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2Cool Fishing
CASTAWAY LODGE
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TROUT & REDFISH • DUCK & GOOSE HUNTING
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CALL CAPTAIN KRIS & WENDI KELLEY AT 1.888.618.4868
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Volume 1 Issue 1
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2Cool Fishing
TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME I | ISSUE I
On the Cover:
A great shot of a Jack caught by 2Cool
reader Billy in July 2011 at Pine Gully
Park in Seabrook. He fought this fish for
well over 45 minutes.
Publisher & President
George R. Scocca
2coolfishing.com Founder
Monty Weeks
Managing Editor
Sal Amendolia
Art Director
Nick DiMarco
IN THIS ISSUE
Webmaster
James Sullivan
StarƟng the Hobby of Fly
Fishing
VP of MarkeƟng
Robert Pavlick
by: Captain John Spencer
pg. 14
Account Coordinator
Nicole Sinning
Wahoo and Dolphin
Fishing in the Northern
Gulf of Mexico
2cool Magazine
Contributors
John Havens
Craig Lambert
Damon McKnight
Will Schorp
John Spencer
by: Captain Damon McKnight
pg. 20
Changing Seasons
by: Captain John Havens
pg. 28
The Modern Art of SpringƟme
Fishing in Galveston Bay
by: Captain Craig Lambert
pg. 32
Techniques for Catching Live Bait
by: WIll Schorp
pg. 38
DEPARTMENTS
IntroducƟon...pg.6 | Trophy Pages...pg.8 | Galley...pg.12
Volume 1 Issue 1
5
DEPARTMENTS
IÄãÙʗç‘ã®ÊÄ
W
elcome to the new 2cool magazine.
The purpose of this magazine is
to feature our members in a new way
while also sharing some great fishing
and hun ng ar cles. We look forward
to tailoring this magazine to suit the
community.
In this first edi on you will find feature
ar cles and special sec ons that all came
by recommenda on from our members.
We have five awesome features that
cover inshore fly fishing, spring pa erns
in the bays, catching bait, and offshore
wahoo and mahi. You will also find some
member trophy shots and a featured
recipe.
When I started 2cool, the goal was to build a family friendly website for folks who like fishing. Now today,
with over 50,000 registered members and over 200,000 people viewing our site each month, 2cool has
become the top community for ac ve Texans who fish, hunt, or just like to talk Texas. We strive to provide
you the best tool for sharing and we thank our members for par cipa ng.
Enjoy the magazine and if you have any requests, ques ons, or comments, please contact us at
[email protected]
Monty Weeks
2COOL MAGAZINE
6
2Cool Fishing
E—®ãÊÙ®ƒ½
full page
Volume 1 Issue 1
7
DEPARTMENTS
TÙÊÖ«ù Pƒ¦›Ý
Trey German
(FishinAg22) sent
us a picture of his
catch which was
a 29” and 8.5-lb
trout.
Sharon Stewart caught this 26”
trout in West Galveston Bay by
Confederate Reef.
Last year we had an
exchange student
from Brazil spend the
summer and enjoy her
first Ɵme in a boat,
first Ɵme to fish, first
fish to catch fish, and
first Ɵme to drive a
boat.
Patricia White with her 27” catch taken at
Gas Well Flats near South Padre Island.
WriƩen by Walt Royse
ScoƩ Alford
takes a
break aŌer
bringing in
this nice
tuna
(bayougirl) Kim PruiƩ with a
West Bay flounder at her home in
Bayou Vista.
8
Jennifer
Pandanell
caught this
red on
the
Galveston
Jetties.
2Cool Fishing
TÙÊÖ«ù Pƒ¦›Ý
R.I.P. Vic MarƟnez aka Vejer
March 25th, 2012.
Mark
Pandanell
and his
catch on
the
Galveston
Jetties.
ScoƩ Langdale
achieved his
personal best on his
annual birthday trip
to Pirates Run, East
Bay, November 16,
2011
Will Van Ostrand has spent the
last 9 years working overseas and
2cool has kept him in touch with
what goes on in the Gulf Coast
area.
Josh and Lucas’ Big Catch
SubmiƩed by Craig Ellington
Ryan Powell’s
(southcoasƩx)
son cody
powell
These were caught out of
Galveston by Charlie (rifraŌ25)
Volume 1 Issue 1
9
half
Matagorda. Galveston. Sabine.
The largest and longest running saltwater
tournament series on the entire Gulf Coast.
10
WWW.SPECKTOURNEY.COM
2Cool Fishing
Catching big ones
Only on WFN 24/7
Bill Boyce
Host of IGFA
Saltwater Adventures
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ONE TV CHANNEL
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SUBSCRIBE
TODAY
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WFN:
> GetWFN.com
1-877-7GET-WFN
Volume 1 Issue 1
AT&T U-verse, Bright House, Cablevision,
Charter, Dish, Knology & FiOS
11
DEPARTMENTS
Gƒ½½›ù
T
he 2cool members have a few favorite recipes listed in our recipes forum. 2cool member Haute Pursuit
has submi ed this recipe to rave reviews and several members have made it themselves. Thanks also to
member threeredfish for submi ng a photo.
Caƞish Supreme
2 lbs Caƞish fillets
Cajun Blackening seasoning (Paul Prudhommes)
Hellmann’s mayo
4 Tbsp Bu er
1 Cup Sliced fresh Mushrooms
½ Cup chopped Parsley
1 Cup sliced Green Onions
1 ½ pounds peeled and deveined medium Shrimp
2 cans Cream of Shrimp soup
Cayenne pepper and Louisiana Hot Sauce to taste
1. Season ca ish well on both sides with blackened seasoning then spread a thin layer of mayo on both sides
of each fillet. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. In a large skillet heat 2 Tbsp bu er un l it starts to sizzle. Sear the fish fillets on both sides (don’t cook all
the way through) and remove to a large baking dish.
