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08 Practical Views of Tackle and Gear Mike McBride12 Trophy Trout Documentaries Kevin Cochran 16 Lightening Strikes and Oil Spills Billy Sandifer 20 Combat Fishing Martin Strarup 24 Summer Fishing in Full Swing Chuck Uzzle41 Mow Less...Fish More Everett Johnson45 An Oily Outlook Stephanie Boyd 18 Coastal Birding Billy Sandifer28 Science and the Sea UT-Marine Science Institute30 Lets Ask The Pro Jay Watkins34 Fly Fishing Casey Smartt36 Offshore Bobby Byrd/John Cochrane38 TPWD Field Notes Ed Hegen40 Conservation CCA Texas42 Kayak Fishing Scott Null46 According to Scott Scott Sommerlatte 48 Youth Fishing Jake Haddock50 Texas Nearshore and Offshore Ruben Villarreal

56 Dickie Colburns Sabine Scene Dickie Colburn58 Mickey on Galveston Mickey Eastman 60 Capt. Bills Fish Talk Bill Pustejovsky 62 Mid-Coast Bays with the Grays Shellie Gray 64 Hooked up with Rowsey David Rowsey66 Capt. Tricias Port Mansfield Report Capt. Tricia 68 South Padre Fishing Scene Ernest Cisneros 06 Editorial 54 New Tackle & Gear 70 Fishing Reports and Forecasts 72, 74 Catch of the Month Photo Gallery76 Gulf Coast Kitchen80 Index of Advertisers

Lindsey Smith is this months cover angler. A student at Texas A&M, Lindsey was fishing with boyfriend Roger Holland (who made the photograph) in Baffin Bay during a break from classes. Lindseys Baffin red fell for a pink Top Dog Jr. and measured 38-inches, her best to date.

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Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine (ISSN 1935-9586) is published monthly by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, Inc., 58

Fishermans Lane, Seadrift, Texas 77983 l P. O. Box 429, Seadrift, TX 77983 Copyright 1990 All rights reserved. Positively

nothing in this publication may be reprinted or reproduced. *Views expressed by Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine

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4 July 2010 / www.TSFMAG.com Texas Saltwater Fishing Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely!

That was a question posed by a guy who handles the media relations for a large East Coast tackle company. As you might imagine I wasted no time in reply, and with just a touch of Texas pride. To begin, I said, Unlike many coastal states, Texas offers a year-round fishery for all the popular inshore species and excellent year-round offshore fishing as well, everything from snapper, kings, and ling to billfish. Thanks to excellent management and huge buy-in from recreational fishermen, Texas is known as the birthplace of modern marine conservation and marine fisheries management. Were so good everybody follows us! What other state offers a 62-mile stretch of unspoiled and undeveloped beach where surf anglers can still drive and fish as we do on Padre Island National Seashore? What other state has so many square miles of bays with such diverse habitat beginning with Sabines river mouth estuary and extending to the Laguna Madres hyper-saline lagoons. Name a state (other than Florida) that has one million saltwater anglers and a sportfishing industry that generates more than $2.2 billion annually. And, (heres the kicker) offers enough inshore water and prime habitat where anglers can still fish with barely another boat in sight. We are very lucky to have shorelines dotted with cattle and cactus, not houses, hotels and condominiums. Most sources declare the Texas coastline to be approximately 370 miles in length. However, if you were to measure every bay, all its surrounding marsh habitat and barrier island shoreline, that number would likely be quadrupled and, with but a few exceptions, its all public access. Of course I had to throw in TPWDs Marine Fisheries Stock Enhancement Program; three hatcheries that contribute in the neighborhood of twenty-five million red drum and five million spotted seatrout fingerlings each year to boost already robust natural recruitment. Then I explained the work being done to build a southern flounder stocking program. Next, I laid it on about the CCA Texas Laboratory for Marine Larviculture at UTMSI in Port Aransas and the various marine biology programs and resources at Texas A&M and Harte Institute. Sustainable marine fisheries, I explained, includes estuary and bay ecology, and thats where maintaining freshwater inflow comes in. In 2007 the Texas legislature passed Senate Bill 3 creating the current environmental flows process and the Environmental Flows Advisory Groups. Saltwater fishing in Texas is more popular than ever and growing faster than in any coastal state in the country; so says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and American Sportfishing Association. How is this possible? Three things according to Dr. Larry McKinney of Harte Institute: a generally robust and stable economy, a rapidly growing population, and last but not least, excellent fishing opportunity. So when I finally came up for air, the guy says, Wow, you guys really do have a lot going on over thereand here I thought all that came out of Texas was a bunch of hot air. I just chuckled. I might not have been born here but Ive been learning since the day I arrived. Heres wishing all a safe and happy Fourth of July. Take some kids fishing; they are the reason we practice conservation.son we practice conservation.

i h i d


As a young kid growing up, my ranch-raised mother encouraged me to read sensible things in order that I might become a practical type of person. One of the early favorite reads was the old How and Why Wonder Book Series. It was a collection of science-based books written for young people during the 1960s and early 70s. They explained in wonderfully illustrated terms how things worked and why they needed to. Young lessons sometimes take root and I recently found myself wondering about the How and Why of some of the fishing gear we carry. Why do they work? Are they practical? The most common question we get in the boat is, Why do you use that? Perhaps its time to try and answer a few of those for the good of the tackle shop browser, especially the newer guy looking for worthy equipment. There are a lot of good products out there

but its the small things that can make our fishing time more productive and fun. Please remember this is all personal opinion earned through experience, but lets start with rods. There are many good rods on the market today. Everybody has their favorite and we even see silly Rod War discussions erupting on internet fishing message boards. We (Capt. Tricia and I) use Fishing Tackle Unlimited rods for some solid reasons that many shoppers may not understand. On the FTU All Pro Series Titanium Green Rod, the recoil guides (formed from solid nickel-titanium memory alloy capable of recoiling to original shape after repeated deformations) are clearly a foot above the competition. Each guide is double-footed and wrapped front and rear all the way to the tip and is of sufficient wire gauge and diameter to make them very battle worthy. In many so-called high-quality rods, the top five or even six guides are single-footed, smaller in diameter, and formed of lighter gage wire. Thus, they are more subject to failure in serious service. The extra wrappings and titanium do make for a tad more weight but that old lighter is better adage is not always best for all things. As far as rods go, it really has more to do with balance than the saving of micro-ounces anyway. Back in the day, we were taught to unscrew

the end cap of the rod handle and insert 25-cent coins to change the balance point. When the mass of the rod was centered correctly on the reel it suddenly felt much lighter. The latest rod tip component

on the Green Rod is also very practical. Besides having a ferrule tang that is wrapped to the blank to help hold it in place, (as opposed to simply being hot-glued to the blank,) the swept shape of the guide braces helps

eliminate the line wrapping around the tip. Braided line has the darndest ability to fashion itself into a half hitch around the rod tip, especially right as a big red slams your topwater. Theres nothing you can do but try to grow longer arms and unhitch it before you hear that dreaded snap of the rod tip. This new tip component, thankfully, stops a lot of that stuff. Unsurpassed warranty is only one of the reasons this rod excels, and never mind that it is several Jacksons less than other rods in its class. Personally, I think it is the nicest and most practical stick out there.

