Dr. Bob Rose, right, reeled in this huge wahoo that got sharked on the way in. The partial fish weighed 73 pounds on certified scales.
Texas wahoo are Texas-sized at the Flower Garden Banks
Photography and Videography by Brandon Rowan | brandon@baygroupmedia.com
Bad Intentions, a 64′ Viking owned by Debbie Conway, headed out to the Flower Garden Banks late January 2017 in search of BIG wahoo. The lines hit the water at first light but the wahoo bite didn’t begin until 10 a.m. and continued until late in the afternoon. The most successful baits of the trip were Ilanders rigged with ballyhoo and trolling weights, and heavy jetheads in purple/black or halloween colors. Watch the video above to see these hard running wahoo in action.
Galveston Winter Fishing: Deep Or Shallow?
Finding trout and redfish when the water goes cold
There has always been a rule of thumb for seasonal fishing.You should fish deep in mid-summer and winter, and fish shallow in the fall and spring.While I certainly do not disagree with that, there have been some modifications to that rule for winter fishing around the Galveston Bay Complex.
Several decades ago, anglers could pretty much rely upon the scenario that if you want to catch fish during the winter, fish in deeper waters.One reason is that the winters were colder and more prolonged than they are today.Still, fish tend to follow that pattern around the Galveston Bay Complex except in at least one area and that is West Galveston Bay.
West Bay, as we call it, is a relatively shallow bay with few deep holes when compared to other bays such as upper Galveston or East Bays.West Bay is well-known for its cold weather fishing and in fact, tends to turn off during the warmer months.
Paul Brown’s Original Suspending Twitchbait in Copper Top.
Slow sinking lures retrieved at a slow pace produce the fish.
This small bay system that spans between the Galveston Causeway and San Luis Pass is one of the top spots to catch trophy trout during the winter and early spring.Reds also are plentiful that time of year and when looking at the average depth it is surprising that it is so productive during the cold months.
Harry Landers, a retired and once popular fishing guide out of Jamaica Beach, told me that West Bay was a well-kept secret for winter fishing.He felt the same way about Chocolate Bay, a shallow bay system that adjoins Lower West Bay to the north.
Landers caught many trophy-sized trout during his hey-day and placed many happy guests into trout that would go to the taxidermist rather than the kitchen.
Landers knew West Bay and Chocolate Bay like the back of his hand and shared a few of his secrets, many of which are common knowledge among fishing guides today.
While Offatts Bayou and its famous Blue Hole caught the attention of anglers during the winter, Landers was out fishing the shallower waters of West Bay.Wade fishing, he felt, was the most productive way of fishing the shallow waters.
No doubt when freezes took place, Offatts was the place to fish. Once the water started warming, trout would venture out of the deep water looking for bait.
Mud bottoms during the afternoon tide, either incoming or outgoing, hold the warmest water and attract the small finfish and crustaceans.In turn, predator fish such as specks and reds will be nearby looking for a winter’s meal.
Shell bottoms also are popular especially in deeper waters.
During periods of afternoon incoming tides, large sow trout can be found roaming the shorelines, especially grassy areas for bait.Wade fishing is much preferred for trying to entice an older and wiser fish to bite, as boats make noise and noise easily spooks trout.
Another of the popular choices is narrow channels for reds.While West Bay has a limited number of those channels, offshoots from the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) are plentiful.Carancahua and Green’s Lakes, along with several man-made canals just north of the ICW, offer excellent action on reds during outgoing winter tides.
Winter fishing styles apply to all of the areas mentioned and probably the biggest of the techniques is a very slow retrieve of the lure.Slow sinking lures retrieved at a slow pace produce the fish.
While there will be some good fishing in deeper waters this winter, try shallow and go for the glory that is a trophy trout.
Winter is finally here. November of 2016 was very mild, with only a few cool mornings followed by record high temperatures. December arrived and in the first week we experienced record rainfall in some areas and our first real cold front. January and February are typically cold and wet months along the Upper Coast of Texas. This is a great time to enjoy some indoor activities or things that you might have neglected. Fishing still can be good, but you just have to pick the right days according to the weather.
January begins with the Houston Boat Show, held at Reliant Center Jan. 6 – 15, the show hosts the newest boats, motors and campers for the coming year. There are numerous vendor booths, with a large section dedicated to the sportsman/fisherman. I will be at the Eagle Point Fishing Camp booth the first few days of the show. Stop by and we can visit about fishing, Galveston Bay, etc.
Yes, fishing can be good during this time of year. Fishing between the fronts will be the key to your success. The upper reaches of the bay system, namely Burnett, Scott and San Jacinto Bays, draw most of the attention this time of year. The bays offer shelter from the North winds and as long as the water stays salty, redfish and speckled trout can be caught. Sylvan Beach and Bayland Park offer the closest launches to reach these areas.
Other fishing grounds to consider are the NW/W shorelines of Galveston Bay. Sylvan Beach down to Eagle Point offers protection from a NW-W wind. The area is littered with structure like old pier pilings and numerous deep water shell reefs. The traditional winter time hotspot known as Galveston’s West Bay, will also see its fair share of action. Live bait supplies can be scarce this time of year. While most people will be throwing artificial lures, bait fisherman can check with Eagle Point at 281 339-1131 for live shrimp.
Last but not least, these months are perfect to have your maintenance completed on your rods, reels, and tackle. Also, schedule any service for your boat and motor now. Don’t wait for spring to get them in the shop. I will be in Costa Rica the middle of January catching sailfish! My boat goes to the shop soon after my return.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday break! Tight Lines to all!
By utilizingthe latest technology in live, high definition, interactive web cameras, Saltwater-Recon.com is becoming the “Know Before You Go” resource for millions of people. Whether boating, fishing, or observing real-time conditions, Saltwater-Recon.com’s array of coastal HD cameras, combined with expert boating, fishing and weather content will give visitors the information needed to plan a safe and successful day on the water.
