sHellsBayskiffandwepulledawayfromasun-bleacheddockontheArroyoColoradoindeepSouthTexas.SpencerownsandoperatesPosadaDelColoradoLodge.Located30minutesnortheastofHarlingen,

ArroyoCityisasmallcommunityofwaterfrontfishingcabinsbuiltalongthesouthbankoftheArroyoColorado.ThetownisflankedonthenorthbyseverallargeiconicranchesandonthesouthbytheLagunaAtascosaNationalWildlifeRefuge,insulatingitfromsprawlingdevelopment.

C A S E Y S M A R T T

F LY F I S H I N G

THE ARROYO

development.Check out Casey’s Fly Fishing Video Library at www.caseysmartt.com

video

50|August2012

AuniqueaspectoffishingoutoftheArroyoistheoptiontofishahandfulofdifferenttypesofwaterandtargetavarietyoffishspecies.Anglerscangoaftertarponandsnookinthebrackishwatersoftheriver,maketherunuptothePortMansfieldJettiesforpelagicquarry,hitthesandytroughstothesouthforbigtrout,ortheshallowflatsforredfish.AlloftheseoptionsarewithinreachandmaketheArroyoanexcitingplacetobe.Ifyoufish,you’lllikeArroyoCity.Ifyouflyfish,you’llloveit. Spencer’slodge,PosadaDelColorado,caterstosmallgroupsoflighttackleandflyfishingenthusiasts.Thelodgeiscomfortableandclean,thefoodisterrific,andtheatmosphereisrelaxedandgenuinelyrefreshing. AfterourshortrunouttheArroyo,Spencerturnedhisboatsouthandthrottledintothesteadycoastalbreeze.FromthewidegreenveinofwatermarkingthepathoftheIntracoastalWaterway,Istaredoutacrossthevast,shallow,windblownlandscapeoftheLowerLagunaMadre.ThewesternshorelinewaspepperedwithSpanishdaggers,mesquite,andpricklypear-straightoutofaspaghettiwestern.Andtotheeast,amind-bogglingexpanseof

thinwaterstretchedtowardthehorizonlikeafloodeddesert,whereiteventuallymetthebacksideofPadreIsland. WepulleduptothewindsweptsideofanarrowspitofislandsandJohnhoppeduponthepolingplatform.“Wehavebeenseeing

somehugetrouthereinthesandpocketsCasey,buttheyarespookyandveryhardtocatch,”Johnsaidaswedrifteddowntheshoreline.Sureenough,upaheadIspottedwhatlookedlikealargepieceofdriftwoodwobblingintheshallowchop.Itwasaspeckledtrout-abigone.BeforeIcouldmakeacast,thetroutbustedmeandslidofftheflatlikeafateel.Itwasquiteasite.Weendedupcatchingafewredsandseeingahalfdozenlargetroutonthatstretchofwater,themostIhaveeverseeninasingleouting.Aroundnoon,Johnfiredupthemotorandweheadedeast,towardwhatisoftencalled“thesand.”ThesandisanexpansiveareaofhardsandflatsthatstretchesalongthewesternshorelineofPadreIsland.Thewateronthesandflatsstayscrystalclearandwhenconditionsareright,redfish,trout,ladyfish,andahostofotherspeciestravelgreatdistancesacrossthesandinsearchoffood.Theircolorsadjusttomatchthe

CaptainJohnSpencerpolingashallowflatlinedwithSpanishdaggersandpricklypear

TSFMAG.com|51

habitatandtheycanbesurprisinglychallengingtospot-likeabonefish.Itisanawesomeplacetodriftorwadeandfishingthereistrulyauniqueexperience. FromthehardsandflatsJohnandIheadednorthandendedupdriftingnearaseriesofsmallislandsthatarerookeriesforthelocalbirds.Oneislandinparticularwasliterallycoveredwithgulls,skimmerbirdsandtheirhatchlings.Johnpausedtheboatatasafedistanceforafewminutessowecouldwatchthebirdssquawkandsquabbleforterritoryandprotecttheirfuzzy-headedoffspring.IttrulylookedlikesomethingoutofanaturedocumentaryanditwouldnothavesurprisedmetoseeDavidAttenboroughcomewalkingovertheshellbankswithsomeinsightfulnarrative. IsawsomebeautifulcountryovertwodaysoffishingwithCaptainJohn.Wecaughtsomefish,missedafew,andsawplentymore.Butnomatterwherewewentonethingrepeatedlycametomind-theimportanceofagoodguide.Agoodguidewiththerightboat,propernavigationalskills,andasoundknowledgeissoimportant.Nodoubt,thesearefundamentalaspectsofanglingandwatercraftoperationonanystretchofwater,butintheremoteshallowsofaplaceliketheLowerLagunaMadre,theyareespeciallyimportant. Iamgenerallythefirsttopreachthebenefitsofself-teachingandlearningthehardway,evenwhenitmeansenduringastringoffailuresandhardlessons.BUT…whenitcomestonavigatingacrossexpansesofunfamiliarwaterwithlimitedcellphoneserviceandfewlandmarks,it’sadifferentstory.Inthesetypesofplacesknowledgeableguideswithsoundequipmentandplentyofexperiencearewortheverypenny.Theywilldotheirbesttogetyoutofishandthengetyouhomesafely. Thereareanumberofreputableflyfishing/lighttackleguideswhofishtheArroyo/PortIsabelarea.TheyincludeCaptainEricGlass,CaptainErnestCisneros,andCaptainRickHartman.TheseguysareseasonedprofessionalswhohavespentyearslearningtheremotewatersoftheLowerLagunaMadre.Theirknowledgeishard-earnedandhiringthemforadayisasmartsteptowardgreatmemoriesandasafe,enjoyableexperience.

ManythankstoCaptainSpencerforhishardworkandagreattripontheArroyo!

CO

NTA

CT CaseySmartthasbeenflyfishingandtyingfliesfor30years.

WhenhecannotmakeittothecoastheishappychasingfishonTexasinlandlakesandrivers.

Telephone 830-237-6886Email [email protected] www.caseysmartt.com

52|August2012

Swelling up like a balloon is a pretty dramatic defense mechanism, but many species of pufferfish pack an even deadlier weapon – poison.

This poison is called tetrodotoxin, a word coined after the puffer fish’s scientific name. It’s a potent neurotoxin that can kill even humans when ingested. Though this toxin was first identified in puffers, the fish don’t actually make it themselves – in a way, they borrow it.

Tetrodotoxin is originally produced by marine bacteria. It travels up the food chain when microorganisms, such as plankton, consume the bacteria. These creatures are, in turn, eaten by larger animals, and some of these – such as snails, marine worms and starfish – are favorite foods of pufferfish.

How can puffers handle ingesting this deadly neurotoxin? Scientists have found that puffers are resistant to tetrodotoxin because the sodium channels of their muscle tissue are genetically different from those of other fish. Puffers even have a special toxin-uptake mechanism in their liver that transfers toxin into their bloodstream. After accumulating toxin through their food, puffers can secrete the toxin through their skin and into the mouth of an unlucky predator.

Despite their toxin-hoarding ways, puffers are considered a desirable dinner item in some parts of the world. Some poisonous puffers can be eaten when prepared carefully, but there’s another way around the problem: rendering the fish non-toxic by eliminating tetrodotoxin from their diets. Japanese fish farmers use this strategy by raising pufferfish in cages or land-based aquaculture systems. That’s a lot less risk on the dinner plate!

A Taste for the Toxic

Scienceand the

Sea TM

The University of TexasMarine Science Institute

www.ScienceAndTheSea.org © The University of Texas Marine Science Institute

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TheTexasParksandWildlifeDepartment(TPWD)hasbegunastatewideeducationandoutreachcampaigntoinformthecitizensofTexasaboutthevalueofandtheneedtoprotectsubmergedaquaticvegetation(SAV)inTexascoastalwaters.Shallow-waterSAV,orseagrassbeds,areamongthemostproductivemarinehabitatsonearth,nexttocoralreefs,saltmarshesandmangroves.Theyprovidemanyecosystemservicessuchasnutrientcyclingthatpreventslarge-scalealgalblooms,sedimentstabilizationwhichimproveswaterclarityandpreventserosion,andoxygenationofthewatercolumnandsediment.Seagrassesformthefoundationofthefoodwebandproviderefugeforlarval,juvenileandadultfinfishandshellfishthathelpsustainthemulti-milliondollarfisheriesinTexas.SincetheSeagrassConservationPlanforTexaswasadoptedin1999bythreestateagencies(includingTPWD),staffbiologistshaveworkeddiligentlytoprotectseagrasshabitatalongtheTexascoast.RecenteffortsbyTPWDwereconcentratedonthemiddleofthecoastinRedfishBay,a32,000-acreheavily-fishedembaymentthatcontainsapproximately14,000acresofseagrassandthatshowedheavyscarringbyboatpropellers.

In2000,theRedfishBayStateScientificArea(RBSSA)wasdesignatedaspartofaseagrassconservationinitiative.Itsestablishmentfocusedbiologists’effortstoconductresearchintheseagrassbeds,andprovidedanopportunitytoinformthepublicabouttheimportanceofseagrassestothecoastalecosystem.Threevoluntaryno-propzoneswereestablishedwithintheRBSSAinanefforttodecreasetherateofscarringbyboatpropellers.Afterfouryearsitwasapparentthatthevoluntaryprogramhadbeenineffective.Anoticeableabsenceofcontinuousandconcentratedpubliceducationandoutreachwasdeterminedtobethemainreasonforthelackofcompliance.BoatersdidnotknowaboutseagrassesortheRBSSAefforttoreducepropellerscars.In2005CoastalFisheriesstaffmadeaproposaltotheTexasParksandWildlifeCommission(TPWC)tomakeitillegaltouprootseagrasswithintheRBSSA.ItpassedmusterandbecamethefirstmarinehabitatregulationinTexas,effectiveMay2006.TheCoastalFisheriesDivisionmadeacommitmentoffundingandpersonneltorefocuseffortsoneducatingboatersabouttheimportanceofseagrassandthenewruletoprotectit.Beforeandafterthelawwasenacted,biologistsstudiedthepropscarsin

B y K a r e n M e a d o rA r a n s a s B a y E c o s y s t e m L e a d e r | R o c k p o r t , T X

F I E L D N O T E S

FUTURE EFFORTS FORSEAGRASS CONSERVATION IN TEXAS

Closeupofpropscarcutthroughseagrassbed.

