The Saltwater Magazine for Gulf Coast Fishing!

Preview of Articles in the Fall Issue of

Gulf Coast Fisherman Magazine

FALL ISSUE 2003! Subscribe Today! (On sale date 9/20/03)   Besides the really fine articles -All of this is included in each issue...   o WELLS DAILY FISHING FORECAST & TIDES for the period of OCT-DEC 2003.   o ADVANCE PLANNING CALENDARS for JAN-MAR 2004.   o ASTRONOMICAL DATA for 2004   o OFFSHORE ROTARY CURRENT Strength Predictions OCT-DEC 2003   o PRODUCT REVIEW     Sample of Fishing Forecast Page in PDF FEATURES   TUNA TANGO by Capt. Alex Crawford World class yellowfin on Louisiana's Midnight Lump   When the naval architects originally designed the nuclear submarine Seawolf, they used the yellowfin tuna as their prototype. One of the fastest of all fish, these perfectly hydrodynamic water-rockets are capable of speeds in excess of 40 mph and have been known to cruise more than 150 miles in a day. These speedsters actually fold their long fins into grooves along their bodies and pull large quantities of oxygen over their gills. And, when you hook up with this marathon runner, you will accelerate your heart and exceed the legal fun limit. Guar-own-teed! Where can thrill-seeking anglers get in on this phenomenal piscatorial action? Pull your boat down to the fabulous Louisiana Gulf coast and go for it!   VENICE, LA Only seventy miles South of the Big Easy, a.k.a. N'Awlins, you will arrive at the old sign that says, the End of the World. That's because you can't drive any farther without splashing into the mighty Mississippi River. Venice, Louisiana is generally regarded as the Numero Uno yellowfin tuna fishery in North America. Over the past twenty years, Venice has become a world-class fishing venue primarily due to its proximity to the Northern Gulf of Mexico and the giant tuna that swim there. From October through March, when the water cools,   Battleship Brutes - by Mike Thompson Great fall fishing near the U.S.S. Alabama   For most folks traveling Interstate 10, the Battleship U.S.S. Alabama docked at the head of Mobile Bay is an odd, but memorable site.   If you have ever traveled Interstate 10 and crossed the head of Mobile Bay, one of the most memorable sites you see will be the Battleship U.S. S Alabama. Should you stop for a tour of the World War 11 ship you will be among the thousands that visit her each year.   On the main deck of the ship you can look out across Mobile Bay at its vast expanse of water. And like so many other tourist sites with a panoramic view, you can drop a few quarters in the spotting scopes along the railing.   With your eyes focused out over beautiful Mobile Bay you may see any of the plentiful waterbirds that call the bay home. In fall and winter you will also see several species of migrating ducks.   During the months of October through December you will also see another annual visitor to the waters surrounding the battleship. Fishermen!     Rollover Fish Pass - by Robert Sloan Drive-up fishing at a bank and wadefisherman's paradise.   Rollover Fish Pass, located on the upper Texas coast on Bolivar Peninsula is one of the most fisherman friendly places you'll ever visit.   The reason why is simple. You don't need a boat. It Is either bank fishing, or wade fishing. And guess what, it's loaded with trout, reds, flounder, croaker and sandtrout during the fall. What more could you ask for.   Rollover Pass is just that. It Is a pass linking East Galveston Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. It's been there for years, but recently it got a face lift. The concrete walls forming the pass have been replaced. There are rails to keep you from falling in the water. And it's handicapped accessible.   Thousands of anglers converge on this fishing hotspot throughout the year. But the fall months offer the peak times for angler visitation here. The reason why is simple - fish, lots of them. The big draw is the flounder run. It cranks up in October and continues into November, depending on the amount of cold weather we get. The migration of flounder from East Bay through the pass and into the Gulf creates quite a draw for fishermen to Rollover Pass...   Five Tips for Fall Specks - by Pete Cooper, Jr. Improve your catch this fall with these key tips...   Autumn - don't you just love it!   The heat and humidity of summer is rapidly becoming only a memory. There's music in the air - familiar, but unheard since late last winter. Football games return to weekend television, shorts give way to jeans, ripe pecans fall, and specks begin to appear in interior areas, their numbers increasing as the season progresses. What more could anyone ask for?   More specks?   In truth, across much of the Gulf coast fine catches of these popular fish can now come much easier than at other times of the year. But there are also the days when for many folks it may seem like they have suddenly become extinct! Assuredly, even a blind hog will find an acorn or two during autumn, but for more consistent results, try the following tips.   FISH SHALLOW Experience continues to indicate that specks remain in shallow areas much later into the season than what is popularly believed. Near my home in the Mississippi River Delta there is a deep-water hotspot that is very productive - during the cool times of winter! But iit seems like the calendar, not the specks, indicate to a lot of anglers it's time to start fishing there... Gulf Coast Closeup - "Ding Darling Refuge" - by Michael Steinberg Louisiana's Blue Water Paradise   As a father of two young boys under the age of five, my high end fishing budget has been reduced in recent years. Before children, I could more easily take off for a couple of days with a guide while my wife lounged on the beach, or occasionally came along for the scenery and sun. But with a growing family, my fishing budget has been pared down in order to pay for events my kids can more fully participate in. As a result, I have sought cheaper alternatives to the $350-a day guide outings. However, having less money has not meant an end to high quality fishing. I have simply become more creative at finding cheap, but productive fishing day trips. OUR DEPARTMENTS...   Rod & Reel'n - "Haywire Twist 101" - by Patrick Lemire   The Bay Naturalist - "The Bay Stingray" - by John Hook   Equipment Notebook - "Make it Easy Access" - by David Ayers   Tackle Time - "Downsizing the Fly" - by Colby Sorrells   Bait Hook - "Fishy Business" - by Jim Martin   From the Publisher... Besides all these great articles and departments, Gulf Coast Fisherman is the only source for the Wells Daily Fishing Forecast. Each issue carries three months of the Wells Daily Fishing Forecast - with Monthly Fishing Calendars. This will provide what you need to intelligently plan your fishing trips - hours, weeks, and months in advance!   Top saltwater guides and fishermen use the Wells Daily Fishing Forecast - shouldn't you be using it ,too?...   "The fisherman that knows what the currents are doing has the advantage - over fish and fishermen!" And remember - "Fish feed everyday, somewhere " - Harold Wells   Gary Ralston Publisher   Home