3. In the same skillet add 2 more Tbsp bu er and then add the mushrooms, parsley and green onions. When
this cooks down some add the shrimp. When the shrimp start turning a li le pink reduce the heat to low
and add the 2 cans of shrimp soup (the shrimp will finish cooking in the oven). Season to taste with cayenne
pepper & hot sauce. S r well to combine and ladle this mixture over the fish fillets.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
If you would like to have your recipe featured in our magazine, email [email protected].
12
2Cool Fishing
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Volume 1 Issue 1
13
STARTING THE
HOBBY OF
FLY FISHING
BY CAPTAIN JOHN SPENCER
14
2Cool Fishing
“A day to learn,
a lifetime to master.”
T
he single most commonly asked ques on I get
from people is how to get started in fly fishing. I
think a lot of people are in midated by the poten al
cost and others are put off by the popular image of
the sport. Thankfully, several forces have conspired to
both lower the cost of entry into the sport as well as
to broaden its appeal, par cularly in saltwater.
For most of its history, fly fishing was perceived as
being exclusively for the rich. We all have the mental
picture in our mind of the “historical fly fisherman.”
He (of course it was a he) is wealthy, fishing a bamboo
rod in knee deep water, maybe on the Batenkill,
maybe on the Henry’s Fork, but wherever it is, there
are majes c mountains in the background and a
blizzard hatch coming off all around him. He probably
smokes a pipe. So ingrained in pop culture is this icon
that it has become the bread and bu er of Madison
Avenue when peddling re rement accounts.
In large part what sha ered this image, at least within
the fishing community, were the early fly guides of
the Florida Keys. No longer was fly fishing exclusively
for tweed clad, Wall Streeters who could a end
their Yale class reunion and talk about the ephemera
gu ulata hatch on the Madison as they swilled single
malt scotch. Rather, saltwater fly fishing was now
more or less democra c. No one owned the ocean
and these guys in the Keys showed the world it was
possible to tame the ul mate tackle buster, the
tarpon, on fly. Suddenly, fly fishing was a sport of
skill, not economics.
Over the last 10 years, con nued improvements in rod
technology, fly lines and op cs has made fly cas ng
both easier and cheaper than ever before. Complete,
high quality rod/reel/line combos are available for
less than $250 (and probably a lot cheaper than that
used on-line). As a result, the interest in in-shore fly
Volume 1 Issue 1
15
fishing for tarpon, bonefish, redfish
and striped bass has exploded. I
think interest for these species in
par cular has increased for two
primary reasons. The first reason
is the visual intensity. Fly fishing
the flats is as much hun ng as it
is fishing. Poling a skiff or kayak,
or wading, in inches of gin clear
water, then cas ng a fly to a target
that you see plain as day will get
your heart pounding. At the risk
of sounding melodrama c, it is
an intensely in mate sport, in
much the same way that bow
hun ng is. This brings me to the
second reason I think the interest
has increased so much recently
and that is the challenge. I don’t
care if it is a 5-pound redfish or
a 100-pound tarpon, the first
me you see your target and cast
your fly, you will miss badly. It’s
inevitable. And you will likely
16
con nue to miss. But at some
point you begin to understand
the cast, understand the fish and
understand the approach and you
will witness what to me is one
of the most beau ful sights in
fishing – a totally oblivious fish,
in its environment, inhaling the
fly, and in an instance, realizing
how vulnerable it now is on this
clear flat, taking off for dear life.
Once you experience this, it is a
powerful drug.
So how do I get started? To
me, the best place to start is
with someone who is willing to
teach. We have all been there,
and as a result, I think it makes
fly fishermen take a keen interest
in the beginner. In almost every
major Texas city there is a local fly
fishing club. Find the closest club
on-line and ask about their next
mee ng. In every case I know of,
2Cool Fishing
the clubs have competent and
eager members who are happy
to teach you the basics of cas ng
and fly gear. Alterna vely, most
fly shops have cer fied cas ng
instructors who will not only
help you with cas ng instruc on,
but are also great sources of
informa on on local fishing, gear,
etc. Just remember the old adage
– “A day to learn, a life me to
master.”
Once you have mastered the
basic cast, you are now basically
dangerous to anything swimming
in a stock tank, but you represent
li le threat to shallow water
redfish and trout. The key here is
prac ce. Once you think you’ve
prac ced enough, prac ce some
more. Get a towel, spread it out,
and use it as a target. Accuracy
is cri cal – much more important
than distance. A forty foot,
accurate cast is far more important
than a seventy foot missile. As
your cas ng con nues to improve,
set up a hula hoop and prac ce
cas ng through it. This will
discipline you to keep a ght loop
and your distance will necessarily
improve.
Every year, I fish with people (and
they know who they are), who fish
with me once a year. In between,
they may fly fish a few days for
bass or trout, but basically, they
do not fish much. And every year
they get no be er. And every year
we have the same conversa on
about prac cing.
Fly cas ng is no different than golf,
or playing the piano, or whatever
else. A lesson will help teach
you. But it is then up to you to go
refine what you have learned and
make it second nature. Spending
a short period every day at a park
(no water necessary) will improve
your cas ng significantly. Take a
towel and mark off fi y feet. If
you can hit that towel consistently,
you WILL catch redfish. If you can
make that consistently cas ng over
either shoulder, your guide will
love fishing you.
Once you are confident in your
cast, hook up with someone
who has real exper se – either
someone you have met through
the fly clubs or with a guide.
One note on guides – fish with a
reputable, fly fishing guide. A lot
of guides will tell you that they “do
fly fishing too.” This is not what
I mean. There are a number of
full me guides up and down the
coast that specialize in fly fishing.
You will fla en your learning curve
significantly by spending a couple
of days with one of them. Clubs,
on-line message boards and local
fly shops are all excellent sources
for guide referrals.
As your cas ng improves, you
will want to learn more advanced
cas ng, including double hauls
for salt water. Wind is both your
friend and your enemy while fly
fishing the flats. A breeze puts
ripple on the water, which tends to
make spooky fish a li le less wary.
At the same me, cas ng into
even a modest breeze can be both
difficult and in mida ng. Learning
to double haul will increase both
your range and your effec veness
in the wind. Beyond that there are
a myriad of more advanced loop
management and distance cas ng
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Volume 1 Issue 1
17
techniques to conquer.