In addition to aiding the public with their decision-making, Saltwater-Recon.com aims to provide government entities, such as NOAA, U.S. Coast Guard, N.W.S., U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, as well as local news, and maritime logistics companies the information they need to make time-critical, and potentially life-saving, operational decisions.
It has been a long-time dream of ours to be able to look at the water from the comfort of our own home. Not everyone has the luxury of living close enough to the bay to be able to pop over and check out the water before an outing. Well, we have made that dream a reality.
With the help of our site sponsors and the Saltwater-Recon Team, CTO, Broc Adams and CFO, Larry Perez, (both BOI’s), we are using industry-leading, HD cameras that pan, tilt, and zoom with the click of a mouse to provide our users with the highest quality video stream, and YOU control the cameras! Our site allows the user to point the camera and even adjust how close they want to get with 30X zoom capabilities.
We currently have cameras in three locations; Trinity Bay, the Galveston Causeway and San Luis Pass. We are currently working on adding another three camera sites by the end of March 2017. New camera locations will include a Galveston beach cam, Seabrook and two cams at Seawolf Park to give users expansive views of the Galveston Ship Channel!
Along with our HD, interactive webcams, we also have some amazing bay/weather content including tide charts, access to weather/water information from NOAA buoys, weather radar and wind speed maps. We also have a full-time meteorologist on staff to bring our users the best, most up-to-date conditions of greater Galveston Bay.
We are also working on a very exciting new algorithm to bring bay conditions and weather forecasting into the 21st century. But that’s all we can say about that for now… please stay tuned to Saltwater-Recon.com and our Facebook page for updates on all the latest happenings and tournaments around the greater Galveston Bay complex through our EVENTS page, or check out the exclusive offers and coupons on our DEALS page.
We are excited for the opportunity to continually expand our network of cameras to bring real-time, reliable weather and bay conditions to anglers, boaters, and saltwater enthusiasts.
Going Skinny
Four small skiffs for fishing Texas marshes and backwaters
A little skiff with attitude. This boat is the perfect blend of beauty and function.It can comfortably cross open bays and pole after tailing reds. It is one of themost versatile boats in East Cape’s lineup. The Caimen is synonymous with simplicity.
The Hell’s Bay Professional is a very versatile boat for fishing a wide variety of conditions. This skiff is the perfect blend of shallow water draft, dry comfortable ride and stability. The length to width ratio of the Professional allows for easy poling, responsive turning, and has the ability to handle a variety of water conditions. If stalking the shallow flats or fishing the backcountry is what you are after, then the Professional should be your skiff of choice.
When Brian S. Little designed his first aluminum poling skiff he had one main design feature he wanted to accomplish; NO hull slap. Hull slap is created by waves hitting the boat at a less than desirable angle. The Versatile is designed and built to counteract the waves that cause fish spooking hull slap.
The Versatile is also designed to pole straight and allows the guide to spin the boat easily when needed. This shallow draft skiff, with a zero dead rise hull, offers a deck layout with storage for six 9’ 6” fly rods and walk-around gunnels you can actually walk around.
Winter weather has arrived on the upper Texas coast and so comes the arrival of some very different fishing. Colder air, colder water, reduced number of prey species and a different range of comfort zones dictate the location and feeding patterns of redfish and trout during the cooler months.
Finding patterns that hold through winter will increase your fishing percentages, and of the long list of factors involved, I’ve consistently found a few that truly make a difference.
Mullet are largely on the menu for winter redfish and trout.
Winter Food Sources
First and foremost, in finding predatory fish in cold water is understanding the primary food sources that they feed upon. Most of the shrimp have either left the bays or will spend the majority of the winter buried in the mud. Crabs similarly disappear from the shallows, moving to deeper waters and also burying themselves in the mud. Many of the small species of bait fish will remain, though they won’t stay in water as shallow as they do in warmer months.
There are numerous species of marine worms and other small creatures that remain in the bay, though we rarely see them other than when found inside the bellies of the fish we catch. So, the primary food sources for predatory fish are the remaining small baitfish, such as mullet, mud minnows and others that hang around the shallows.
Finding fish during winter is isn’t always easy, but understanding the food sources makes a huge difference. Mullet or other bait fish species that frequently swim at or near the surface and jump, are easy targets and help anglers in locating fish. This isn’t uncommon during warming trends. When water temperatures are colder or trending down, baitfish tend to stay closer to the bay bottom and move towards deeper, warmer water, making them much more difficult to locate. Much like every other season, native guides and even seasonal natives can shed some light on the location of the food sources and of course, the predators are usually close by. What I mean by native guides is birds.
American White Pelican
Winter Bird Signs
The birds that are good indicators are much different during winter than summer or fall. The gulls and terns that were such great indicators of migrating shrimp over the past few months are typically not the birds to follow or watch for during the cooler months. My focus changes to some larger birds and some that only arrive after significant cooling. Both species of pelicans, brown and white, are voracious fish eaters and will often gang up when they locate large schools of mullet or other baitfish. And if you find large concentrations of bait in winter, odds are good that you will find predators as well. My favorite migratory bird to watch during winter is the Loon. This bird at a distance may look like the common cormorant, but when you get a little closer, its not hard to tell that they are much larger and have a large white patch on their chest. They also make a very distinct crying sound. They are incredibly adept diving birds that can swim fast and stay under water for several minutes. Finding more than one in an area diving is a great indication of schools of baitfish and predators.
I’m always on alert for shore birds such as egrets, herons, and ibis, though you won’t typically see them along the banks feeding unless we have a good warming trend going.
Winter is BIG trout time. Capt. Steve Soule caught this 27-inch trout on a Corky Fat Boy.