54|August2012

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RBSSAutilizingin-the-waterobservationsandseveralconsecutiveyearsofhighresolutionaerialimagery.Roughlyfiveyearsaftertheregulationwasinplace,theamountofscarringhaddecreased45%.Effortstoreachboatersincludedbayareasignage,over50articlesinvariousnewspapersandmagazines,dozensofpresentationstovariousgroups,publicserviceannouncements,andthousandsofdirectone-on-oneboatercontacts. AlthoughthemajorityofseagrassesarefoundfromAransasBaysouthward,seagrassbedsoccurinallTexasbaysystems.AfterprovensuccessoftheeffortsinRBSSA,theTPWCdirectedstafftoidentifyadditionalareasalongtheTexascoastthatcouldbenefitfromsometypeofseagrassprotection.During2011staffidentifiedseveralareasofinterestcontainingseagrassbedsincludingWestBaynearGalveston,ChristmasBaynearSanLuisPass,MatagordaWildlifeManagementArea,JohnF.KennedyCausewayarea(JFK)nearCorpusChristi,andSouthBay/MexiquitaFlatsnearPortIsabel.TheJFKareawasselectedashavingthehighestpriority,soscopingmeetingswereheldtogatherpublicinputondesignatingitasaSSA,whichwouldincludetheno-uprootingregulation.Asaresultofsubstantialpublicopposition,staffrealizedthatthepublicneededabetterunderstandingoftheissueinordertobewillingtoprotectadditionalseagrasshabitat.InJanuarytheTPWCendorsedtheDivision’sdecisiontotrytoprotectseagrassintheLagunaMadreagainthroughavoluntaryeducationandoutreachprogram.Inaddition,currentaerialimagerywillbeacquiredandstaffwillcontinue

tomonitorthebiologicalandhuman-usefactorsoftheJFKareainordertotrackanychangesovertime.Otherfutureactionsincludeacquiringaerialimageryoftheotherseagrassareasidentifiedin2011andmonitoringfactorsaffectingtheirstatus. CoastalFisheriesstaffrealizedthatimplementationofacoastwideeducationandawarenessstrategywouldbenefitallseagrasshabitatsinTexas.Aneducationalbrochurewasrecentlycreatedtobedistributedthroughoutthestate.BoaterscanbeonthelookoutforinformationalsignsthatwererecentlydesignedandarebeinginstalledatvariousboatrampsfromSabineLaketothelowerLagunaMadre.CoastalFisheriesstaffalongtheentirecoastwillparticipateinthisstatewidecampaignbyeducatingboaterswhileconductingroutinecreelsurveysatlaunchsites,andbysubmittinginformativearticlestolocalandstatewideprintmediaoutlets. Thesuccessoftheeducationandoutreacheffortswillbeassessedbyahumandimensionsstudyofcoastalboaters,whichisalreadyunderway.Almost3,000questionnairesweremailedtoboatownersthispastApril.RecipientswereselectedfromsaltwateranglerswhohadbeeninterviewedduringroutinecreelsurveysalongtheentireTexascoast.Theirknowledgeofseagrasshabitatandtheirshallow-waterboatingpracticeswillbeassessednowandthenagainseveralyearsintothestatewidecampaign. Allboatersarebeingaskedtoavoiddamagingseagrassbedsalonganyareaofthecoastbyacknowledgingthelimitsoftheirboatsandmotorsindifferentwaterdepthswithinthebays.TheyareencouragedtoLIFT, DRIFT, POLE OR TROLL: LIFT theirmotorswheninshallowvegetatedareas;boatersshouldlearntoDRIFTwiththewindstocrossveryshallowareas;useofalongandstrongpushPOLEisessentialwhenfishingshallowwaters;TROLLwithatrollingmotortoaccessshallowfishingareas. MoreinformationaboutseagrassescanbefoundbyvisitingtheTexasParksandWildlifeDepartmentwebsitehttp://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/seagrass. DO YOUR PART: BOAT SMART!

Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual, your local TPWD Law Enforcement office, or www.tpwd.state.tx.us for more information.

Arialphotoofscarringinseagrassbeds.

Knowyourboat’sdrafttoavoiduprootingseagrass.

56|August2012

www.tohatsu.com214-420-6440©2012 by Tohatsu America Corp.

TOHATSU Delivering Reliability.TOHATSU

First Light is Calling.

First Light TSF.indd 1 3/20/12 11:47 AMTSFMAG.com|57

“Theretheyare,2o’clockmovingslowleft.Youseethem,sir?” Thevoiceinsidemyheadsaid,“Youmeanthose50finsquiveringabovethesurfaceattachedtothose25poundfish?”Whatcameoutofmymouthwas“Got‘em.” Theconfidencewasoozing.I’vegottheseguysrightwhereIwantthemheadedintomy11o’clockwheelhouse,windgentlyblowingfrombehindmyrightshoulder.Theten-weightswungintoaction,thecrabflyswishedbackandforthasImeasuredmylinefortheeasyfiftyfootcast.Thecrabsailedintothewaterjustbehindtheleadfish,rightwhereDanielhadinstructed.Iheldmybreathashewhispered,“Good,letitsink.Stripit…stripit…stripit.”Aaaaand…nothing.WellScott,you’renotinTexasanymore. Welcometotheweirdandwonderfulworldofflyfishingforpermit.HadthosebeenredfishonaTexasflattheywould’vebeateneachotherblackandbluefightingoverthefauxcrab.Thesepermitweretotallyindifferent,orwasthatindignant?Itwas7:30AMandwhatfollowedwasthemostintensesessionofsight-castingIever

experienced,barnone.Theschoolwascalmandeasygoingastheymeanderedaroundthemangrove-linedcoveinsidethelagoonofTurneffeIsland.MyBelizeanguidepoledmeintopositionoverandover.Somecastswereperfect,mostwereacceptable,afewwereawful.Ithreweverythingyou’resupposedtothrowatpermitaswellasafewofmyredfishflies.Ithrewtotheleadfish,theonesinthemiddle,thesinglethatbrokeawayfromthegrouptotailuponacoralheadandstillnothingbutasinglehalf-heartedbump.Manyofthemwouldteasewithaquickturntowardstheofferingormaybeevenfollowitforafewfeet,butnonewouldcommit.Theyteasejustenoughtokeepyougoing.IhavenoideawhereIheardthis,butitkeptplayinginmyhead,“Youdon’tfailuntilyouquit.”AndaslongastheyweregoingtostaythereIwasn’tgoingtoquit. Mywonderfulwifesatpatientlybehindmeofferingwordsofencouragementandtalkingtothosestubbornfish,“Comeon,eatit,eatit,eatit.”Itwasn’tuntiltheschoolfadedintoalittledeeperwaterandDanielpipedupwithasuggestiontotakealunchbreakthatI

C A P T . S C O T T N U L L

K AYA K F I S H I N G

WE WENT DOWN TO BELIZE...

58|August2012

realizedjusthowpatientshewas.Ihadlostalltrackoftimeandwasdumbfoundedwhentolditwasafternoon.Fourandahalfhourshadpassedinwhatseemedtobeclosertoanhourandahalf.Ihatepermit.Ilovepermit.Inowfullyunderstandtheobsessionsomanyanglershavewiththisspecies. Therewerethreeofusatthelodgeseriouslychasingpermitthroughouttheweek.Iendedupastheoddmanout,butIhadabsolutelynothingtocomplainabout.Inadditiontotheridiculousmarathonmorning,eachdaypresentedmultiplelegitimateshotsatcruisingortailingfish.Ijustneverfoundtheonethatwantedtoeatmyfly.Therewas,however,somesolaceinhowmyfellowanglers’weeksplayedout.Spencercaughthisfirst-everpermitonhissecondcastandthenproceededtono-hittherestoftheweek.Randyhadcasttodozenswithoutsomuchasabump.Whileheadingbacktothelodgelateintheafternoonofthefinaldayhisguideswungtheskifftoastopandpointedtoafast-movingschooloffivepermit.Randymadethecastandgotyetanotherrefusal.Theschoolwasfadingoutofrangewhenheloosedwhatwastobehisfinalcastofthetrip.Yep,youguessedit.Hecaughthispermit.Andno,Ihonestlydidnotmakethatupforyourentertainment. TurneffeFlatsLodgeisknownfortheirexcellentpermitfishing.Infactapermitistheirlogo,buttheyarebynomeanstheonlyavailabletargets.Hugeschoolsofbonefishcruiseandtailontheankledeepflatsjustinsidethebarrierreef.Manyoftheseschoolseasilyheldahundredormorefish.Tarponofallsizescanbeseenrollingandslashingintobaitinthepassesandmangrovecreeksthatleadfromthelagoontotheouterflats.Andthentherearethelessglamorousspeciessuchasbarracuda,muttonandcuberasnapper,andanarrayofgrouper.Theymaynotgrabtheheadlinesbutthey’llcertainlygrabyourtopwaterorwell-placedfly.CamilleandIelectedtospendthemajorityofonedaysimplycastingbigtopwatersagainstthemangrovestoseewhatwasthere.Tarpon,snapperandmore‘cudasthanwereallywantedallcameouttoplay.Thehighlightoftheday

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cameinaquietlittlecreekwhentherhythmicclickingofmydog-walkingtopwaterwasshatteredbyahugeboilandthegill-rattlingleapofafivefoottarpon.Thehooksdidn’tstrikehome,butitwasstilloneofmyfavoritemomentsofthetrip.Theanticipationthatanycastcouldbringafivepoundsnapperorahundredpoundtarponmadeforaspecialday. Whilethatcreektarpondidn’tcometohand,Ididsucceedinlandingmyfirstonthefly.Thetidewasrollinginthroughthemajorpassoutinfrontofthelodgewiththewindblowingthesamedirectionasthecurrent.Thesetupwasperfectforcastingasfaraspossibledown-currentandthenretrievingwithlongsteadystripsbackintothecurrent.ThemovingwaterhelpedmaketheblackoverpurpleEPbaitfishpatterncometolife.Scatteredtarponwererollingandgulpinginthevicinityaddingtothefeelingthatsomethingwasgoingtohappenatanymoment.Aboutmidwaythroughalongstripthelinesuddenlystoppedwithajolt.Thehooksetwasimmediatelyansweredwithacrazytail-walking‘poon. SomehowIrememberedtobowtothekingonthatinitialjump.Thishasbeenmyundoingonpastencounters.Withinsecondsthelooseflylinehadflownfromthedeckandoutthroughtheguidesalongwithadecentamountofbacking.Whatfollowedwasthedanceofthetarponfight.Herunshardleft,youcounterlowandright;hereversesfieldandyourespond.Hedivesforthecoralheadsandtheguidestartsyellingtogiveitmorepressure.Andthenyouseeitcoming,theflylineisrisingquicklythroughtheclearwater.Youdroptherodtipandbowwhileholdingyourbreathandprayinghedoesn’tthrowyourflyasheboltsskywardinatwistingturningleap.

Somanythingscangowrongitsometimesseemsimpossiblethatsuchaninsanefishcanbelandedwithabuggywhip.Onthisdaymyhookstuck,myknotsheldandDaniel’sgripuponthelowerjawofmyprizewassolid.Hewasn’thuge,butitwasstillatarpononthefly. Thefollowingmorningfoundusbackinthissamelocationjustpriortosunrise.Whathappenednextisoneofthosemomentsthatburnsitselfintoyourmemory.Alongslowstripwasmetwithathumpandmiss.IpausedtogathermyselfandthesecondImovedtheflyitsimplystopped.Imeanitstoppedlikeitwassolidlyhungonthebottom,butthebottomwasswimmingaway.Myheavytwo-handedtwelve-weightrodwasbentintothecorkandIhonestlydon’tthinkthisfishevenknewhewashooked.Ithadstruckcomingtowardstheboatandcontinuedonataleisurelypacealongthesideoftheskiffbeforemakingawidelazyturntoheadbackdowncurrent.Danielwassteadilytellingmetogivehimmorepressure.Idon’tknowhowthatcouldbepossible.Everyfiberofmybeingwasfullyinvolved.Andthentherewasheartbreakingslack.Ihavenoideawhatcreatureoftheseaswamawaywithmyfly.Danielwasfairlyconfidentthatitwasaverylargetarponbasedonitsmovementsandhismanyyearsofworkingthesewaters.Thesearethemomentsthatkeepuscomingback. TurneffeFlatsLodge(www.tflats.com)isanawesomedestinationthatIwouldrecommendwithoutreservation.Itwastheperfectplacetogetawayfromeverythingandcelebrate25yearsofbeingmarriedtomywonderfulwife;notelevision,noe-mailsandnocellphones.I’mtrulyablessedmantohavealifetimefishingpartnerwillingtositwithoutcomplaintforhourswhileIcastinfutilityatthosedamnedpermit.

CO

NTA

CT Capt.ScottNullisadevoutshallowwaterfishermanoffering

guidedadventuesviakayak,poledskiff,andwading.