Of course cas ng is just one
element of the sport. A lot of
people, me included, spend much
of the winter tying endless flies.
Many river trout fishermen carry
their vice to the river with them,
intent on perfectly matching the
hatch to ultra-selec ve trout. In
this respect, saltwater fly fishing
is easier. Any number of simple
flies that a novice tyer can quickly
master can, and do, catch both
redfish and speckled trout. You
can make the tying game as simple
or as complicated as you want.
Again, local clubs as well as local
shops are the best resources for
ge ng started in fly tying.
Fly fishing will add a whole new
dimension to your angling life.
While not for everyone, it can be
18
a challenging and rewarding way
to expand your fishing horizons.
Because it is so in mate, it can
also engender a deeper respect for
both the fish we seek as well as the
environment in which they live.
AŌer I wrote this, I e-mailed
several people I have fished
in the past who were just
beginning. I asked them
what advise they had for
beginner fly fishermen,
and here were some of the
responses:
“Wading and casƟng is easier
than casƟng from the boat.
But I sƟll would much rather
fish from the boat. You just
have to be a beƩer caster.”
“Like a lot of things, when
2Cool Fishing
you watch someone who is
really good, they make it look
easy. It’s not. But it’s sƟll the
coolest fishing experience I
have ever had.”
“Like you said, pracƟce,
pracƟce, pracƟce.”
half page
full page
Volume 1 Issue 1
19
Wahoo and
Dolphin Fishing
in the Northern
Gulf of Mexico
By Captain Damon McKnight
20
20
22Cool
2C
Coo
oo
oll Fishing
Fish
Fi
sh
hin
ingg
The northern Gulf of Mexico is
probably one of the best areas
in the world to fish for Wahoo
and Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi) during
certain mes of the year. Over the
past three years there have been
Wahoo brought in weighing over
100 lbs. and numerous Wahoo in
the 70-90 lb. range. During the
summer months Dolphin weighing
over 50 lbs. is common, with
some going over 60 lbs. Not only
does the northern Gulf produce
larger Wahoo and Dolphin than
most places, the numbers of both
species that migrate into the area
are unbelievable. It is not rare to
have mul ple hook-ups from either
species during feeding mes, or
see them jumping into the air while
feeding on the surface chasing
flying fish or on bait balls in huge
numbers. This is when you get the
true feeling of just how abundant
these two species of fish are in the
GOM.
Probably the most important thing
to realize about these two pelagic
species is the science. These two
species are very similar although
they are not gene cally related.
On average a Wahoo life span is
about 2-3 years but some of the
larger females have been noted
to live about 9 years. They grow
to about 51 inches at 2 years of
age, which puts the growth rate at
about 2 . per year. A Dolphin’s life
span is about 4-5 years and reach
reproduc ve maturity in the first
year. One of the reasons they are so
abundant is because of their ability
to reproduce quickly. They both
produce a lot of eggs per spawning
event averaging about 1,000,000
for Dolphin, and remarkably
mature female wahoo (2-3 years
old) can produce 100 million eggs
per spawning season. Being able to
reproduce this quickly and having a
rapid growth rate make these two
species voracious eaters, maintain
a sustainable stock, and excellent
choices for Sport Fishermen to
target.
The most produc ve mes of the
year to target Wahoo is almost
year round. January thru February
is when the bigger females move
into the northern Gulf to spawn,
Volume 1 Issue 1
mainly around the Main pass,
South Pass, and West Delta areas in
the 200-400 . range. Food is very
abundant, water temperatures are
just right, which gives the eggs their
best chance of survival. If I had to
give my opinion on which factor is
the main reason these big wahoo
migrate to this area it would be the
food source. Menhaden, Bonita,
Mullet, Tuna, Bally-hoo, and flying
fish are usually easy to find, but
I would put an emphasis on the
amount of Menhaden and Mullet
that would be mostly consumed by
21
these big migra ng wahoo. If for
any reason Menhaden or Mullet
stocks were threatened or became
una ainable for wahoo there
would be a drama c decline in the
Wahoo stock and possibly shi the
migra on. Usually all you need
to catch wahoo in these areas are
diving baits such as Rapala, Manns
(Stretch 30), Braid, Mirro-lure,
Yo-zuri, and Bombers. However,
if you are able to find a school in
a feeding frenzy it really doesn’t
ma er what you put out, they will
eat it. You just have to be prepared
when it happens. I cannot tell the
number of mes anglers, including
myself, have gone 2 for 10 or 5 for
15 on wahoo. They hit so fast and
ferociously that even the best tackle
fails on the ini al wahoo strike.
Over the years, fishing tackle has
definitely made significant progress
with the introduc on of braid or
spectra line. Then match that with
fishing reels such as the Shimano
Torsa or any reel with a high gear
speed like 6:1 ra o, you’ve got a
winning wahoo catching tool that
will help put more fish in the boat.
I see a lot of wahoo anglers fishing
heavy rods for bigger wahoo,
although it will work, I have found
that heavier rods result in more
pulled hooks. Rods that have some
bend to them generally result in less
pulled hooks, broken line, and less
pressure on the angler to maintain
a ght line. My setup for successful
wahoo fishing is four Torsas spooled
with 80lb. power pro braid/
with a top shot of 80lb. Momoi
monofilament, matched with four
40-unlimited Calstar blanks built by
Bar-Bar Tackle. This setup produces
fish with li le effort.
Dolphin, Mahi-Mahi, Dorado are
all the same fish and are highly
regarded as one of the top sport fish
in the world. Temperature plays a
very important role for this species
of fish. They prefer a tropical
environment and are usually found
on the surface in a preferred 75
degrees or more. June and July are
the two main mes of the year that
we fish for them in the northern
Gulf of Mexico. However, we have
caught them as late as November
and as early as February off the
coast. But 99% are caught during
June and July, since this is when
they make their migra on this way.