Temperature and Tide Factors
Most fish and marine animals spend their lives following just a few things; food, comfort and safety from predators. Temperature plays a huge role in the location and movement of both bait and predatory fish during winter. Temperature effects the food species and their movements, which in turn effects the movements of their predators. Much like us, if it’s cold, they seek warmth, which is why they inhabit certain areas during cooler weather, yet their range can spread widely when water warms. A great basic rule to understand is that if water temperatures are falling, fish will tend to mover to deeper water and as water temperatures warm, they will return to shallows.
Adding to that, this is driven by air temperature which takes time to impact the water. If temperatures are relatively stable, or the changes in temperature are not dramatic, the fish won’t feel the need to move as much as they will during more notable changes in temperature. There is an added important note, and one that we can feel and use to our advantage. As the air temperatures increase above the water temperatures, shallow water will warm fastest. As soon as this process begins, baitfish will begin to move to shallow, muddy and darker bottom areas.
Another important pattern to remember is that tides will still move fish, and can also adjust the temperature of the water in specific areas. If the air is notably warmer than the water, outgoing tides will carry warmer water out to deeper areas. In colder conditions, the opposite is often the case; incoming tides can wash more stable water temperatures into the shallows.
During the passage of winter fronts, especially those that have north or northwest winds, tides will fall sharply. The extreme low tides of winter tend to concentrate fish into very specific areas. In the marshes, the fish will fall into deeper creeks and bayous. In open water, guts, channels and soft mud near the edges of shallows will be the places to look.
Once you’ve found the fish, keep in mind that they are primarily feeding on other small fish, so use lures that imitate mullet or other bait species. Note the temperatures and the direction they are trending, either up or down. Knowing this will help determine the speed of retrieves when fishing. Like any other time when fishing, it may take some experimenting to determine exactly where the fish are and what type of presentation will work best. The good news is that once you find fish in the winter, they are typically concentrated in good numbers. Also noteworthy, if you find bigger fish, you often won’t find the smaller fish mixed in, and vice versa.
Braving the elements in winter is often rewarded with spectacular catches. Dress appropriately, take your safety and that of any passengers seriously. Dress in layers that can be removed or added as temperatures change, and get out and catch a few fish.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove four round fillets from steak and place in baking dish. Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, tomatoes and basil into a bowl and pour over the fish. Salt and pepper to your taste. Lift them up to allow liquid to equalize onto bottom of dish and make sure fish is coated on both sides.
Place paper-thin slices of lemons over the entire surface of your dish for garnishment and bake in the oven at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes uncovered. Don’t over cook fish!Remove lemon garnishment and serve fish over rice.
Fishing Gear
Christmas gifts for the mariner in your life
WADERS:
(Left)frogg toggs® Men’s Hellbender™ Stocking-Foot Wader is engineered with DriPore2Gen Technology for breathability and moisture management.
(Right)Simms® Women’s Freestone® Stocking-Foot Wader is made of 4-layer Toray® QuadraLam™ waterproof fabric that offers great breathability.
WADING BOOTS:
(Left)Simms Women’s Vapor Wading Boots with Vibram Soles and lightweight VaporTread™ platforms have been engineered for balanced fast hiking and wading performance. Neoprene partial liners deliver wading warmth, cushioning and easy on and off.
(Right)frogg toggs® Men’s Aransas™ Surf And Sand Wading Shoes are lightweight 5mm neoprene uppers with zipper closures, hook-and-loop ankle straps and full gussets ensure a secure, comfortable fit while sealing out sand and debris.
KAYAKS:
Perception Pescador Pro 120 is designed with a center console for your fishfinder electronics and offers a 1-piece hull that is abrasion, UV and impact resistant for durability. The seat is removable and adjustable for comfort, and the boat provides a multitude of storage options for your tackle box, rods, paddles and other fishing essentials.
FISHING RODS:
(Top) The Waterloo Phantom series is a versatile rod. Works great for various applications such as artificial and live bait. Built on a medium light, moderate fast action graphite blank with a light tip and moderate backbone. Available in 6’6”, 6’9” or 7’0”.
(Middle) The Waterloo Salinity series is a light-weight, very sensitive and versatile rod. Ideal for various applications such as small swimbaits and topwaters, and live bait. Built on a medium, moderate fast action graphite blank with a light tip and moderate backbone. Available in 7’0’ or 7’6”.
(Bottom) Same as the above Waterloo Salinity, but this is a special pink edition wrapped with teal thread.
FISHING REELS:
The PENN® Clash gear train runs off Dura-Gear technology which offers a more durable and long lasting gear. 9 sealed bearings keep everything in line and moving freely while a full metal body eliminates twist caused by high drag pressure. The Clash also features a thick aluminum bail wire, slow oscillation system, Line Capacity Rings, and a braid ready spool.
The Concept A from 13 Fishing is a smooth, lightweight reel that performs. Engineered with the right materials in the right places, it is built to withstand the rigors of competitive fishing. With 22 lbs of Bulldog drag, it will put the brakes on any fish in salt or freshwater.
TOOLS:
Line Cutterz Ring is a sleek, adjustable ring with double-sided blade perfect for quick and efficient cutting of mono-filament and braided fishing line. Great for all types of fishing including kayak fishing, surf fishing, chartered fishing and ocean fishing. Velcro adjustable strap to fit all sizes. Two-sided stainless steel blades and stainless steel rivet set in a black ABS plastic for ultimate durability and safety.
The 8’ Pro-Series from Stinky Pants Fishing® is handmade in the USA using first rate materials designed for the toughest conditions. The stringers will not knot, fray, ravel or get stuck on teeth or hooks like other stringers. Simply release the stringer from the removable float and drop your days catch in the cooler. Available in a variety of colors.
This year has been one of the most inconsistent years, with regards to weather and conditions that we haven’t seen in a long time on the upper Texas coast. With flooding rains, high winds, high tides and just generally different conditions, fishing hasn’t been as consistent compared to recent years.