Speaking of braided fishing line, all have near zero stretch and amazing strength but all are not created equal. We use Sufix Braid for practical reasons as well. Besides the extreme sensitivity

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FTUs Green Rod features double-footed guides from butt to tip.


advantage over monofilament, it doesnt dig into your spools and create those impossible backlashes like some braids we have tried and this can be huge. With some braids, if you blow it, the reel is done until you can take a hatchet to it and re-spool. Sufix backlashes are actually quite easy to clear. Dont be afraid to simply pull on it, but dont try that with all brands. We might think a jighead is a jighead, but not all jigheads are created equal either. There are many styles out there and we see some wacky stuff come onto our boats. We prefer Hogies jigheads with the spring locks, size 3/0 in black nickel. Why? For openers, the spring lock feature holds soft plastic like a vise so your lures last longer, and, you can simply unscrew the lure if you want to change without damage as the prong-style locks of other designs are almost certain to inflict. Another great feature is that the eye of the hook is located in the nose of the lead especially important in shallow water applications. Eyes located along the upper surface of the lead tend to make the lure run deeper and creates a grass magnet. We also find the shape of Hogies jigs very practical in the way the base of the lead snugs up to so many lure types. Some jigs just dont mate well with soft plastic baits and the result can be deformed lures that twirl rather than swim and dart. This one chucks up cleanly to nearly every brand and style of plastic we have tried. Back to that 3/0 hook size hookup ratios with soft plastics seem to increase as hook size decreases. That little 3/0 Gamakatsu black nickel jewel has to be the stickiest hook in the world. You can keep your 4/0 and 5/0 sizesmake mine 3/0. The actual weight of a jighead is another matter and, again, not all

Please use our Texas spotted seatrout resource wisely! Texas Saltwater Fishing www.TSFMAG.com / July 2010 9

are equal. We have found that Hogies 1/8 ounce 3/0 jig head works best in our shallow water world while the 1/8 in other brands is too heavy.

As far as treble hooks go, Gamakatsu black nickels are tops with us. They are ridiculously sharp, hold up well, and the wire gauge is just right. We also look to Gamkatsu for weedless rigging of soft plastics. Our favorite is their Superline Spring-Lock in 3/0 size. They just seem to fit better and hold a weedless lure where it is supposed to be until it gets hit. Theres nothing worse than chunking your plastic off the hook during the cast, especially when the target is a big fish wallowing in the shallows.

Yes, we use Boga Grips. Some may think they are mostly for fashion statement or merely a catch-release-weigh tool but there is a more practical application and that would be safety. For wading anglers, landing a mean fish pushing a head full of treble hooks can have serious consequences. For whatever reason the human body doesnt take well to piercing with fish hooks and Ive seen many a fully-growed man go to his knees when hook met flesh. It just makes sense to use a Boga Grip.

One of the most important tools on the water is our eyewear. The bottom line is that you get what you pay for and Costa Del Mar rocks in that category. The Costa 580 lenses have superior clarity and definition,

plus they are so tough you can rub a buffalo nickel across the lenses

and not scratch them.

Unfortunately the 580s are not yet available in prescription but the 400 series lenses are. High contrast is critical for more effective fishing

and amber is what you want inshore. Another good reason to wear Costa is because the designers are

fishermen and actually care about us. Like they say though, dont just wear themuse them.

There are many other products worthy of

mention but space is short here.

Take a look at some of your stuff and see if what you are using matches the intensity of your intent. Fishing time is just too

precious to waste wondering why.

Co

nt

ac

t Mike McBride is a full time fishing guide based in Port Mansfield, TX, specializing in wadefishing with artificial lures.

ContactSkinny Water AdventuresTelephone956-746-6041

[email protected]/Three_MudSkateers.wmv

Mike Mcbride


Length .............................................. 217Beam ................................................... 94Persons ...................................................6Capacity .....................................1750 lbs.Horsepower ........................................225Displacement .............................1700 lbs.

Self Bailing Deck Rear Casting Deck Aluminum Burn Bar 45 Gallon Fuel Tank In-Deck Front Storage (1) S.S. Pop Up Cleat Front & Rear Baitwells (1) Large Rear Storage Box Console w/Front Site Casting Platform Aluminum Leaning Post w/94 qt. cooler


Ive recently finished production of my second DVD. Called Trophy Trout Documentaries, it attempts to capture the beauty and excitement involved with catching big specks and includes footage of over thirty fish in the seven to ten pound class. More importantly, the narration and clips reveal important details related to the catching, including date, water temperature and/or condition, general location and pattern fished and specific lure used.

Feedback from those who watched my first DVD led me to put plenty of tips on how I use Corkys in this DVD; those were the plugs with which I and my clients found greatest success while making the film. Offered as both an instructional reference and entertaining piece, this approximately 90 minute video has what my first didnt, ample images of large fish fighting back against real fishermen. Several of those fish exceed thirty inches and/or nine pounds.

The text below is not an excerpt from Trophy Trout Documentaries, but its organized in much the same way as the DVDThoughtful reflection on productive past outings can help one develop better strategies for future fishing trips. Success starts with identifying patterns which repeat themselves in places that consistently hold fish. The anecdotes that follow document relevant details from a few fruitful trophy trout excursions Ive made with clients and friends over the past eight years.

On January 19, 2002, I caught my first 30 inch trout, wading thigh-deep along the edge of a muddy, grassy gut which connects the open basin of Baffin Bay to a shallow, rocky flat. The blowup shook quiet, benign conditions, like the first thunderclap of a coming storm, wrecking the repeating wave pattern coined on

the waters surface by a light north wind. Two other 29 inch trout aggressively blasted my bone Super Spook while the breeze gained momentum. In mid-winter, when large specks mostly eat other trout and mature mullet, a full-sized, floating plug is effective, especially while a cold front approaches and passes. I caught a 31 inch trout estimated at ten pounds on a black/

chrome Skitterwalk cast off the deep edge of the Tide Gauge Bar on May 18, 2002. A moderate northeast breeze brushed my back, fueled by a late-season front. Before daylight, in the calm before the storm, I caught some 23 to 26 inch trout on the shallowest parts of the bar. Later in the morning, after the showers subsided, I moved deeper, pitching my plug far out into the bay. Though I wouldnt likely fish this way today, I know that such a strategy can pay off handsomely in May, when big trout move off the flats where they spend most of March and April.