There are a lot of unknowns about
this species of fish, mainly because
of their short life span, and just
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and continues to develop, is one of my top lures
in my tackle bag. My choice is the Fat Boy.
I call it My Slam Bait, because it catches all three
in-shore species, quite well.”
Look for the Paul Brown Original Series
lures at a tackle dealer near you.
Paul Brown’s Fat Boy
Paul Brown’s Floating Fat Boy
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22
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2Cool Fishing
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lack of science for the most part.
Currents play an important role as to
whether or not we get an overload
of Dolphin or just an average to
below average amount of fish in
this area. The most recent year was
2007. In early June, there were very
strong currents offshore (about 50
miles out from land), some of the
strongest I have seen, but once
you came in about 20 miles there
was almost no current. The strong
currents started 40 miles offshore
from South Pass, LA and wrapped all
the way down to Key West, Florida
thru Cuba. Towards about mid-June
we started seeing man-made boats
you were, if you sat there for long
enough, they would swim up out
of nowhere. We averaged about
20 Dolphin per day, mostly bulls,
for almost two months. It was
the most incredible two months I
have ever been a part of, Dolphin
fishing off the LA coast. However,
South Florida and areas that would
normally see plenty of Dolphin, had
one of their worst seasons ever.
In a normal year we s ll get plenty
enough to make any blue-water
fisherman happy. Normally we
catch them on the sargasum grass
lines caused by two currents pushing
against one another or any debris
that is floa ng offshore. They also
hang around the oil rigs and standby buoys used by the supply boats
that service the oil rigs. Their main
diet consists of flying fish, bally-hoo,
and hard-tails in our area, but they
seem to eat just about anything.
There is not just one style of fishing
that produces catches of Dolphin.
Usually the day predicts what
method will work best but that
that were probably used to get from changes from day to day for sure.
Cuba to Florida that got caught in Some anglers prefer to ride along
these currents and ended up off the rip lines and sight cast Dolphin.
the coast of LA, all sorts of debris, Their bait of choice is usually a top
trees, you name it. One of the local water plug such as a Frenzy Angry
charter captains even came across Popper or one of my preferred topa boat that s ll had Cuban refugees water baits, made by OTI, is the
in it. The currents were so strong, Wombat chugger. Color doesn’t
it caused them to miss their mark, really seem to make a difference.
which I assume was South Florida There are days that Dolphin will
and ended up off the coast of LA. get finicky but there aren’t many.
This was also the summer that we One of my favorite sayings when
had so many Dolphin of all sizes, but dolphin fishing is that “Dolphin will
the average was about 25-30lbs., make the worst fisherman look like
that we were literally running they know what they’re doing” and
from them to find other species of some mes they are the day saver
fish. It almost didn’t ma er where when nothing else will bite. They
Volume 1 Issue 1
23
will usually eat anything that hits or
is trolled on the surface, but on the
days they won’t, have a rigged ballyhoo ready to cast to them or live
bait. They usually won’t turn down
something live, so just be ready if
that is the case. There are really
three different styles of fishing for
Dolphin that are all successful. On
the top of the list is trolling, second
would be sight cas ng, last but not
least is chumming. Most ar ficial
bait used for trolling are lures such
as Ilanders (blue-white is most
produc ve), Joe Yee, Pakula, Black
Bart, etc. The Ilanders, I believe,
mimic flying fish whereas the other
ar ficials mimic different species
24
of fish. Some look like absolutely
nothing at all that resembles any
type of fish in the Gulf, but Dolphin
don’t seem to mind that aspect and
will eat it anyway. Most days we will
rig bally-hoo on the Ilanders just in
case they are a bit shy, but most
days you can fish them without any
natural bait. Just about any type
of rod and reel setup will do while
fishing Dolphin off of LA, but keep in
mind there are other bigger species
that eat the same thing the dolphin
do so you want to go heavier than
usual on the trolling rods. It is
almost certain that you will get a
shot at a Blue Marlin or big Yellow
fin Tuna while trolling the rip, so
2Cool Fishing
I don’t like to troll with anything
less than 30 wides spooled with
80lb. braid with a top shot of 80lb.
monofilament. But, have some
spinning gear. I use Stella 20000
spooled with 65 lb. braid ready to
cast out if one is spo ed. Usually,
if you’re chumming for Tuna, that is
when the dolphin swim up, so they
may or may not eat the chum. If so,
you will need a rod with a J-hook
ready to put into ac on with a piece
of chum or any type of surface lure
to cast out.
Wahoo and Dolphin are two of the
most prevalent species of fish in
the Gulf of Mexico during certain
mes of the year. They basically
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25
manage themselves and
are very unlikely to suffer
any decline in stock due
to
fast
reproduc on
and I would think are
impossible to overfish.
They are probably two of
the most exci ng species
of fish to catch. Species like
these are what keep rod
and reel manufacturers,
boat builders, outboard
and
inboard
engine
manufacturers, and marinas
in business. Wahoo can
rip line off at close to 45
miles per hour causing
inexperienced fisherman to
jump away from the reel at
first strike. Dolphin put on an
aerial display a er hooked
half page
26
2Cool Fishing
“Dolphin, MahiMahi, and Dorado
are all the same
fish and are highly
regarded as the
top sport fish...”
that will cause fisherman
to make noises out of their
mouth that never knew they
could or should. They are
both excellent table-fare
and just one averaged size
fish can go a long way on
the dinner table. The two
species of fish are extremely
important to the Gulf of
Mexico and are what makes
fishing what it is today.
quarter
page
quarter
page
half page
Volume 1 Issue 1
27
Changing
Seasons
By
Captain
John Havens
A
s we con nue into our spring transi on period we
will be seeing many changes happening within
our bay system and trout pa erns. With the warming
water temperatures, fish will become more ac ve
and bait will begin filling our bays. Fish are spreading
along shorelines and mid bay reefs, while more trout
con nue to return through the passes to spawn. We
are now fishing a me when trout are at their heaviest
weights of the year, right before spawning. With the
extreme April des we should now focus on the
abundance of glass minnows, menhaden, shad and
28
shrimp circula ng through the bays. Over the next
month or so we will be faced with many more windy
days rather than calm ones, many mes sending us
from one side of the bay to the other in search of
protected waters. We must understand that most
shorelines are now holding fish, with the excep on of
those being inundated with fresh water from recent
rains. Condi ons this me of year will hardly ever be
perfect, it is just something we have to deal with while
learning how to succeed in such condi ons, and some
fish eat every day regardless of condi ons.