For those new to fishing the upper coast, I’m sure it seems like a very difficult fishery. For those with years of experience, it has taken a lot of work and effort to keep up with fish in shallow water. We have grasses growing that don’t normally grow, due to heavy rainfall. Our shoreline erosion is accelerating to an alarming rate with the constant high tides. Water clarity has been greatly reduced when compared to recent years. Fishing the marshes and shallow shorelines has just been plain challenging.
Redfish Gear
In an inconsistent year, being prepared and having the right gear in tip top condition can make all the difference.
With all of this change and challenge, every opportunity counts. The gear that we use, the lures that we fish and the way that we rig can help us capitalize on limited shots at fish.
Spinning Rods
Let’s start with the fishing rods. For spinning gear, my preference is a 6-7 foot medium to medium-light rod. The rod should have enough power, or backbone to battle the fish we target. Redfish, even the bigger ones, don’t make incredibly long runs, but they will try to get to the cover of shorelines and almost always try to go under the boat near the end of the fight. Be prepared with a rod that can help you prevent this.
Conversely, the rod tip still needs to be light enough to allow casting with 1/8 or even 1/16 ounce lures. Your reel should have a capacity of 150 yards of line, but don’t overdo this with a large, heavy reel. Lightweight is better. I have switched to braided line on all of my reels. For my spinning reels, I use 6 pound diameter that has a break strength of 20 pounds. The diameter of these lines helps with casting and the strength provides more than enough to battle the biggest marsh reds we see.
Baitcasting Rods
If you prefer bait-casters or casting rods, the set up is very similar. I prefer casting rods in the 6’6”-6’10” range. Again, they should have a very light tip section to allow you to cast well with lightweight lures, but maintain enough power lower in the rod to maneuver fish as they get near the boat. Reel capacity again, should be around 150 yards or a little more, but light weight is key as you will be holding and casting all day when fishing in shallow water. Again, use braided line, for abrasion resistance and durability. On my casting reels, I have found that 8 pound diameter, with a break strength of 30 pounds, seems to work very well. For a very experienced caster, the lighter line mentioned for spinning reels might work, but I have found that it will break more readily if you get a backlash. Don’t forget that you need to pick a reel with a very smooth drag system to handle the “burst” runs of bigger redfish.
Fly Rods
If you prefer to fly fish, you should pick a medium-fast to fast action 8 weight rod with matching line. I almost exclusively use floating, weight forward fly lines designed for saltwater fishing. This can get a little technical on the Texas coast; we see more temperature change than most other redfish habitats. Generally speaking, the lines designed for tropical species are great in our summer temperatures, but will leave a lot to be desired in the cooler months. Most of the lines designed specifically for redfish work well as the coring material used is not as stiff and won’t cause excessive coils in the cooler seasons.
So, use weight forward saltwater or redfish taper lines matched to your rod. In other words, if you buy an 8 weight rod, use 8 weight line. Our leaders should be 10-16 pound tippet strength and of an abrasion resistant variety. Our redfish aren’t very “leader shy” like in some heavily pressured, clear water fisheries, so I tend to fish heavier leaders here, on the upper end of the range of what I mentioned. As for the fly reel, pick a reel designed for the weight line you are using. Most will have way more line/backing capacity than we will ever need fishing for redfish, but it will make for a great travel rod when you head to the tropics for longer running or more powerful fish.
The Things We Throw
Norton Bull Minnow in Roach
When it comes to shallow water redfish lures, I keep the selection fairly simple. A small variety of spoons and soft plastics will work day in and day out for catching not only redfish, but trout and flounder as well. Because I’m primarily sight fishing, I rarely utilize a cork and prefer to fish soft plastics on a lightweight jig head.
Bass Assassin Lures 4″ Sea Shad in Slammin’ Chicken
Presentation is everything with this style of fishing. I rig with 1/4 ounce or less, typically 1/8, screw lock style heads, and utilize smaller swim tail or paddle tail designs in the 3-5” range.
For colors, I prefer the darker shades in most situations, especially in the marshes. Dark colors silhouette better in dirty water and have worked well for me for many years. Here’s my short list of colors; purple, dark blue, and “Texas Roach.” You may want to keep some light colors like white or bone on hand, but I’ve been very consistent with the darker shades. I especially like the blues and purples for the hint of crab coloration they provide.
Retrieves with soft plastics can be steady, as the tail vibration will help fish locate the lure. I often impart a bouncing or “jigging” action with the rod tip to help make the lure more visible in the water column.
Looking at spoons, I prefer to use weedless spoons in most situations, though in slightly deeper water, or when water is “off color,” I will use a sprite style or treble hook spoon. In very shallow water, under a foot, spoons don’t really require much added action on the retrieve. A steady and constant speed without added rod tip movement works very well.
The trick is to find the speed range for the spoon that you have tied on. You want to see that spoon wobbling or rocking from side to side, without turning full rotations. This retrieve gives the most vibration without causing line twist that can come back to bite you later in the day. You will find that this speed can be slowed to nearly a crawl, or sped up by adjusting the angle of the rod tip up or down. The key is to maintain the wobble.
When it comes to color choices for spoons, gold is my standard. I fish weedless gold, 1/4 ounce spoons more than any other, but occasionally need a 1/8 when fish are very shallow and spooky.
A Few Quick Tips On Maintaining Your Gear
All lures should be rinsed with clean fresh water. Rods can be rinsed as well. For your reels, I recommend that unless they get splashed or dunked in saltwater, they should only be wiped clean with a soft cloth dampened with clean fresh water. Excessive spraying of water can often force salt and dirt deeper into the reel which will cause problems later down the road. If you rinse down your fishing rods, take a moment to wipe them off after with a soft cloth to remove the water. Not all rod guides are designed to withstand saltwater, so the wipe down will help remove any remaining salt.
Good luck and tight lines! Don’t miss out on what the shallows have to offer this fall and winter.
Tips For Catching More Fish
By Capt. Joe Kent
There is an old adage that 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish. Well, while not statistically proven, the odds are that the old adage has a lot of merit.