Jason Simmons caught a 31 inch, ten pound trout on March 8, 2003, slinging a pearl/chartreuse Corky Fat Boy at knee-deep potholes fronting a grass mat tight to the King Ranch Shoreline. The calm, warming weather followed several days of brisk northeast wind. When the breeze died,

water began to spill out of a salt flat into the bay, where toothy monsters waited in the ripple. We glimpsed flashes of silver and gold while jaws gaped, gills flared and broad sides rolled; at least fifteen other magnum trout snatched our wobbling plugs over sand spots in a narrow gap which funneled water through the grass. On February 12, 2006, Jeff Phillips used a MirrOlure Catch 5 to pull a 30 inch, nine and a quarter pound speck out of murky

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The author caught and released this

serpentine sow, measuring 32 1/4

inches, on May 5th. Shes just one

of many personal bests captured on

Trophy Trout Documentaries.


water stained by brown tide near the Point of Rocks. Air and water temperatures hovered in the low fifties that cloudy day, and a fifteen knot post-front wind frothed the waves. Less than half an hour after catching the thirty, Jeff landed a specimen just under that mark, casting back to the exact spot where the bigger one bit. His pair proved the effectiveness of the flash and rattle of the Catch 5 in nasty water and reinforced the wisdom of making many more casts to a spot where a big fish has already bitten, especially in tough conditions. Improving weather helped me on April 15, 2007, when I tricked a 30 inch trout into taking a pink floating Corky cast into silty, knee-deep potholes next to a pile of rocks. Cloudless skies remained in the wake

of harsh north winds, which had finally gone mute after howling all night. Obviously nervous mullet called me to the colorful sow, which was mixed in with a school of reds; I caught three of them before she bit. Finding reds and specks together in skinny water is common in Baffin and the Laguna Madre in spring. I spent all of April 08 fishing knee-deep water over grassbeds, some growing in mud, others in sand. On the 19th, I caught a ten and a half pound trout I estimate at 31 inches on a gold/chartreuse/white floating Fat Boy flicked along a grass edge close to a remote shoreline in the back of Baffin. I hadnt fished the specific area much, but decided to try it when I saw desperate needlefish

Heres Tim Zbylot with his trophy, caught and released on April 17th. The sparkling light reflecting off the trouts broad side accentuates both its beauty and size.


tail walking in tight circles while wading another stretch of shore close by. We caught other six to eight pound fish there too, proving its good to keep the eyes and mind open. Doing so can allow one to see fish in new places.

Some old, established sweet spots produce time and again. During one particularly hot stretch of fishing in bitter cold weather during February of 2010, I caught giant trout three days in a row in the same small area on one lure, a pearl/pink Fat Boy. On the 24th, with water temps barely inching above fifty degrees, two clients and I caught about twenty trout and redfish. My best trout weighed nine and a quarter pounds. The next day, we caught fewer fish, but I landed a 31 inch, nine and three quarter pounder. On Friday the 26th, I caught a 30 inch, ten pounder, despite the fact that I had only four bites wading crotch-deep all day on the muddy crown, studded with small rocks and scattered grass. The fish were disappearing from the spot as the weather warmed, but I knew enough to be persistent that day.

Tim Zbylots perseverance on April 17,

2010 rewarded him with a lifetime-best, 30 inch, nine pound trout. He claimed his prize with a pink Fat Boy cast into patchy potholes lined along the edge of a wide, knee-deep flat associated with a main bay point. A fast, rhythmic presentation kept the lure wiggling vigorously just under the surface. Though wed already fished five other spots without catching a big trout, I didnt give up stopping in places that seemed right and Tim didnt stop trying to make one bite. Determined effort made in precisely the right spot increases the odds of landing a trout over 30 inches and/or nine pounds. Because fish of those dimensions are rare, a little good fortune helps too! Lady luck is more likely to smile on those who give her greatest opportunity. The Great Dame definitely winked at me while I was carrying my camera this past winter and spring. Trophy Trout Documentaries was fun for me to create; a productive run of fishing provided plenty of footage to edit. To view an introductory trailer and/or purchase the DVD, visit fishbaffinbay.com.

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t Kevin Cochran

Trout Tracker Guide ServiceTelephone361-688-3714EmailKCochran@stx.rr.comWebsitewww.FishBaffinBay.com

Kevin Cochran is a full-time fishing guide at Corpus Christi (Padre Island), TX. Kevin is a speckled trout fanatic and has authored two books on the subject. Kevins home waters stretch from Corpus Christi Bay to the Land Cut.


Boat mechanics are finding themselves dealing with a flood of frustrated owners who bring in their boats because the engine isnt running right or has a gummed-up carburetor, only to bring it back as soon as a month later with the same complaint. The problem is not the engines, its the fuel. The introduction of ethanol into fuel has caused a wide range of problems. Ethanol is a fuel, but blending it with gasoline results in issues that are very often blamed on engines or the mechanics who maintain them: rough idling, hard starting, gummed-up injectors or carburetor jets and an overall loss of power and cruising range. Mechanics are reporting that the new blended fuels are raising havoc with boat engines because the fuel breaks down very quickly, loosing octane and forming gums too fast for traditional stabilizers to keep up. The tried & true marine fuel stabilizers and additives that rely on 50-year old technology just dont work with todays new fuels. They either cannot remove gum or they remove it in big chunks that end up causing clogs. The solution is simple; todays new fuels demand new technology, and that is Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment. Star Tron is a new, very effective way of solving a wide range of fuel-related problems. It uses a proprietary blend of enzymes to stabilize fuel chemistry and break down gum into sub-micron-sized particles that can be eliminated while the engine is running. Star Tron will improve the quality of fuel and restore lost octane, dramatically slowing the aging process in order to keep fuel fresh and at peak combustibility even after long periods of storage. Its enzymes are particularly effective at cleaning

the entire fuel delivery system to allow engines to once again perform at peak efficiency. Gum formation is a major problem with ethanol-blended fuels. Because ethanol and gasoline do not chemically bond, E10 can begin to break down and form gums in as little as a month. As a result, engines that come out of the shop after expensive carburetor rebuilds or injector cleaning, but then sit idle for several weeks, may go right back to running poorly when they are finally used. Star Tron stabilizes fuel to help prevent gum formation or octane loss, while it also disperses any existing gum

to keep it from clogging injectors or carburetors. It also helps prevent phase separation that occurs when water and ethanol bond and then fall out of the gasoline, resulting in a loss of octane and an engine that cant perform at its best. Star Tron can even rejuvenate old, stale gas. Engines powered by Star Tron-treated fuel start easily and run smoothly even after sitting idle for extended

periods. The enzymes in Star Tron allow more oxygen to bond to the fuel

hydrocarbons, which results in a more complete burn of the fuel charge. This translates into easier starting, better throttle response, decreased emissions,

the prevention of carbon deposits and an overall improvement in engine performance and fuel economy. All these promises are backed by

a satisfaction guaranteed warranty; if Star Tron doesnt perform as promised, customers can request a full refund. Ever since ethanol first appeared in

marine fuel, Star Tron has been solving ethanol-related problems, quickly

becoming the #1 selling marine fuel additive. Star Tron works in all two and

four-cycle engines, regardless of size and/or age.