2Cool Fishing
This me of year my preference is
to wade when fishing for big trout,
but unfortunately you cannot
wade many areas holding fish at
the present me so they must be
fished from the boat. There are big
trout both shallow and deep and
some of the biggest trout caught
lately have been caught while
dri ing in four to six foot of water.
When approaching any area it is
highly recommended to approach
as easily and quietly as possible.
Be careful not to park your boat
too close to where you plan to fish,
or on the line the fish and bait are
traveling. Wading will allow you
to follow underwater edges and
varia ons as well as allowing you
to follow bait schools much more
easily. Wading will also allow you
to find some protec on from the
s ff winds while giving you the
ability to stand in one spot and
really work it over. I always try to
give each area a good amount of
me, at least forty-five minutes to
an hour trying different lures and
presenta ons, while also scanning
the water looking for any signs of
feeding fish before moving on.
One big mistake I see waders making
this me of year is standing in the
path that bait and predators are
traveling. Do everything you can to
not alter what they are doing; this
will help in keeping the bait and fish
from becoming spooky or aware
of your presence. We want things
to remain as natural as possible;
this will help in giving us the best
opportunity to figure out how to
catch the fish. Another thing to
beware of is s ng rays, make sure
to always shuffle your feet and do
not step backwards. Many people
are hit each year when they step
back during a hook set or figh ng a
fish. They are always there, we just
have to do our best to avoid them
or give them ample chance and
warning to move out of our way.
Whether it be wading or dri ing,
there are the signs we should now
be looking for before choosing an
area to fish. Slicks are one of the
best signs of feeding fish. A key
thing to remember about slicks is
they move with wind and current.
Many mes slicks did not pop up
where you found them. Most likely
they came from up wind and that
is where your a en on should
be focused. Long streaky slicks
are less reliable for feeding trout,
Volume 1 Issue 1
while pla er-size, round slicks
will many mes put you on top
of feeding trout. We should also
focus on fleeing or nervous bait,
which can be a number of types of
forage as described above. Feeding
pelicans and gulls are a sure sign
of bait that may have otherwise
gone unno ced. Pay a en on to
movement pa erns and ac vity
levels of the bait species. Predators
are almost always following these
schools of bait. Scan the water
constantly and try to make sense
of what is happening. If an area is
holding these key elements then
it is worth a solid effort, even if
things start off a li le slow. If they
are not bi ng here, then chances
are it is slow in most other areas
also. If you must move, then look
29
for an area where be er condi ons
exist. Some mes it is just not going
to happen despite being on top
of fish. Lately the best lures have
been top-waters, Corky Fatboys,
Mirrodine XL’s and 4” paddle tails.
When throwing a paddle tail this
me of year, while wading, I prefer
to use a 1/16-ounce jig head. This
allows me to work shallower water
while also working the lure at a
slower pace, and the lighter jig
head also gives the lure a slower
fall rate which many mes is key.
When the fish get real finicky, I
will some mes switch to a Spi n
Image or a Peanut Corky. Lately I
have been working a Fatboy just
beneath the schools of bait keeping
the lure in the upper por on of the
water column and catching some
very nice trout. It has worked
best when twitching two to three
mes followed by a short pause
and reeling it about another foot
or two before repea ng the whole
process again. Smaller top waters
perform best when fishing around
the smaller forage, but on the
windy days and in the presence
of mullet I prefer to throw a larger
Super Spook or Shedog. We hold
the future when it comes to helping
our trophy trout popula on stay
healthy for years to come. I will
never dictate whether a client
or friend should release a trophy
trout, but I will certainly always
encourage it. Change comes from
within, and I do everything I can to
pass on a posi ve influence when
it comes to releasing big trout. It
is a personal choice that we hope
to be faced with, and to me there
is no feeling like catching a huge
trout and then returning the favor,
releasing the fish with as li le
harm as possible. Handling a fish
with minimal damage from the
beginning is crucial. We should
always make sure our hands are
wet and handle the fish as li le as
possible. Contact with dry human
skin and bouncing around the
bo om of the boat can greatly
remove the fish’s protec ve slime
coat, thus causing infec on. Be
careful not to touch the gills or
hold the fish in a compromising
posi on. Release the fish as soon
as possible and raise all of our
chances of catching another one
soon.
C&B Welding and Fabrication
Fabrication and Custom Built BBQ Pits • Sugar Land, TX
281.507.1090
30
•
Joe Chavez & Kenny2Cool
Bobeck,
Fishing Owners
•
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The Store for Outdoor Enthusiasts
ROSSCO’S OUTDOOR has a unique selection of custom fishing rods,
tackle, outdoor cookers and pits, crawfish cookers, custom picnic tables and chairs,
outer wear, Yeti & K-2 coolers, outdoor heaters and much more.
Drop by and take a look around!
445 E. PLANTATION DRIVE
❘
CLUTE, TX 77531
Volume 1 Issue 1
❘
979.265.2692
31
THE MODERN
ART OF
SPRINGTIME
FISHING IN
GALVESTON
BAY
By Captain Craig Lambert
32
2Cool Fishing
S
pring me fishing in Galveston
Bay is hea ng up like the
weather. Hot fishing and hot temps
are soon to be upon us. Feeling that
crisp morning air while flying along
the bay with the sun just coming
up over the horizon are moments
that you just want to cherish and
remember forever. Even as a fishing
guide, lucky enough to experience
this on a day to day basis, I can tell
you that it is never enough. As the
weather warms up so does the bite
on that precious resource that we
pursue so vigilantly known as the
speckled seatrout.