If you are one of those anglers who comes away feeling like everyone around you is catching fish while you are left with an empty or sparse stringer, hopefully some of these tips will help you join that exclusive 10% group that takes 90% of the fish.
While actively guiding fishing trips, there were a number of things I observed that definitely handicapped my guests from catching many fish.
Most likely the biggest obstacle was in casting skills.Other fishing guides agreed with me that if there was one big fault it was in the lack of being able to cast a bait to a target and at the same time avoid another big problem, backlashes.
Good casting skills are imperative for fan casting or placing your bait precisely near structure or jetties.
Line Control
There are a number of other skills anglers need to address; however, accurate casting and controlling the line is at the top of the list.
Casting skills take practice and the time not to practice is when on a fishing trip with others.
Choosing a rod and reel you are comfortable using and is appropriate for where you are fishing is the first step.
Practice, practice and more practice is the key to developing your skills in the art of casting.
Once you have become comfortable with your choice of rod and reel and have developed control over where and how far you can cast, then attention can be given to a number of other problems that tend to plague those not bringing home stringers of game fish.
Hook live shrimp under the horn.
Bait & Tackle
While space does not allow an elaboration on each of the following, using the wrong bait for the occasion, hook size and hooking live bait, especially shrimp, are key issues.
For newcomers and those not seasoned at saltwater fishing, I always recommend using live bait, especially shrimp when fishing.
Hooking live shrimp involves practice and experience.There is a small area under the horn on the shrimp’s head that is the appropriate spot to hook the bait.Using too large a hook or hooking the shrimp anywhere else is going to kill the bait and render it in the same category as dead bait. Use a number 6 or 8 treble hook or a small live bait or kahle hook.
Once you have become comfortable with your casting skills and can hook live bait properly, then you are ready for the easier parts of this lesson.
A light southeast breeze is usually best on the upper coast.
Learn to Read the Water
Tide movement and water clarity are of utmost importance in triggering feeding among schools of fish.Once you see those elements come together then you can start looking at the wind direction.
Along the Texas Gulf Coast, the southeast wind is called the fishermen’s breeze as it brings clear Gulf water into the bays and along the beachfront.This is a big plus when choosing a time to go fishing.
The so called 10% group takes time to plan their trips and, based on the forecast, they know what the odds are for a productive excursion.
Hold Steady
Most of the seasoned anglers limit their fishing to given areas that they tend to get to know well and learn where the fish will be at a given time. Concentrating on a particular bay, the jetties or surf can do wonders for your confidence.
Patience is a major key to success.Guides and other experienced fishermen choose a spot and will stay there knowing that the fish have appeared there regularly while often having to fight boredom themselves and the impatience of their guests.
There is no way anyone can expect to take home a big stringer of fish on each trip; however, following the steps mentioned above you should greatly enhance your chances of increasing your odds of catching fish when hitting the water.
Galveston Bay Fishing 2016
Doug Cadwell with a Texas two-fer of redfish and speckled trout.
It has been said that the older you get, the faster time goes by. It seems like only yesterday I was penning my first article for 2016 and now I am writing the last one for the year. But 2016, for sure, is a year to remember.
Winter started off typically here on Galveston Bay. In between fronts, the fishing held consistent. The upper reaches of the bay, Scott, Burnett, Crystal and West Galveston Bay lived up to their reputation as winter hot spots. In March, and the first two weeks of April, fishing really turned on in the Texas City/ Eagle Point area for speckled trout. Great catches were coming from both locations. This sure did set the stage for Galveston Bay to have an epic year of fishing.
In mid-April of this year, an upper level low stalled over the Rocky Mountains. During the overnight hours of April 16-17 and into the morning of the 18, Houston received over 17 inches of rain, the most since Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. The resulting runoff from this event flooded Trinity and Galveston Bay. This fresh water pushed the fish into lower Galveston and East Bay.
East Galveston Bay remained the best location until about the last week of May. The fish began to move back up north, following the flow of saltwater back into our bay system. Everything seemed to be getting back to normal until June 3, when the Houston area received even more rain! Another runoff event ensued, turning our bay fresh and off-colored. This time though, while some fish retreated back to East Galveston Bay and further south, lots of fish stayed in the area. They sought deeper water along the spoils and gas wells.
As we moved into June and August, the area along the ship channel spoils and gas wells, known as the A-lease wells, saw very good numbers of speckled trout and redfish. Limited supply of live bait was a problem for area fishermen during the first few weeks of summer, another adverse effect from the June flood. But by the third week of July, Galveston Bay and the fishery was back to normal. Towards the end of August, we started seeing fish make a move back into Trinity Bay and farther up the channel, a normal movement that happens every year.
September is a month of transition where schools of speckled trout are harder to locate. This certainly was the case this year. Scattered catches of redfish and speckled trout were the norm. By the end of September and the first week of October, as I type this article, fishing for trout has seen an upswing. But the problem we are experiencing is the size of the trout. Numerous undersized fish are being caught, compared to keepers. I believe this is due to the higher than normal water temperature and tide.
I am optimistic that November and December fishing will get us back on track for numbers and size of trout. We are finally experiencing some cooler weather with the passing of a couple fronts. Although a true cold front has not passed, water temperatures have cooled a little. The first cold front should help drop the tides and flush the bait out of the marsh and inlets of our bay system. This should help fishing tremendously.
Eagle Point Fishing Camp will maintain a good supply of live bait through the year. Remember to be courteous to others on the water. Happy Thanksgiving, Christmas and Holidays to all!
Teach Your Youngsters to Fish
Five-year-old Brett Holden ll with a Costa Rica ‘toadfish’ on board his father’s 52′ Viking, the Booby Trap.
It’s not all fun and games. Brett Holden II earns his way as part of the crew by learning good boat maintenance and cleaning.