For more information, log onto www.startron.com or call (800) 327-8583.

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The 5:00 am weather forecast said something short and vague about there being thunderstorms moving toward us from the west but they didnt make any big deal about it. As I loaded the Suburban in the darkness I could hear the low rumbling of thunder far to the southwest but again I saw no reason for alarm. When it finally hit it came from northwest and caught my customers and me thirty-two miles down island. I figured Id just drive through it as I regularly do and wed start fishing south of it. After passing through several miles of heavy rain the storm seemed to split with us in the middle. Only light drizzle was falling and several times my customers ventured out and cast a few times but in each case abundant lightning and thunder sent them scurrying wisely back inside the truck.

By the time we reached the 41-Mile beach I realized the storm was huge and very probably extended the entire length of the island. I stopped to decide the most logical plan of action. We were going to have to wait it out somewhere and I just needed to decide whether to go back north

or continue south. As the four of us looked out at the sea a thin, jagged lightning bolt came out of the sky and hit the water 250 yards offshore. We heard a whoomp as it impacted and a plume of water, smoke and steam rose into the air and lingered for some time. We were stunned by the spectacle we had just witnessed. Weve all seen lightning hit the water countless times, but it is always at some distance from us. In 63 years this was the second time Id actually witnessed it up close and personal. Trust me; it will give you a whole new perspective on the power of nature and the frailness of human life. I have ran many times with numerous 122 mm and 144 mm rockets exploding all around me and thats what it looked like. As if a mortar, artillery round or rocket had hit the water. I cant imagine anything being left of a small boat or kayak this might have hit. There are obviously varying degrees of energy and electricity among individual lightning strikes and I fear I

understand far too little about them. Theres just too much about the Natural World to even think of learning in one lifetime.

and Oil Spills

#

Todd Neahr, TPWD Fisheries Biologist, placing satellite tag in 8-6 female bull shark landed on the PINS beach by San Antonio angler James Clark.


The first time I experienced a lightning strike up close and personal was even more bizarre but obviously there was less electricity and energy involved. From 1974 to mid-1976 I ran the Harbor Police Division in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I lived on a 36-foot double-ended aluminum life boat I had rehabbed. A pal named Richard Bankson and I were shark fishing from it one night when a volatile squall caught us suddenly. Sheets of hard-driving rain and 70+ mph winds were on us with very little warning. I had to cut the heavy anchor loose as it was impossible to retrieve it in those weather conditions. As I fired up the engine, Richard was cranking in a Penn Senator 14/0 reel on a 7-foot Harnell rod. As I looked back at him from the helm a small lightning bolt hit the metal roller guide on the end of the rod and the entire rod and reel outfit along with his arms glowed an eerie sky blue color. It knocked him to the deck and I figured he was dead. I left the wheel and rushed to him and was amazed that he was already attempting to get up. As he reached out and took my arm to help regain his footing he calmly said, Man, what a rush. We both busted out laughing. I cut the line at the end of the rod and told him to stow it below decks and then I got us underway. That incident reminded me of the old cowboy stories about Saint Elmos fire lighting up the cattles horns and

stampeding them. But had that low-energy hit Richard took have been the one we saw this past Tuesday I think the outcome would have been dramatically and tragically different. All of this makes me realize how much Ive gotten away with in my life and probably a lot of you have as well. We push the envelope. Its our nature. But to do anything but immediately seek safe shelter with lightning present is like standing in the open totally unprotected during an artillery barrage. As I understand it if you are close enough to hear the thunder you can be hit by lightning. Think about it. As of 20 May, seventy-eight Kemps Ridley sea turtle nests have been found along the Texas coast from Bolivar to South Padre Island. Of these, forty-five have

been found on PINS so its obvious that we need to be on the lookout for turtles on all Texas beaches; not just PINS. One loggerhead turtle nest has also been found. To report nesting turtles, call 361-949-7163. Please do not get too close to turtles that are nesting. Wait till they are through nesting before approaching. Try to mark the spot where the eggs were laid as this makes it easier for turtle technicians to find the nest site. Patrollers are all along the beachfront and after marking the site stop the first one you see and inform them of the location. Remember the speed limit is 15 mph on PINS until mid-July. The Deepwater Horizon oil leak is mindboggling. It will be years before the long term effects of it are truly understood and understanding it wont do anything to undo damage done. This is far from a done deal with tremendous amounts of oil already in the Gulf and the spill is continuing. In the dynamic world of the sea it only takes one storm or extended period of wind direction change to move massive quantities of this oil west, just as it is currently moving to the east. That loop current they keep showing running down the Florida coast has a twin that runs down the Teas coast as well. Tomorrow is my first day as a uniformed Biological Field Technician working for the National Park Service at PINS. For three days per week for the next sixty days Ill

be gathering as much data on birds and fisheries as possible. Between that and guiding Ill be seeing a lot of PINS in the next 60 days but we all know that suits me fine. I still have plenty of open dates in July and that is the peak season for speckled trout on topwaters. Call and book a trip and get you some time down in Gods Country. I guarantee its a hoot. If we dont leave any there wont be any. -Capt. Billy L. Sandifer

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t Capt. Billy Sandifer

Billy Sandifer operates Padre Island Safaris offering surf fishing for sharks to specks and nature tours of the Padre Island National Seashore. Billy also offers bay and near-shore fishing adventures in his 25 foot Panga for many big game and gamefish species.

Telephone361-937-8446Websitewww.billysandifer.com

Capt Billy was hired by the National Park Service as a biology field technician but

is currently taking a hiatus from this position while his charter business is

busy. Hell be back when the tide turns!


Length: 8 inchesWingspan: 17 inches

Weight: 2.1 oz

Jimmy Jackson photo

BILLY SANDIFERS

Sanderling-Calidris alba-

Most common small shorebird of North American beaches. Long distance migrant, breeds in Arctic regions. Lightest

in coloration of sandpiper family. Scampers for food along waters edge. Thickset small wader with black bill and

legs. Often hunches its back in threat display to protect feeding ground. Highly gregarious.


Imagine if you would, three guys heading out for a weekend of fishing and fun, towing the boat much farther than normal, only to find chaos, bedlam, and a general lack of fishing and boating etiquette.

We arrived at a friends house and after handshakes and small talk we unloaded and stashed our gear. Unhooking the boat, the talk turned to the restaurant my friend was dying for us to try, and with that we headed out for some late supper. Heres where things start to get weird.

According to my friend there are multiple tournaments the following day and all have huge numbers of boats entered. Theyre being held at three of the local marinas and, as luck would have it, all three launch points were being given consideration by our group for getting underway the next morning. I commented that we could probably launch early enough to beat the crowd and then run to our wading spot with the help of my GPS and Q-Beam. He looked at me as if Id lost my mind.

