Texas: More treats than tricks
Rains mark major change as bite turns on fire
By Doug PikeThere were far more treats than tricks dealt Texas fishermen this past weekend, and short-term prospects couldn't be much better.
During most or all of the past week, depending on which piece of coast is under scrutiny, rain, runoff and north wind combined to trigger a major flush of groceries out of isolated marshes and back lakes. From one end of Texas to the other, guides issued reports of long, heavy stringers and spoke optimistically of the future.
Capt. Sally Moffett of Port Aransas called my radio show and said without hesitation that the next week or two could deliver some of the best shallow-water redfish action of the entire year — and that there likely will be some monster trout shadowing the redfish schools to pick off anything they miss.
Schools of reds moving patiently across flats don't miss much, but I've peeled enough sow trout from the sides and to the rears of those pods to know they must be leaving something tasty in their wakes.
Her forecast will hold true most anywhere from Port O'Connor down through Port Isabel. In that lower-coast region, incidentally, strong north wind associated with the norther that swept the sky clear (unfortunately) for opening weekend of duck season also whisked away the choking remnants of a red-tide outbreak that killed quite a few forage fish and a fair number of gamefish the past few weeks.
On Saturday, Capt. Paul Marcaccio called from his boat to let me know there were gulls working over schools of reds and trout along nearly the entire north shoreline of Galveston's East Bay. We were interrupted a couple of times so he could unhook fish for clients, and those pauses really punctuated his enthusiastic message.
All the better for diehard fishermen, said Marcaccio, he and his clients that day were alone among all those fish. No other boats in sight to the north, south, east or west. We were certain there were other fishermen on the water on such an ideal fishing day, but they apparently had found enough fish of their own not to be within eyesight of so much action as Marcaccio enjoyed.
This is prime time for topwater lovers to get the most from their favorite baits and for those who lack confidence in surface plugs to gain some. This latest front and its subsequent temperature drops put fish on notice that there won't be any more summer for a while. Winter looms, and predators are keen to fatten themselves in advance of the transition to more severe weather.
Anglers so inclined can knot up a topwater at dawn and sling it until dark. The only changes necessary might be in size or color or number of interior rattles, but you don't have to throw anything else this time of year.
If you want to throw the fish a curve, try a simple gold spoon. Go weedless on the flats, and let a big treble trail in open water. Spoons have lost popularity in the past two decades but never lost their ability to draw vicious strikes.
This week marked a major turn .. for the better. Get your share.
Editor's note: Doug Pike spent 23 years as the outdoors columnist at the Houston Chronicle, nine years and counting on radio (he's the host of the Doug Pike Show on 790 the Sports Animal), two years and counting as back-page humor columnist for Saltwater Sportsman, 10 years and counting on the masthead for Field & Stream, two years and counting on the masthead and as columnist for Texas Fish & Game, 10 years editor of Tide magazine for CCA. He has won more than 100 state and national awards for writing, photography, broadcast and editing.