Start them young, teach them right. Never force your youngsters to fish and keep it entertaining. Give them fast action and fun but don’t push them to the extreme if they are bored. Forcing the kids to fish at young ages can push them away from the sport. Let it come naturally; make it so they ask to go fishing. I would actually leave my boy at the dock or home until he begged me to go. It really ate at me too, but I did that on purpose. At first, he was okay staying home but now he eats it up every chance he gets. It is still very hard to say no to the long trips, because he can’t be missing school.
I teased him into loving fishing and hunting, rather than forcing him into it. Less video games and more fishing, spooling reels, driving the boat and cleaning with the crew. He is earning his way as part of the team.
Boat Preview: The All New Hell’s Bay Boatworks “Estero”
The all new “Estero” from Hell’s Bay Boatworks. Photos by Kelly Groce
The first Hell’s Bay boat designed around inshore and near-shore fishing, the Estero™, combines the classic features of a Hell’s Bay skiff with the capability to handle the big waters of the coast. Designed for performance and fishability, this Bay Boat offers a smooth dry ride, a silent hull, plenty of storage, and all the elements the Hell’s Bay skiffs feature. At a full 24 feet, 10 inches in length with a 8′ 6″ beam this boat can handle up to a 400 hp engine. While stable and fast, the Estero™ only draws 13″-15″ inches of water on the flats. After two years of development, Hell’s Bay Boatworks has produced a top of the line Bay Boat that any hardcore fishermen or weekend angler would love.
Standard Specifications
Weight – 3100 lbs.
Draft – 13″ with engine & fuel
Length – 24′ 10″
Beam – 8′ 6″”
Recommended Power – 300hp Standard (400 hp Max) – Single Engine
Engine
Stainless steel prop
80 gallon aluminum baffled gas tank
200 hp – 400 hp motor (Single)
Jackplate
Steering & Handling
Hydraulic steering
Quality Finish & Construction
Vinyl ester resin 100%
Vacuum-bagged Core Cell™ construction throughout entire structure
Heavy duty rub rail
Spray rails incorporated in hull
Fishing Features
Lean post w/ tackle station – 105 Yeti cooler on slide – 4 rod holders – 2 cup holders
4 In-gunnel rod holders
Silent hull design
Livewells & Pumps
130 gallon in-floor fishbox w/ macerator pump
Cockpit & Storage
Quiet & dry hatches with rubber gaskets
Gas Shocks
Conventional & fly rod storage in front hatches
Anchor locker – front deck
Saftey & Convenience
Cockpit lights
Custom aluminum dual axle trailer w/brakes, spare tire, LED lights
Rear seat cusions w/ integrated backrest
Locker lights
(6) Flush mount cleats
Electric
Running lights/Livorsi LED
Optima ultra high performance battery
Battery management system
Galveston Offshore Fishing with Bad Intentions Charters
Bad Intentions returns home to Galveston after a tournament winning charter.
Now Offering Galveston Offshore Fishing Charters
Galveston offshore fishing at its finest! Bad Intentions, a tournament winning 64’ Viking sportfishing yacht, is now available for big game fishing charters out of Galveston, TX. A group of six anglers can expect high action fishing for blue marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo and tuna. Bad Intentions is fully outfitted with the best, tournament level fishing setups, trolling lures and teasers.
Tuna over 100 pounds are no stranger to the cockpit of Bad Intentions.
This serious fishing machine boasts a refined, comfortable interior as well.
Bad Intentions is a 64′ Viking with enclosed flybridge, water and ice makers, plenty of cockpit seating and fish storage. Fish one or more nights in comfort with AC, beds, showers, bathrooms and a fully stocked galley.
Bad Intentions Charters is a smart choice for birthday or bachelor parties, corporate retreats or for a group of die hard fisherman looking for the best Galveston offshore experience available. Charters are available year-round but ask about which times of year are best for your target species. Get in the fighting chair and catch your fish of a lifetime!
For pricing and information, call now at 409-737-9578 or 505-577-0385 or email flyrod99@gmail.com.
Texas Billfish Classic Tournament Champions, Over-Ride and their 410# blue marlin. Photo by Brandon Rowan
Another year of the Texas Billfish Classic is on the books! Tournament Director Jasen Gast came together with all tourney staff, teams and volunteers to put on a hell of an event at Surfside Marina in Freeport. Good conditions offshore allowed great fish to hit the scales, including a 118.9-pound tuna from $ea Dollar$ and a 410-pound blue marlin brought in from Over-Ride.
Congratulations to overall tournament champion Over-Ride, owned by Marty Griffith and captained by Ryan Doxey.
Bottom Dollar captured the trophy for most billfish release points.
$ea Dollar$ with their 118lb. tuna, Over-Ride with their 410lb. blue marlin and REHAB with the winning wahoo at 32.4lbs.
September probably isn’t the first month that comes to mind for most people when it comes to great Galveston redfish and trout fishing on the upper Texas Coast. Most of us have other things on our minds, like avoiding the heat, or getting back in the swing of things with the kids back to school. Given these distractions, fishing doesn’t usually come first.
Yes, the heat can still be oppressive in September, but unbeknown to many, the fishing can be every bit as hot. Most years just surviving July and August is enough to slow down the average angler around the bay, with high temperatures and light winds. These dog days of summer can be very tough, if you’re a drift fisher; there is not much to move the boat, or if you pole a boat in shallow water it’s just downright hot. If you like to wade fish, you might find an advantage of at least being a little cooler.
The hot and dry temperatures of July and August can truly make anglers work for their catch. There are some definite differences in where the redfish and trout will be when we hit drought conditions. It’s quite frequent that the fish will move from open bay shorelines, where salinities sky rocket, to marshes, creeks and rivers where salt levels in the water are more comfortable and food is more abundant. The extreme hot and dry conditions common in July and August help set up the subtle changes that September brings.
Even though we may see some high temperature days, there are some notable differences that seem to bring fish back to open water flats and create even better conditions for fish to feed consistently. September tends to be a month when we see a good bit more Gulf moisture coming onshore. This rain helps a great deal in not only bringing down the salt levels across the bay, but also by cooling the water several degrees during the peak heating hours of the day.