Telephone 281-450-2206Email [email protected] www.captainscottnull.com

60|August2012

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“So what is it exactly that you do for a living?” I have fielded this question many times and I never really had an answer other than I am just a dumb ol’ fishing guide who occasionally takes and sells a picture or two to a magazine. Then one evening last spring while lying in a tent in the Everglades trying to sort through all the thoughts that represent the pure chaos that is my mind and, of course, trying to fall asleep, I came to realize what my true profession is. I am a fishing hobo! Now many might wonder how I can find that to be such a significant revelation. The answer is remarkably simple in that in a weird kind of way, my life somehow contradicts the typical lifestyle of a Texas fishing guide. You see, over the years I have tried to live a normal life, well as normal as a guide’s life will allow. But as you can imagine, I have continued to fail. Why? Because I just cannot sit still…especially these days. I just find it necessary to move around as much as possible. As the years have passed, the waters that I call

home have begun to shrink. I do not see how, considering that Al Gore has told us over and over that the waters are rising, the simple fact remains that there are more and more people on the water these days and many of them are beginning to fish the way I do, a fact that I do not particularly care for. Do not misunderstand me, I do not begrudge them one bit for doing it, it is a great way to fish however, I need space. And, more often than not, the only way to find it is to go somewhere else. Something I seem to be doing more and more of. However, more often than not, I just seem to leave one circus for another and the only thing that ever really changes is the clowns. For years now, in order to keep my sanity (many would argue that I never had any) I would hook up to the skiff, jump in the truck and take off to the Everglades or Louisiana for a couple of weeks to avoid having to be checked into a place with rubber walls. On top of these trips, I realized that frequent flyer miles are wonderful medicine for treating my restless soul

S C O T T S O M M E R L A T T E

A C C O R D I N G T O S C O T T

THE END!WELL SORT OF...

62 | August 2012

and so, as often as possible, I am off to Florida (next week) or some other country (Belize in August) to make a cast to whatever. These escapes have always been working trips that would either allow me to do some guiding or photo making to justify the expense. Most of the time I come out ahead, but occasionally, I will only break even or lose a little money. Still, even when I have not made money, seeing different things truly keeps me going. Something else that has really kept me sane is the fact that, while I am a fishing hobo, I am a fishing hobo who wears a lot of different hats. Hell, just being a guide requires changing hats several times a day. One minute you are a guide and the next you might be an instructor, a medic or even a marriage counselor from time to time. Some days require guides to put on the meteorologist hat to try to predict what the weather is doing and later that day putting on the mechanics hat to work on an outboard. For me, I wear all of these hats, plus a few more. There is the guide hat and all the others that go with it and then there are the others- product designer, photographer, journalist, feature writer and columnist. It is that last hat that I want to focus on for a bit here. For a while now I have been doing this column for what started out as Gulf Coast Connections and is now Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. In fact, I estimate that if I have not reached 100 published works in this rag alone, I am getting pretty damn close. Unfortunately I am growing restless as I have found it difficult to come up with meaningful things to write about every month and recently discussed with E.J. the possibility of ending my tenure with the magazine so that the readers can get a new perspective or at the least something else new. Over the years I have done my best to keep it fresh, fun, informative, sometimes personal and most importantly real. I know I rarely was able to get it all done in one issue and probably even failed to achieve even one of them on more than a couple occasions. The fact is, I have been finding it harder and harder to be the “realist bitch” (I was flattered Mike) that is expected of me and have not felt like I am putting out a consistent, quality product so… this is going to be my next to the last “According to Scott.” So, figuring that I was going to be hanging the “realist bitch” hat up for a while, I decided to get this fluff piece out of the way and go out with a bang. In the next issue I am going to put it all on the line and put something out there that I have been considering for years. It is a subject that I believe deep down and it is controversial enough that I might even loose a couple of friends over it but, hey… it is only my opinion. Now with that being said, my intentions were to walk away from TSFMag so that I could focus on other aspects of the fishing business but, our illustrious editor has other ideas and has offered me a new hat fresh out of the box so, I am going to try it on and see how it fits. Until next month… be good and stuff like that!

CO

NTA

CT Scott Sommerlatte is a full time fly fishing and light tackle guide,

freelance writer and photographer.

Telephone 979-415-4379Email [email protected] www.scottsommerlatte.com

TSFMAG.com | 63

The sun was a fireball in the sky, the water like glass. Ever alert, I cast my chartreuse Skitter Walk out into the bay; waiting for that moment when the stillness of the morning will be disturbed. I work my lure with precision to more effectively call upon the predators of the Lower Laguna Madre. After a few articulate twitches, the quietness has erupted into a watery explosion of fish and topwater. Shaking her head furiously, the massive trout breaks the surface once more to show us her size and power. Effortlessly, she shakes loose of my lure and swims off out into what seems like an eternal body of water. This is how I imagine most of the mornings that I go fishing, exhilarating isn’t it? It is always disappointing to realize that this does not happen as often as I would wish it. We cannot always have what we wish for, but when we seldom receive our wish, we savor every second and remember every detail of the moment. Knowing that not every day can be like I imagine, I still

try my best to make it happen. While fishing with some friends one morning, it happened to my friend Josh. Josh and my other friend A.J. had just graduated and my gift to them was a fishing trip with my dad, my mom and me. We had just arrived at our first spot of the day, a spot that we had caught a lot of trout the previous day. We decided to all start off with a topwater since it was a calm morning. The sun was barely beginning to rise when Josh had gotten a decent sized blow up on his bone-silver side Super Spook Jr. He didn’t know this yet, but this was going to be Josh’s personal best so far in his fishing career. The trout exploded and immediately started to take drag, running against the current. When my dad and I realized that this was a big trout, we both advised Josh to back off of the drag and to let her run. Josh landed the fish, being careful not to lose it. She wasn’t as big as we’d hoped for, but she was a good trout none the less. At 23 ½” and 3 pounds, Josh had just set his new personal best.

M A R C O S G A R Z A

Y O U T H F I S H I N G

TOPWATER ACTION

Josh’s best speck so far…on a topwater!

64 | August 2012

In my mind using a topwater has always yielded bigger and better fish than using a soft plastic bait. This summer season has proven it to me because I have caught many 23”, 24”, and 25” trout on topwater. I’ve actually only been using a chartreuse Skitter Walk and have caught all these bigger fish on this one lure. Since we are on the subject of bigger fish, I would like to share my topwater experience offshore. When I go

fishing offshore, I really mean that we go out in a 25’ Explorer. Capt. Bruce Shuler of Getaway lodge where I work part-time and I have found a spot within view of the Port Mansfield Jetties that has been holding decent sized kingfish. As scheduled, I arrive at Getaway prepared to fish. Going with us on this trip is a friend and a good client of Capt. Shuler’s, Marty Watson. Marty came prepared as well, bringing along with him a few spinning rods and a heavy G-Loomis rod. We arrive at our set location and launch our topwaters out into the gulf waiting for a king to jump up into the air with our lure in its mouth. I was lucky enough to be privileged with the first king of the season, which was about 18 pounds, on a pink and white Super Spook. Marty hooked up soon after with an even bigger king on a red and white Walkie-Talkie. We were only using trout tackle for these kings, throwing Bomber Long-A’s, Super Spooks, and Bomber Walkie-Talkies. We were having a blast just watching the kingfish come up from

40 feet of water up into the air 10 feet every time they blew up on our topwaters. For a few minutes we were even talking about taking the hooks off and just watching the kings blow up without getting hooked. We hooked 32 kings that day and landed about 12 of them. Topwaters accounted for 29 of those kings and I hooked the other three on the fly but that’s a different story for a different time.

The author with a topwater kingfish landed on trout tackle.

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I sit here to write with concerns following the close of yet another red snapper season that, even with an unprecedented six day extension, is the shortest on record. My concerns lie with the extension and its possible effect on the overall red snapper landings for 2012. This extension was the result of a letter written by Congressman Steve Southerland (R-FL) dated June 27 2012 and co-signed by eighteen others. Congressman Southerland requested that NOAA Fisheries Service extend the season due to an abnormal string of bad weather days in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico that kept the fishermen tied to the dock. Their basic reasoning was the effect these lost days would have on coastal economies and coastal businesses that rely on the recreational red snapper fishery. Joe Richard wrote in my stead last month about the pitfalls of a short derby season and how it just doesn’t work. A derby season has failed the fisherman and the fishery in every place that it has been tried. It has been proven to cost lives and fail to allow the fisherman to fully take advantage of the stocks regardless of the

M I K E J E N N I N G S

T E X A S N E A R S H O R E & O F F S H O R E

SHORTEST SEASONEVER!

66 | August 2012

number of fishable weather days. I suspect the saddest part of our most recent season is that extending for six days due to a little political pressure from a few freshman congressmen, will ultimately have little to no effect on the success or failure of a single coastal business. Plus – if the extension proves successful in increasing recreational red snapper landings – NOAA may turn around and say we over-fished the recreational quota for yet another year. And so, the extra days we are allowed to fish this year may not equal the reduction in quota that NOAA could impose next year. All of this is just so much speculation on my part but it seems to be a common thought among many that are way better versed in the management of our Gulf fisheries than I am. To put it simply, our six additional days of glory may come at a bigger price than any of us want to pay…lending more weight to Joe’s points about our current derby style fishing seasons. OK – enough of the soapbox. Let’s look to the day at hand and the good news for what lies ahead. August has to be my favorite time of year to fish. Our fishery will go through about as dramatic a change as it ever makes over the next month. Our shrimp boats will go from working the beachfront to upwards of two hundred foot depths over the next few weeks, bringing daily changes to the way we fish them. The boats will hold a mix of cobia, kingfish, sharks and dorado as they fish consistently further offshore, chasing the shrimp into deeper waters. Blackfin tuna will become the ultimate prize for anglers willing to make the longer runs as the season progresses. We can also return to targeting greater amberjack with the season opening August 1. With these fish receiving a two month rest from summer fishing pressure they should not only be stacked up and easy to target, we should see the season remain open through the end of the year. I’m often asked if I could choose a time of year that I prefer to fish , or that I like most , and my answer is always from August until the cold fronts begin to make the weather unpredictable. By this time of year we are sitting on every species of migratory fish that pass our way. In August the high pressure systems that seem to make it so hot also allow our water and wind to consistently calm. This often allows the rips and hard current changes to stack up the large sargassum lines and patches. These trash lines, or grass lines as many call them, will hold not only fish but the hopes and full attention of every fisherman that happens upon them. Glass-slick seas will allow us to travel faster and cover more water than we have been accustomed to doing over the last couple of months. This affords us the opportunity to try places and tactics that even if only a gamble will not cost us as dearly as it would on a day that we couldn’t just pick up and make a quick move when we strike out.

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I have spoken before on many occasions about trying new approaches and new tactics and learning from our successes as well as our failures. This month is a great time to apply some of these ideas, be it something that you have heard about or just some wild idea that you have concocted yourself. To me, we are entering a time of year in the western Gulf that is just about as good as it gets. This is due to a culmination of fish migrations, water temperature, and just downright Chamber of Commerce type weather. It’s time for this old fisherman to forget the pitfalls of a season past and lay aside concerns for what the future brings (even if just for a little while) and enjoy the next few weeks on the water. It’s time to take part in our world-class fishery that allows us to target a great number of species and make those in the eastern Gulf (that rely on only one or two fish) wish they were in Texas!

CO

NTA

CT

Captain Mike Jennings is a professional charter captain with more than 25 years offshore experience. Mike is the owner/operator of Cowboy Charters in Freeport TX and is known locally for running further and fishing harder for his clients.

Telephone 979-864-9439Email [email protected] www.cowboycharters.com

68 | August 2012

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TSFMAG.com | 69

Hi, I’m Cade. Like lots of folks that read this magazine, I’m one of your everyday do-it-yourself fishermen with a great passion for the outdoors and I love the adventure of learning new areas along the Texas coast. Like many of you, I have often found myself a little lost when planning a fishing trip to a new area. Break out your Hook-N-Line Fishing map and follow me as I explore and enjoy the great fishing each area has to offer.