Many trout addicts spend countless
days pursuing these beau ful
creatures. Countless years of
dedica on to the sport is what it
takes to be a true trout purist. Like
any achievement in life you have to
work hard and put your me in.
These warmer than normal
temperatures will have the early
summer me pa erns upon us soon
and some of the best speckled trout
fishing of the year is just ahead. A
complex the size of Galveston Bay
offers countless structures and
shorelines to fish from with over
600 square miles of bay waters.
With a dozen or more satellite bays
and back lakes to choose from you
can see why saltwater inshore
fishing is such a popular sport on
our coastline.
The Galveston Bay complex and
watershed took its basic physical
form about 4000 years ago. Since
then redfish, trout and flounder have
permanently se led and thrived
in this ecosystem. For several
hundred years or more, man has
fished Galveston Bay waters for
The lure-only angler has the
advantage of keeping his bait in the
strike zone longer by covering more
ground per cast and being able to
make more casts per trip. Ar ficial
baits allow you to dissect the three
strike zones (top, middle and
The Hardcore Lure Chunker:
This guy is usually an above bo om) you encounter on every
average angler who has paid his fishing trip with ease. Topwaters,
dues and has good rod control spoons, suspending plugs and
and cas ng abili es. Fishing for plas cs will cover these three areas
hours and making hundreds of well. Keep your colors simple when
casts during a day is the norm. The choosing baits. A few dark colors
whip of the rod while working and a few light colors will cover
so plas cs or plugs is usually everything. When it comes to
unique to the angler’s personality baits there are all types of op ons,
and style. Using live bait is a the most versa le fish catching
definite No-No and would usually bait is the so plas c. A so plas c
be looked down upon by fellow lure bait similar to a Texas Tackle
chunker peers. Wadefishing with Factory Mrs. Trout Killer will always
ar ficials creates opportuni es be my number one go to bait for
for anglers that others just can’t the rest of my angling career. It
experience. Throwing live bait up will catch fish in all condi ons. There
against a shoreline and hooking up is no doubt that more inshore
is incredibly exci ng but it doesn’t saltwater species will be caught on
compare to catching that same fish so plas cs through me eternal
on a topwater bait that visually than any other ar ficial out there.
s mulates the senses by being The fish will tell you from day to
crushed in an instance of beau ful day if you should be using a larger
violence toward your lure.
5 or 6-inch bait like a Texas Tackle
these species but none as good as
the modern day fishermen. We can
break these modern day anglers
into two categories; lure chunkers
and live baiters.
Volume 1 Issue 1
33
Factory Killer Flats Minnow XL or if
you have to match the hatch with a
3 to 4-inch bait like the Killer Flats
Minnow. Pay a en on to these
li le details. They are crucial to
your success on the water from day
to day.
When it comes to spoons it is a no
brainer. Buy a few gold and silver
spoons in various sizes. Spoons can
be worked in every water column
and are the easiest baits to learn
and to use. My first fish on ar ficials
was of course caught on a silver
spoon. A spoon can not be worked
wrong. It is fool proof! Throw it
out and reel it straight in or work
it like a plas c or rip it on top like a
topwater or any other retrieve you
can invent to produce a bite on. If
you haven’t tried a spoon before
34
then try it. You will be surprised at
its universal fish catching abili es.
Topwater plugs are completely
overlooked and underused by most
inshore anglers but have a regal
type quality that many dreams
of that trophy trout are associated
with. If you chunk topwaters
while dri ing reefs, fishing the
birds or working the gas wells, it
will produce a few blowups if you
s ck with it. Bigger than average
fish tangle with topwaters. A
topwater plug will catch specks and
redfish in 6 to 10 feet of water on
most days in summer. The hook
-up ra o is definitely lower when
working the upper water column.
If you caught fi y percent of your
blowups then you did well that day.
O en hookups are exci ng and
2Cool Fishing
fast. Not se ng the hook un l you
feel the fish pull your rod down is
crucial to posi ve hook-ups. The
visual s mula on that this bait
offers excites the senses like no
other.
A suspending bait will work the
middle por on of the water column
and can be deadly effec ve on all
variety of inshore species. Of
course the most popular Texas
plug is the Corky by Paul Brown.
Its legendary myths of how it only
catches huge trout are part myth
and part reality. In the hands of
an experienced angler the corky is
as deadly as its legend moans, but
to the average weekender it is as
good as anything else in his bag.
The Corky has recently been sold to
Mirrolure and they have kept the
same fish catching proper es and
quality on their mass produced baits
as Paul Brown did at his business
in his home in Houston, TX. The
Mirrolure plug was the dominant
commercially produced suspending
lure for years and they are s ll
great trout and redfish lures. My
all
me favorite suspending
bait has to be the Corky Devil.
The versa lity of this bait from
wading on a flat to dri ing out of
the boat makes it an excellent
all around choice. The older
broken backs by Cordell and the
Mirrodine by Mirrolure are other
examples of excellent mid-water
baits that can be very versa le and
effec ve in most situa ons along
the inshore estuaries of our Texas
coast. Not men oning the
Mirrolure 51M would be a crime
since it has been a trout slaying
bait since its inven on. Suspending
plugs will definitely work all year
long, but with the absence of shrimp
in the bays and the abundance
of bai ish in the bays, winter is
when the suspending plug excels.
The serious angler will be dri ing
reefs, flats and structure while
looking for slicks, bait and bird
ac vity. His heightened percep on
of the natural world and his mastery
of the lure below the surface of the
water is why fishing with ar ficial
baits is truly an art form. Our
modern style of lurefishing has
been sculpted to an art form that has
been honed and perfected by some
of the local icons of fishing here in
Galveston. Legends like Jim West,
Dana Bailey, James Plaag, Mickey
Eastman, Mike Williams and Blaine
Friermood spent years mastering
and crea ng the style of lure fishing
that most of us know today.
The Live Baiter:
There are also many legendary
live bait anglers such as Cookie
Volume 1 Issue 1
and Lloyd Pepper that have it
down to a true science. The years
of experience from the prior
genera on of icons such as Marshal
Diehl, David Wright and Wendy
Marshal set the standard for today’s
modern live baiter. The nature of
the modern day bait angler is not
like his lure chunker counterpart.