Youre not seriously considering wading are you? he asked.

Surprised, I replied that we were and he asked if we had brought our orange safety vests or picked up some wading flags on the way down. Orange vests and wading flags?

According to my friend who lives and fishes amongst the hoards down there, the burn boats, as he called them, with their imitation tuna towers, would surely run us over making reference

to those who run shorelines and flats searching for redfish schools. With this he went into a rant. Those guys are horrible. They run all over us when we stay in the boat and I wouldnt even think of wading, not without an

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orange vest and a bicycle flag in my wade belt. So Im listening to all this, grinning, thinking that surely he was embellishing mightily. You think Im joking? he interjected rather curtly, Its true I tell ya, its really gotten bad down here! Still doubting, I asked if this was a daily thing or maybe just on weekends, or maybe an isolated incident on a busy tournament weekend. Its not quite as bad during the week but weekends and tournament days are horrible. If you leave your boat you had better be wearing orange and have a flag flying if you dont want to get run over, he insisted. He told me that only the day before he was fishing a school of redfish and had a boat, the owner who was obviously overcompensating for some personal issue, had a huge burn tower up high and saw my buddy bowed up on a nice red. The boat immediately changed course, leaving the shoreline and headed straight for my friend. The boat driver, cant really call him a captain by these actions, stayed just out of casting range and punched a button on his GPS as he passed the school. So Im ignorant I guess, but I had to ask, What was that all about? Well it seems that some tournament folks pre-fish and burn the shorelines in search of schools of redfish. When they find a school they hit the MOB (man overboard) button on their GPS, recording the location in hopes that the school will be there or in the general

area during the tournament. Now my buddy did say that its not just tournament anglers but that it gets worse when redfish tournaments are being held in the area. He went on to say that when the tournaments are packed up and gone the local burners simply continue doing it. It would sound as though the technique must be effective although this was the first I ever heard of it. Im telling you its almost viral in nature, my friend said with wide eyes and drool running down his chin. Those flat bottom boats are being produced at an alarming rate and some owners simply will not run in open water due to their design. Its just a better ride up shallow and woe be the poor wade fishermen whos knee deep on the shoreline when they come by. I was trying to enjoy a drink while waiting on my dinner but as my attitude changed I found it easier to guzzle the bourbon in my glass and order another. Was all of this for real? Much to my dismay the stories became even darker and more sinister. I ordered another drink. My friend related that a few days prior he had been fishing an out-of-the-way location, he having the desire to get away from the masses and enjoy a day of drifting the far-away flats. After poling his boat for about a half-hour he spotted a school of redfish rooting up the bottom and generally moving at a sharp downwind angle. Using the wind, he poled to a position to intercept the school and moved to the bow of the boat with his rod and reel. He heard the boat first, the high-pitched whine of the engine jacked way up, and


he turned to see where it was and which direction it was going. That guy watched me stow my pole and grab a rod and he just veered straight toward me. Then when I hooked up he made a circle around me and came in upwind and set the boat down right on top of the fish, which of course scattered them. I looked at him with my arms raised in exasperation and he just glared at me and hammered the throttle from up there on his perch. I figured hed probably keep running around until he found another school and pull the same trick on somebody else. Undaunted, my friend cranked his outboard and took off to another location to begin poling again. He couldnt believe his ears. It hadnt been ten minutes and that same high-pitched whine was ringing across the flat. Sure enough, same guy, still up there driving from the nosebleed section, headed straight for him. I just gave up and headed back to the ramp, my friend said. My son and another fishing buddy were listening to all of this and by now

their grins of disbelief had changed into something more akin to a grimace. My esteemed editor forbids the expletives they were using but, suffice to say they were not pleased. So are you guys getting TX numbers and turning these guys in? my son asked. Have you tried following one of these morons and confronting them? The answer to both questions was, Nah, its not worth it. There is no law against what theyre doing. Until someone gets hurt or killed I doubt anything will be done unless somebody goes berserk, which is always a possibility. The conversation continued with more reports of grossly unsportsmanlike conduct by my friend and predictable reactions of dismay and disbelief from those of us listening. And so, over the absolute best lasagna dinner Ive ever been served, but hardly in the mood to appreciate, we decided it just wasnt worth our time or energy to subject ourselves to any of the shenanigans my friend was describing. The next morning at 5:00, with our gear

all packed and the boat hooked up, we decided against going fishing and headed home. The talk was all about the previous evenings conversation, and while we were pretty involved in our discussion, we didnt fail to notice the seeming endless line of headlights at the ramps as we passed by.

Co

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t Martin Strarup

[email protected]

Martin Strarup is a lifelong saltwater enthusiast and outdoorsman.Martin is also a collector and dealer of vintage fishing tackle and lures, especially those made in Texas.


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Powered by Hobies patented MirageDrive pedal system, the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler leaves your hands free to fish and has everything you need to maximize your angling experience. t Protected horizontal storage for up to six rods and two additional vertical rod holderst Space for 13 Plano tackle boxest Three in-hull storage compartments t Large front hatch with removable linert Large on-deck storage area for an optional livewell or coolert Fully-adjustable, breathable Cool Ride seatt Finger-tip steeringt Work area/cutting boardt Replaceable mounting boards on each side to attach your fish finder, GPS, lights or downriggers

I have come to realize there is no graceful or Gucci way to throw a Carolina-rigged live bait but the standard grip and rip usually does the job. The rigs unceremonious landing sounds like second graders throwing crawfish mounds into a park pond. Regardless of the judges score for splash-less entry, this contraption does one thing well; it flat-out catches fish.

The idea of letting a live bait entice a fish while the fisherman expends little or no effort is appealing to many folks and Sabine Lake is no stranger to this technique. The fact that several tosses of a cast net can produce a days supply of lively bait adds to the popularity. The Sabine and Calcasieu ecosystems get chock-full of perfectly sized shad, pogey, and finger mullet throughout summer. This readily available supply of bait certainly helps the old pocket book, especially when compared with a quart of live shrimp from the bait house. At the current price one would think they might be gold-plated.