Where Palacios, Texas is a coastal town of a few thousand people, nestled against Tres Palacios Bay, which is a small bay system stemming off the northeast corner of major Matagorda Bay. I found that easiest access to Palacios from Houston is exiting Hwy 71 South from Hwy 59 until you hit Hwy 35. Follow Hwy 35 south to downtown

C A D E ’ S C O A S T A L C H R O N I C L E S

C A D E S I M P S O N

HEADIN' DOWN TOPALACIOS

70 | August 2012

Palacios. I referenced Hook-N-Line Fishing Map F108 for my fishing trip to Palacios.

When and WeatherSummer time is here. Day time temps are breaching 100 degrees making just about any outdoor activity a little sweaty. At the same time however, the fish are getting active making trips to the water more than worth the battle with the heat. From what I’ve heard “on the street” the bite can be hit or miss in the Palacios area. Perhaps it was just coincidence but we had a great trip, finding a number of redfish. At the cleaning station located at the city’s bayfront park, we encountered a group of smiling anglers with limits of trout and a few flounder in the mix.

Tackle and GearAs most anglers do, I like new gear and trying new tactics now and then. My most recent addition to the bag has been using scent attractants, mostly on my hard baits. I put a little KicknBass Fish Attractant(saltwater scent) on my topwater lures as well as spoons and RatLTraps. I let it dry onto the lure before casting it. As a big fan of Gulp baits and their dominance, I figured that adding a little taste to my lures is worth a shot. I will be honest, I don’t buy into the fact that fish just come swarming to a scented bait. However, I do believe a fish will hold a lure in its mouth a little longer, giving you a little wider window to set the hook, when the lure is scented. I used my trusty Castaway Skeleton rods with a Mann’s Waker crankbait and Gulps under a popping cork as my focused presentations. For quick tackle and snack/grocery needs, stop in at The Point, it is right on Hwy 35 and is a well put together little store. Grassy Point Marina and Bait as well as the Shrimp Shack, are other options for bait and tackle.

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Hitting the waterI like shallow water and always try to find some marsh or flats in the new areas I will be fishing. After looking at my map the upper portion of Palacios Bay appeared to offer the best access to skinny water fishing. The best access to this area is north of the town off of side roads. As is often the strategy, we worked the grass lines starting the day throwing topwaters, namely Wakers. A fairly slow retrieve with an occasional pause proved very effective, yielding a number of hookups.

Always be conscious of fishing around marsh grass lines. Redfish will blow up on your lure then run for the cover of the grass. This can lead to missed fish, as your lure gets snagged on the grass and releases from the fish’s mouth.

Where to eat and where to sleep My buddy Cory and I had a good meal at the Outrigger Grill. I ate a platter of fried fish, Cory a cheeseburger. We both agreed the food was tasty and the service very good. The atmosphere is neat, with antique fishing and boating equipment lining the walls. Outrigger Grill also offers the “you catch it, we cook it” option. I have yet to take one of these coastal restaurants up on the offer, but I intend on trying one of these days. For some shut eye, there are some really neat bed and breakfast establishments. I took note of The Peaceful Pelican on the bayfront and

Main Inn Bed and Breakfast located in the downtown area. There are also some attractive RV parks in the Palacios area.

Coastal PropertiesWaterfront properties for saleLong-term & vacation rentals available215 5th StPalacios, TX 77465Office: (361) 972-5900remaxtxcoastalproperties.comEach Office IndependentlyOwned & Operated

MLSMultiple Listing Service

Fish cleaning station at the park.

Peaceful Pelican B&B

72 | August 2012

The Other AnglesI was pleased with the marsh available in the Palacios area. It served my kayaking needs well. Launching from town into the main bay opens up the doors to wade fishing the shorelines on the east and west sides of the bay.

Drift fishing is also not a bad choice. The Palacios Channel extends from the ICW way down in Matagorda Bay all the way up to the harbor in Palacios. Work this area from your boat or kayak. Always be on the look out for working birds. If you paddle the western shoreline of Tres Palacios Bay in a southwest direction you will come upon Turtle Bay. Turtle Bay offers more shallow water fishing and another area with decent marsh habitat.

Wrap upPalacios is not dissimilar to many other coastal towns, but from my viewpoint it offers one of the best bank fishing facilities that I have seen. Even rivaling the Dike in Texas City. Where Palacios differs from the Dike is it has covered table areas, playground for kids, restrooms, and grassy areas for picnicking.

Numerous piers are spaced out along the parks bay side, all of which are well lit.

As always, be careful on the water, bring a friend, and have fun.

Palacios Area Businesses of Interest to FishermenOutrigger Grill – 361-972-1479Peaceful Pelican Bed and Breakfast – 361-972-0317Main Inn Bed and Breakfast – 361-972-3408The Point – 361-972-3152REMAX Coastal Properties (vacation rentals and sales) – 361-972-5900Gulf Bay Marine Supply – 361-972-0409Porter’s Ace Hardware – 361-972-5222 Palacios Chamber of Commerce – 361-972-2615

CO

NTA

CT Telephone 936-776-7028

Email [email protected]

Find me on Facebook to follow along in my outdoor adventures

The Point...they have what you need.

Outriggers...good eats!

Main Inn B&B

TSFMAG.com | 73

As the scorching sun radiates down on the calm and reflective mid-summer waters along the south Texas coast, the surface action during this early-morning moment remains both silent and creepily eerie. Less than two miles offshore, a couple of us have ventured out in our plastic battleships seeking any obvious signs of ensuing chaos. The lack of sleep contributed from the previous night’s tiger shark release from the surf keeps playing in the back of my mind and yet the still hovering and very active adrenaline fuels the morning’s fresh adventure. With our ideal targeted water depth this time of year being anywhere from 30-50 feet, we manage to cover as much area as possible while trolling and are also readily available to cast various lures at any sudden signs of action. Primed up on high hopes and anxiety, we cruise around far BTB (beyond the breakers) seeking randomly appearing birds and bait. For those of you curious, my name is Eric Ozolins. Many of you know me simply as “Oz.” The clear pristine waters and the absurdly hot temperatures as such on this grease-calm morning truly

define the dog days of summer. Fishing these dog days can, for lack of a better word, “mystify” one. It is without reason that our aquatic obsessions require us to be constantly mystified. On the water you need to be ready for virtually anything that may pop up in an unexpected instant. Fortunately for us on this ideal day in the kayak there are merging signs of life. Off in the vast distance there is a slight disturbance formulating on the surface. Only seconds pass before our curiosity grows and the first of the gulls reach what optimistically seems like an anchovy baitball rising from the depths. Still a couple hundred yards away, a buddy and I paddle furiously, not knowing how long the action will continue. The closer we get to the frenzy the larger the predatory explosions that begin taking place. Armed with large tuna-style topwaters and slab spoons, we are about to meld within the madness. We throw our custom tuna poppers into the mayhem and Kevin instantly hooks up with a large and aerial king mackerel - launching like a vicious subsurface rocket. Almost simultaneously my oversized

E X T R E M E K A Y A K F I S H I N G & S H A R K S F R O M T H E S A N D

E R I C O Z O L I N S

THE "EXTREME" SIDE OF THINGS

Pitching a shark bait.

74 | August 2012

topwater gets slammed; not by a king but by another frenzying predator - a large jack crevalle. Several minutes after fi ghting this tireless marine bulldog I lead him to within feet of the kayak. Then, and most unexpectedly, an aggressive boil and thunderous splash appears. The result is the head-section of the 20 pound jackfi sh being the only thing that remains, still hooked to the lure. True – Utter – Chaos promptly ensues. This is what I live for. This is undoubtedly MY realm, MY uncharted and continually intriguing domain. It is indeed moments like these that are the catalyst for the addiction that an increasing number of us are associated with. I have for years been linked to the sport of shark fi shing and big-game kayak

angling off the Texas coast. Having fi shed various parts of North America, in and out of the country, I have experienced many of the conditions that each area has to off er and all are very unique in their own right. Texas within itself is nothing short of a gem. The harsh months of brutally strong winds help protect and replenish our great fi shery. Then when conditions do quiet down, the waters can come alive with uncanny activity. When the ingredients are just right, there is no other place on this planet I would want to fi sh and become a part of. For well over a decade I have been targeting large sharks from the surf, often calling the Padre Island National Seashore my home and stomping grounds. Throughout my personal years of what historically

Summertime bull shark, tagged and ready for release.

The author admiring a great king mackerel.

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may be considered short in terms of shark-fishing careers - I have landed, tagged, and released a great number of sharks, some of which are extremely rare for inshore waters. The mystery factor once again is what helps drive this unbreakable obsession. I’ve been honored and fortunate to be a volunteer while taking part in some recent groundbreaking studies by the Harte Research Institute and the Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, involving satellite and acoustic tagging on appropriate candidates. There is something deep within my soul regarding the various shark species that has fascinated me since early

childhood and it is only fitting that I continue to be thrilled and fascinated by each encounter. Every up-close experience like this delivers a mesmerizing rush that burns vividly into the fibers of one’s brain. I am and will always be associated with chasing down big sharks from the shore. However, there is more to my insane obsession than just seeking monstrous sharks from the sand... it extends just offshore in the kayak. In addition to playing the wicked game the surf has to offer, I have also actively been fishing from the safety of a thin wall of plastic for over a decade and helped pioneer big-game fishing from a sit-on-top kayak and what is also referred to these days as “beyond the breakers.” While I did not coin the term, it truly says it all. When it all began there was great criticism regarding the fact of tangling with dangerous sharks and large predators from such an unproven platform (in reality it is very real and extremely dangerous). Ocean-going kayaks

were just starting their early evolution and have not been around very long. For a span of a couple years an elite few of us were known as the ridiculous guys who targeted sharks and mackerel in this “extreme” method of fishing. We never encouraged what we did; we just pursued the unknown while desiring an unrivaled adrenaline rush. The only real promotion we did was if an unknown individual was in fact considering fishing offshore in the kayak, it was important to note to them every possible safety measure to avoid catastrophe. Since the sport has grown so vast

The author fighting shark atop surf truck rig.

76 | August 2012

over the last few years, I try to do everything possible to educate the new and old regarding safety. Accidents do and will always happen. It is important to be prepared in every facet to minimize unexpected trouble as much as possible. Kayak fishing in the open gulf can be extremely dangerous and with any other extreme sport, it is not meant for everyone. I’d say only a handful of the individuals who are actively fishing beyond the breakers today are really physically fit and mentally alert for it. There is nothing I can do about this other than the idea of presenting a heavier focus of safety to these individuals in the future - which I will be doing here. Whether in the comfort of a plastic boat or on the burning sand with

large shark baits staggered over hundreds of yards, I thrive on the adventure that each presents. Fishing is all about learning from experienced individuals to build upon your own knowledge. For me I have learned so much from TSF’s very own Capt. Billy Sandifer who has been an invaluable mentor to me. Unfortunately, in the world of kayak fishing, there were no real iconic figures at the time to learn from so I had to go simply by trial and error. Luckily I am still alive and have learned a plethora of knowledge over the years and enjoy educating anyone who requests information or help. I am deeply honored to be part of this great publication and am very excited that I will be able to bring many more great stories and adventures to life for all to enjoy in upcoming issues. For those who follow me on my Extreme Coast website, there are current online videos, reports, and information to help

guide you on your very own adventure. Have fun, stay real... stay safe! -Oz

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Email [email protected] Websites extremecoast.com kayakwars.com

Preparing to release tagged tiger in the PINS surf.

