Captain Sally's Fishing Blog

The Summer is Hot and So is the Fishing!

2011-07-13T20:20:00.000-05:00

Alamo Fly Fishers

July 30, 2011

Hot and sunny, low winds…. the summertime in Texas is really underrated for some fantastic fishing. For a sightcaster, this time of the year is a slam-dunk. Big reds, black drum and an occasional monster trout lurk super shallow all summer. They are all there for just one reason… to eat. Granted, when the sun is high and the temperatures are hot, skinny water predators do fall off into the deeper waters. During that time, shallow water anglers are enjoying a siesta in the air conditioning, or, perhaps, venturing just outside the jetties, looking for feeding activities in the blue water.

Bring on the heat, bring on low wind days. Starting early mornings, look for tailing redfish and black drum super shallow in the grass. As the morning wears on, venture off into the sand and sightcast to cruising redfish looking for crabs, small shrimp and other critters. On those prime days when low winds flatten the surf, the first and second gut along the beach, outside the jetties of Texas (whether Port Aransas, Packery or the East Cut of Port Mansfield) are filled with reds, trout, jacks, and tarpon, along with other toothy critters that make sightcasting a blast.

Be prepared, however, with the right tackle, whether you’re using light spinning, casting or fly rods. Proper leaders are essential. If you don’t know how to rig, find someone who does! Dave Hayward at the Swan Point Landing/Orvis shop in Rockport is a valuable resource and one who is willing to share his expansive knowledge on near shore fishing, whether light tackle or fly. Another great place to hang out for insider knowledge is Roy’s Bait and Tackle in Corpus Christi. The internet, of course, also has some great info, but talking to a real person in a real shop in the areas that you will be fishing has so many more benefits.

Don’t get trapped into fishing the same places and the same ways. The summer is a great time to venture out and learn something new. Kayaking, fly fishing, sightcasting and targeting new species, such as Jacks and Tarpon are a few things to add to your arsenal.

Don’t listen to your friends that tell you it’s too hot to fish the coast. Not true. Summer can be some of the best fishing of the entire year. Time it right, fish early and fish tide movements (if you are fishing the Rockport/Port A area – Baffin Bay has no tide). Late afternoon/early evening fishing can be dynamic as well, as the shallow waters begin to cool down with the sunset. Ever consider night fishing? Nighttime fishing from a kayak can be some of the most fun fishing you’ll do. Throw a topwater lure in the shallow water at night and hang on. Pick a shallow water area that you know well, launch while it’s still light and fish until the moon is shining bright. Make sure you have a light, a gps and other communication devices. Night fishing is cool, productive and exciting. Give it a try!

Summertime fishing offers so much more to any angler, but expecially shallow water fishermen. Venture offshore and fish for tarpon and jacks, go kayaking at night, or just enjoy the sunset while stalking a forever shoreline. Cool morning sunrises are inspiring and the dip in the pool or nap on the couch in the cool air conditioning after a morning of fishing feels even better. Don’t miss some of the best fishing of the year just because it’s hot!

See you on the water,

Capt. Sally

Website: www.CaptainSally.com

email: Sally@CaptainSally.com

Facebook:

Fan Page: Captain Sally’s Reel Fun Charters, Personal Page: Sally Ann Black

Blog: www.captainsallysblog.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Captainsally

Prime Time for Shallowists

2011-07-13T20:18:00.000-05:00

May – June, 2011

Saltwater Texas

Prime-Time for Shallowists

June and July usher in some sweet conditions for shallow water anglers. While enduring the changeable conditions of the Spring, it seemed that just about the time things got really good, the weather got windy and cloudy. Fronts still trying to force their way into Texas brought lots of tiresome winds which keep some shallow water anglers and sight casters off the water, waiting for the prime times of May, June and July.

Besides the weather and winds leveling out a bit, the grass in the shallow water has recuperated and is in full form, being home to an incredible host of bait. The new shrimp migration that arrived in April and May is beginning to mature while feeding the hungry masses of redfish roaming there daily. This now thriving estuary is home to everything that a big pod of redfish is looking for. Glass minnows, pin perch, shrimp, crabs and finger mullet are the foods of choice and most of it is hiding in the grass and along the shorelines.

Fly fishermen and other sightcasters stalk, wade, paddle a kayak or pole a skiff into this knee-deep or shallower smorgasbord, looking for a chance to present a fly or lure to a hungry group of fish. Most won’t be disappointed as predators are now in abundance taking part in this early summertime feeding frenzy.

Wading birds, such as egrets and herons along with diving seagulls and terns, show anglers the way as they work with the hectic pods of redfish mowing through the grass and down the shorelines kicking up lots of tiny morsels. Anglers must pay close attention to all of the signs of feeding fish as in the “prime time”, there are many.

The Rockport area is filled with marshes, estuaries and back lakes offering a variety of water levels, tide conditions and bait. Anglers must watch moon phases and tidal movements to target the right place to fish and when. As conditions stabilize, these factors become more and more important. Major and minor feeding periods, brought on by the solunar movements, give anglers an advantage. Pair this information with moving tides and “right” water levels and the odds of “catching” go up, especially along the mid-coast of Texas. As the summer wears on and water temperatures rise higher, the tides become more and more important in finding feeding fish. Watch sites such as NOAA Tides Online (http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov/geographic.html) for real-time reports of predicted and actual tide movements and levels near your fishing area. This can be invaluable, especially when predicting water levels falling to levels too shallow to paddle or float your boat!

Move farther down the coast to Baffin Bay and the Land Cut, and tides virtually become non-existent. Water levels creep ever so slowly in one direction or the other. Wind blown current can help, but stable conditions there create consistent fish feeding activities. Find shallow areas with good grass and other structure and there will be tailing and feeding redfish, trout and black drum. Clear waters are plentiful and offer day-long wading, paddling or poling opportunities. The shallow water in Baffin proper is virtually un-fished, as is a lot of the lower parts of the Upper Laguna Madre. Step out of the comfort zones and find new waters to fish. The rewards are great and so is the adventure!

Fish are feeding on shrimp, crabs and baitfish during this time of the year, so pair your flies or lures to match. Tie flies with natural colors (white, brown), paired with an attractant color such as chartreuse, pink or orange. Spoon flies are also great producers as well as small topwater “popper” flies. Use smaller hooks, such as a #4 to more closely match the size of the food in the system.

Lure casters use small topwaters, such as the Super Spook Jr, or the baby Skitterwalk or baby X-Rap Skitterwalk in a variety of dark and light colors such as white, bone, black, gold chrome with the same attractant colors as the flies, pink or chartreuse. Small soft plastics, such as the Bass Assassin 4” paddletail on a 1/16th ounce jig head and a #1 or #2 hook should be thrown in the same colors as above for the best results. Natural colors with attractant colors are great producers up and down the coast.

The “Prime Time” is much anticipated and should be taken advantage of by all anglers, beginners and seasoned alike!

See you on the water,

Capt. Sally Black

Website: www.CaptainSally.com

Email: Sally@CaptainSally.com

Twitter: @CaptainSally

Facebook: Fan Page: Capt. Sally’s Reel Fun Charters

Personal Page: Sally Ann Black

Blog: www.CaptainSallysBlog.blogspot.com

Need more? Sign up for my newsletter at www.CaptainSally.com

June Fishing Forecast

2011-07-13T20:16:00.000-05:00

Kayak fishing in 54 mph winds? It was interesting, to say the least, but the fishing this past Memorial Day was still great in a little hidey-hole in Baffin Bay. But now, the winds are finally laying and a summer pattern may be upon us. It’s about time…. That weather pattern was getting a little old, even for a fishing guide like me!

After a very windy spring, it’s time to start sight casting for big redfish and trout in the shallow waters of Alazan Bay, Baffin Bay and the shallow waters of the Upper Laguna Madre, my new home waters. This spring, even with the winds, the fishing has been awesome. The fishing in Rockport has been equally productive, with really big redfish and trout hanging in the shallow waters of the back lakes of San Jose Island and the Lighthouse Lakes Trails.

This Spring, although the conditions were very difficult, the quality of the fish being caught, both in Baffin and in Rockport has been very impressive to say the least. We are looking forward to a most exciting early summer with lighter winds and clear water. Prime time for shallow water sightcasting and fly fishing is finally upon us.

A renewed interest in kayak fishing has lead me to a new kayak sponsor, Legacy Paddlesports, the makers of the Native Ultimate Kayak. Bending Branches are providing lightweight carbon paddles and I could not be happier. Finding totally un-fished waters here has been an eye-opener! In the back of Baffin Bay, the shallow water is unmolested, the fish are big and the waters are clear. What a dream for a Rockport kayaker, used to being run over by airboats and a steady stream of shallow water boats. The “last best place” on the Texas Coast is a pretty fine place to kayak and I am blessed to be there exploring it for the first time. This place is truly a “grand adventure” for the explorer in all of us. Add to Baffin Bay the Land Cut and the 9 Mile Hole and any kayaker looking for a new place to ride won’t be disappointed. It’s awe-inspiring here, but, it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s remote, big and beautiful, but not easy to find. That’s what makes it so good.

June and July not only offer the best in shallow water sightcasting but bring everyone a chance to venture off-shore on low wind days. Tarpon and other big game fish are roaming the first and second guts and bars along the beachfront and for those of us with the desire to catch one on the fly, we will be taking the opportunities as they come. Sneaking out the jetties on one of “those days” can be very exciting, but make sure you have the right fly rods, lines and leaders for the most success. Swan Point Landing’s Orvis Shop in Rockport has exactly what the near-offshore fly angler needs, along with the knowledge to put it all together.

Embarking on this new season, finally, a new weather pattern and an awesome fishing adventure is very exciting, and provides a renewed interest in so many things. Finding unfished waters, paddling new kayaks and hanging out in one of the most fantastic fishing places on the Texas Coast makes it all worth while. Hope you can join me here in Baffin for an awesome summer!

See you on the water,

Capt. Sally

www.captainsally.com

Windy April and May, But the Fishing is Awesome!

2011-07-13T20:14:00.000-05:00

Despite the unrelenting winds and dry conditions of April and early May, the fishing remains fantastic. The local meteorologists are predicting a change in the weather pattern, so, hopefully, by the time you read this, it’s a fact and not just a guess! After two months of windy, cloudy and terribly dry conditions, almost any change is welcome.

Baffin Bay, my new home, is becoming more familiar and has been very rewarding, with great catches of fish in numbers and in size. A large shrimp hatch as well as a plethora of “right-sized” mullet has offered our anglers large numbers of 20-25” trout on all of the rock piles and grassy shorelines. Topwater action has been great, but soft plastic paddletails have really paid off. Small lures, such as the Saltwater Assassin in almost any natural color on a 1/16th ounce jig head has become a staple. When it’s a little windier, the new Saltwater Assassin “Die Dapper”, which is a big-bodied paddletail is producing big strikes. This lure can be worked almost like a suspending bait, which makes it very effective for big trout.

All this trout talk coming from a dyed-in-the-wool redfish guide? Well, when in Rome…. But, even though the trout fishing has been off the charts, now is the time to get shallow, shallow, shallow. Legacy Paddlesports, the makers of the Native Ultimate kayak, have offered a coveted spot on their pro-staff this year. Armed with a set of brand new Native Ultimate 12’s, the back lakes of Alazan Bay, the South Shoreline of Baffin Bay, Landcut and 9-Mile Hole are getting ready to be daily destinations. Rockport is still just as good as ever and the back lakes of San Jose and the Lighthouse Lakes are really on fire, as would be expected for this time of the year. An abundant shrimp population, clear water and lots of healthy, shallow grass have made this year’s skinny water action very consistent.

May and June are about as prime time as it gets for fly anglers and shallow water sightcasters. Getting past the windy memories of March and April will be tough, but all it will take is a week of glorious weather and that will be in the past. It’s time to move on to the next phase of fishing….. beautiful conditions, clear water and a good, strong fishing pattern.