More than likely a bunch of readers just

blew by this article due to the fact that live bait has been mentioned. If so, that would be their loss. Live bait fishing in itself is another technique that requires a certain set of skills that not everyone can master. Contrary to popular belief, you cant just sling a live bait out there and start reeling in fish. Many of the folks who routinely turn their nose up at any method other than grinding or plugging are usually first to point the finger and scream the loudest. Dadgum potlickers is a common cry of many would never dare stoop to chunking meat. I just shake my head. I enjoy both styles and routinely employ both in my day-to-day fishing trips. I get just as big a rush catching fish with live bait as I do with artificials and thats the honest to goodness truth. (Insert Boy Scout salute here.) Figuring out the fish is the name of the game, is it not? Finding and patterning fish on a day-to-day basis is what makes us tick; its why we do what we do. If I am capable of finding structure and understanding how fish are relating to it, it should not matter

whether I throw a topwater or a phone book. I found them and now its my choice as to how I catch them. To hear a fisherman discredit another by saying, Yeah, but he was throwing live bait, is just a shame and downright disrespectful. Just because you prefer a different method, dont hold that against another fisherman. I never heard a hunter say, Yeah, he got a limit of ducks but he was using Brand-X decoys and we were using handmade. Makes a lot of sense, doesnt it? July usually brings a weather pattern that makes everything from the marsh to offshore platforms easily accessible. Summer months are historically dry and runoff from up north will be minimal barring tropical storms of course. These conditions will quickly allow the lower reaches of the Sabine and Neches rivers to become salty and, naturally, a host of saltwater species will move in. In addition to speckled trout, redfish and flounder, there will be sand trout, whiting, jack crevalle and sharks. Many of these fish catch

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A few tosses of a cast net can yield enough lively bait for a full day of fishing.


unsuspecting anglers by surprise, especially the jacks. Several years ago I had a run-in with a huge jack about eight miles up the Sabine River. My clients and I had staked out on a great looking flat in the river that included good structure with deep water close by. Our morning had given us speckled trout, redfish and a couple of big flounder. We were all throwing live shad on Carolina rigs and enjoying the laid back atmosphere and fellowship this style of fishing provides. The very distinct thump of a good fish crushing a shad prompted setting the hook. The fish swam off the flat without fanfare, no surface struggles, no line-stripping run, just a steady pull that I could not stop. The initial run had me believing that a big black drum or perhaps a striper had decided to make an appearance, boy was I wrong. Once the fish got off the flat and got into deeper water the whole complexion of the fight changed. Whatever had taken the bait had shifted gears and was now in full blown run off with all your line mode. Fortunately, just as we pulled the anchor and were about to chase the mystery fish, it began making a big circle enabling me to gain much needed line. The next thirty minutes was a classic tug of war that ended with a broken rod and thirty pound jack in hand. That fish was easily one of the best and most bizarre catches for me that far up the river. Genuine proof that you never know what you might catch in the river in the summertime. Another summertime scenario that presents itself when we have very little fresh water entering the area is the half-eaten trout, courtesy of Mr. Shark. Jetty and short rig anglers deal with these eating machines more often than folks who stay in the lake and invariably lake fishermen are the poor souls who lose really good fish to these gray missiles severed right behind the gills like a butcher with a sharp knife. Im not sure how they do it but the sharks almost always seem to leave marginal trout alone in favor of a solid three pounder with an $8.00 lure pinned to its lip. I dont know whats worse, losing

Youngsters, oldsters, and everybody in between loves a tug on their line.


the fish or the tackle. Speaking of sharks, the summer will also present many opportunities to see just how insignificant we really are when we get in the water. The infamous bull shark, top-shelf predator with a bad attitude, will be out in full force, so by all means pay attention. Our part of the world, with its normally moderate salinity environment, is an excellent place

to find these creatures. It seems there are crazy stories of really close encounters with big bull sharks on Sabine every summer. Most any fisherman who calls this area home has at least one good story about bumping into a bull shark. These ill-tempered critters get large and can certainly

present a danger to those who are careless. Waders are often reminded to use longer stringers and watch for bleeding fish on those stringers. Another good idea is to tuck the stringer spike into your wade belt rather than tying it. Should a shark hit your stringer he can take it without pulling you down or dragging you with it. The summer ahead will almost surely be

one to remember, just make sure its for the right reasons. Please be safe on the water, courteous to your neighbor, and by all means, enjoy every minute of every trip.

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ETHANOL 101WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

E10/ETHANOL FUEL

PROBLEM 1: DEBRIS IN FUEL Gums rapidly form in the fuel tank and fuel delivery systems as ethanol fuels age. However, ethanol is also a powerful solvent that will strip away and disperse this build up back into the fuel as large, performance-robbing particles. This leads to clogged lters, injectors and carburetors.

STAR TRON SOLUTION: Star Trons enzymes break down debris into sub-micron sized particles that can be easily burned during the combustion process, restoring full performance.

PROBLEM 2: EXCESSIVE WATER IN THE FUELAND PHASE SEPARATION Ethanol attracts moisture from the atmosphere, forming an ethanol/water solution mixed in the gasoline. E-10 fuel will naturally hold .5% water in suspension, but when water levels exceed this threshold, or when the fuel cools signicantly, the water/ethanol mix drops out of suspension. This is phase separation. Excessive water in the fuel tank causes engines to run rough, stall, and can lead to internal damage to engine components. Ethanol provides a signicant amount of the fuels octane, so when the ethanol/water solution separates and drops to the bottom of the tank, the remaining fuel is left without enough octane to properly operate the engine. Additionally, the ethanol/water solution can become partially combustible, which can lead to engine damage.

STAR TRON SOLUTION: Star Trons enzyme formula reduces interfacial surface tension between fuel and water. The molecular cluster size is greatly reduced, allowing more water to be dispersed throughout the fuel. These sub-micron sized droplets are safely eliminated as the engine operates. Star Tron treated fuel helps prevent phase separation by allowing more water to be burned off than with untreated fuel, drying out the tank and preventing water buildup.

PROBLEM 3: ETHANOL FUELS BREAK DOWN QUICKLY Over a short period of time ethanol fuel begins to break down. As ethanol and other components evaporate, the fuel loses octane and becomes stale. This causes hard starts, pinging and engine knock, which robs your engine of power and can cause damage.

STAR TRON SOLUTION: Star Tron is a powerful fuel stabilizer which helps prevent fuel breakdown for up to two years. This results in easier starts and prevents pinging and knocking. Star Tron improves octane levels of sub-standard, non-spec or old fuel and in many cases can rejuvenate stale fuel, restoring it to serviceable condition.

PROBLEM 4: ETHANOL CAUSES LOST POWER,PERFORMANCE AND DECREASED FUEL ECONOMYEthanol fuel does not produce as much energy as traditional fuel. This results in inefcient combustion, decreased performance, reduced throttle response and poor fuel economy.

STAR TRON SOLUTION: Star Trons enzyme formula helps to break apart large clusters of fuel molecules, creating more surface area. This allows additional oxygen to react during combustion, which results in a more complete burn of the fuel, improved fuel economy, engine power, throttle response and reduced toxic emissions. Star Tron removes carbon deposits, keeping your engine clean and operating at peak performance.

Star Tron is a unique, multifunctional fuel additive that addresses all ethanol issues. Star Tron has been solving fuel problems for boaters across the US since 2003. It will improve the performance of: boats, cars, trucks, motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, PWCs, generators, lawn & garden equipment and all other gas-powered engines. Star Tron is safe for use in all 2 and 4-cycle engines under all conditions, even in ethanol fuels. Star Tron is an ideal all-season, all-purpose additive, and does all this at one of the lowest costs of any fuel additive.