TSFMAG.com | 77

Finally, an article dedicated to the coastal anglers’s favorite catch: the saltwater catfish. Every fisherman aspires to reel in that whiskery confection, that spiny delight, that– what? You caught one yesterday? And the day before? Every day last week? …and you were targeting reds? Hmm… The hardhead catfish, Ariopsis felis, has six whiskers, called barbels - one long pair and two shorter pairs. It sports three spines, one on the dorsal fin and one each on the pectoral fins. Like many marine fish, it is dark on top and light on bottom. The average adult size is ten inches and half a pound. The Texas record is nineteen inches, 3.3 pounds (1997).1 The gafftopsail catfish, Bagre marinus, also has three pairs of barbels, similar coloration, and three spines. It is named for its sail-like dorsal fin. Gafftops average about 2.5 pounds; the Texas record is 13.3 pounds, thirty-four inches (1981).2

Saltwater catfish are notorious for cleaning your hooks before other fish get a chance to chomp down. Though both are edible, there’s much debate among fishermen about their dinner value. Seems like gafftops are generally acceptable table fare; hardheads less so,

but there are a few fishermen who say if you know just how to cook them… For those always seeking to avoid the cats, here’s a tidbit that might come in handy. During the summer, males are busy being dads. Both marine catfish species spawn May through August. Females produce only 20-65 eggs per spawning, which seems rather low compared to the thousands that other species produce, but this low egg count is offset by the males’ parental care. Eggs and young are brooded in the male’s mouth for 60-80 days. This means, most of the day is spent hanging out on Dad’s tongue, feeding on planktonic crustaceans in or around his mouth. No snacks for Dad though; brooding males do not feed.3

I can only imagine the males’ endurance during this period, as catfish have twice as many tastebuds in their mouths as humans. In fact, the catfish’s entire body is covered in taste buds and has been likened (quite often) to a “swimming tongue.” It has about 180,000 taste buds covering its body; all in all, catfish have twenty times as many taste buds as humans.4 They can literally taste the water they’re swimming through. Umm, that could

S T E P H A N I E B O Y D

F I S H Y F A C T S

CATS

A male hardhead with his brood.Photo by Scott Eustis, University of New Orleans

78 | August 2012

sometimes be… yucky. While taste is one of their keenest senses, catfish are pretty well equipped all the way around. They have a powerful sense of smell and can detect some scents that are only one part per ten billion parts of water. It’s possible they use smell to distinguish individuals and maintain hierarchy. Their scaleless skin is quite sensitive to touch, but it’s the barbels that are in charge of feeling out the situation. Not only are they covered in extremely receptive nerves (and taste buds, of course), they can also pick up vibrations made by the movements of other critters. Handy in murky environments. Of course, in clear water, most catfish can rely on good eyesight, even in dim light because they possess the same see-in-the-dark eye technology that (actual) cats do. And for prey that is camouflaged or in hiding, they use their sense of electroreception. Though limited in range, this allows the catfish to sense natural electrical discharges from the body.5

Hardheads and gafftops don’t have a large pool of predators. You have to be fairly tenacious if you’re going after armed prey. Some of their predators include the longnose gar, bull shark, and large finfishes. Some fishermen use them as bait for large game fish, such as cobia. Despite being the most numerous gill-netted fish coastwide over the last thirty years (on average), there’s not really much commercial harvest, and only limited recreational.3 This due in large part to the unpopular flavor and slimy coating. The spines are serrated, barbed, and envenomed… sort of. Technically, it’s the slime on the spine that carries the venom, not the spine itself. It’s a complex toxin composed of high molecular weight proteins and low molecular weight compounds and is secreted by glands at the base of the spine (or possibly along it; there’s some disagreement among scientists as to the exact secretion position). More importantly, this toxin is believed to be rendered inert at temperatures over 105 degrees F.6 (Also handy for stingray stabs.) So a hot rinse and soak is recommend if spined. (Tip: start your engine, wet a rag in the hot exhaust water, and put that rag on the wound.) Reactions to a marine catfish puncture vary

widely, but most seem to agree that it’s a very painful experience, at least. Some require a trip to the hospital. The spines are quite sturdy enough to go through even leather-soled shoes. Best to handle these creatures with a little respect. If you’re after a certain fish, I can see how catching a bunch of cats would be frustrating, but like everything else, they’ve evolved to fill a certain ecological role. Even if it’s not obvious to us, it’s not always wise to pull a Jenga block from the bottom if you don’t know what blocks it’s supporting. “They used to tank cod from Alaska all the way to China. They’d keep them in vats in the ship. By the time the codfish reached China, the flesh was mush and tasteless. So this guy came up with this idea that if you put these cods in these big vats, put some catfish in with them. And the catfish would keep the cod agile. And there are those people who are catfish in life. And they keep you on your toes. They keep you guessin’; they keep you thinkin’; they keep you fresh. And I thank god for the catfish, because we would be dull and boring if we didn’t have somebody nipping at our fin.” – Catfish, 2010

Footnotes

1 “Hardhead Catfish (Arius felis),” Texas Parks & Wildlife, 20 June 2012 <http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/hardhead/>.

2 “Gafftopsail Catfish (Bagre marinus),” Texas Parks & Wildlife, 20 June 2012 <http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/gafftop/>.

3 “Ariopsis felis,” Smithsonian Marine Station, 20 June 2012 <http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/ariops_felis.htm>.

4 “Which animal has the most tastebuds?” info.com, 23 June 2012 <http://topics.info.com/Which-animal-has-the-most-tastebuds_1445>.

5 “Sensitive Siluriformes–How Catfish Perceive the World,” ferrebeekeeper, 23 June 2012 <http://ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/sensitive-siluriformes-how-catfish-perceive-the-world/>.

6 “Hazardous Marine Life,” Scubadoc’s Diving Medicine, 23 June 2012 <http://www.scuba-doc.com/hzrdmrnlf.html>.

TSFMAG.com | 79

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TSFMAG.com | 81

DICKIE ColBuRn’s Sabine SceneI think I have gone through more BullFrog sunscreen than outboard motor oil over the past month but the fi shing on Sabine has been every bit as hot as the weather. The water is exceptionally clear in not only the lake but also the Neches and Sabine Rivers which translates to more fi shing room for everyone. We are two months ahead of schedule as far as the amount of bait stacking in the rivers. Trout, redfi sh and fl ounder are right behind them so it has been no big deal when an occasional windy day keeps us off the lake. As you would expect, bouncing a live shad or fi nger mullet across the bottom or fi shing one under a popping cork is hard to beat if a fi sh fry is a part of your agenda. Do not think for one minute, however, that live bait is the only game in town when fi shing the rivers. There is no doubt that it is the best approach to duping big fl ounder, but topwaters, tails and crankbaits are equally eff ective on the trout and reds and they consistently produce the larger trout. A good tide change is a must and any area where the current fl ow is altered is a prime place to start. She Dogs, the Geaux Daley and Geaux Trout colors have been extremely good, a bone River 2 Sea Rover, and 5-inch Assassin tails in Slammin chicken and needle

fi sh have already produced a number of trout in the 7-pound class. The bite in the lake has been text book for this time of year even with the exceptionally high tides. Pre-dawn wades to avoid the heat have been very productive. Due to the higher water, the bait is stacking up in very skinny water tighter to the shore and both the reds and larger trout are waiting on their arrival each morning. She Dogs and the Die Dapper rigged on a 1/16 ounce head have negated the need for any further experimenting most days. The bite in the open lake has been equally good, but locating the schools of better trout has been a little more diffi cult for the angler that leaves the dock depending on the gulls to do the hard work. As a matter of fact, the terns have been a much more reliable resource than the larger gulls thus far. Too many folks make the mistake of ignoring or misreading the so-called liar birds. If they are scattered and traveling they are not much help, but if they are holding even a little bit they are worth checking out. At the very least, they have found some bait and that is a key factor in locating open water schools of fi sh. The better part of fi nding one of these schools is that the terns will quickly leave

Dickie Colburn is a full time guide out of Orange, Texas. Dickie has 37 years experience guiding on Sabine and Calcasieu Lakes.

Telephone409-883-0723Websitewww.sabineconnection.com

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82 | August 2012

and you will have the fi sh to yourself as there will be no circling birds to attract other anglers! We are fi nding some fi sh chasing shrimp, but most of them are working on schools of shad right now. When the birds aren’t working, we are simply idling around in the open lake looking for ladyfi sh beating up on these same shad. When you fi nd the ladyfi sh…, you have found the trout and by the end of the month you will have found the reds as well. Do not leave out of frustration because you initially catch only ladyfi sh. Keep switching lures. Sometimes the color makes the diff erence and at other times it is the length of the tail. It is the same thing with a topwater. It is not at all unusual for these trout to prefer the larger bait because they are eating the ladyfi sh rather than the shad. A minnow type lure that you can pull down a foot or so under the water like a Strike Pro Arc Minnow or MirrOlure fl oating MirrOlip

often works even better than a conventional topwater. Swimming a longer tail rigged on a light jig head can be deadly as well. You are absolutely going to catch more fi sh when fi shing this program rigging a 4-inch TTF Flats Minnow or a Sea Shad on a two foot leader under a Kwik Cork, but it is almost impossible at times to keep the lady fi sh off the smaller tails. If that becomes a problem, try rigging a 5-inch tail on an exposed 4/0 Mustad wide gap hook beneath your cork before calling in the dogs. The weightless tail sinks slower and the trout love it! By the time you read this we will be sweating out hurricanes and cruising the lake looking for those massive schools of redfi sh churning the surface. It happens every year about this time and the bait is already there. There is no right or wrong lure or retrieve when you fi nd these fi sh! Fishing is about the kid in all of us…take one fi shing tomorrow!

John Storm with a nice trout caught on what else...a Storm Chug Bug!

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TSFMAG.com | 83

mICKEY On Galveston

Telephone281-383-2032

Mickey Eastman is a full-time fi shing guide out of Baytown, TX. Mickey has 26 years guiding experience on the Galveston area bays and is the founder of Gulf Coast Troutmasters, the largest speckled trout tournament series of all time

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We have had some calm weather across the Galveston Bays region and some really good catches, so things are looking up. I would say probably East Bay continues to be the best for speckled trout. All the deepest reefs over there, from Hanna Reef on back to Deep Reef, Middle Reef, Drum Reef and Frenchy’s has been holding some really good fi sh. They are crowded though and I haven’t been messing with it much as I have been staying over here in Trinity Bay. There are fewer boats and the fi sh are moving back up the middle of Trinity now that the water conditions and salinity have improved following the big fl ood we had this spring. Everybody I talk to is doing real well in East Bay. They are targeting slicks, mud boils for reds, running the bait schools, the whole nine yards. Tide changes are critical whether it is coming or going and, favorable wind is always in the equation when targeting open-water shell. There

have been a lot of four and fi ve pound trout taken consistently. Redfi sh have been plentiful along the north shoreline and the top end of East Bay and they are running the shad. Look for them over mud in 3-5 feet of water. Be patient and use your trolling motor. The Ship Channel is producing lots of trout. The croaker guys, especially the guides, are getting daily limits. Lures are working too but it is not a gimme – decent catches of trout and reds can be made working the slicks and bait if you are patient. Unusual the number of redfi sh holding on the channel this summer.

Galveston

84 | August 2012

I think it is due to the ribbonfish, there are huge schools and the redfish are just gorging on them. It is a beautiful sight when the reds push ribbonfish to the surface; it gets pretty crazy. I think you could throw a screwdriver into the frenzy and catch a redfish. Over in Texas City and lower Galveston Bay there are good numbers of trout coming from Dollar Reef and Texas City Flats and off Skyline Drive. A lot of guys have been doing well parking their cars and wading toward Mosquito Island and Texas City Flats. I have heard of some six and seven pounders from over there so it must be good. The Galveston Jetties are giving up some very nice trout this summer. I spoke with an eleven-year-old on my radio show last Sunday. He weighed in a 7lb-9oz trout and is leading the Upper Coast CCA STAR Teens. It is always gratifying to see these youngsters into fishing like he is. Over here in Trinity Bay, for several weeks now, our best trout action has been coming from the gas wells. Back when this started we were pulling a lot of solid females in the four-to-five pound class with an occasional six or seven, but now the males have moved in with them so they must be spawning. A variety of soft plastics have been working. One day the MirrOlure Lil John will be hot and the next day the Voodoo Shad or Tidal Surge Split Tail. What it boils down to is we have been getting them on whatever you like to throw. There was one day we caught them on MirrOdines, just slow-rolling them off the edge of the well pads about three to four feet below the surface. When we get our fill of trout fishing I start looking for mud boils the reds are making and also keying on terns. Most of this action is in anywhere from six to nine feet of open water, not associated with any specific type of structure other than mud bottom. Those greater terns will get over the fish and they will not leave; this makes them very reliable indicators. I had a day last week where the reds came to the top like goldfish swimming around and that was real beautiful and cool to watch. The last couple of weeks have provided very realistic opportunity for double limits when everything goes our way. When the wind gets up though, it is a different ballgame out there in the middle of the bay, and you might as well figure out something else to try. We have had some really nice weather here lately and fishing has been fantastic. It seems like the hotter it gets and the more the wind lays – the better the fishing!