At the recent Fly Fishing Federation Conclave in San Antonio, my new seminar entitled “Discovering the Un-Fished Fly Waters of the Middle Texas Coast” was met with great interest. Instead of a list of “un-fished” places, the talk consisted of the methodology of finding these places, even in the midst of crowds on the water in Rockport. And, yes, there are even un-fished fly waters in Rockport! Open minds, creative technology and a sense of adventure will pay off for the angler interested in finding waters that are un-travelled. Satellite maps, books and charts are some tools, but there are so many more, beginning with looking deeper at the places that you already fish.

Tired of fishing with a hundred of your closest friends? Branch out, risk it and discover these un-fished places. When you do, the simple rule is to “keep them to yourself!!!” After the pain and uncertainty of adventure and discovery, why post it on an internet chat board?

The fun of fishing somewhere new and different, even it you don’t catch fish, is well worth the effort. For me, learning Baffin Bay, Alazan and points in between has been a grand adventure which has really paid off. Discovering these new, hidden places that hold unmolested fish has been like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Risk can hold great reward! Go forth and discover!

See you on the water!

Capt. Sally

Website: www.CaptainSally.com

Email: Sally@CaptainSally.com

Twitter: @CaptainSally

Facebook: Fan Page: Capt. Sally’s Reel Fun Charters

Personal Page: Sally Ann Black

Blog: www.CaptainSallysBlog.blogspot.com

Need more? Sign up for my newsletter at www.CaptainSally.com

The Game Begins for Shallow Water Anglers

2011-07-13T20:11:00.000-05:00

The Game Begins for Shallow Water Anglers

It’s officially Spring when, as the water temperatures continue to warm, redfish and trout begin to ever so slowly sneak away from their wintertime comfort zones and reach more deeply into the shallow back waters.

Finally, sightcasters with cabin fever emerge to fish the skinny waters once again, this time with consistency as many conditions converge to create a fish feeding frenzy.

Spring time tides begin to rise and Mother Nature ushers in a new shrimp migration to hide in the burgeoning grasses and moss of the shallow estuaries. Consistent water temperatures in the 70 and above range tell predators and bait that it’s safe to roam away from deeper areas and leave their semi-dormant state. Redfish move in large groups to feed on the emerging shrimp and bait populations in the shallow waters. Mixed within the big pods of redfish are pre-spawn trout, feeding up as well. Black drum and flounder come alive and complete the awakening, making March and April some of the most dynamic fishing of the year.

Just like a bear in a den during the winter, redfish and trout eat sparingly and conserve energy when the water temperatures are cold. But, as water temps consistently rise, the overbearing hunger drives the predators into the warm, shallow water where all life converges. Teams of redfish hungrily root along the bottom and through the sparse grass, chasing down hundreds of tiny shrimp and glass minnows. Birds follow and dive down from above, using the redfish as their scout. The cycle begins again for everyone and everything, waiting for the winter to come to an end.

The one caveat during this early time of Spring, however, is the constant threat of a closely approaching cold front from the North. Winds will howl as fronts try to come through without success. March can still be chilly, with longer periods of warm conditions, so prepare to move back and forth from a winter pattern to a spring pattern and back again until the approaching cold fronts no longer have an impact on the area.

Watch water temperatures closely, just as in the winter, to find the most consistently warm conditions. If cold weather drops the water temperatures drastically, fish will evacuate the skinny water and may be leery to return immediately. Fall back into a winter time fishing pattern until temperatures moderate and the sun warms the flats again.

“Matching the hatch”, so to speak, is very important in the spring. Everything in the system is small such as the new shrimp migration and tiny glass minnows; it’s an emerging estuary. Toss smaller flies and smaller lures to closely mimic the size of the food that is available for the predators to eat.

Natural colors are proven producers at this time of the year, such as white, bone, pumpkinseed and the like, mixed with chartreuse and pink accents. Whether flies or lures, these colors work great. Rainy, windy or cloudy days, add black or other dark colors to the above selection for more contrast and effect. Use small paddletail plastics on 1/16th ounce jig heads, or weedless and weightless, depending on the conditions. Topwaters, such as the Super Spook, Jr., small Skitterwalk or the louder X-Rap are great producers beginning in the spring. Fly casters toss the usual array of clousers in white and all of the natural colors. Go to a little smaller fly (#4 or #6) to mimic a tiny shrimp, with light bead chain eyes.

Keep an eye toward the sky, watching for early spring storms which can be very violent and dangerous. Make sure that every angler has a safety kit and be ready for any circumstance. In the rush to get out there to fish after a long winter, review all safety gear, VHS radios, GPS and first aid kits. Sting ray boots or guards are essential, (especially for kayak anglers), purchase a new PFD, flares and horn.

Spring is a great new beginning for most anglers and it can’t get here soon enough.

See you on the water!

Capt. Sally Black

Website: www.CaptainSally.com

Email: Sally@CaptainSally.com

Facebook: Capt. Sally's Reel Fun Charters and Sally Ann Black

Twitter: Captainsally

Blog: http://captainsallysblog.blogspot.com

February Cabin Fever

2011-02-14T14:06:00.000-06:00

Saltwater Angler Magazine
On-Line Edition
February 9, 2011

About mid-February, a shallow water angler’s patience is growing thin. With the recent freeze scare and cold snap after that, everyone hopes that it’s about over. It does appear that the bays, fish and anglers were spared a major freeze and fish kill event this time. Thank God for that.

After reviewing the long-range forecast, late February looks to be trending warmer. In South Texas, thankfully, winter only lasts a couple of months and hopefully it’s about over!

Cabin fever is a tough thing for Texas coastal anglers to endure, and ever since duck season ended, the cabin has been getting smaller. No matter what the weather, however, there are a lot of hearty souls out there who brave the elements in search of a trophy trout or hungry redfish in the winter. But most anglers hang back and wait for the weather to get warmer. Post cold front fishing can be fantastic, however, and after a few days of warm sunshine and not much wind, these cold-weary fish are going to inch ever so slowly into the shallower waters to warm up and then feed.

Don’t totally write off fishing until temperatures rise, however, just watch the weather and take advantage of the good and productive days when they do come along. Water temperatures in the shallow water need to remain in the above 60 range to hold fish, so target sun-warmed areas near deep water, out of the wind, if possible. The Intracoastal is the place where lots of fish drop into to survive, so stay close. Find bait lurking around darker, grassy or muddy bottoms and your odds go up. Also, with the water levels so very low, lots of flats are empty, so it makes it even easier to pinpoint where to fish. These classic winter-time rules really do work!

Since it’s the dead of winter, there are always a few events scheduled to keep us all in tune with the outdoors and fishing. The first one is the TPWD Crab Trap Cleanup event. “In order to help clean up the Texas coastline, the 9th Annual Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program will run from February 19-28, 2011. During the ten day period, all Texas bays will be closed to crabbing as volunteers assist in collecting traps.” Give your local TWPD office a call and find out where you can get tarps and other gear to pick up the traps, and find out where the collection points are.

Also, on February 19th, Bass Pro Shops in Pearland will again be presenting their day-long event, “Fly Fishing Texas and Beyond”. With a great array of speakers and demonstrations that last all day long, anglers can learn about fly fishing in saltwater and freshwater from some of the leaders in the industry. I will be speaking there at 10:30am and doing a kayak fly fishing demonstration at 2:00pm. Check out their website for all of the information and please stop by and say hello!

March 2nd through the 6th will be the 36th Annual Houston Fishing Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center. This is a “must attend” event where anglers can talk fishing with most of the guides in Texas and check out all of the new fishing gear and kayaks. The daily seminar line-up is a who’s-who of Texas fishing. As usual, I’ll be in booth 518, and hope to see you there. I’ve got a lot of new adventures up my sleeve for 2011!

The 16th Annual Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach Cleanup will be held on March 19th. Go to www.billysandifer.com for all of the details, but, if you can be there, it is an inspiring, fun and exciting day, filled with new friends, fresh air and lots of exercise! Capt. Billy Sandifer is an icon of the saltwater. If you’ve never met and talked with him, or fished or birded on the beach with him, you are missing one of the great adventures of life.

Add Spring Break and the end of winter to this list and, before you know it, you’ll be trading in your Under Armor Cold Gear for sunscreen, shorts and flip-flops! Time flies when you are having fun!

See you on the water soon!

Capt. Sally

Winter Marches On (not quickly enough....)

2011-02-02T12:12:00.000-06:00

Saltwater Angler Magazine
On-Line Edition
January 26, 2011

Winter marches on, but not as quickly as it needs to! For shallow water anglers, cold weather means “fishus interuptus”. Between the fronts, there are great days of fishing, with warm temperatures, no wind and hungry fish. And then it’s another week of cold, windy and cloudy days which keep the fish out of the clear, shallow water.

The only consolation to this pattern of “fishus interruptus” was the fabulous duck hunting which kept us on the water nearly every day, no matter what the conditions.
Our hunting clients and my young black lab Kelly made this winter and all that cold weather very worthwhile.

Now that the hunting season is over, however, it’s time to get down with the business of full-time fishing. So, on those not-so-bluebird days, maybe a new pursuit will be trophy trout on Baffin Bay. Since Capt. Aubrey Black is the best teacher in town, this new endeavor will be a great way to pass the time until good, consistent shallow water action returns when water temperatures moderate!

During many recent duck hunting pursuits, lots of new shallow water fishing territory has been discovered. Rockport is like an old friend, easy to understand and fun to be with. But, Baffin Bay is uncharted shallow water territory, filled with lots of nooks, cranny’s and back lakes that no one has ever fly fished. When I say no one, I mean no one. The bays of Baffin are the “last best places” to find this remote, unfished water. On warm and sunny days between now and Spring Break, these “virgin” waters will be my new stomping grounds.

Kayak fishing is a great way to scout new places to fish. Using the Curlew with the kayak rack, and brand new Native Ultimate 12 kayaks, I’ll be paddling through lots of new water this year. Scouting new fishing places is an art and a science. It’s not just about the place, but what water level is the best time to fish it, what kind of grass is there, where do the fish hang out, how does the water flow through, which way the wind blows through and more. Keeping records of scouting trips are very important as well. Scouting new fishing water is time well spent, even if you don’t catch fish every time you go.

The Houston Fishing Show is coming up in March (2-6) and I’ll be there in booth #518, as usual! This is my 10th year to exhibit and speak there and it’s always a great show. Soon the seminar schedule will be up on their website and I’m working on a new PowerPoint Presentation. Come on by and chat or sit in on a seminar to two. All of your favorite fishing guides and tackle companies will be there. Don’t miss it!

On another note, Capt. Black and I have experienced a catastrophic website crash this past week. Our web host server went bankrupt (unbeknownst to us…) and our websites (and booking calendars) just disappeared. It’s been a challenge for sure, but new websites are slowly coming back on line. Although the websites are a work in progress, our new booking calendar is now available. We are both very sorry for the inconvenience. Looking at it on a more positive note, maybe we’ll have even better websites when they are completed! Keep up on our progress at www.captainsally.com or www.captblack.com. If you have any suggestions or requests for information to be included there, now is the time. Please call or send an email, text, Facebook post or Twitter!

February and early March are always a challenge for outdoorsmen. Use this time wisely and the payoff will be tremendous. Get your gear in order, fix up your boat or get a new one, buy some new Laguna Rods or an Orvis Helios or Hydros Fly Rod, upgrade your wading boots by going Ray-Guard or get into kayak fishing. Throughout the years in the outdoors and on the water, I’ve discovered that the most important things are safety and using the best gear you can afford. Keep it simple and straightforward and it will be more fun! See you on the water…. Soon!

2010-12-21T13:33:00.001-06:00

2010-12-21T13:32:00.001-06:00

2010-12-21T13:05:00.000-06:00

Secrets to Wintertime Fishing Part II

2010-12-21T13:03:00.003-06:00

In the winter months, the rules change dramatically for shallow water anglers. Water temperatures can swing wildly. Be flexible and thoughtful with your approach, being in tune with water temperatures and wind. Shallow water warms up the fastest but also cools off the fastest, so plan your day for the warmest water. Cold incoming tides or a cold north wind can cool off your favorite place and evacuate fish. Shallow water temperatures above 60 degrees will draw fish to enter, and the warmer the water gets, the better chance for feeding fish. So, between now and Spring (which can’t come soon enough as far as I’m concerned…), here are a few more secrets to fishing success in the winter months:

Pick your days! Fishing “between the fronts” offers blue bird days with light winds, clear skies and clear water. Fish that have been laid up in deeper water during a cold norther blow will eventually emerge onto the flats in search of a little food. Target those warmer, less windy days a few days after a front has blown through to find more feeding fish in shallow water. Spoil islands, like the ones found lining the Intracoastal Canal, absorb the sunshine and warm the water around them. These are some of the most productive places to fish in the winter. Here, the combination of warmer water disseminating from the spoil islands and the close proximity to the deep water of the Intracoastal provide a great place for predators to hang out in comfort and safety.