Be careful of what additive you use many contain alcohol. Adding more alcohol to ethanol fuels can lead to engine problems. Read the MSDS of any fuel additive before using it with ethanol fuel. Star Tron does not contain any alcohol and is 100% safe for use in all ethanol blends. Star Tron is easy to use, effective and cannot be overdosed.

Todays Fuels Demand New Additive TechnologyTo learn the entire Star Tron story and to nd the nearest retailer, log onto WWW.STARTRON.COM or call (800) 327-8583

4 MAIN PROBLEMS WITH E10 / ETHANOL FUEL

ETHANOL 101WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

E10/ETHANOL FUEL

During the past few weeks I have been bombarded with e-mails and calls

from guys interested in teaching their significant others to fish. I first want to say I know a lot of really good women anglers, some are guides you likely have heard about but most are not; they are women that were introduced to fishing in younger years by a family member or a friend.

I have to be honest here; until I met and married Renee I was not interested in having my wife or girlfriend fish with me and fishing a tournament together would have been totally out of the question. I guess as I mellowed with age I became a bit more intelligent. I also think I got a taste of how great it is to be able to share my passion for fishing with someone that actually appreciates what I have chosen to do for the past 32 years.

I love Renee and love all the qualities she possesses. Renee seems to honestly want to become a good

fisherman, not for me, for her. She realizes that being good at just about anything you chose to do in life makes it that much more enjoyable. Quick question; does it bother women that I refer to them as fishermen? I just dont like the fisher-person reference although Im OK with fisherwoman if it makes any of you feel better. Renee does not care one way or the other. She knows I am fully aware of her gender and she has always seemed comfortable with the fisherman thing. I am blessed to have a lot of couples that fish with me and all of the women are very good anglers. None balk at donning waders in winter or baggy wading pants and Ray Guards in summer. I hope I have provided good lessons teaching them to fish with lures as well as showing that simple and easy steps are more often that not the best approach to learning. The less we have to digest at one time is the better approach in my opinion. I had the opportunity to speak to

the Women in the Wild group here in Rockport a few weeks back and I got to fish three of my favorite girls in the Babes on the Bay tournament again this year. Gosh, this tournament has grown to proportions that very few ever imagined. My hat is off to all the ladies on the board that spend countless hours preparing for the event and then being able to actually pull it off without a hitch. I am told that 1058 women entered the tournament this year. WOW! That has to a world record for a single day women-only fishing tournament. I also had the privilege to speak to the New Braunfels CCA chapter a few weeks back and it was packed with women who fish. Women have definitely found their place in the fishing world and I for one am glad to have you. Not only are many of you excellent anglers, you bring sophistication and class to the sport. Early on, I had a problem making the transition from husband to coach teaching Renee to fish. You see, a coach can say and do things a husband cant

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get away with. A mere look or a sigh from the husband can land him in the doghouse and bring the learning process to an abrupt halt. The directions I give Renee are given for a reason. I want her to follow them, knowing that it is the right path for her. Hey girls I know guys are the absolute worst at reading directions, much less following them but we are pretty good at giving them when we actually have some knowledge of the subject at hand. With that said it should not be hard for you to see that there is a major difference between husband and coach. A good coach wants his player to do well come game time. A good coach stands proud when hard work and practice are rewarded with the completion of a good play. Every play is by design supposed to produce a score but everyone must do his or her job. Fishing is no different, learn how to do it right, practice, and then execute what you have learned and youll score big. A plus for me with Renee was her athletic background and her willingness to compete. Not just against others on the boat but with herself. By no means am I suggesting that your lady needs an athletic

background but it does help. Of this I am certain. To wade and cast or drift in a boat with waves rocking requires coordination. Many need to get their muscles toned and trained before basic techniques can be taught. Practice is absolutely the only way to accomplish this portion of the learning. Most weeks I fish about 5 to 6 days and Sundays are reserved for church and the recharging the spiritual battery. I pray God does not hold it against me for taking Renee on Sundays once in while. Many times we go after attending Sunday school and I have been known to get into the skipping church mode when calm mornings greet us during our early morning cup of coffee. An extremely important aspect of learning is proper equipment selection. Come on guys; get your girl the right stuff, the stuff you use. If it is a baitcaster or spinning reel that you have mastered, you need to teach her to fish with that. It would be very hard, I would think, to show her to use a piece of equipment that you have no confidence in or never use yourself. When I started teaching Renee I gave her one of my rods and one of my Daiwa reels.

Miss Lola showing off a really nice trout. Lola is a really good angler as well as an accomplished longbow whitetail deer record holder.


Learning to hold the rod and reel properly and then cast and retrieve is the foundation for everything that will follow. Lure presentation was taught by having her mimic my actions. Showing seems to work better than explaining and it is important to remember that everyone must find their own rhythm. Rhythm allows the bait to react to your rod motion and also allows you to stay in contact with your bait. You cant catch what you cant feel.

To help Renee learn her baitcast reel I increased the line diameter and removed about 20 yards from the spool. This helped reduce the number of backlashes and also made them easier to clear. I prefer keeping the casting brake set rather loosely, a setting of 2 is enough. To me, setting it higher is like driving the car with the emergency brake on. They have to learn to throw far enough to reach fish that are still unaware of their presence, right? Renee can flat chunk, not necessarily with the form I would have preferred, but her muscle development from years of competitive softball allows her to do things with one arm that requires two arms for many. We are currently working on the two hand accuracy casting technique.

The one hand cast, slightly side arm, reduces her accuracy but she is getting there. Dont load your lady angler down with unnecessary equipment at first. Rod and reel and a few lures in the pocket of her Simms clothing is enough. The less we have them thinking about in the beginning the better. Just let them concentrate on chunking and retrieve rhythm. As an aside, Simms has the best-looking womens outdoor wear that you have ever seen. (Credit card time again guys, sorry.) Comfortable waders, wading pants and wading shoes are a must. Women do not find waders flattering. But hey; we think youre beautiful no matter what youre wearing and the fact that you are spending quality time with us is awesome. I have seen myself in photos wearing waders where I look three feet tall and 200 pounds. Short, fat, and green not at all flattering. One thing we need to remember is that once the attention span is gone it is time to take a break and get something to eat or drink and maybe even take a boat ride to cool off. An early morning fishing trip and then lunch at one of the many waterfront restaurants and a cold

margarita can sure put you in the catbird seat for the coming week. Finally, never make your wife or girlfriend clean the boat or the fish. Treat her special, even if she did kick your butt on the water. Ladies, I believe you still want us to treat you like ladies no matter what society may want us to believe. I love taking Renee fishing and I hope she knows how special she has made this old fishing guide feel by showing such interest in what I have spent my life doing. May your fishing always be catching. - Guide Jay Watkins

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Phone361-729-9596EmailJay@jaywatkins.comWebsitewww.jaywatkins.com

Jay Watkins has been a full-time fishing guide at Rockport, TX, for more than 20 years. Jay specializes in wading year-round for trout and redfish with artificial lures. Jay covers the Texas coast from San Antonio Bay to Corpus Christi Bay.