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TSFMAG.com | 85

CaPt. BIll’s Fish Talk

Telephone979-863-7353EmailCaptBill@GoldTipGuideService.comWebsitewww.goldtipguideservice.com

Bill Pustejovsky is a full-time guide at Matagorda, TX. Bill fi shes year-round for trout and redfi sh in all the Matagorda Bays. Wading and drifting for trophy trout and reds are his specialty.

Dear Friends - It is almost ten years I have been writing here and I want to thank everybody for all their support. It has been a great run for Karen and me. She has supported me 100% in good times and bad, and I have done the same for her. Some people might say I’ve been lucky but, Karen and I are blessed. I had a bad fall recently on concrete from about four feet, landing on my right shoulder. It messed things up pretty bad and I’ll have surgery July 23 in San Antonio. Dr. Stephen Burkhart will perform the reconstruction and I’m looking at extended downtime. I’m not sure how long but we are praying quicker than forecasted. My physician explained that without surgery I will eventually lose all use of my shoulder. Many of you have spoken with or emailed Karen when booking fi shing trips. By the time you read this she will have completed her doctorate in special education with specialization in autism spectrum disorders. She has accepted a position with the Department of Defense at West Point just north of New York City. This is a

very good opportunity for her while at the same time will give me the recuperation period I need. At some point, I’m sure I’ll be hunting mule deer out west again and whitetails in the Catskill Mountains. I’ll be coming back to Texas to fi sh and hunt for sure, God willing. This is my story… When we moved to Matagorda in the early 1990s, we came with very little. I met Capt. Mike Williams of Tarpon Express and we spent time together. My brain was like a sponge and I soaked up everything. Mike told me what to do in order to become a successful fi shing guide. Everything he shared was true to the letter. He is a

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Cory Jones with very nice speck wading shell in EMB - Bass Assassin lure.

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great friend to this day and always will be. Thanks Mike and God bless you. My brother Dickie found me an 18’ jon boat from the Madisonville Fire Department with a 60 hp motor. A friend loaned me the money to buy it. This is the boat I used to begin my guide business. Every guide in Matagorda at that time made fun of me and had little good to say about my humble beginnings with the exception of Melvin Talasek. Melvin passed away recently and I miss him but will always carry him in my heart. Melvin and I worked together running trips out of C&R Marina and we caught a lot of fish, big fish. I learned a lot from Pops, Melvin’s nickname. He never met a stranger. Pops told me more than once not to let those “idiots” get to me. He would say, “Boy, remember this, boats don’t catch fish, people do. You just go on about your business and keep catching fish.” Melvin had a saying, “Partner, let’s go burn the bays up today.” Pops was right. I went from a jon boat to a Carolina Skiff, 22’ Transport, 24’ Triton, 25’ Explorer, and now one of the greatest boats on the market, 25’ HDX Dargel Kat. I fished a lot of tournaments over the years and was fortunate to win the Gulf Coast TroutMasters Pro Division in 1997 and again in 2003, catching the third largest trout in TroutMasters history

weighing 9 lb 6 oz. I was also in the top rankings in the TroutMasters Pro Division from 1997-2003. Mickey Eastman and Don Farmer started and ran the original TroutMasters Series and it was the biggest trout tournament up and down the Texas Gulf coast. There hasn’t been another like it since. One thing I can say about Mickey; when he does something, he does it right. Mickey is a living legend and a great person all-around. His Outdoors Show on Houston 610 AM radio Thursday through Sunday is the best we’ve ever had by far. I was also able to take home first prize for the Matagorda Guides Cup for 1997, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, I had the biggest trout, redfish, and overall stringer. I’d like to offer special thanks to Robin and Teresa Shriver of Bass Assassin Lures, Mike and Melody Grigar of Johnny’s Sport Shop,

Don Busha of Busha Boat Works, Cleve Ford of Dargel Boats, and last but not least, Everett and Pam Johnson of Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, the greatest fishing information tool on the Texas coast. An additional thank you goes out to all of the readers that have read and supported this magazine. There won’t be a next time. God bless. - Capt. Bill and Karen Pustejovsky

Jennifer Wright waded East Matagorda with Capt. Bill – Bass Assassin lure.

TSFMAG.com | 87

Telephone361-785-6708EmailGary@BayRat.comWebsitewww.bayratguideservice.com

Captain Gary and Captain Shellie Gray fi sh year-round for trout and redfi sh in the Port O’Connor/Seadrift area. Gary started his Bay Rat Guide Service 20 years ago. The Grays specialize in wade and drift fi shing with artifi cial lures. Gary and Shellie also team up to fi sh many tournaments.

mID-Coast BaYs With the GraysThe extreme temperatures of July and August make me think of fi shing two diff erent locations when it comes to my speckled friends. I will be looking for structure that has deepwater access and plenty of bait. First place that comes to my mind is the surf along Matagorda Island. Anytime the wind lays and the conditions are right I will head that way. We had a few good days in June and already in early July when everything came around and the fi shing was phenomenal. My groups had trout up to 25-26 inches often with the average being about 20 inches. When we picked our spots right we could catch them on anything you wanted to throw. There were days a topwater would produce better than any other lure and days when it seemed you couldn’t retrieve a Bass Assassin on a 1/8 head without getting bit. The surf is one of the few places where boat anglers can keep up with a stealthy wader. I sometimes fi nd it better to keep my groups in the boat so that we can make a quick change without the delay of gathering and loading them to

make a move. Now this is not to say the surf is a gimme; you will still need to look for clues as to where the fi sh will be located. Just like looking for fi sh in any bay system you will also have to use your head and look for the many telltale signs that would point towards a good place to start your hunt. I look for bait activity and bird activity and then based on how strong the wind is, I decide where I can safely anchor the boat

Port O'Connor Seadrift

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Ben Moya and Frank O’Riley scored very nice trout on a recent charter.

88 | August 2012

to fish the area or where we can jump out and wade without it getting swamped by a rogue wave. Another good thing to remember when wading the surf is to always use a landing net. I have a fear of reaching for a thrashing trout at the same time as a toothy critter of the deep. Also when wading near any pass make sure you always wear a PFD. The currents here can be very swift and dangerous. I myself stay away from fishing too near the passes for this reason. The other type of fishing I want to mention here would be the reefs located in San Antonio Bay. On the north side of the bay there are many reefs that you can be standing in knee-deep water and throwing into five to six feet over a shell bottom. Early in the morning the trout and redfish can be found right at the crown of the reef herding finger mullet. As the sun rises they seem to drop off to the edges and they can be found on or near the fingers that jut out off the reefs in the deeper water. Soft plastics such as Bass Assassins always seem to work best for probing the depths of the shell. I rig them on 1/16 Bass Assassin jigheads. I always tell my guys that if you are not hanging up on shell you are fishing too fast, so if you are not getting bites and also not snagging shell occasionally you might to try slowing your retrieve. I will use more of a twitch than a hop on the reefs to keep the jighead from hanging up too seriously when I am fishing it slowly. A safety tip I have incorporated into all my wading trips is to always put your anchor out or a stake-out stick along with your Power Pole when leaving your boat on the shell reefs. Too many times I have rescued wade fishermen that put trust in their Power Pole or other mechanical anchor, only to have a boat or barge wake come along and set it loose. This could put a kink in your plans if you had to spend the day waiting for a boat to rescue you. Even worse, I have picked people up in the bay that thought they could swim and catch a windblown boat. Believe me, you are not Mark Spitz so don’t even try. I would like to take this time to thank our editor Everett Johnson for the use of his 25’ Majek Redfish Line, it was a worthy fishing platform whether I was in the surf, open bay or the flats. It has been a savior since the middle of March when I sold my last boat.

Fish hard, fish smart!

Young John Liebham was proud of this one!

TSFMAG.com | 89

DaV

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David Rowsey has 20 years experience in the Laguna/Baffi n region; trophy trout with artifi cial lures is his specialty. David has a great passion for conservation and encourages catch and release of trophy fi sh.

hooKED uP WIth Rowsey

Telephone 361-960-0340Websitewww.DavidRowsey.comEmaildavid.rowsey@yahoo.com

The Laguna Madre and Baffi n Bay have been witnessing some above average tide heights from the end of June and on into July. Although they have scattered the fi sh from one end of the bay the other, the exchange of clean water from the Gulf is exactly what we need to fi ght back the brown tide. Yes, it is still hanging around, like crazy cousin Joe from your wife’s side and just refuses to take a hint to go away. Much of the water has cleared, but deep into Baffi n the brown tide still prevails. At this point, it is going to take a big tide from a tropical depression or hurricane to fl ush it out. Excluding a another push of Gulf water, our next best chance will be cold northern fronts, and we all know that is a ways down the road. It has been unseasonably hot down here but it seems to aff ect us more than the trout. Regardless of the high heat indices, the largest trout have been in skinny water, like calf deep. Not the easiest to catch but, when they decide to take a lure, it is of the highest excitement in the skinny water. Had a recent trip where one customer and I worked a 100 yard stretch

of potholes on some skinny fl ats, and we raised eight large trout, landing exactly half of them. They were teeing off on MirrOlure Fat Boys (Corky), and made for some of the most concentrated big trout action of the summer. This same pattern has proven itself over and over again as the sun gets high and bakes our once cool heads. If numbers and action are more your game, schools of black drum and some reds are showing in good numbers in the general area of Bird Island and as far south as Nine Mile Hole (Graveyard). I rarely fi sh from the deck of my Haynie, but this is when I do a lot of it. Besides the quick hookups off ered from these schools, the savvy trout angler will soon realize that there are some big trout hanging on the fringes of these schools - if you can be patient enough to keep your lure away from the reds (hard to do sometimes). Large trout deserve to be on a pedestal, but they are not below letting some other species buy them lunch and wash the dishes as they run in at the last minute for a quick meal of whatever is being served up. Calm August

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days off er ideal conditions for spotting the telltale signs of masses of fi sh bulging up the water as they congregate together. Trout action is early for the most part. I’m typically departing Bluff ’s Landing Marina around 5:00 a.m. every day to catch the best trout of the fi rst two hours of sunlight. Regardless of brown tide, I am almost always starting my days in Baffi n for the initial fl urry of action.