Find bait. No bait, no fish. Move on. The reason there is no bait is the same reason there are no predators. The water temperature isn’t right or you are too far from deep, protected water. Clue in if you are fishing and you don’t see bait in the water. Keep searching.

Avoid any area that has a lot of current, either wind-blown or tidal. This is one of the only times of the year that non-moving water works in an anglers favor. Warm, consistent temperatures are what feeding fish are seeking and any cold, incoming flow can turn a sun-warmed 68 degree flat into an unsustainable 57 degrees in a hurry.

Oyster shells exposed at night can get really cold. During the day, this cold emanates into the water around them and could make that water unfishable. If you like to fish flats that have lots of oyster reefs, keep this in mind.

As the air and water temperatures drop, sharpen up your casting skills and move slow. When the water is cold, the fish move slowly. They are conserving all of their energy. When they feed, they move slowly. Predators are unwilling to expend a lot of energy while feeding in these colder conditions. An accurate cast will catch more fish. Don’t expect a predator to pursue a fly or lure three feet or more. They will not do it. Put it in the proximity of their mouth and they will make the strike. When you do drop the fly or lure into a fish’s “dinner plate zone”, move it slow. Hop it up and down, puff it on the bottom, and wait for it to be detected. Give the fish some time to meander over and pick up the prey, then, slowly set the hook. Cold water, clear water and light winds demand finesse in presentation and accuracy, whether you are fly fishing or lure casting.

On calm days, you may have to cast beyond the target so as not to spook your fish, and then bring the lure into the “zone”. Make the “magic transect”, where the lure is presented to the fish perpendicular to his face. No bait in the natural world would come up from behind or chase a predator. The more natural the presentation, the more fish you will catch. This premise certainly holds true all year, however.

So, don’t give up on fishing just because it’s not summer! The winter can be some of the best shallow water fishing of the entire year! Follow the rules and be thoughtful about your fishing and you will find and catch lots of feeding fish! Rockport water levels have been very low and the shorelines of the Superflats, Mud Island and Allyn’s Bight have been loaded up with reds. Great big, giant, trophy trout are hanging out in their usual wintertime places along the spoil islands of Estes Flats and Redfish Bay, up tight to the shorelines. Baffin Bay shorelines have been also been chuck full of redfish on sunny afternoons. The fall and early winter of 2010 will go down in history as some of the best sight casting of all times. This winter is really shaping up for some dynamic action, and, as long as we don’t get a lot of extended cold weather (like last year), you can bet it’s going to stay that way.

Duck hunting is off the charts in Baffin Bay and my pup Kelly has been getting lots of great work with our clients. She’s only two, but has all the talent a good lab needs. We are looking forward to the re-opening of the dove season on Christmas Day as the Riviera area is completely inundated with dove right now. You can see by the tone of my article, I don’t think I’ve been this fired up about fishing and hunting EVER!

Don’t let this bounty pass you by. Duck season opens back up on December 11, Dove season opens up on December 25th, and they both close mid-January. Try and put some of it on your schedule, as well as some world-class sight casting for reds and trout!

On December 7th, Capt. Aubrey Black and I were both awarded a certificate by the City of Corpus Christi’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau as we both completed an extensive Wildlife Guide Certification Program. We learned a lot about all of the different species of fish, birds and plants, as well as the history of our area, business practices, customer service and so much more. It was a fantastic program and I am very proud that we were chosen to be two of the inaugural class of 13 outdoors enthusiasts! It is the first program of its kind anywhere, and we are both hoping to help the visitors to our area appreciate just what a great outdoors experience it is!

2010-12-21T12:56:00.000-06:00

Secrets to Wintertime Fishing Part 1

2010-12-13T10:07:00.000-06:00

Saltwater Angler Magazine – On-Line Edition
November 10, 2010

For shallow water anglers, one of the best times of the year is in full swing right now. November and December give us moderate temperatures, some cool nights and mornings along with really hungry fish. Duck hunting has been fantastic and looks to be good for the rest of the session, especially here in Baffin Bay. Many new migratory birds are showing up daily and the sunrises and sunsets are especially beautiful.

Fly fishing and sightcasting has been very productive both in Rockport and in Baffin Bay the past couple of weeks. The water levels have been very, very low, which makes for some fantastic fishing, as the back lakes and some flats are virtually empty. All of the major shorelines have good concentrations of both redfish and trout. Find sand strips and grass, potholes and protected waters up close and you’ll have fish to cast at.

Rockport, like the old friend that it is, has been consistently serving up nice pods of tailing fish on moving waters and lots and lots of singles and doubles cruising around. Although there are no shortages of good fish to cast at, the real challenge has been to spot them quickly and cast at them before they spook off. The water there is just beautiful in the flats and on major shorelines, and I poled a large majority of them this past week.

Since fishing Baffin Bay and the surrounding areas in the past year or so, the stark differences in fish behavior really became evident. Fishing both bay systems has offered some fresh perspective on several topics which has been very interesting and insightful.

For the same reason the trout are bigger in Baffin Bay, so are the redfish. And, the fact that Baffin and this area are so far away from any water inflows, like the Packery Channel and the East Cut in Port Mansfield, there is no tide movement. Sure, water levels change slightly from time to time, but there is no dramatic, daily water movement in Baffin Bay. So, redfish and trout tend to stay around and just eat, without lots of nomadic movement looking for the best water conditions or food. It’s all right there and pretty consistent.

For a tidal and water level fisherman like me, this was a big change. Fishing the tide and water level movement in Rockport means everything. In Baffin Bay, it means nothing. So, finding feeding fish in Baffin is a little bit more structure-based with wind as the only means of “tide” (current). Water clarity in Baffin Bay and the surrounding areas can be as clear as Rockport, or slightly off-colored. It really doesn’t matter because the fish are just bigger in Baffin and they can be seen pretty easily in the shallow water. Everyone fishes the shallow water in Rockport, almost no one fishes the shallow water in Baffin. The fish are perfectly comfortable there, not run over by boats, not pressured on a daily basis. Consequently, they are just plain dumb. And when they are in the shallow water, they are most probably actively looking for food.

Whether Rockport or Baffin, the same water temperature rules apply for late fall fishing. Find the warmest, most protected water and avoid cold water inflows to find consistent, feeding fish.

Begin your fishing somewhere in the mid-morning, after the shallow water has had a little time to absorb the heat of the sun. Fish shorelines, spoil islands or flats protected from the wind, with darker grass or muddy bottoms, or even slightly off-colored water and deeper potholes. Dark grass and mud and the tiny, floating particulates of the off-colored water absorb the heat of the sun faster, making these the places that the fish will seek out first.

Fish shallow areas close to deeper water, such as the Intracoastal Waterway. Along the Texas Coast, the Intracoastal can be the “bomb shelter” where fish drop into when water temperatures fall dramatically. Fish do go deep when the water gets cold, that’s how they survive. It might be 57 degrees at the bottom of the Intracoastal, but it’s a consistent 57 degrees. A shallow flat can drop quickly into the danger zone for fish survival after the sun goes down and cold night temperatures set in.

Fly casters throw dark crab patterns on the sand, or the old standby, a white and chartreuse or red and white clouser . Move up a size, so instead of throwing a size 6 fly, try a size 4 or 2. When fish do eat in the winter, they tend to eat bigger baits for more “bang for their buck”. Lure chunkers toss weightless or near-weightless soft plastics on no-wind days for a super quiet presentation. Other lures that work great in the winter are the Corky Fatboy, Corky Devil, Baby -1 crank bait, Chattertube, Catch 2000 and the Cotton Cordell Brokenback. All of these lures are made to sink slowly and/or to be moved slowly. Don’t rush them, they are supposed to suspend and wiggle just enough to look natural in the cold water environment.

Shallow water anglers in-the-know are out on the water every day that the conditions allow. Consider the secrets to finding feeding fish and you’ll be amazed at the quality of angling that can be done in the wintertime!

See you on the water!

Capt. Sally Black
Website: www.CaptainSally.com
Email: Sally@CaptainSally.com
Facebook: Capt. Sally Black and Capt. Sally’s Reel Fun Charters
Blog: CaptSallysBlog.blogspot.com
Twitter: CaptainSally

In the Winter, It's All About Comfort!

2010-11-15T11:20:00.002-06:00

Saltwater Texas
Winter Issue
November 9, 2010

In the wintertime, it’s all about comfort….

In the winter months, the rules change dramatically for shallow water anglers. Water temperatures can swing wildly. Be flexible and thoughtful with your approach, being in tune with water temperatures and wind. Shallow water warms up the fastest but also cools off the fastest, so plan your day for the warmest water. Cold incoming tides or a cold north wind can cool off your favorite place and evacuate fish. Shallow water temperatures above 60 degrees will draw fish to enter, and the warmer the water gets, the better chance for feeding fish.

Fishing “between the fronts” offers blue bird days with light winds, clear skies and clear water. Fish that have been laid up in deeper water during a cold norther blow will eventually emerge onto the flats in search of a little food.

Begin your fishing somewhere in the mid-morning, after the shallow water has had a little time to absorb the heat of the sun. Fish shorelines, spoil islands or flats protected from the wind, with darker grass or muddy bottoms, or even slightly off-colored water and deeper potholes. Dark grass and mud and the tiny, floating particulates of the off-colored water absorb the heat of the sun faster, making these the places that the fish will seek out first.

Fish shallow areas close to deeper water, such as the Intracoastal Waterway. Along the Texas Coast, the Intracoastal can be the “bomb shelter” where fish drop into when water temperatures fall dramatically. Fish do go deep when the water gets cold, that’s how they survive. It might be 57 degrees at the bottom of the Intracoastal, but it’s a consistent 57 degrees. A shallow flat can drop quickly into the danger zone for fish survival after the sun goes down and cold night temperatures set in.

Spoil islands absorb the sunshine and warm the water around them. One of the most productive places to fish in the winter is around the spoil islands that line the Intracoastal Canal. Here, the combination of warmer water disseminating from the spoil islands and the close proximity to the deep water of the Intracoastal provide a great place for predators to hang out in comfort and safety.

Find bait. No bait, no fish. Move on. The reason there is no bait is the same reason there are no predators. The water temperature isn’t right or you are too far from deep, protected water. Clue in if you are fishing and you don’t see bait in the water. Keep searching.

Avoid any area that has a lot of current, either wind-blown or tidal. This is one of the only times of the year that non-moving water works in an anglers favor. Warm, consistent temperatures are what feeding fish are seeking and any cold, incoming flow can turn a sun-warmed 68 degree flat into an unsustainable 57 degrees in a hurry.

Oyster shells exposed at night can get really cold. During the day, this cold emanates into the water around them and could make that water unfishable. If you like to fish flats that have lots of oyster reefs, keep this in mind.

As the air and water temperatures drop, sharpen up your casting skills and move slow. When the water is cold, the fish move slowly. They are conserving all of their energy. When they feed, they move slowly. Predators are unwilling to expend a lot of energy while feeding in these colder conditions. An accurate cast will catch more fish. Don’t expect a predator to pursue a fly or lure three feet or more. They will not do it. Put it in the proximity of their mouth and they will make the strike. When you do drop the fly or lure into a fish’s “dinner plate zone”, move it slow. Hop it up and down, puff it on the bottom, and wait for it to be detected. Give the fish some time to meander over and pick up the prey, then, slowly set the hook. Cold water, clear water and light winds demand finesse in presentation and accuracy, whether you are fly fishing or lure casting.

