The Saltwater Magazine for Gulf Coast Fishing!
FISHING FORECASTS
| FISHING CALENDARS | ARTICLES | SUBSCRIBE
SPRING 2011 Preview
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?
RENEW SECURELY
ONLINE! - OR CALL:800-552-GULF (4853)
Subscription
RENEWAL
|
If you would prefer to order by phone, please call 800-552-4853
U.S. Subscriptions Only
The swimbait swam about 10 miles that morning. At least that is what it seemed like as I worked the Stanley Wedgetail Mullet over a big mud flat with scattered shell on Lake Calcasieu's (Big Lake) north end. The conditions were wrong with very little title movement but as a longtime Big Lake angler I knew we were in the midst of big trout. "Bam!" The fight was on. South Texas Snook by
Capt. Danno Wise
Snook are one of the most romanticized fish species along the Gulf Coast. Due to the fact it occupies such as small range - only South Florida and Deep South Texas harbor year around, fishable populations - it has gained almost mythological status among some groups of fishermen. This is especially true in the Lone Star State where the fishery has traditionally been confined to a narrow stretch of coastline just above the Mexican border. However, although anglers hooking into a large linesider for the first time may imagine they are stuck fast to a Greek god, these fish are real and are a much more realistic catch than many Texans believe. SEASONS OF SOUTH TEXAS SNOOK Over the past few years, a series of warm winters has resulted in some
snook being caught far above their regular range. And, while it is true
that previous generations were treated to good snook fishing as far north
as Port Aransas, today the coastal waters of Cameron County, which is nestled
between the Rio Grand River and the Mansfield Cut, are home to the only
true snook fishery in Texas.
"If you can consistently catch trophy trout in the Galveston Bay Complex, you can likely fool them anywhere. There are twenty-five plus inch fish swimming all over these waters, you've just got to do your homework to find them," says Captain Greg Francis of Salt Water Assault guide service. With four million people living in the five counties that surround Galveston Bay (Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris and Liberty counties) providing immense fishing pressure to the largest estuary in Texas (over 600 square miles), Gulf Coast anglers might be discouraged from putting the complex's hot spots as top priority in their repertoire of big trout destinations for 2011. Composed of Trinity Bay, Upper Galveston Bay, West Bay and East Bay,
the complex lacks the sex appeal of systems south, as much of the estuary
is void of grass beds, pot holes, and clear water. An average depth of 6-8
feet creates opportunities for rough, swelling bay waters and gives speckled
trout more water to hide from hook-clad plugs and soft plastics.
Thanks to its sub-tropical climate - it is located just a dozen miles
above the Texas/Mexico border - Port Isabel offers fishermen year around
angling opportunities. Additionally, the warm climate and shallow, clear
waters of the Lower Laguna Madre offer a variety of species and habitat
not found elsewhere in the United States, with the exception of South Florida.
|
One of the oldest towns on the Gulf
Coast, Port Isabel was once home to the largest shrimp fleet in Texas. Although
the commercial fishery has begun to fade, recreational fishing is on the
upswing in this small South Texas town. As the mainland launching point
to the Lower Laguna Madre, the same waterfront community that once saw pirates
and Civil War soldiers land on its shores now welcomes thousands of light-tackle
fishermen in search of speckled trout, redfish, snook and tarpon.