Slicks remain to be the key indicator on where I will fi sh and, not a surprise, these areas will also be where I fi nd the most bait to keep the trout within casting distance. After the sun gets high and the bite slows down you have a few options: For trout, you can go out deep and grind it out or, what I prefer, go skinny to seek out the largest fi sh (but you do run the risk of far less action). The next option is to go chase redfi sh. I prefer to go skinny for them as well, but then I love sight-casting. To me, sight-casting is the perfect combination of hunting and fi shing. I get so into it at times that I have to remind myself that I have clients with me. Easy to get lost in it all when you are sliding quietly through the water looking for a shadow of a big trout or that orange glow of an unsuspecting redfi sh. In closing, the fi sh kill that was blown up on the internet did exist; however, the kill was minor and mostly of shad. Personally, I only witnessed three dead trout during that time

period, and those could have been due to bad handling, just no way to know. The reason is believed to have come from depleted oxygen levels that form during minor tidal movement and excessive heat, of which we have had both. Y’all get an early start, drink lots of water, and stay cool out there. Remember the buff alo. -Capt David Rowsey

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TSFMAG.com | 91

Capt. Tricia’s Skinny Water Adventures operates out of Port Mansfi eld, specializing in wadefi shing with artifi cial lures.

tRICIa’s Mansfi eld Report

Telephone956-642-7298Emailshell@granderiver.netWebsitewww.SkinnyWaterAdventures.com

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There are many reasons why we chose fi shing as a pastime and the ever-changing challenges that nature presents would not be last on the list. Over the past month exceptionally high tides and overfl owing parking lots have presented some tough hurdles. Fish naturally scatter given the amount of water they have to roam in and boat traffi c has the tendency to spread them even further. Each summer season it seems that yet another wave of hopeful anglers discover Port Mansfi eld, so it goes without saying that you had better get out early, have a good plan, and execute it well. Good plans during the past month have included beating the crowds and targeting mostly deeper water with heavy grass beds. Best catches have routinely come from waist-deep or deeper areas with good cover, or strong sandy drop-off s near shorelines and spoils. Finding good concentrations of bait with the slimmest concentration of boats has been the key. Topwaters have done well even in uncomfortably deep water, with One Knockers, Skitter Walks and She Dogs being reliable. Calmer periods have called for junior-size plugs, but large baits have been hit hard during aggressive periods. Besides fl urries of topwater action, plastics on 1/8

ounce jigs remain hard to beat. Pick your poison. I have been throwing mostly Kelly Wigglers and the Die Dapper from Bass Assassin has also been a steady producer, especially when we need to go weedless. The importance of color is never a constant and we certainly have days when it doesn’t seem to matter. Here lately, pumpkinseed/chartreuse works in most water with plum/chartreuse getting it done most consistently in darker water. After that, it’s simply fi nding the right retrieve speed and depth to match the feeding pattern, and of course we always pray that good luck will be with us.

Port Mansfield

The key is to beat the crowds with a good game plan and stealthy approach.

92 | August 2012

Braided line has to be one of the greatest innovations for lure fishermen and I can’t imagine trying to feel a soft bite or work a lure as well without using it. For most folks, somewhere along the braided line learning curve, we realize that we might have been better fisherman than we ever imagined, we simply were not feeling the bite. We try to learn something new every day and I have been searching for clues all summer to understand why we have not been seeing fish following the reliable patterns of the past i.e., high in the shallows early and then dropping down as the day wears on. We have mostly been starting deeper and staying there. Who knows why, but again, every year is different. As far as August goes, we are certainly looking forward to a drop in overall water levels and also less boat traffic as anglers grow tired of fighting the searing heat. This should put fish in the more predictable depressions, funnels and swales. We should see redfish start patrolling the flats in larger groups and becoming more aggressive as they will feed competitively. Approach is the key, and I sure wish more boaters would chill a bit and ease into obvious schools instead of “torpedoing” them as has become so common. I firmly believe that “over anxious” fishermen are helping to change fish patterns by being too aggressive. We just don’t see large groups of tailing fish anymore

like we should, and it’s not hard to imagine boats being part of the equation. Pole, drift or wade into these schools and more folks can share without sending them fleeing in fear…or perhaps even change their minds about areas they want to feed. Trout should be easier to pattern as well. For some reason, every August we start seeing large trout show up shallow and becoming receptive, even tailing at times for those on the lookout. That large square black flag waving in the distance should make anybody’s adrenaline spike. They are catchable too, but again, a silent approach is critical. That’s another reason why we wade, we can simply address those exciting opportunities much better on foot, plus it’s a heck of a lot more fun

getting in there with them. As of now things remain inspiring in the Lower Laguna, and should remain so barring any tropical catastrophe, colored tides, or more importantly, overwhelming human interaction. It’s a very shallow system without the many safe havens of the bays further up the coast, so indeed, we can all make a difference good or bad. Take what you need, but remember that this is about much more than just food for our tables and egos. Enjoy the challenge of August…the last summer act before the wonders of fall arrive. Can’t wait for either!

Best catches have routinely come from waist-deep or deeper grassbeds.

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TSFMAG.com | 93

south PaDRE Fishing Scene

Cell956-266-6454Websitewww.tightlinescharters.com

A Brownsville-area native, Capt. Ernest Cisneros fi shes the Lower Laguna Madre from Port Mansfi eld to Port Isabel. Ernest specializes in wading and poled skiff adventures for snook, trout, and redfi sh.

Last month I wrote of how fi shing can be a window of opportunity - the size of the window varies, with the right place and the right time dictating if you get into consistent action or not. During the past few weeks I think that window has shrunk to about the size of a bathroom window on a child’s playhouse. It has been nothing short of a grind to pattern fi sh, especially the reds. Since Tropical Storm Debby hit the eastern Gulf our water levels have increased nearly two feet above normal and remained that way which means they have a lot more room to roam. As a result our redfi sh action has been scattered and a lot tougher than we expect this time of year. I have been trying to put it all together and so far I’m blaming higher than normal tides, very warm water temperatures, the usual summer time boat traffi c, and last but not least our seagrass is still recovering from the fl oods of June 2010. It is sad to see areas South of the Arroyo that once held a rich carpet of grass nearly barren and the fi sh just aren’t using them. They remind me of an underwater desert

without baitfi sh and without redfi sh. These are some of the obstacles and conditions we are currently facing but that is enough of the doom and gloom. Let’s talk about what we are doing to make the best of each trip. I don’t want to come across that our fi sh population has dwindled or that our fi shery has diminished. Just this past winter I was writing about how outstanding our trout and redfi sh

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Melis Ainsworth and Michelle Hominga can catch reds even when the bite is tough.

94 | August 2012

fi shery was and still is, but currently, as far as redfi sh goes, they are doing a pretty good job of hiding. Trout have been easier, holding in their usual summer time haunts; deeper pockets of water along spoil islands and the ICW. I like to concentrate my eff orts on fl ats alongside the ICW as the water moves in or going out. As long as you have water movement it tends to spark the trout to bite, not failing to mention that many undersize trout have been mixed in with keeper fi sh, you just have to grind them out. The durable Kelley Wigglers continue to be top trout producers for me rigged on 1/8 ounce jigheads and sometimes we add extra weight by slipping a small piece of solder wire into the plastic to keep it closer to the bottom. I mentioned current and when the water is moving at peak fl ow this trick comes into its own. For the limited success we’ve had on redfi sh we have been really creative and looking for them in places we typically tend to pass up. Days with less boat traffi c have defi nitely been the best. Those of you that are familiar with our waters know that tidal movement is everything when it comes to getting on a good bite and for the most part, the best tidal movement has been occurring in the early morning and late evening hours. I can say that we have had

some exceptional days when we decided to stick it out and wait for the bite to turn on as the optimal water movement begins to occur. Studying the tide charts has been a big help for predicting water movement. In August we should see more redfi sh on our fl ats and a few schools running around in the deeper water, but the way things have been lining up all we can do is hope this pattern takes place. August can be a wet month depending weather activity in the tropics that comes our way. We could also see a continuation of high water levels, which will be nothing new as we have been dealing with this right along. In closing, I recently got a chance to fi sh with Everett and Pam Johnson (TSFMag) and Joe and Norma Meyer (FTU). As always we had a blast and lots of laughs. We caught a few, but a bit short of our expectations.

As we fi shed for two days I noticed Joe using a new topwater that quickly caught my attention - a pink and chrome Super Spook Jr that is now in stock exclusively at Fishing Tackle Unlimited. My tackle box will certainly carry one and I suggest your box should have one too. If you cannot get to one of their stores you can shop online at fi shingtackleunlimited.com.


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TSFMAG.com | 95

Lake Calcasieu LouisianaJeff and Mary Poe - Big Lake Guide Service - 337.598.3268By August, water temperatures are high and fi sh seek deeper water. The ship channel, close rigs, and deeper reefs in the lake will be productive. Long gone are the mornings throwing topwaters on shallow fl ats. When water temperatures reach their peak, we sometimes use live bait. Carolina-rigged mullet, croakers, or live shrimp are usually what we try. When fi shing in the channel with live bait, it's important to use enough weight to keep the tide from sweeping the bait away. The bait needs to remain stationary on the bottom so lethargic fi sh don't have to expend energy to eat it. When fi shing soft plastics, we switch to fl uorocarbon line and lighter jigheads. so they get down to the bottom quickly and stay there with a slower presentation. Redfi sh will be wallowing in shallow marshes in a foot of water or less. They will eat topwaters early in the morning but once the sun gets higher, more subtle lures work better. Gulp!s rigged on sixteenth-ounce heads usually get a reaction. Live shrimp under a popping cork works too.

Trinity Bay - East Bay - Galveston Bay | James PlaagSilver King Adventures - silverkingadventures.com - 409.935.7242James says the typical summer pattern has been consistent for him lately in the Galveston area. "We're fi shing out in the middle in pretty deep water, mostly ten to thirteen feet, catching lots of trout and reds too. The best lures for the trout lately have been Bass Assassins in pumpkinseed/chartreuse rigged on three-eighths-ounce heads. Some of the time, the trout fi shing slows, but when that happens, the redfi sh have been keeping us busy. We're fi nding them schooled up in big herds, making mud boils

and slicks. They are feeding on ribbonfi sh. It's kind of cool. Best way to catch 'em is with a shiny topwater. We've been throwing the blue-back/chrome She Dogs mostly. Tarpon fi shing is looking promising too. I caught one about 120 pounds last Sunday. The total catch for the boats out over the weekend was about a dozen. We're seeing lots of fi sh already, so August and September should give us a great shot at numbers of the silver kings if we don't get too many storms out there stirring up the Gulf."

Jimmy West - Bolivar Guide Service - 409.996.3054Galveston's bays have gotten saltier over recent months, and good fi shing has returned to more places. "People are well spread out lately. Some are catching in Trinity Bay, others in Upper Galveston Bay, and of course, it's been good in East Bay too. We're fi nding limits of both trout and reds pretty easily on days when the winds allow us to fi sh the way we want to. Our drill is to work depths of fi ve to seven feet, looking for slicks and schools of bait to lead us to the right specifi c areas. Some days, the fi sh are over shell, but on others, they are over more of a muddy bottom. The reds in particular are easier to locate when they are making mud boils. Some days, they move fast, and it's hard to keep up with them. On other days, double hook-ups are more common. The reds are running big, with about 60% oversized. The trout are just solid fi sh in the pound and a half to about fi ve pound class, with an occasional big one. Surf has been good on the calm days too. We'll keep fi shing these patterns right through the end of August."

West Galveston - Bastrop - Christmas - Chocolate BaysRandall Groves - Groves Guide Service - 979.849.7019 - 979.864.9323Like other guides, Randall says he will be keeping an eye on the surf

FISHING REPORTS AND FORECASTSfrom Big Lake to Boca Chica

96 | August 2012

come August. "In the hot, still month, fi shing along the beach is usually great. We've already been able to get out there a few times, and we really whacked 'em. Topwaters work great when the water goes green to the beach, and the best fi shing is most always close to the sand, early in the morning. Lately, we've been getting just enough west wind in the morning to keep it mucked up, but we'll see some good days during August, I bet. When I'm not fi shing the surf, I like to look for reds in shallow water this time of year. The water is clear a lot, so we can see the fi sh on most days. If we can see 'em, we can usually catch 'em. We go after the reds with topwaters on occasion, but Norton Sand Eels work better most of the time. When it's windier, we will use live bait if we need to. Lately, on days when the lure fi shing would likely be really tough, we've been catching limits on live bait, mostly piggy perch and croaker, because they make some noise. Early limits are the norm."