Fly casters throw dark crab patterns on the sand, or the old standby, a white and chartreuse or red and white clouser . Move up a size, so instead of throwing a size 6 fly, try a size 4 or 2. When fish do eat in the winter, they tend to eat bigger baits for more “bang for their buck”. Lure chunkers toss weightless or near-weightless soft plastics on no-wind days for a super quiet presentation. Other lures that work great in the winter are the Corky Fatboy, Corky Devil, Baby -1 crank bait, Chattertube, Catch 2000 and the Cotton Cordell Brokenback. All of these lures are made to sink slowly and/or to be moved slowly. Don’t rush them, they are supposed to suspend and wiggle just enough to look natural in the cold water environment.

On calm days, you may have to cast beyond the target so as not to spook your fish, and then bring the lure into the “zone”. Make the “magic transect”, where the lure is presented to the fish perpendicular to his face. No bait in the natural world would come up from behind or chase a predator. The more natural the presentation, the more fish you will catch. This premise certainly holds true all year, however.

Shallow water anglers in-the-know are out on the water every day that the conditions allow. Consider the secrets to finding feeding fish and you’ll be amazed at the quality of angling that can be done in the wintertime!

Saltwater Angler Magazine Fishing Report - November 10, 2010

2010-11-11T10:21:00.003-06:00

Whether Rockport or Baffin, the same water temperature rules apply for late fall fishing. Find the warmest, most protected water and avoid cold water inflows to find consistent, feeding fish.

Begin your fishing somewhere in the mid-morning, after the shallow water has had a little time to absorb the heat of the sun. Fish shorelines, spoil islands or flats protected from the wind, with darker grass or muddy bottoms, or even slightly off-colored water and deeper potholes. Dark grass and mud and the tiny, floating particulates of the off-colored water absorb the heat of the sun faster, making these the places that the fish will seek out first.

Fish shallow areas close to deeper water, such as the Intracoastal Waterway. Along the Texas Coast, the Intracoastal can be the “bomb shelter” where fish drop into when water temperatures fall dramatically. Fish do go deep when the water gets cold, that’s how they survive. It might be 57 degrees at the bottom of the Intracoastal, but it’s a consistent 57 degrees. A shallow flat can drop quickly into the danger zone for fish survival after the sun goes down and cold night temperatures set in.

Fly casters throw dark crab patterns on the sand, or the old standby, a white and chartreuse or red and white clouser . Move up a size, so instead of throwing a size 6 fly, try a size 4 or 2. When fish do eat in the winter, they tend to eat bigger baits for more “bang for their buck”. Lure chunkers toss weightless or near-weightless soft plastics on no-wind days for a super quiet presentation. Other lures that work great in the winter are the Corky Fatboy, Corky Devil, Baby -1 crank bait, Chattertube, Catch 2000 and the Cotton Cordell Brokenback. All of these lures are made to sink slowly and/or to be moved slowly. Don’t rush them, they are supposed to suspend and wiggle just enough to look natural in the cold water environment.

Shallow water anglers in-the-know are out on the water every day that the conditions allow. Consider the secrets to finding feeding fish and you’ll be amazed at the quality of angling that can be done in the wintertime!

See you on the water!

Capt. Sally Black
Website: www.CaptainSally.com
Email: Sally@CaptainSally.com
Facebook: Capt. Sally Black and Capt. Sally’s Reel Fun Charters
Blog: CaptSallysBlog.blogspot.com
Twitter: CaptainSally

Saltwater Angler Report - September 9, 2010

2010-11-11T10:19:00.001-06:00

Saltwater Angler On-Line Edition
September 9, 2010

It’s been an interesting end of the summer…. High water, low water, lots of rain, great pushes of blue water, schools of jacks, schools of migrating redfish and everything in between. Shallow water anglers have been offered the entire gamut of conditions to experience recently. The good news, however, is that the catching has been consistently good, even under some tough conditions.

With the advent of a few cooler mornings recently, a change is in the air. Even though summer will wear on, there will be days mixed in where a hint of fall will sneak through. Getting ready for dove hunting, which opens on September 17th in the South Zone is the official kick-off of a new season of the year. It looks like hunting is going to be fantastic down in the Riviera area which is inundated with dove right now. Early teal looks good here as well, with big flocks being sighted in the Alazan Bay area.

Last year was my first season as a hunting guide and I got hopelessly addicted to the sport. My black lab, Kelly, who is now two years old made it so much fun! I am really looking forward to our second year as it looks like the conditions and the wingshooting will be very good.

Shallow water fishing in the Rockport area has been very good as of late, with lots of pods of tailing redfish and some really big schools being sighted in the usual places. This is the time of year to keep your eye out for those migrating groups of hungry redfish, heading out to the gulf passes. The “usual places” to look for these migrating herds are the outside beach of Traylor Island near Trout Bayou, Corpus Christi Bayou and Yucca Cut, the Lydia Ann Channel, Quarantine Shoreline and the Super Flats. Don’t forget to look in Allyn’s Bight and along the San Jose Island Shoreline as well.

Watch for birds diving down, bait jumping and the tell-tale “copper/orange water” patches that give these big groups away. Toss anything into the mix and it will be eaten. Whether fly fishing or lure casting, it’s a no-brainer!

Same scenario in the super shallow waters when coming across pods of tailing redfish. Toss almost anything at this time of the year, and it will be eaten. Once a fall fishing pattern becomes established, anything goes. As a new shrimp migration begins to arrive within the next few weeks, it’s a full-on food fest for redfish and trout eating up after the lull of summer. As water temperatures begin to drop, even ever-so-slightly, the message is being received that the seasons are changing.

Small topwaters, like the Super Spook, Jr. and the small Skitterwalk in light and dark colors like bone, chrome, pink and black are working great. Lately, the soft plastic that has been producing is the Saltwater Assassin small paddletail on a 1/16th ounce jig head and a #2 hook. Natural colors in clear waters or darker colors on cloudy days work great, either with a straight retrieve or a jigging retrieve, depending on the mood of the fish that day.

Sunny days and clear waters are always good for the venerable gold spoon, in 1/4th or 1/8th ounce sizes. When there is a lack of floating grass, try a Waker or a crankbait for some fun action. Both reds and trout can’t resist these two lures.

Fly anglers sightcast to these fish with chartreuse and white Foxy Clousers, bigger Seaducers and light-weight crab patterns in natural colors, depending on the water depth and conditions. It’s still important to be accurate with your casts. Presenting the fly as naturally as possible will produce the best strikes. Make the “magic transect” by crossing the path of the redfish with your fly. A fish can’t say no to this presentation.

Whether fly fishing or tossing lures, the best places to look for pods of tails are any flat or back lake with good, short grass with water levels at knee-deep or less. Moving tides prompt better feeding activity so plan your day around these water flows, either in or out.

September is a transition month for everyone. Getting back to school and football, running out of summer vacation time, planning for dove hunting, getting the deer lease ready and preparing for fall fishing has everyone working hard in all of their spare time. It’s tough to get enough of anything accomplished right now, but it’s well worth the effort. This is a magical time of the year.

And speaking of magical, on August 28th, Capt. Aubrey Black and I got married on the sand bar at Los Corrallos at sunrise. 85 of our friends and family were there with us as we said our vows, standing knee-deep in the waters of Baffin Bay. What an honor and a privilege it was to share our joy with everyone. Marrying the love of my life, who just happens to be a fishing and hunting guide too, has been the most exciting and interesting thing I have ever done. I’ll still be fishing Rockport, but I’ll be adding Baffin Bay hunting and fishing to my repertoire as well. Nothing has really changed, except for my last name, and the prospects for the remainder of this year for hunting and fishing are very bright, to say the least!

See you on the water!
Capt. Sally

Website: www.CaptainSally.com
Email: Sally@CaptainSally.com
Facebook: Capt. Sally’s Reel Fun Charters and Sally Ann Black
Blog: www.captainsallysblog.blogspot.com
Twitter: CaptainSally

August 11, 2010 Fishing Report, Saltwater Angler Magazine

2010-08-11T09:16:00.000-05:00

Saltwater Angler
On-line Edition
August 11, 2010

After spending the majority of the past two weeks on the water in the Rockport area, fishing in the hot part of the summer is a real art form. Since the fish have no real signals from Mother Nature that anything is happening in their lives, they only feed when the water is moving. There is plenty of bait around and the fish are fat and happy.

Finding feeding fish revolves around cooler water and tide or wind driven currents. Early in the morning, begin your search closest to the best water movements, like jetties or fish passes. Whether incoming or outgoing, this early morning water flow can start the day off right. The shallow water is the coolest in the morning and the bait and predators that follow seek this out. On low water days, find fish on shorelines that are near your favorite shallow water fishing areas. On high water days, go into the shallowest water you can find.

Large schools of redfish can be found now starting to gather up for their annual migration. These feeding packs of predators can be seen roaming up and down the usual shorelines such as Mud Island, Super Flats, Quarantine, San Jose and Traylor. Watch for large wakes, frothy water and frantic bait fish as these redfish move along and feed as a group.

Talk about frothy water! The Jack Attacks have begun in the Rockport area. If you are interested in catching a Jack Crevalle on conventional tackle or a fly rod, make sure you’ve got the right gear on board. From 15 to 40 pounds, these toothy critters can wreck your medium light tackle and take all of your 12 pound test line. Fly anglers, toss your 8 weight line and you might be making a trip to the Swan Pointe Landing Orvis Shop in Rockport for some new line and backing. Nothing less than a 10 weight rigged with the right leader and tippet will do for these big, powerful Jacks. Go see Dave at Orvis and get the best advice on the coast. Conventional anglers toss a big topwater into the washing machine water as these Jacks are feeding, but make sure that you’ve got a rod with some backbone and maybe some 40 pound braid with an appropriate leader! I’m not kidding. This game is fun!

Paying attention to tide movements and solunar feeding periods to target feeding fish will make your hot summer fishing much more productive. Edges, shorelines and deeper flats now come into play, but the super skinny water is still fair game, especially earlier in the day before the sun heats it up into “mullet soup”. Floating grass is a big problem, but not until after noon or so. Topwater fishing in the early mornings is very productive. Look for lots of mullet moving in the “right” level water, such as knee deep or so. The 1/8th ounce gold spoon is a go-to for sightcasting to cruising or tailing redfish.

Fly anglers toss the white/chartreuse or all white Foxy Clouser, visible crab pattern or a spoon fly. Target really shallow areas with short grass near deeper water.

The fall migration of redfish will be the main focus of many anglers, but trout fishing is still great on the deeper grass edges. Add to that the opportunities to run off shore when the winds subside and the blue water comes in and the Jack Attacks in the channels near the jetties and you’ve got a great mixed bag of fishing. This year, big schools of black drum have been sighted near Allyn’s Bight and the San Jose shoreline. Probably the most under-rated fish in our bay system, sightcasting to and fighting black drum is fun, but eating them is even better! Birds working frantic bait out deep might tell of big schools of ladyfish, gafftop or even trout. Keep you eyes and your mind open to all of these angling opportunities at this time of the year.

Subtle changes are occurring now, as the end of August approaches. My black lab, Kelly, is beginning to look to the sky for some reason. I guess she knows somehow that dove season is right around the corner. If you are interested in dove hunting or a cast and blast in Baffin Bay, Capt. Aubrey Black and I will be offering that again this year. Dove season should be great with all of the rain we’ve had this summer. The skies are filled right now with resident birds and more will be arriving soon.

As always, after a long, hot summer, everyone dreams of fall fishing, dove hunting and the onset of cooler weather. Our area provides such a diverse offering of outdoor activities, make every effort to enjoy what God has given us. See the sunrise as much as possible!

Capt. Sally
Website: www.CaptainSally.com
Email: Sally@CaptainSally.com
Facebook: Capt. Sally’s Reel Fun Charters and Sally Ann Moffett
Blog: www.captainsallysblog.blogspot.com
Twitter: CaptainSally

July 14th Fishing Report - Saltwater Angler Magazine

2010-08-11T08:58:00.000-05:00

Saltwater Angler
On-Line Edition
July 14, 2010

After the bizarre twist of weather that occurred recently when two tropical systems approached very near the mid-coast of Texas, “catching” got a little interesting! At first, the fish in the shallow water were really on-board and feeding as the big push of water came in. Then, the sight casting got a little tougher, as more and more fish scattered about.