The live baiter is less of a purist and
more of a naturalist.
There is definitely a higher level of
experience and technique when
it comes to mastering the use of
croakers. The quality of speckled
seatrout produced by croaker in the
summer can be outstanding and will
usually out-produce ar ficials for
size. The consistent vibra ons and
squeals of an Atlan c Croaker is a
call to the dinner plate for a hungry
speckled trout that they cannot
resist. The technique of using the
Atlan c Croaker to target speckled
trout became popular in Galveston
35
Bay in the mid-90’s and it has
caught on like a firestorm. Dri ing
croaker behind the boat is also
known as dredging and has become
a very popular method with a lot of
guides on this bay system. Areas
like the ship channel, humps, gas
wells and mid bay reefs will be
targeted while keeping just enough
weight to keep the croaker in
the lower water column. Kahle
hooks are standard and a leader
of 18 inches with 20-30 pound test
line connected with a swivel and
possibly a weight if needed. Oxygen
systems, GPS coordinates and side
sonar are all tools at the disposal
of today’s bay fishermen, and the
croaker fishermen benefits greatly.
Marking reefs, small humps and
guts will allow bait placement to be
at a premium.
Live shrimp, piggy perch and finger
mullet will account for the other
species on the menu. Of course,
a live shrimp under a popping cork
is one of the most produc ve and
popular methods on our coast. The
sound of the cork is a magnet for
hungry and aggressive gamefish
searching for an opportunity. A
variety of corks and hooks can be
used depending on your tackle
preference.
Midcoast Corks
and
Cajun
Thunders
are
incredibly
popular
and
have
been
the demise of
thousands
of
trout in recent
years.
Both
of these corks
are
durable
and will make
an
effec ve
presentation.
Staying
away
from pre-made
popping corks
with leaders is
a must. Using
wire
leaders,
black
leaders
and sixty-pound test on leaders is
not produc ve, so stay away from
these. If you can afford to use
fluorocarbon on all your leaders,
then do it. If not, then monofilament
will work just fine. Leader lengths
are determined by depth of water
and column you are targe ng. Two
to four feet of leader will work
in most situa ons with twenty
or thirty-pound test leader. Kahle
hooks and treble hooks will both
get the job done. Free lining live
bait can be just as effec ve. A split
shot is usually required about ten to
twelve inches above your bait. This
method allows the bait to act more
natural and swim freely. At mes it
will out-fish all other techniques.
No ma er what type of angling
style you prefer, just remember to
have fun and be safe!
Capt Craig Lambert
832-338-4570
Galvestoninshorefishing.com
36
2Cool Fishing
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SW
WA T
T-1
half page
204 Angelle Drive
e
ic
t
v
s
r
Fa l Se
ca
i
om
n
o
Ec
KIGAN
Houma, La. 70360
http:www.swamplandtackle.com
Micro Central
Guides, Components & Set Up Service
Volume 1 Issue 1
37
Techniques for
Catching Live
Bait
By Will Schorp
38
2Cool Fishing
“N
othing beats the real thing”…. It is well
known on the Gulf Coast that live bait can
turn a good trip into a great trip. Even
with the best jigs, trolling baits and lures, it is hard to
compete with the real thing. Also, we all can agree
that it is much easier to say you are going to catch live
bait; than to actually do it. Because most store-bought
live bait is poor at best, die hard anglers are required to
hone their skills at catching quality live baits.
Below are some methods that I have used in the past to
catch bar jacks and blue runners in the Gulf of Mexico.
These techniques have allowed me to quickly and
effec vely catch bait while not was ng too much me.
One of the best ini al indicators when loca ng live
bait is to take a visual look over the gunwale. When I
fish next to an oil pla orm, I can occasionally see the
jacks or blue runners swimming within forty feet of the
surface in the rig substructure. If you are not able to
see bait, do not become discouraged. Try increasing
the sensi vity of your bo om machine; this will help
you with two things. First, it will help you locate bait
fish under the boat, but it will also help you iden fy
the loca on of possible submerged pla orm legs which
could damage your gear. One of the most frustra ng
ba les is the ba le between an oil pla orm leg and
braided line.
Volume 1 Issue 1
39
I also approach an oil pla orm from
various angles and dri pa erns.
Just like their larger cousins, bait
fish can stack up on one specific
side of the pla orm. It seems that
when this happens, the bait is not
on the down current side of the
pla orm. Fishing on the upside of a
pla orm for live bait can be a li le
tricky. A good rule of thumb is to
always keep the nose of your boat
facing away from the pla orm;
this allows you to thro le up if you
need to get away from the rig for
any reason. As we all know, reverse
40
as fast as possible. This quick
ac on can help excite the fish
and possibly invoke a reac onary
response to feed on your bait jig.
In contrast to a singular weed mat,
a weed line might stretch for miles.
Therefore, try trolling your trout jig
or Sabiki behind the boat. When
doing this, be sure to not troll too
quickly because it can cause your
line to twist and can create more
problems for you and the crew.
One of the most difficult places
I have tried to catch live bait, is
around a bo om structure. There
are mes when live baits are
working on the surface above a
bo om structure. Many mes
when I have tried to catch live
bait at these loca ons, something
bigger ends up coming and ea ng
the live bait. This usually creates a
more sporty adventure than most
anglers want to tackle. Because
of this, I would warn anglers that
are trying to catch live bait over
bo om structure; you might get
more than you expected.
Over the last couple years I have
had less luck loca ng live bait
behind shrimp boats. I use the
on a boat never works well.
One of the easiest ways to see if same technique as I use when
there is any bait on a weed line fishing a weed mat. I will say, when
or weed mat is to use the above, fishing for live bait behind a shrimp
visual inspec on. Another trick I boat, I have seen more interes ng
have used is to take small pieces things occur than any other place.
of frozen bait, about the size of Probably the most unusual was
a quarter and throw a handful when we caught a small bonita
behind a shrimp boat. Right a er
of them next to the weed ma
and see if anything comes out. If the bonita was hooked, a blue
these two methods don’t work, try marlin decided to eat it right behind
cas ng a small crappie jig or Sabiki the boat. We were actually able to
and work the clean side of the land the billfish and successfully
weed mat so you don’t get tangled release it. As I men oned above,
in the weeds. Retrieve/jig the bait be mindful when fishing for live
2Cool Fishing
bait, something bigger may come
and grab your live bait!