These late summer rains do a great job of lowering salinity without the harm of runoff, which carries dirty water to the bay that is often contaminated with everything from our streets, lawns and anything else that is upstream. This also differs greatly from spring rains where we often see huge amounts of river and creek run off which can have an adverse effect on the bay. The major difference with summer rains is that they fall directly on the bay, causing an immediate temperature and salinity drop that seems to excite shrimp and small baitfish activity and in turn, accelerates predator feeding.
So, we’ve managed to cool off the bay temperatures during the highest heat of the year, we’ve also lowered the salinity, just after peak salinities. Those two changes alone would help kick up feeding activity a good bit. We also see the peak of baitfish and crustacean growth and activity. Shrimp crops have grown, crabs come out of the marsh, numerous small species of fish are reaching sizes where they migrate out into open water and this all adds up to some great fishing.
Brenda Lightfoot with a marsh redfish caught on a weedless gold spoon.
Pick your species and pick your poison
There aren’t many techniques that aren’t effective in September, whether you choose to fish with live bait, artificial, or even fly, the bays are alive both shallow and deep. I don’t really spend much time out in open or deep water, but the change in the shallows is nothing short of exceptional. Early September is almost always a great month for finding tailing redfish, not just single fish, but schools that are often bigger than other months of the year. September is also one of the peak months for me to find larger trout in shallow water.
My approach changes little throughout the year, but for those who aren’t as familiar with shallow water, take your time in your search. Don’t run your boat directly up onto the area that you intend to fish. Come off plane early and use a troll motor, push pole or wade into the area. When looking for signs of activity, shore birds are a great sign, with active mullet being equally important. Often times these fish will slick, and redfish will stir up mud. When you get into the area you want to fish, continue to take your time and cover the water thoroughly. There are a lot of days when schools of feeding fish just don’t make a big commotion. If you’re looking for tailing reds, keep in mind that they don’t usually make much noise and the surface disturbance is minimal.
One last thought, having a shallow water boat is a great thing and opens up lots of new territory that isn’t available to many people. Keep in mind that fish are shallow for several reasons; availability of food sources, protection from larger predators and possibly at the top of the list is shelter from the noise and danger of all the boats that run in open water. So, if you choose to operate your boat in shallow water at speed when looking for fish, remember that even though you may gain some short term satisfaction, in the long run you are doing more harm than good to both the fish and the habitat. Fish tend to operate mostly on instinct, but they do get conditioned to their environment and repeatedly getting run off of their shallow feeding grounds only moves them to areas that afford greater safety.
Ladies Casting for Conservation Tournament
Team Gulf Coast Mariner with the winning stringer. Colie Blumenshine, from left, Debbie Salisbury, Kelly Groce and Capt. Bob Drisgill.
July 23, 2016 at Stingaree Marina, Crystal Beach, Texas
Gulf Coast Mariner’s Kelly Groce with a 5.9lb East Bay trout.
By Kelly Groce
When the Gulf Coast Mariners Team – Debbie Salisbury, Colie Blumenshine, and myself, Kelly Groce – hit the water early that July morning on a mission to find and catch big trout, little did we know what lay ahead in the Galveston Bay Foundation Tournament.
Our guide, Capt. Bob “Mangus” Drisgill of Mangus II Charters, took us to our first spot over a reef. After a few minutes, I hooked on to what felt like a decent trout. The fish was pulling drag and giving a fun fight. We got it to the boat and it was a nice 23-inch trout. A few more 18-20 inch trout were caught at a variety of other locations.
Colie Blumenshine and Capt. Bob ‘Mangus’ Drisgill with a nice speck.
The weather was beautiful and there was barely any wind. We went to our last spot of the day and immediately hooked on. Captain Bob got on a nice drift over reef, which produced great for us. I ended up reeling in my personal best trout, which was 25 inches and 5.9 pounds! Our ice chest looked like it was in good shape, so it was time to hit the weigh in. Once we arrived at Stingaree Marina, we weighed in our three best trout, which totaled 16.20 pounds.
Thanks to Captain Bob and the fish gods, the Gulf Coast Mariners won 1st place Guided Heaviest Stringer. You couldn’t wipe the smiles off of our team’s faces after a fun filled day of Captain Bob’s jokes, catching beautiful Galveston Bay speckled trout, and winning 1st place in the tournament.
Thanks to the 60 participants and 22 teams, this year’s Ladies Casting for Conservation Tournament raised over $35,000. The proceeds will support the Galveston Bay Foundation and help preserve and protect Galveston Bay. Thanks to the Galveston Bay Foundation for putting on such an awesome tournament and for the beautiful plaque. This tournament was a blast and we can’t wait to participate next year. Tight lines!
Crevalle Jack Fishing
One of the most underrated fish on the Texas Gulf Coast
By Capt. Joe Kent
Jacks are a common bycatch of tarpon fishermen.
Before we talk about crevalle jack, or jacks as they are more commonly called, let’s get an insight into tarpon, or silver kings as they are also known.Tarpon are very popular game fish and we will be comparing them to crevalle jack.
The tarpon’s fight is among the best of any fish anywhere and anglers will spend hours trying to get a hook-up with a fish that many say resembles a shot in the dark to catch.
From Memorial Day until mid-October, tarpon roam the coastal waters not too far from the beach.August and September are prime months for getting a hook-up; however, the odds are not great unless you are using an experienced tarpon guide.While the odds improve considerably with a guide even then the chances are on the tarpon’s side not to get caught.
Perfect water conditions and select baits are a must and once you land one of the big fish it has to be quickly released as they are under the catch and release rules.
Unless it is one of the scales you are after or a 100-pound plus fish for the resume, then try fishing for crevalle jack.