Now, however, anglers and water levels are both trying to get back to the fantastic pattern being fished before the storms blew in. After these recent rains, fishing should continue to improve all summer and for the rest of the year. It’s amazing what a big fresh water influx can do to a bay system. After Hurricane Dolly last year, Port Mansfield and the Lower Laguna Madre really became alive and the fishing there was off the charts. The size of the fish improved and the numbers went up dramatically. The effects of Dolly are still being realized today in the LLM.

Shrimp and crabs are the main source of food for shallow roaming fish now. Target areas with short, thick grass, flats with potholes close to shore and utilize any and all moving waters to find feeding fish.

In the Rockport/Port Aransas area, July and August fishing really does rely upon real-time water level changes (see http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov/geographic.html ). Fishing closer to the source of the tide flow makes targeting these feeding fish a little easier. Some areas of The Lighthouse Lakes, the Brown and Root Flats and South Bay can be flooded with big schools of redfish during this time, especially on heavy falling waters. Watch the tide charts, moon phase charts and feeding periods to put together your “prime time” fishing events. Think of how the bait fish might be “sucked off” the flat or lake by heavy falling tides. Don’t just think of the obvious places where bait fish might be drawn, but look closer at the connections of the marshes and lakes of your fishing place. Remember, fish move into the current to feed and this might occur at more than just the most obvious place, as in the mouth of a lake or marsh, but even further back, where other drains or guts occur.

Fly casters toss white/chartreuse clousers, crab patterns and spoon flies. No magic needed, just good fly placement and stealth, especially when the winds are calm. Light tackle anglers still throw small topwaters like the bone Super Spook, Jr.. Add a 1/8th ounce weedless gold spoon and a weedless/weightless 3” or 4” paddletail soft plastic in natural colors to your arsenal. Floating grass will become a problem, so avoiding it with lighter weight lures will increase your catching ratio.

As the summer wears on, the beautiful blue waters of the Gulf will encroach from time to time into the shallow waters, making it appear almost Caribbean. Keep a watchful eye for the opportunity to cast to Jack Crevelle and big schools of Ladyfish feeding along the edges of the Lydia Ann Channel, Shrimp Boat Channel, Super Flats and Quarantine from now until mid-September. This action can make a slow day of redfishing really come alive!

As in any other time of the year, good baitfish concentrations, baitfish jumping and birds in the area can tell a lot about the prospects of a fishing spot. All of these things mean water flow, bait movement and predators feeding. Target this, as well as good tidal movement for more dynamic “catching” in the summer!

Tropical systems bring much needed flushing to the shallows in the summer. Although the increased water levels make it tough for the angler, it really is a benefit to the fishing in the long run. Look forward to some really dynamic summertime fishing!

See you on the water!
Capt. Sally

www.CaptainSally.com
Facebook: Capt. Sally’s Reel Fun Charters (for real-time fishing reports and photos)
Twitter: CaptainSally
Blog: www.CaptainSallysBlog.blogspot.com

Saltwater Angler Article - July 20, 2010

2010-07-22T18:17:00.001-05:00

Fishing High Water Conditions

2010-07-09T08:28:00.002-05:00

After Hurricane Alex came on shore near Brownsville, Texas last week, the water levels came up amost two feet. Now, after a small tropical depression came in about the same place, the water levels are remaining quite high. Fishing, however, has been very good! Finding really shallow water has been a challenge. Tomorrow I will be fishing with clients at the 9 Mile Hole and the Land Cut. Stand by for a fishing report! Also, check my Facebook page, "Capt. Sally's Reel Fun Charters" for fishing pictures and reports.

The Many Stages of an Angler's Life

2010-06-17T12:21:00.003-05:00

The Many Stages of an Angler’s Life
As seen in the June issue of "Saltwater Texas"

The memory of an angler’s first rod and reel brings forth warm emotions along with many happy and animated stories. The Zebco 202, 303 and 808 is a common thread and have been in almost every fisherman’s hands at one time or another.

My first rod and reel, an indescript short metal rod with a Zebco 202, served me quite well. Hauling up countless bluegill and sunfish, it was a workhorse that probably held the same short piece of line for many, many years. No maintenance was necessary, or even thought of. Then one day, my Dad upgraded my Zebco 202 with a shiny Zebco 303. Branching out for bigger quarry, a heartier reel with more and better line was necessary. With a new, improved reel on the old metal rod, bigger quarry came into play. Catfish, carp and perch quickly took the place of little sunfish. A few years later, a new Shakespeare fiberglass rod and a Zebco 808 told everyone that I was an accomplished angler. With such fine equipment, the sky was the limit!

Wherever a fisherman begins, the learning process never ends. Versatility is the name of the game and becoming knowledgeable about all of the different styles of fishing, whether freshwater or saltwater, is key to being a strong and proficient angler.

The starting point for many saltwater anglers was probably shrimp under a popping cork, free-lining finger mullet caught with a cast net and a 5 gallon bucket or cut mullet soaked on the bottom. The goal of any angler’s first stage of fishing is to catch fish, any fish.

Getting proficient with a wide gap hook and some live or dead bait, anglers eventually move to the second stage of fishing. With limits of fish, an electric filet knife and baggies of filets on every outing this angler has progressed. Catching lots of fish, learning about specialized gear, line, tackle and techniques, the second stage angler starts to feel pretty good about finding and catching fish on a consistent basis.

Then, even though catching fish with bait is still great, all of a sudden, there is a feeling as though there must be something more. New to the tackle box that used to hold just hooks, weights and corks, there’s an additional tray with new top waters, plastics and spoons.

Venturing off out of the boat, wading forever shorelines in search of trout slicks, tailing reds and showering bait, this angler has moved to the third stage of fishing, the search for a trophy fish. No longer obsessed with baggies of filets or limits of fish, this fisherman wades untouched waters, searches lonely shorelines and reads the water for signs of the ultimate prey.

Once achieved, many anglers move to the fourth stage of fishing. The sunrise starts the day, relieving the mind and soul of stress and anxiety. Dolphins splash nearby and a camera is always handy. A few good shots at sightcasted fish or just a day spent with best friends or family make a fishing experience so much more than catching. The angler in the fourth stage of fishing just wants to be there, on the water, experiencing all that Mother Nature has to offer for the day, whether fish are caught or not.

Wherever you are in the four stages of fishing, there will always be more to learn, more to observe and an unlimited number of experiences to be cataloged. No day is like the previous and all are cherished. The lucky angler that strives for the fourth stage of fishing will be very richly rewarded.

See you on the water with a fly rod in my hand.

Capt. Sally

More Challenges

2010-05-15T12:50:00.002-05:00

First, a week full of incredible winds. Now rain and lightning. Come on. I just want to fish.

The Shrimp are Here... The Shrimp are Here!!!

2010-05-10T18:21:00.000-05:00

The wild swings in weather, wind and temperatures have taken shallow water anglers in and out of the spring pattern on an every other day basis! Finally, however, it seems that Mother Nature is starting to cooperate and so are the fish.

The tiny shrimp migration has arrived, along with a bumper crop of glass minnows and tiny crabs. Shallow areas with good grass are the host to this banquet of redfish fare. Wade fishermen shuffling along through the grass and hunting the shorelines will dislodge these tiny critters in huge numbers. Proof positive that Spring has officially arrived and so have mass quantities of reds in the back waters.

Reading the water and interpreting the signs of fish is now more important than ever. Birds feeding along a shoreline, tiny shrimp jumping out of the water, spraying glass minnows and loud splashes tell you exactly where fish are feeding. Lee shorelines with pockets and cord grass will hold single feeding fish, while large, thick grassed bodies of water will hold both tailing hardheads and tailing redfish. Redfish will be feeding on what the hardheads are kicking up out of the mud and grass. Long strips of muddy water will tell you that hardheads are working in an area. It’s a guarantee that redfish will be there as well.

Any small fly will do, but a small fly that a fish can also see is a better choice. White, white/chartreuse, white/pink are all good choices. Arctic fox and other materials that look more lifelike in the water also make a better presentation. Lure anglers toss weedless/weightless soft plastic paddletails or small weedless gold spoons. Try small topwaters as well, like a Super Spook, Jr. in bone, black, chrome or white/pink.

Don’t forget to let the fly or lure sink down into the fish’s “dinner plate zone”. Especially in the Spring, redfish feeding in packs won’t stray far to pick up a fly or lure. Let it cross their path and down in their feeding zone and it’s a sure thing. Stingray boots are a must these days as there is also a bumper crop of these dangerous critters. If you are a kayak fisherman, don’t go without boots and/or guards.

With the delay in the onset of Spring, May, June and July are quickly shaping up to offer some very dynamic fishing opportunities. Watch weather and water level charts to put yourself in the right spot at the right time for fish feeding activities!

See you on the water…
Capt. Sally

New Fan Page on Facebook!

2010-05-10T08:52:00.002-05:00

Today, I have created a new Fan Page for Capt. Sally's Reel Fun Charters. This page will house my every day fishing comments and photos from the water. My blog will still have some posts, but the daily commentary will now be on my fan page. Please go to www.facebook.com and search for Capt. Sally's Reel Fun Charters, then become a fan!

The Search for Un-Fished Fly Waters

2010-04-22T11:22:00.002-05:00

Texas Outback Magazine
May-June 2010

Un-fished Fly Waters… in Texas?

On the middle Texas Coast, boat traffic, fishing pressure and airboats are something that all shallow water anglers must contend with these days. More and more people are finding out that shallow water sightcasting is an exciting way to fish, either with light tackle or a fly rod. Boat manufacturers are designing boats that run and float in no water at all. Uninformed boat drivers run these shallow water craft right along the popular shorelines and “burn” flats and lakes “looking” for fish. Some airboat anglers are using illegal techniques such as “herding” redfish to catch them in shallow water back lakes. All of these things together have driven me to begin a search to find the un-fished fly waters on the Texas Coast.

This quest began in Baffin Bay. Although primarily known for its rock formations and legendary trophy trout, Baffin also has some of the most pristine and clear shallow water lakes and shorelines. Anglers don’t run shorelines in Baffin and most certainly don’t fish the back lakes on a regular basis. Most have bigger boats that relegate them to deeper water running and the fear of hitting rocks keeps most of them off of the shorelines and out of shallow water.

A complex and unique system, Baffin proper is an east-west running bay with many finger bays that feed off of it. Although connected to Baffin Bay, the Cayo del Grullo, Laguna Salada and Alazan are mini bay systems in and of themselves. Within these bay fingers are many protected shorelines, sand bars and back lakes, such as the Cayo de Infernillo in Alazan Bay. With one tiny entrance, the massive lake system on the King Ranch is the home to fish that have never seen a fly or boat, not to mention a kayak! A series of small lakes and protected shorelines line the eastern side of the Cayo del Grullo. Further back you’ll find a large, shallow, grassy system named Drum Point.

The Laguna Salada has a secret shallow water place mysteriously named “Site 55”. Muddy and grassy and almost never fished by a boat, schools of redfish, black drum and big trout haunt the shallow water there.

The entire south shoreline of Baffin is nothing but shallow grass and potholes with sandy bars and sloughs mixed in. On any sunny day in May and June, this shoreline is loaded with reds, trout and flounder lounging in just inches of water, ripe for a sightcaster to toss a fly to. One long pole, paddle or wade, this shoreline sees almost no pressure at all.

Moving toward the mouth of Baffin on the south is a big back lake called Los Corrales. Because the mouth of this lake is very skinny, big Baffin boats don’t dare to enter. Pristine grass and hungry fish await anyone who knows the way in. Fishing in this little lake can be an all-day affair, sightcasting with topwaters, spoons and plastics to reds, trout and black drum in the grassy shallows and sandy potholes.

Across the mouth of Baffin is the Tide Gauge Bar. Either on the bar, or on the shoreline, you’ll find no other poling skiff. Just outside of Baffin is the Meadows, then down south a little, Penescal Point, Rocky Slough and the Land Cut, all very lightly fished for shallow water and great for poling and paddling.

The legendary 9-Mile Hole is just a little farther south down the Intracoastal, for those who want to sightcast to gigantic redfish that never leave the area. Miles and miles of very shallow, clear water await those that commit to the one hour or more boat ride to get there.