Matagorda | Tommy CountzBay Guide Service -979.863.7553 cell 281.450.4037Tommy mentions the surf as option number one for August fi shing in the Matagorda area. "We'll be trying to get into the surf every time we can. We've already had some good days out there in July, and it should be more consistent in August. We'll throw topwaters out there early, then switch to soft plastics of other sinking baits as it gets later. East Bay has been the best so far this summer. We're catching some nice trout out in the middle in both ends, over mud in the east end and over scattered shell in the west end. The key is to work soft plastics really slow and close to the bottom in fi ve or six feet of water. Wading the mid-bay reefs has been good when it's calm too. I like to fi sh them the same way I would fi sh the surf, with topwaters early, switching to sinking baits later. We should see some redfi sh schooling around drains on the south shoreline of East Bay toward the end of August. When I head over to West Bay, I'll be focusing on the deeper grass beds on the outer bars, working them thoroughly, sometimes twice a day each."

Palacios | Capt. Aaron Wollamwww.palaciosguideservice.com - 979.240.8204It’s hard to describe how good fi shing has been these past couple of

weeks. Last weekend, we caught twenty three tripletail up to eighteen pounds in three days. We also fi shed the grass fl ats on the shoreline of West Matagorda Bay and had limits of trout up to three pounds. Redfi sh have been schooling in the back lakes off the intracoastal, and they’ve been violently attacking topwaters. The surf has just turned on again, and from the beach at East Matagorda all the way to Port O’ Connor, the fi shing has been on fi re! The only thing I can attribute all the good catching to is the amazing amount of bait present in the bays. Everywhere I go, from the fl ats, to the wells, to the surf, I don't think I have ever seen so many schools of mullet and menhaden. Look for hot fi shing to continue into August. In the heat, we fi sh shallow early and follow the bait out deeper as the water warms during the day.

Port O’Connor | Lynn Smith - Back Bay Guide Service - 361.983.4434Lynn's plan for August outings is dependent on the winds and the ability to get into the surf. "Of course, we are planning on fi shing the beachfront as much as possible. We've had a few good days out there already, and August is usually the best month. I like to throw topwaters in the waves early, all day if I can keep getting blown up. Lately, the junior versions of the Skitterwalk have been working great, especially the baby trout one with the blue back. The old standby pink and silver is a consistent producer too. We will be looking to wade some shallow areas close to the beach that have grass growing in the gut. When we can't get to the surf, we'll be fi shing fl ats adjacent to deep water around the passes, targeting schools of bait fi sh around areas with lots of grass and sand. We'll use topwaters as much as possible when we're in the bay too, then switch over to soft plastics as the sun gets higher and heats up the shallows.

Rockport | Blake MuirheadGator Trout Guide Service - 361.790.5203 or 361.441.3894Blake intends to keep running a similar plan in August to what he's already

TSFMAG.com | 97

been doing this summer. "I'll spend some time in most of the area bays, fi shing sand and grass shorelines some, especially early in the mornings and when it's windier.

I'll get out and work the mid-bay reefs too. Doing that is better and easier when winds are lighter. Of course, the surf has been good already, and I'll be looking to take advantage of some opportunities to get out there and join in the catching. I'll be throwing a variety of things at the fi sh, topwaters at times, Sand Eels more often, and live bait when the going is tougher, or if I have clients who want to go that route. Toward the end of the month, I'll start looking around the drains and cuts and passes for schooling reds. They usually start to gang up somewhat by that time. And, I'll be gearing up for the dove and teal seasons. We've had plenty of rain to create some food in the fi elds, so the dove hunting should be good. It's a little early to tell about the teal."

Upper Laguna Madre - Baffi n Bay - Land CutRobert Zapata – [email protected] - 361.563.1160So far, so good! That is what I think about this fi shing season up to now. The fi shing has not been fast and furious, but it has been steady. I have been catching very good numbers of trout, with many ranging from eighteen to twenty four inches. Brown tide has kept me from fi shing in the heart of Baffi n Bay, but the water has had good clarity along the Kennedy Ranch Shoreline and in the Yarborough area. Recently, the water has been clearing up in the upper end of the Laguna Madre, and this has opened up many more areas to fi sh along grass lines, pot holes and drop-off s in about four feet of water. Free-lining croakers has been the most effi cient method for catching trout. Redfi sh have been a little scarce for me, but with the water clearing up in the upper part of the Laguna Madre, I will be getting my half-ounce gold spoons and Bass Assassin Die Dappers rigged on eighth-ounce jigheads ready to cast while

98 | August 2012

running slowly and trying to "wake up" and locate the schooling reds.

Corpus Christi | Joe Mendez – www.sightcast1.com - 361.937.5961Joe says he'll likely be splitting time in the far ends of his local waters in August. "The water is really clear down south, so the fishing in the Land Cut area, Nine Mile Hole, Summer House and along the Kenedy Shoreline is good. I like to work all kinds of deep edges down there this time of year, including the main drop off in The Cut, the deep sides of rocks along the edge off the Kenedy Shoreline, and the edges of the gut in Summer House. Most of the time, trout are hanging out on these grassy edges. They are easiest to catch on soft plastics. We use lighter jigheads when we can, to keep the lures out of the grass better, but switch over to heavier ones in stronger winds and currents. The reds can often be found in the shallower parts of these same areas. With the clear water, it's possible to sightcast them. Paddletails on light jigheads work best for targeting the fish this way. I'll also probably venture north into Corpus Bay some too. Sightcasting the reds up that way is usually good this time of year in Shamrock and East Flats."

Padre Island National SeashoreBilly Sandifer - Padre Island Safaris - 361.937.8446The quality of surf fishing on PINS in August is determined by two words - water color. It tends to be hot with calm wind conditions and generally smooth, clear seas. August is as close to tropical as it gets in Texas. We will drive slowly along the beach looking for speckled trout and redfish laid up in small pockets quite close to shore and sight-cast with small paddle tails. Don’t hit them on the head; let them find it on their own. King mackerel, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, tarpon, and tons of ladyfish (skipjack) are usually available. Use speck rig jigs or small silver spoons - wire leader is often necessary. There will be plenty of whiting available. Sharks are scarce the first half of the month but tend to show up the second half. Fishing at night with baits kayaked far offshore tend to be most productive. With hot water temperatures small baits often work better than large ones. Topwaters often produce trout early and late and

occasionally even in the middle of the day.

Port Mansfield | Terry Nealwww.terrynealcharters.com – 956.944.2559Looks like our wind pattern is finally starting to settle down. Bay fishing will be good for trout and reds but calmer days are always the hottest so an early start is advised. By the time you read this bay water temps will be pushing into the upper 80s and deeper grassbeds will be good places to look for trout. Redfish will be schooling on the flats, very shallow at daybreak and then moving deeper during midday. The best offshore opportunities also come during August, when it is so hot and still out there you can hardly breathe. One of my favorite things is to take some of my old topwater baits, cut the old rusty hooks off and play with the fish. Nothing like a kingfish coming eight feet out of the water and landing on your bait. The bait balls have started to show up so everything else is not far behind. The new reef is producing some good snapper and some pretty nice dog snapper. A day of fishing beats a day at the office.

Lower Laguna Madre - South Padre - Port IsabelJanie and Fred Petty – www.fishingwithpettys.com – 956.943.2747So far this summer, we’ve had warm, windy, and occasionally wet days with some extremely high tides due to tropical activity. Limiting on trout is pretty common, but reds are not hanging out on the flats like they used to, thanks to boat traffic. We’re managing to limit most days on redfish, but haven’t seen the herds, so we’re making long drifts and hitting every hole. Our biggest problem has been floating turtle grass, which runs down the line and hangs on the hook and can really hinder the retrieve and take the action out of the lure. Freddy says, “Use single hooks and fish shallow to avoid grassing up. We’re throwing the cigar-shaped Cajun Thunder cork trailing a Hogie’s black-nickel sixteenth-ounce springhead hook, baited with Berkley Gulp! three-inch shrimp in new penny and glow. And of course, we run Shallow Sport boats to get us as skinny as possible.” Please help us stop open bay dredge disposal!

TSFMAG.com | 99

Colton Tucker27” & 27.5” reds

Roland VogelFreeport - red snapper

Shaun VogelLaguna Madre - 31” redfi sh

David Alanis, Jr.Port Mansfi eld - 29” trout

Jerry BissonnettePOC - 46.5” red

Joshua DicksonGalveston - fl ounder

Trey GermanTrinity Bay - 25” redfi sh

Brynn WhitePOC - 23.5” fi rst slot red!

Lola AlanisPort Mansfi eld - 27” speck

Dagan Turner42” bull red

Jason Voorhees9-Mile Hole - 27” red

Christi & David DiazBaffi n Bay - 29” & 25” reds, Christi’s fi rst!

Nicolas, Isabella, Sabrina, Karina, Triana, & Oscar LopezPort Mansfi eld - kingfi sh

100 | August 2012

Please do not write on the back of photos.

Email photos with a description of yourCatch of the Month to: [email protected]

Mail photos to: TSFMagP.O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983

Lee Bonfi glio35-40lb dorado

Jacob Floresblack fi n tuna

Lucrecia FosterSargent - personal best dolphin!

Faustino ChapaSouth Padre - 30” red

Adrian GarciaBaffi n Bay - 50” bull red

Kelley OsinaPOC - 45” red

Jennifer HenriksenRockport - 26” redfi sh

Connor LoftonPort Aransas - 28.5” trout

Liz Garza & Kim ChavarriaSan Antonio Bay - 27.5” reds

Christine FowlerRockport - 23” red

Caitlin Patteson & Travis WilliamsGalveston - shark

Galvin GuerreroSouth Bay - 29” fi rst snook! CPR

TSFMAG.com | 101

Got ideas, hints or recipes you’d like to share?Email them [email protected] send by fax:361-785-2844

Gulf Coast Kitchen

Pa

m J

oh

nso

n

Baked Fillets – Julie’s WayCredit to Julie S. Bertolino

2.5 pounds speckled trout fillets 6 large tomatoes1 medium onion4 cloves garlic1 cup fresh basil leaves1 sleeve Keebler Town House Original crackers1/2 stick butter½ tsp Old Bay Seasoning

¼ tsp dill weed¼ tsp garlic powder2 Tbsp mayonnaise1 tsp Dijon mustardTabasco SauceSalt and pepper to tasteI lemon

Take 6 large tomatoes (homegrown preferred), 1 medium onion halved, 4 cloves garlic; drizzle lightly with olive oil and your favorite seasoned salt. Place in shallow pan and bake at 350° until tomatoes are soft. Remove from oven and allow to cool, and then peel tomatoes. Place all above in blender, along with the basil. Run on puree speed until smooth. Salt and pepper to taste. Add to small sauce pan and simmer slowly for 30 minutes. Crumble one sleeve of Keebler Town House crackers in Ziplock bag (no large pieces.) Melt butter in small no-stick fry pan. Add dill, Old Bay Seasoning and garlic powder. Stir to mix and slowly add cracker crumbs. Sauté at low heat stirring occasionally until crumbs are lightly browned. Preparing the fillets: In a small bowl add mayo, Dijon mustard, and a dash of Tabasco- mix well. With pastry brush, apply mixture to both sides of fillets. Coat fillets with browned cracker crumbs, lightly on bottom, more on top. Squeeze lemon on coated fillets. Baking the fillets: Place coated fillets on lightly oiled baking sheet and place in 350° oven until tender and flake easily with fork. Serving: Ladle puree mixture onto plate, place baked fillets on top. Goes well with grilled veggies of your choice and saffron rice. (For a special touch you can add shrimp or crab to top of fillets before baking.)

Darrell Murski’s TasTy FilleTs“Works great on the pit or the griddle.” 4-6 fillets of your favorite fish1/2 tsp. garlic powder6 tablespoons olive oil1 tsp. dried basil1 tsp. lemon pepper1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes1 tsp. Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning Place the fillets in a gallon Ziploc bag.Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over fish and marinate in refrigerator one hour. Turn and mix at least once while marinating.Grill or cook on griddle until fillets flake easily.

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102 | August 2012

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TSFMAG.com | 105

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August 2012

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Transcript of August 2012