Crevalle jack are caught in all sizes along the coastal waters and have many of the same traits as tarpon.Both fish offer poor table fare; however, while tarpon (except for one over 85 inches) must be released, jacks can be retained with no bag or size limits. The tarpon exception is to allow for a new state record tarpon to be set.
Jacks are found in a much wider area than tarpon, as the larger of the silver kings confine themselves to the Gulf waters.Jacks can be found in the inland bays as well.Fighting ability is an understatement for both fish, as both are known as ferocious fighters.Just ask any surf fisherman who had his reel stripped of line by a fast attacking jack.
Tarpon require clear or green water with light winds and slight seas for increasing the odds of a hook-up.Jacks on the other hand are not as particular and are caught in lesser quality water under almost all conditions, especially favoring the same type of water in which reds and specks thrive.
Tarpon fishermen frequently hook up with jacks while drifting their baits for the prized silver kings.While the jack may present a comparable fight, it is usually disappointing to the tarpon angler when he see what is on the other end of the line.
Certain select baits are required for a good chance at enticing a tarpon while a variety of baits from live to natural to cut baits work on jacks.
Jacks, like tarpon, are most likely going to be caught near the surface so for that reason drift lines tend to work best.The best baits are those used for any pelagic fish offshore. Sardines, ribbonfish, shad and strips of bonito are among the best baits.
During periods of nice conditions in the surf, meaning light winds and seas, beachgoers and surf fishermen will see schools of jacks attack pods of mullet in the surf.
If this article stimulates your interest in catching a jack, here are a few tips that will enhance your chances.The jetties, especially out from the rocks rather than in close, are where they are likely to roam.All along the beachfront, from near shore to eight miles or so out, also offers good opportunities.
One of my favorite spots to find jacks is near anchored and working shrimp boats within 8 to 10 miles from shore.
Once you hook a jack you will not forget it and any angler that has caught a few can tell right away when one is on the line as soon as it strikes.When the strike occurs, the reel starts spinning and newcomers learn quickly not to put their thumb on the spooling line.
If big time action is what you are after, go for the jacks.
Summer is close to being just a memory. It sure did fly by fast! Now we await the arrival of Fall. September is the month of transition and October is the first month of fall. Lots of folks put the boats and rods up in favor of guns and hunting, but not me. I just get ready for some of the best fishing of the year in Galveston Bay.
In September, speckled trout and redfish scatter as they begin their movement to the back reaches of the bay.
Black drum, sand trout and croaker start to show up in abundance. These fish can be caught along the deeper reefs, passes and the jetties. Fresh dead shrimp fished on the bottom is the top bait when fishing for these “panfish.” They make for excellent table fare and provide lots of fun for anglers of any age. There is no size or number limit on croakers or sand trout, but the limit on black drum is five fish per day, between 14-30 inches. One fish may be retained that is over 52 inches and it counts toward the daily bag limit.
Those anglers in search of specks and reds during this time of year will see a different pattern from summer. In my experience, is it fairly difficult to catch good numbers in any one place during the first few weeks of September. But the fish will settle into a fall pattern by the end of the month.
Usually by this time, we should see the arrival of our first cool/cold fronts. Fish will congregate towards the northern ends of our bays where baitfish will depart the marsh. Falling water temperature and tide levels flush bait out of the marsh, where they are intercepted by waiting schools of hungry trout and redfish. We will see our first bird action, where seagulls and terns will pinpoint the schools of fish.
Every angler, no matter if they are using live bait or lures, should see plenty of action. Live croaker will take a backseat seat, as live shrimp fished under a popping cork will draw more action for live baiters. Any type of soft plastic will be a top lure for artificial anglers.
Weather this time of year is nearly perfect with cool mornings and highs in the mid 80’s. Eagle Point Fishing Camp will stock up on live shrimp this time of year for the angler. Get out on the water and enjoy the fishing and weather.
Tight Lines!!
Galveston Marsh Fishing and Kayaking Report
By Cody Phillips of Galveston Kayak Charters
During the middle of summer, it’s hard to get your fix AKA time on the water. That’s why this time of year until the first signs of fall, I am on the water by 3 a.m. With temps hovering around a hundred by midday water temps are well into the nineties. This makes me focus my fishing in or around marsh. This time of year I make sure there is plenty of foliage to keep the water cool into the mid day hours. Using this strategy has kept my clients and I on solid redfish during this heat wave. It’s amazing a couple of degrees in water temp will make or break a marsh fishing adventure. I’ve put this theory to the test up and down the Texas coast and the end results are all the same big red fish in less than 2 feet of water.
Egret Baits Mambo Mullets in Golden Nugget
Preferred baits:
When it comes to baits of choice Egret Mambo Mullets in Golden Nugget and solid chartreuse have been my go-to. Then Egret Wedgetails in Plumb/Chartreuse for fishing over thick grass and cover.
Preferred boats:
One of the kayaks I recommend is the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13. This boat is incredibly fast able to paddle long distances with little too much effort. Another reason is it is a very quiet hull enable to go in the shallowest of marshes when the tide is below normal.
Native Watercraft’s Versa Board Angler
The second boat I recommend is Native Watercraft’s Versa Board Angler. It is a crossbreed between a paddle board and a kayak. This boat is very wide and glides across the water. This is a great advantage when you’re standing up push polling through the marsh sight casting redfish.
To book a trip with Cody, call 832-339-4441.
Cristina Maldonado with a beautifully spotted redfish out of Galveston.
Phillip Grosman with his first ever redfish.
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The 8’ Pro-Series from Stinky Pants Fishing® is handmade in the USA using first rate materials designed for the toughest conditions. The stringers will not knot, fray, ravel or get stuck on teeth or hooks like other stringers. Simply release the stringer from the removable float and drop your days catch in the cooler. Available in a variety of colors.
Weight – 3100 lbs.
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Cockpit & Storage
Custom aluminum dual axle trailer w/brakes, spare tire, LED lights
By Cody Phillips of Galveston Kayak Charters