Although there isn’t a Wal-Mart or an HEB or much civilization within close proximity, un-fished fly waters do await those who seek it. Riviera is home to a couple of great restaurants, however. The Kings Inn and the Baffin Bay Café serve fantastic food and plenty of it. So, for your commitment to fish these un-pressured places, you will be rewarded with pristine waters, hungry fish, the King Ranch and Kennedy Ranch shorelines and vistas, less boat traffic and some really good food.

Come with me on this journey to discover the un-fished fly waters in Texas. Just past Kingsville on Hwy 77, Riviera, Texas is worth the drive. The magic and mystery of Baffin Bay is here, along with great hospitality and the promise to satisfy the untiring sense of adventure that leads all anglers to the saltwater.

Capt. Sally Moffett
www.CaptainSally.com
email: Sally@CaptainSally.com
Blog: CaptSallysBlog.blogspot.com
Facebook: Sally Ann Moffett
Twitter: CaptainSally@twitter.com

Getting Back in the Swing of Things

2010-04-22T11:14:00.002-05:00

After fishing the past 5 days, I'm really ready to get back into the swing of things. Fished Rockport 4 days, Baffin 1 day, had a mixed bag of results. The shallow water in Rockport is ON when the weather is warm, not so on, when the temperatures or wind is cold. We had a little of both. Baffin, on the other hand is just plain old on fire! Big trout and lots of them on topwaters and plastics where the order of the day.

Starting tomorrow, I'll be back in Rockport for two days, then Baffin for two. A mixed assortment of clients and fishing styles will really keep me on my toes! Friday, kayaking Rockport, Saturday, poling and fly fishing Rockport, Sunday, wadefishing for trophy trout in Baffin, Monday, poling and fly fishing in Baffin. Sounds like a fun weekend!

2010-04-09T17:16:00.001-05:00

Had an interesting day of kayak fishing today. It was colder at the end of the day than when we started, blustery and cloudy. Saw quite a few redfish in the lee of the islands near oysters eating crab. Sightcasted to about 10 fish, all good sized. Fished Shamrock lakes today, water levels were low.

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter

2010-04-06T09:34:00.001-05:00

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs040/1101752865939/archive/1103273863000.html

Peacock at Williamson's Boat Ramp

2010-04-04T16:58:00.000-05:00

2010-03-29T09:53:00.001-05:00

Great fishing this week in Rockport. Estes flats are full of nice reds and giant trout in 6 to 8" of water. Finally, the fish are starting to turn on!

Getting Ready to Get Back to Business!

2010-03-08T12:27:00.006-06:00

We returned last night from a 5 day stand at the Houston Fishing Show. It was a blast, the crowds were thick and the atmosphere was optimistic for a great fishing season! Click here to see a .pdf of a full-page article about kayak fishing that appeared in the Houston Chronicle on Thursday.

Now, it's time to get back to the business of fishing! I'll be on the water tomorrow in Baffin, scouting for a photo shoot by Southwest Fly Fishing Magazine on Wednesday. Then, it's back to Rockport for a fishing trip on Thursday.

Friday, I'll be speaking at the Rockport Orvis (Swan Pointe Landing) Store at around 6:30pm. If you are in town, please stop by and listen. There will be food and beverages (the good kind), so enjoy a "fishing happy hour" with me!

Shallow Water Fly Fishing in Rockport this Week

2010-02-28T10:02:00.003-06:00

Finally, a little break in this long, long winter...!!! Poled the shallow water the past two days in Rockport with clients and found a good number of fish! What really surprised me, however, was where some of them were. With a cold wind blowing (although it was sunny), redfish were scattered on really shallow sand out in the open in the Brown and Root Flats! Also, there were groups of giant trout sitting next to some of the spoil islands on the Intracoastal in Redfish Bay. We had some great shots and the sunshine felt really good. I had the feeling that the fish really want it to be spring. Pods of hard heads were schooled up in the B&R with some redfish around them as well. This is the earliest that I've ever seen this phenomenon. I think the fish are just as sick of this cold weather as we all are!

Big Day on Baffin

2010-02-22T18:23:00.004-06:00

In my new boat (a 2010 Curlew by NewWater Boatworks) with some great clients today, Mother Nature greeted us with an unexpectedly blustery day. Guiding with Capt. Aubrey Black and some of his clients, I've been trying my hand at learning a new bay system and fishing for trophy trout.

Well, one person in our group, Randy Pyle (a long-time client of Aubrey's and a great fisherman, too), caught a beautiful 28+" trout that weighed in at a little over 8 pounds today. The rest of us caught a few smaller trout, and three really nice redfish. But, overall, the day was a little tough, mostly because of the very blustery weather. We fished the South Shoreline of Baffin, the Meadows and the King Ranch Shoreline, looking for mullet in concentrations. The same group will be going out tomorrow and the weather doesn't sound any better, but now, because of that one gigantic trout, everyone has a strong desire to go, no matter what! That's fishin' for you!

Husky Dog Talking - " I love you"

2010-02-14T08:33:00.001-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

2010-02-12T16:00:00.001-06:00

I'm speaking tomorrow at Bass Pro in Pearland (Houston). Come to the fly shop, I'll be there all day! Check their website for seminar times.

Salt Water Sportsman 2010 National Seminar Series

2010-02-05T13:12:00.000-06:00

Click here to read about a seminar series that I will be doing tomorrow in Pasadena, Texas. Salt Water Sportsman 2010 National Seminar Series.

2010-02-04T13:09:00.001-06:00

Heading to Houston to prepare for the Saltwater Sportsman Magazine National Seminar Series where I will be a featured speaker on Saturday!

2010-01-30T07:09:00.001-06:00

On the Zone 1300 Austin. Listen live right now on line www.longhornstation.com right now! Talking with the host Ken Milam in the studio right now!

2010-01-25T17:07:00.001-06:00

There’s just one thing to say about the recent, long cold snap and it can’t be printed! For shallow water anglers, an extended cold and windy period of time means not many fish to cast at as they are “hunkered down” in the deeper, more protected areas of the bay system.

The Intracoastal Waterway and the spoil islands that line it are the most likely places to fish in the winter. When ever it actually does warm up, the wind slows down and the sun comes out, this is the first place predators and prey will move to, emerging from the deep holes there seeking warmth and eventually food.

In the Rockport area, the Intracoastal Waterway runs North-South. Poling skiff anglers could start poling in Estes Flats and end poling around Ingleside! Kayak fishermen put in at Hampton’s Landing and fish the spoils and high banks of Ransom Island, Dagger Island and the Intracoastal flats there, or put in at Conn Brown or Cove Harbor and approach fishing the same way.

At this time of the year and in some areas of the bay and flats, ducks and coots paddle around in big rafts. Feeding on the grass there and kicking around, they stir up the bottom and create off-colored water. On cloudy days when sight casting isn’t an option, blind cast soft plastics in these “ducky” places. Redfish and trout hang out below these birds, preying upon the life that has been dislodged by the birds feeding activity.
Be wary of tide movements now, avoiding cold incoming waters. Falling tides off of sun-warmed flats can create good feeding action on the shallow water edges of deeper bays and flats systems like South Bay and Brown and Root’s East Shore.

Fly fishermen must simply pick their day, but lure fishermen have a few more options. Prospecting deep potholes on flats near deeper water can be very productive with soft plastic paddletails, Corky’s, Catch 2000’s and crank baits. Moving the lure more slowly and near the bottom will produce the most strikes.

Another lure to toss during the winter is the Chattertube by Texas Rattlin’ Rigs. This lure is a plastic tube bait with a rattling chamber that can be used as a topwater, jerk bait or a slow sinking suspending bait, depending on the retrieve. Some of the best colors are Black/Chartreuse, Pumpkinseed/Chartreuse, Red/White and Red Shad, depending on water color and fishing conditions. The treble hook can be mounted near the front of the lure or at the back, depending upon fishing style and retrieve. Get some at www.texasrattlinrig.com. This lure, along with a Baby 1- crankbait work best when there is little or no floating grass.

Fly anglers toss bigger flies in natural colors on those days when the sun is out and the wind isn’t blowing too hard. Super clear water in the winter means longer, more accurate casting might be necessary, especially to those gigantic trout that lurk shallow. A good supply of dark grass still exists in and around the flats and spoil islands of the Intracoastal which collects warmth from the sun. This, along with a muddy bottom, some sand and shell and the proximity to the deep water of the Intracoastal make for a perfect winter fishing combination.

Finding water temperatures in the 60 degree range can be a challenge on some days, but on those days when the conditions are right, shallow water sight casting in the winter can be some of the best fishing of the entire year. Crystal clear water, easily targeted fishing places and hungry fish can make for an exciting fishing day!

Staying warm and dry is the key to having fun on the water in the winter. Don’t underestimate the layers of clothing necessary, along with ear covers and gloves. Layers can be removed if it warms up! Kayak fishermen must always wear waist belts on waders and PFD’s at all times when fishing deeper water. Waterproof gloves make paddling a kayak a little more fun when the water is cold as well.

Anglers in South Texas, are usually blessed with mild winters, but this year has proven to be an exception. Water temperatures in December fell to February levels. Let’s all hope for a return to “mild” very soon!

2010-01-10T07:36:00.001-06:00

Doing a live radio interview this morning on the Doug Pike show, 790AM in Houston, or on the Internet, 8-10am!

2009-12-26T20:54:00.001-06:00

Kelly and I hunting a shoreline on the Cayo del Grullo here on Baffin. Flocks and flocks of pintails, just out of shotgun range. Kelly wasn't very happy at all. Lots of watching pintails cup to land and then flair off, no retrieving... That's tough on a lab pup, for sure!

On to the dove field this afternoon, we'll have more success there, as there are thousands of dove here in south Texas!

Baffin Sunset

2009-12-21T16:28:00.000-06:00

Wow. Thank you God for a most beautiful sunset, after a fantastic afternoon fishing in Baffin. Caught a few trout, had some fun with friends, what could be better? Cold, crisp, no wind, sunny conditions mean that winter fishing is "hot".

2009-12-17T11:22:00.001-06:00

Just got in from a duck hunt with Kelly in Baffin. 44 degrees, raining and foggy, north wind at 15-20mph. Why would anyone do this voluntarily? To see my lab make some great retieves, that's why!

2009-12-13T18:16:00.001-06:00

Duck hunted wirh Kelly today in Rockport. it was foggy with not many ducks flying. Kelly made 3 nice retrieves with one diving retrieve! Fishing Baffin tomorrow looking for a trophy trout!

Cold water fishin'

2009-12-10T09:50:00.000-06:00

Saltwater Angler Magazine
December 9, 2009

Water temperatures have dropped significantly with the most recent cold fronts, leaving much of the flats, back lakes and estuaries in the below 60 degree range during some parts of the day and night. Finding warm waters that support happy, feeding predators such as reds and trout are the key to catching shallow water fish during the winter.

Shallow water sightcasting in the winter can be some of the most productive fishing of the entire year. One of the differences between winter and the other three seasons, however, is that in the winter, shallow water fish don’t always feed. When a sudden drop in temperatures occurs during the cold blast of a norther, predators make a mad dash from the skinny water to the deeper water for survival. Then, after the danger has passed when the cold winds stop blowing and the sun comes out, these fish slowly emerge from the depths to bask in the warmth. Shallow water not only cools off the fastest, but also warms up the fastest.

That’s when most anglers get a little frustrated with the fish as they are hanging around warming up in the shallow water, not really interested in feeding at all. Not only are they not really feeding, but at this time of the year, shallow water fish tend to slow down, almost like being in a type of “hibernation”. When they do start to feed, lure and fly presentation has to be very close to the “dinner plate zone”. Slowed down fish won’t expend big bursts of energy to feed, but will move an inch or two to slurp up a shrimp, crab or small fish that moves close to their mouth.

Since there is still quite a bit of grass in the flats, this darker bottom will absorb the heat of the sun. Not only should anglers key on grass, but also mud, spoil islands and slightly off-colored water. Mud is warmer than sand, spoil islands absorb heat and slightly off-colored water is warmer than clear water (floating particulates absorb heat from the sun). These places will be warmer than surrounding areas, thereby holding more bait and the predators that follow.