I use a mul ple technique approach
so I can determine what is working
for the bait fish for that day. There
are a ton of great baits on the
market, but my two go-to rigs
are a Sabiki rig on one rod and a
silver colored crappie jig with an
upgraded treble hook on another
rod. When using either a Sabiki
or a small jig, I have had the most
success while retrieving them with
as much speed and jigging mo on
as possible. Again, the idea is to
excite the bait fish to feed on the
jig or Sabiki.
I personally use my Calcu a 201 TE,
on a classic All Star medium ac on
rod to catch bait on a crappie jig. I
currently have it spooled with 40pound braided line. I have found
that using braided line on this
setup allows for less stretch and
more dis nct ac on when jigging.
But I have had anglers with mono
mainline do just as well as me, so
I wouldn’t say it is a requirement.
Another advantage to braided line
is you can thumb the spool and not
worry about breaking the line. Many
mes I have found that the baits
ins nc vely try to run back into
structure because they are scared.
To finish off my rod and reel, I have
a Spro snap swivel on the end to
Volume 1 Issue 1
help with the interchanging of jigs,
if tackle gets torn up. This setup is
a li le on the unconven onal side;
most people would rather have a
li le stronger setup. I have found
that it works well for me, and it
allows me to cast into the pla orm
when the baits are holding close.
I tradi onally fish a Sabiki on an
Accurate 665 on a Calstar 670L. It
is spooled with 80-pound braid and
finished with a Spro snap swivel.
This stronger setup helps when
mul ple baits are hooked up at
once. If one of my anglers is a li le
less experienced than others, I will
tradi onally give them the Accurate
665 setup. Therefore, I don’t have
41
to worry about them breaking
anything when catching bait.
There are mes when catching bait
can be resome and boring. This is
a great opportunity to have some
of your younger anglers improve
their fishing skills. As a kid, one
of the most enjoyable mes I can
remember was catching spade fish
and jacks under an oil pla orm for
my dad and his twin brother. I felt
like a contribu ng member of the
crew, and I thought I was one of
42
the guys! It was trips such as this
one that taught me the importance
of landing my own fish, how to
rig live baits correctly, and that
catching bait is work. To this day, if
you ever see me fishing next to a
rig and catching bait, it s ll brings a
childhood smile to my face.
Catching bait is also a great me
to evaluate the anglers you are
fishing with, especially, if you
are not familiar with the people
with whom you are fishing. With
2Cool Fishing
mul ple baits, hooks, and people
running around the boat, it is
easy to evaluate who is a veteran
angler and who might need more
assistance. If part of your crew is
used to only fishing for trout and
redfish, they will have a great me
catching bait on trout tackle. Just
remind them to increase their drag
se ng.
I have used all types of crappie
jigs to catch live bait and I am not
loyal to any specific type or shape.
However, I am par cular about
how they are rigged. I always
upgrade the treble hooks on the
jigs I fish for bait with. Since I am
usually trying to winch in as many
baits as possible, a stronger hook
makes a big difference. A leader
of at least 2 feet makes it easier
to li the baits into the boat. Once
the baits are in the boat, then
deal with removing the hook. The
minimum size leader material I will
use is 40-pound clear mono. There
is no need for fluorocarbon leader
in this situa on; the baits don’t
seem to care about the line.
I am not par cular about the type
of Sabiki rigs that I use due to the
fact that I never reuse my Sabiki
rigs. Once I am back at the dock,
they are thrown away. They are
inexpensive, and usually don’t use
more than a couple per trip. When
I am at the store, I usually buy an
assorted size and color range of
Sabiki rigs. Again, this is to give
variety to my tackle bag and not
limit myself to one specific color/
shape. The two advantages of a
Sabiki rig over a small jig, is the
ability to catch mul ple baits at
once and the ability to fish a wide
depth range very quickly. At mes,
the baits are there but they are
down deep and are difficult to
catch.
All of the above techniques
are employed by some type of
conven onal rod and reel setup.
There are mes when a good cast
net can be a life saver. Four years
ago during an August heat wave in
Texas, I was fishing for Tarpon. As I
exited the Freeport Texas je es, I
no ced a ra of
mullet.
With
only
one cast I had
enough
live
mullet for the
rest of the
whole
day.
This is usually
something that
is not kept in
many offshore
anglers’ goodie
bag, but it can be
useful in certain
situa ons. One
of the easiest
ways to lose live
baits seems to
be at the boat.
For some reason
more hooks are
thrown at the
boat by live bait then anywhere
else. To help combat this problem,
I suggest simply li ing your rod
with baits into the boat; don’t try
to wire the fish into the boat. Some
baits are obviously more sensi ve
than others. Try not to drop the
bait fish on to the deck too hard,
and make sure to get them into a
well circulated live well as soon as
possible. If you happen to injure
the baits while catching them, you
may want to release them. In my
experience, once a dead fish enters
the live well, others might start to
die. Since blue runners are much
stronger than other baits, I try to
keep as many of them as I can, and
let the bar jacks go unless nothing
else can be caught.
Always be mindful of what’s going
Volume 1 Issue 1
on when you are fishing for live
bait. Where there is bait fish,
there are usually larger predators.
There are mes when it is worth
catching a bait, then re-rigging it
on a large live bait rig and send it
behind the boat. This seems to be
most produc ve at a weed line or
behind a shrimp boat.
With the limited amount of me
there is to fish, due to rough
seas, limited vaca on days, more
regula ons….it is cri cal to make
every moment on the big blue
pond worth it. These techniques
have worked well for me and the
guys I fish with offshore. I hope
that they help you in your quest for
your next personal best fish!
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