Avoid cold, incoming tidal waters and seek waters protected from cold winds. Both wind and cold incoming tides will inundate sun-warmed flats with cold water, chasing predators out.

Lure casters can have some fun in the winter with my all-time cold water favorite, the Baby 1-, a crank bait made by Mann. Another similar lure, the Bandit, is also a less-than –one-foot deep crank bait, just a tad smaller than a Baby. Change out the hooks on both of these lures as they are mostly a fresh water bass lure. Redfish and trout find the strong vibration and wobble of this lure almost irresistible. With less floating grass, this lure is very, very effective. Spinner baits can be added to the arsenal, along with small and medium-sized soft plastic paddletails in light, dark and natural colors. 1/16th ounce jig heads along with “flutter hooks” in the same weight let these plastics work naturally.

Don’t stop using a topwater lure, which can still be very effective under certain conditions, along with the old standby, the gold spoon.

Fly casters toss shrimp, crab and clousers in all sizes. Sometimes bigger flies are more productive when the water is cold as some predators (like big trout) enjoy “more bang for their buck”, meaning a bigger meal for the expended effort is sometimes preferred.

Tropical or warm water fly line does not like cold, crisp mornings. Stripping line off the reel can be a challenge as it remains in the coiled shape, making it hard to cast. Consult a fly line retailer to find a line that is suitable for colder saltwater temperatures.

Shallow water anglers must simply “pick their day” to find the right conditions for feeding fish. Warm, sunny, low wind days between fronts will make any sightcaster call in sick to work. On these fine winter days, prepare to catch a lot of fish, cast accurately, move the fly or lure a little slower and avoid answering the cell phone in case your boss should call.

See you on the water!
Capt. Sally

2009-10-31T10:45:00.001-05:00

Cold start to a beautiful day kayak fishing the lakes of San jose island. Lots oh high flying redheads and pintails too!

2009-10-30T11:02:00.001-05:00

Just finished a great segment on the Doug Pike Show, 790AM Houston, talkin' fishing!

Fall Spectacular!

2009-10-24T13:52:00.000-05:00

Enjoying one of the most beautiful fall days to greet the coast all year, Kevin and Jim tossed topwaters all morning and caught a bunch of smaller fish on the Brown and Root Flat. Not finding any quality fish there, we moved over to the East Flats where we had a fast moving redfish encounter.

Coming in from three different directions, but all going the same place (the channel at Island Moorings), herds of redfish converged on us, passing us by like we were a duck blind or something! Getting only one or two shots at them, because they were moving so fast, we picked up a couple on topwaters, the biggest being 24". Congratulations, Jim, on the biggest fish. You have been rewarded!

Another Great Weekend in a Norther!

2009-10-19T08:45:00.002-05:00

The weekend started out hot, really hot, even for South Texas. It was 100 degrees getting out of the truck with Kelly for a dove hunt in Conception, Texas. Pre-front conditions made it tough to keep Kelly and her fellow black retriever Rocksy cool during their 30+ retrieves.

The last hunting spot of the afternoon was a tank at sunset, which both dogs really enjoyed.

The next morning, conditions had done a 180 degree turn, with hard blowing north winds and cool temperatures.

My fishing clients for the day, Don and Mike, decided that they'd like to drift fish, so we picked a spot that was protected from the winds in Cayo del Grullo in Baffin Bay. Making multiple drifts, we picked up both reds and trout on soft plastics, but saw a bunch of reds and black drum in surprisingly shallow and clear water. Not many takers, though. Guess the abrupt change in conditions took them off of their feed. After a few hours of trying to keep our hats on, we headed back to the ramp for a little rest before our dove hunt that afternoon.

Another successful hunt for everyone, (which included an unbelievable butterfly migration that lasted several hours...) a long drive home and a great steak dinner and then something a little unexpected happened. Sitting out in the yard having a cold beer before turning in, we were all greeted by a javelina who entered our "camp". All the dogs went nuts and so did the javelina! Armaments where drawn by almost everyone in case the javelina had friends and got aggressive. We stood him down successfully and went on with the rest of our evening!

Next morning, blowing even harder that the morning before, we all decided to pile into Capt. Aubrey Black's big Haynie for the long ride to Nine Mile Hole. Half of our group waded, the other half drifted. A couple of reds, a big handful of trout, all on topwaters, but fishing was still a little slow. We all had a great time, though! I met some great new people and got a little more "Baffin experience". I'm looking forward to our next group cast and blast. Pretty soon duck season will open..... Kelly is going to be ready!

Ladyfish as far as the eye can see.....

2009-10-14T16:16:00.004-05:00

Ladyfish this morning as far as the eye can see in the Lydia Ann Channel. Fishing with a popper fly, fishing with Mike Collins. Look at the birds diving down in the background and a dophin who almost took my hand off while I landed a 23" ladyfish....

Cast and Blast and Blast and Blast....

2009-10-13T09:13:00.006-05:00

After a great week in Rockport last week, I headed down to Baffin on Friday for another Cast and Blast trip with Capt. Aubrey Black.

Getting pretty used to the routine by now, I'm feeling a little more comfortable guiding in Baffin and dove hunting as well. My black lab, Kelly, is too. She's a lot of fun to hunt with and just can't get enough of the retrieve, of course.

After a big norther blew through on Friday, we all hoped that the wind would lay for our fishing trip to the Nine Mile Hole on Saturday morning.

Of course, Mother Nature did not cooperate, so we headed out across the Laguna Salada to the South Shoreline of Baffin, around Penascal Point and toward the Land Cut. Protected water was hard to find, but the trip was just a little wooley in a couple of places. After an hour's boat ride, we entered the Nine Mile Hole.

Windy and rainy, the fishing was challenging, but we did manage to catch 10 trout and 2 reds in the few hours we had to fish. Capt. Aubrey Black's group did a little better with 4 reds, two black drum and two trout.

Heading to the boat ramp, we got back around 12:30pm. After a little breather back at the house, we loaded up and headed to the dove field around 3:00pm.

Lush, green pastures and good flights of dove greeted us for the rest of the afternoon, with great comaraderie and lots of dove shot.

Kelly had a great time retrieving for everyone, she even took some time out to smell the butterflies....

The next day, another blast of rain greeted us at the boat ramp, so we all decided to hunt again instead of fishing.

The morning turned out to be beautiful for hunting with another great time in the dove field before calling it a day and going home....

2009-10-11T09:45:00.001-05:00

Dove hunting in S. TX this morning. My black lab pup Kelly is her way to 40 retrieves in 2 weekends. Good girl!

2009-10-09T08:31:00.001-05:00

As seen in the most recent edition of the Saltwater Angler Magazine....

The absolute wonder of the change of seasons was the quick transition from summer to fall that happened this year in just one week. From hot to downright cool, from south to north winds, from low water to high water, from drought to rain, the flip of conditions will put the fish on notice. All summer long, redfish in the shallow water have had nothing to worry about. Water temperatures dropping ten degrees will certainly change their mind! Get ready for an onslaught of redfish and eventually some great trout into to back lakes and marshes. Dropping water temperatures are the catalyst to ramp up fish feeding activities after a long, hot summer.

Cooler nights and early mornings drop shallow water temperatures dramatically. The fall Equinox is bringing in tons of extra water to flood grasses and dislodge more food. A new shrimp migration will be entering the estuaries, giving fish even more of a choice. In the fall, bait of all shapes and sizes are the prey of redfish roaming the shallows. Expect to see pods of tailing fish dislodging shrimp from the grass still thick on the bottom. Watch for smaller groups ranging along the edges of the flooded grass, hunting for crabs and killifish. No mullet, pin perch, glass minnow, shrimp or crab is safe in the fall, as all bait is fair game and in a big way. Predators turn on their competitive spirit and eat voraciously as water temperatures stay cool, in preparation for the upcoming winter.

Places like Estes Cove, the Lighthouse Lakes, South Bay and the Brown and Root Flats, with easy access to all kayakers, waders, drifters and polers, act like a staging area for large groups of feeding fish. With easy access in these areas, fish move back and forth from deep to shallow water, cruising and feeding.

St. Charles Bay and the lakes and shorelines of Carlos and Mesquite can be productive fall destinations that should be explored. Some places fish a north wind better than others, so analyze, on a map, how the wind will blow across and through your fishing spot. Look for jumping mullet and large pushes of water, diving birds and wading birds to locate more productive fishing places within your shallow water location. Shallow water fish like to feed into a current, whether wind blown or tidal, so plan your search accordingly. If it gets too windy, fish may fall into the deeper potholes in the flat. It’s time to change your thinking along with the conditions. Unlike summer, fall serves up a wide range of winds and temperatures. Adapt and read the conditions for best fishing success.

Topwater anglers may want to think about putting new hooks on their Super Spook, Jr.’s. Gammakatsu has a small hook (1/0) that has a little ring on it. Replace your treble (trouble) hook with this hook and you’ll collect less floating grass on the retrieve and you’ll have less hassle handling these lures and landing fish. Of course, the go-to colors are the “clown” (gold chrome, red head), black/chartreuse, bone/silver sides and the baby trout. Still, 1/8th ounce and ¼ ounce Bagley weedless gold spoons and small paddletail soft plastics in natural colors on 1/16th ounce jig heads continue to produce. Time to add a crank bait to your arsenal, either a Baby one minus or bring back the old-fashioned Cotton-Cordele broken back in gold/black. Retrieve these lures straight back or use the bass fishing technique of pulling the lure hard back to you, then pointing the rod back to the lure while you reel in the slack. At this point, the lure suspends, prior to the next pull. Both retrieving styles are deadly when floating grass is not plentiful.

Fly anglers toss that popper, clouser, crab and add a big ugly fly for big reds or trout. The fall is the time to throw just about anything.

Right now, besides the legendary fall fishing of Rockport, my mind is consumed with dove hunting and the prospect of the upcoming duck season. With my black lab pup, Kelly, I’ve had the opportunity to add some cast and blast trips to my repertoire. Kelly is a little over a year old now, and she has proven herself to be a fine dove dog on opening day, retrieving nearly 30 dove for our hunters. Working with Capt. Aubrey Black on Baffin Bay, this endeavor has been new, fun and productive. My Curlew is the perfect Baffin boat - no worries about those pesky rocks, not to mention the unmolested shallow shorelines and the magical Nine Mile Hole. If you would be interested in a dove or duck cast and blast in Baffin, just let either one of us know, there are lots of affordable custom packages to choose from which include food and lodging.

Kayaking through the front...

2009-10-03T11:41:00.007-05:00

I remember saying to myself sometime this summer, "man it would be great to fish in the rain a little". Well, I've been getting my wish lately, and yesterday, a little unexpectedly .

Launching at the Big Slough of the Lighthouse Lakes with three great clients, the morning was beautiful and the winds were light. Everyone was very excited at the prospect of topwater fishing. As we were unloading the kayaks, a big, ominous cloud from the north got closer and closer. I whipped out my iPhone to check the radar.

A tiny, tiny band of rain might just graze us and as we all looked at the radar, we agreed, "no big deal". Nothing was forecast for the day, in any event, just a perfect SE 10-15mph....

It was at that point that a gigantic gust of cold north wind hit us, along with a wall of smoke that turned the morning sky dark brown. Smoke, perhaps from a controlled burn at the Aransas Wildlife Refuge?

Plans change....fish the conditions, so we ducked behind an island into a cove and began a down-wind, down-rain, wade. Super Spook Jr's in dark colors where our choice. During the height of the storm, when the conditions were the worst was when the fishing was the best. Working those topwaters with lots of action was the ticket, producing great redfish and trout strikes from below.

A heavy north wind blew all morning, but at lunch, it was calm and turning east. Taking a break from all that paddling (south of the boat), we enjoyed a great sandwich and some converation.

Just about the time we started to fish again, the north wind cranked up with a vengence and we found ourselves paddling straight back into the wind, back toward the boat. Fish feeding activity peaked during the storm, but totally shut down after it ended.

Baffin in the rain...

2009-09-30T19:20:00.001-05:00

A rainy day learning Baffin Bay yesterday, of course, you have to "fish the conditions"! Fishing the famous rocks of Baffin is a little tougher than it sounds, especially for a Baffin beginner like me.

Capt. Aubrey Black, the best guide in Baffin, has gratiously agreed to lend me some knowledge and I am doing my best to absorb all I can, in my spare time away from Rockport.

Learning Baffin Bay is an interesting sideline for me. I realized that, ten years into my professional fishing career, that's there's more to life than poling the Lighthouse Lakes or the back lakes of San Jose Island.

Finding new, unspoiled, unfished, clear, shallow shorelines has been a quest of mine this year. I found those in Baffin Bay.

Since I'm a closet wade fisherman, learning how to fish those deeper rocks has been an interesting addition to my quest for new water. It's all about structure, but I think I'm a little too short for Baffin. I'm thinking about writing a song about it, "Too Short for Baffin"... I'll let you know!

After the first dove cast and blast, I realized that I need more time on the water down there to be competent, so I have been spending some spare time there to get a little more acclimated. It's been paying off, I feel a little better about my navigation skills there.

Fishing the Nine Mile Hole, the South Shoreline of Baffin, the Land Cut, and the Meadows, just to name a few places has been a real eye opener for me. No one runs a shoreline in Baffin. Consequently, these fish are laying around in the shallow water, ready for a fly to come there way. And when it does, they jump on it like their last meal! My kind of shallow water fishin'!

2009-09-30T11:37:00.001-05:00

Fished Baffin yesterday, learning that complex bay. Back in my home waters tomorrow...weather is great!

2009-09-25T12:34:00.001-05:00

Back on the water today, cool, crisp and breezy from the north. Water temp down to 78 degrees!

The First Real Norther of 2009

2009-09-24T12:31:00.003-05:00

The first real norther of the year passed through a couple of days ago, and of course, I was out on the water to witness it first hand...

When water, sky and clouds converge in a solid, dark, wall, it's time to take cover, especially when the temperature drops 20 degrees as a cold wind blows through.

Prior to the front, which hit around 11am or so, we were poling in the Lighthouse Lakes. With hardly a breath of wind blowing and thunderstorms all around, the promise of a big change was in the air.

Redfish tailing in pods were all around us. Poling front pod to pod, but keeping a mindful eye on the sky, I knew that this scenario would be changing real soon...

Within a few minutes, hot air was replaced with cold air and the sky started to close in. Greeted now with a north wind at 40mph, it was time to get off the poling platform. Moving to the Brown and Root Flat, we tried a downwind drift that no drift-sock could slow. Thinking that the change of weather might turn some fish on to bite, we stuck with it for a while, but, to no avail.

Sometimes you just can beat Mother Nature...

2009-09-22T07:27:00.001-05:00

Waiting for a storm to pass to get out on the water. Cooler weather and rain will kick off a shallow water feed! Might have to fish close today because of impending bad weather.

Baffin Cast and Blast, Dove Opening Weekend

2009-09-21T10:32:00.005-05:00

OPENING DAY OF DOVE SEASON A
HUGE SUCCESS!

A year and four months of love, concern, training time, swimming and trust came to fruition this weekend with my black lab pup, Kelly.

Watching Kelly retrieve her first dove was breathtaking and heartwarming. Her natural abilities took over and she became a full-fledged hunting dog, not just a retriever, right before my eyes.

Captain Aubrey Black hired me to help him guide a hunting and fishing weekend with a group of ten great guys. Since it was my first dove hunt with Kelly, I was a little nervous. I could hardly wait for opening day and when it came, I was totally surprised by everything that happened.

Just to make sure that everything was going to be ok, at first, I set myself and Kelly apart from the group a little. One other hunter was close by and happened to be a better shot than I am (but who isn't? - Aubrey, don't comment on this...).

Almost immediately after setting up, Jim shot a bird from a small group passing. I stood there and watched Kelly watching the birds fly, heard Jim's shot and after the bird hit the ground, running a straight line to retrieve it. She picked up the wounded bird, and casually trotted back to me with it in her mouth. She put it in my hand and looked up at me with feathers in her mouth. Without me saying a word, she healed and sat, waiting for the next opportunity. I walked over to Jim and dropped the bird in his bag. While I stood there talking with him, he shot another bird and Kelly galloped out to pick it up. She brought it back to us, but instead of handing it to me, she dropped it in the pile with the other birds. She healed back to me and sat there, waiting for me to give her some water. It was a pretty amazing day and Kelly, a novice to dove hunting, showed her pedigree and did what came naturally.

The next day, I had no hesitation in bringing her to another group of hunters for her to do her job. Since we were hunting in taller weeds, everyone really appreciated Kelly's ability to fetch and find the birds. Congratulations, Kelly! You worked hard, had some fun and really made me proud of you!

If you would be interested in a dove hunt or a cast and blast trip with Capt. Aubrey Black, me and Kelly, please give me a call or email!

2009-09-19T14:19:00.001-05:00

Dove-o-Rama yesterday, fun Baffin fishing this morning. To falfurrias now for another round of dove hunting! My pup Kelly is a dove- aholic. Great work for a young lab. I'm working a cast and blast trip with Capt Aubrey Black in Riviera all weekend.

2009 Lake Amistad Videos

2009-09-15T10:20:00.001-05:00

A cool video with lots of bats in the Chinese Railroad Tunnel on Lake Amistad. From my vacation last weekend, bass fishing and having fun on Lake Amistad, TX

2009-09-10T05:38:00.001-05:00

Woke up early to enjoy my first day of vacation on Lake Amistad!

2009-09-04T17:01:00.001-05:00

The start of the last summer holiday, big water coming in late, good tailing fish till 1:00pm

2009-09-02T13:18:00.001-05:00

Fished Baffin yesterday, checking out the dove lease West of Falfurrias this afternoon

NewWater Boatworks "Stilt" Unveiling August 29, 209

2009-08-30T09:32:00.002-05:00

Tim Clancey's NewWater Boatworks "Stilt" technical poling skiff.

This boat was unveiled last night at the NewWater Owner's Tournament.

The lighting was dim and my camera took some fuzzy shots, but, this is the most beautiful boat I have ever seen. The fit and finish is astounding and the bold design had everyone in the room with "Stilt Envy"!

2009-08-29T14:52:00.001-05:00

Bigger fish & more of them today, changes are in the air! Finally cooler and a few showers! LHL still a winner with big schools of redfish on incoming water.

2009-08-28T22:13:00.001-05:00

Pods of tails today in the LHL and back lakes of San Jose. Between 8am and12pm, tailing fish on structure like tight to shorelines and patches of thick grass

2009-08-27T21:45:00.001-05:00

Found some migrating redfish today...in the usual places! It's just getting started... Water levels near the jetties were higher.

Saltwater Angler Article, August 22, 2009

2009-08-27T17:38:00.001-05:00

Saltwater Angler
August 22, 2009

In the home stretch of summer, it’s essential for shallow water anglers to really pay attention to tides and water levels. Don’t get stranded in a back lake and have to walk out, because at this time of the year, the tide can drop out like a rock. When fishing close to the water sources of the Gulf, this is especially important. Kayakers can really benefit from these falling waters by reaching into the super shallow waters that boats can’t get to. Redfish seem to come in to the shallow water on the rising tide, but really kick off a feeding frenzy when the tide begins to drop. Time fishing just right for the best late summer action!

Lack of winds in August adds another layer of complexity at times. No tides, to wind, no feeding action. Early afternoons can make for better fishing, even though it’s really hot, with more wind which the predators really like to feed on in shallow waters. Still eating shrimp in the grass, redfish especially like a little breeze to gather and tail upon. Winds moving shallow waters help to dislodge the food hiding there. You’ll find these feeding pods of redfish in ankle-deep water, moving into the wind as they busily mow their way along the bottom. I know I’m in the right place when my boat or kayak is barely floating!

Light tackle anglers use natural colored small soft plastics rigged weedless and weightless. Fly fishermen stay small as well, a #6 all-white clouser imitates the tiny shrimp that is still a redfish’s favorite food in August.

Floating and heavy grass can be annoying for the fisherman, but it’s a redfish’s living room and kitchen. Find ways to deal with the grass because that’s where the fish are.

Blue Gulf of Mexico waters are still infiltrating the bays from the jetties. Be on the lookout in these areas for Jack Crevalle, Spanish Mackeral, Kingfish, Tarpon and the beginnings of the redfish migration on major shorelines. Gear up appropriately to take advantage of these late summer fish. 12 pound test on a 7’ medium light rod might not be enough to tangle with a 30 pound Jack!

The first cold front of the fall can’t come too soon as the middle of August in South Texas can sure be brutal. Planning right now for fall fishing, dove hunting, early teal and the beginning of duck season seems ridiculous, but it is really right around the corner. Get your new waders ordered; find a wading jacket that will keep you warm and dry and make sure hunting gear is in order. Before you know it, summer will be over and the next season will be here!

2009-08-26T13:57:00.001-05:00

Scout fished Copano today for the NewWater Owners Tourney this weekend. At least I know where NOT to go!

2009-08-23T15:51:00.001-05:00

I don't say this very often, but it was a tough day fishing today.-Beautiful water with redfish on the sand outside traylor island later in the afternoon. Bright sunshine and crystal clear water made seeing the small schools of redfish easy. Catching them was another story, though!

Fishing Report, August 22, 2009

2009-08-22T16:40:00.001-05:00

A beautiful sunrise and a warm, light breeze escorted us to the back lakes on San Jose Island this morning where we started our fishing trip. Paul and Tracy were learning about sightcasting and were throwing lures. Several redfish and trout were caught on topwaters ("clown" Super Spook Jr's) there, and then we poled upon several pods of tailing redfish. Although it looked like there were only 5 or so fish, there were about 30 in each pod!

As the morning wore on, the fishing got slower and slower. It was hot and the wind quit blowing. Hot August fishing, for sure.

Then, we dropped into the Brown and Root flats for a look and a gigantic herd of redfish showed themselves. The game was on.

Paul brought home the bacon with this nice 23" red (caught on a 1/8th ounce Bagley "textured" gold spoon) which was just perfect for the grill. Tomorrow, we are going to do it all over again!

2009-08-20T20:03:00.001-05:00

Ran offshore this morning looking for something big to cast at- finished the day working with my lab Kelly, ready for dove season.

2009-06-06T15:13:00.001-05:00

Had a great day kayak fishing in the LHL. Pods of tails till 2pm. Stuck in the ferry line to port A now, giving a talk this afternoon at the Kayak4redfish seminar.
I'll be posting a video and pictures tonight.

Fly Fishing in Baffin Bay!

2009-05-22T14:31:00.000-05:00

Learning and Fly Fishing Baffin Bay

May 20-21, 2009

What an interesting trip I just took to Baffin Bay. Capt. Aubrey Black, (seen in the photo to the left....), takes great pride in his home waters. He has gratiously agreed to "teach" me how to manuever the treacherous rocks of Baffin.

So, on Wednesday and Thursday, we roamed the waters of Baffin Bay with Aubrey trying to help me and my GPS get a handle on the layout of the waters there.

Besides the wonders of that bay system, Aubrey, his wife Karen and I caught so many fish on Wednesday, our arms were tired! We wandered into the shallowest waters of the bay and found unmolested fish, both big reds and trout. Then, Aubrey poled me down a long and beautiful crystal clear shoreline and I got to fly cast to a hundred redfish in 6" of water. I only caught about 10, should have caught at least 20, but it was so much fun, it was hard to get too serious on the fishing!

Then, yesterday we took my Curlew again and found some new water, caught about as many trout as three people could catch in Alazon Bay and marked more rocks on the GPS.

I am really looking forward to fishing more in Baffin, taking some clients down there to feast their eyes on some of the best fly water in Texas, and doing some cast and blast trips with Capt. Aubrey Black, the best guide in Baffin. His forte and claim to fame is trophy trout, (one of his clients, the day BEFORE I got there, caught a 10.4 pound, 31" trout!), but I can tell that his secret love is shallow water sightcasting for redfish and trout! He can even pole a skiff!

Here are a few more photos from our trip.

2009-05-22T13:05:00.001-05:00

Testing my blog post from mobile phone