A few years ago, I began experimenting with techniques to create a large cigar-

shaped baitfish pattern made from craft fur. The goal was to tie a round-bodied pattern that was neutrally buoyant something like a fly-version of a Corky lure. I could clearly visualize this fly in my mind, but had no idea how to make it.

After going through many evolutions in design and materials, I eventually learned to build the fly by dubbing a thick fuzzy craft fur body and then smoothing a fabric paint skin over the head. The fabric paint skin was a key feature. It made the head of the fly hold its hot dog shape and it provided a solid surface for gluing the eyes. The skin also allowed the fly to shed water easily making it light and accurate to cast. I called the finished fly the Deadhead and it has become one of my favorite flies for both fresh and saltwater.

The Deadhead is a great fly for tricking trout, especially when they are feeding around structure or staking out potholes. Under these conditions, the Deadhead should be paired with an intermediate line and a leader with a long fluorocarbon tippet. With this rig, the Deadhead can be virtually dead-drifted or fished with slow twitches and tugs that absolutely bring the fly to life. It is a great combination. For deeper water such as channel edges and drops, I couple the fly with a fast sinking line. Throwing this fly along on a fast sinking line along current swallowing edges during an outgoing tide is deadly. I have tied this fly in many different color combinations, but my favorites are solid chartreuse with pearl flash and pearl glitter paint, and grey/white with silver flash and silver glitter paint.

I have received many e-mails and phone calls from folks wanting to learn to tie this fly, which is the reason it is featured in this months article. The methods used to tie the

Deadhead are not complicated, but they are unconventional and there is a learning curve involved in learning to distribute the materials evenly around the hook shank. My best advice for tying this fly is to take your time when forming the dubbing loop and go as light as possible with the fabric paint skin. Dont get discouraged if the fly doesnt look right as you are tying it because it usually will come together in the end. Stick with it. Its a great pattern. Here are the materials and tying steps:

MaterialsHook: #1 Mustad C70S DThread: Danvilles 210 denier flat waxed nylonEyes: Silver 3D stick-on Tail: Rainys craft furTail Flash: 8-10 strands Krystal FlashBody: Rainys craft furBody Flash: Hairline Dubbings Ice DubSkin: Tulip Glitter dimensional fabric paint

Step 1: Secure the thread to the hook shank and wrap back to the base of the bend of the hook, covering the hook shank with a layer of thread.

Step 2: Tie in a slender tapered clump of craft fur on top of the hook shank, overlay 8-10 strands of equal-length Krystal Flash, and tie in one more slender tapered clump of craft fur on top of the Krystal Flash.

Step 3: Make a dubbing loop 5 inches long by looping the tying thread around your finger and back up to the hook shank. Wrap thread from the bobbin around the base of the loop to secure it and then wrap the tying thread on

up to the eye of the hook. Place a dubbing twister/spinner (weighted wire hook) through the end of the loop you have made and let it hang at the rear of the hook.

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Step 4: Cut a full, even, combed bunch of craft fur and lay it out flat on the tying table with the butt ends of the craft fur aligned. On top of the craft fur, spread out a small pinch of Ice Dub shredded flash material.

Step 5: Carefully pinch the craft fur/Ice dub mixture and insert it between the two strands of the dubbing loop (this takes practice). Gently spread the mixture over the length of the dubbing loop, taking care to keep the ends aligned.

Step 6: Pull down on the dubbing spinner and twist the loop until you feel it begin to shorten slightly. Dont over-twist the loop or you will break the thread. The materials will tangle around the loop

as you twist it, so keep

tension on the loop and pick them out with a small piece of Velcro hook pad.

Step 7: With the dubbing twister still hooked in the loop, wrap the loop slowly to the eye of the hook. Tie off the end of the loop with the tying thread just behind the eye of the hook and snip off the tag end. Pick the body out with Velcro hook material. The body should be full and fuzzy.

Step 8: Gently comb back the body fibers until they are smooth. The body should have a full round shape that tapers toward the tail.

Step 9: Run a small bead of Tulip Glitter fabric paint around the nose of the fly.

Step 10: Gently brush the glue rearward using a toothpick or small brush. The glue should not extend past the bend of the hook. Dont mash the glue into the head, just create a thin skin over the head.

Step 11: Place a large dollop of Tulip Glitter fabric paint on the back of a 3D eye and gently press the eye into the fly. The eye should nest in the paint to ensure a good glue bond. The fly will dry to the touch in an hour or two, but it is important to let it dry for 36 hours before soaking it.

Check out Caseys Fly Fishing Video Library at www.TSFMag.comVIDEO

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Casey Smartt has been fly fishing and tying flies for 30 years. When he cannot make it to the coast he is happy chasing fish on Texas inland lakes and rivers.

Phone830-237-6886Emailcaseysmartt@att.netWebsitewww.caseysmartt.com


It was a hot summer day with no wind, flat calm seas and lots of bait around the deepwater oil rig about 100 miles offshore. We happened to catch a bonito and put it out for live bait. Not too long after, the bait started acting real nervous and we got a strike. When the line came tight, a 500 pound blue marlin came up jumping. As our lady angler started fighting the fish, the line was very tight and had plenty of pressure on it. We continued to back down on the fish, gaining line quickly, but something was wrong. There was still something on the line but it was not acting like a big blue marlin. After a few minutes we found out what was on the line. We could see the bait and it was still alive, but on the hook was an identical bonito, half-digested! Our fish had swallowed the live bait and when we set the hook, it lodged into a bonito already in the marlins stomach. This prevented the marlin and, as we applied pressure, we simply pulled both baits out of the stomach and right out of the fishs mouth. What are the chances of that happening? Talk about bad luck! This happened using a J-hook, back before the widespread use of circle hooks became more popular and in some cases

mandatory. There is really no way to prevent what happened, sometimes weird things occur and there is just not a lot you can do about it. Other times things happen that can be avoided. Here are a few examples we have experienced that could have been avoided with the right procedures. Trolling by a mooring buoy near a rig, a blue marlin came up and crashed the right rigger, pulled drag and came off. The captain spins the boat around and makes another pass by the buoy. Here comes the marlin again

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its elegant residences. Still, what makes Serena extraordinary, is its unsurpassed hospitality.

BLUEWATER JOURNALO F F S H O R E

Double hookset destroyed by 80 pound blue marlin.


and crashes the same bait, but no hookup, he continues to chase it and keeps taking the lure but no hookup. What is going on? When this happens, most likely something is wrong with your hookset. Either the hook came off or it is fouled or bent. In our case the initial strike was aggressive and apparently the fish got hooked in a manner that bent the point over where it would have had trouble hooking a piece of cheese. Whats the remedy? Always check your baits after a strike. Make sure the hook is not damaged and is still sharp, and then check your leader and rigging. It doesnt take long and can make the difference between catching and losing a fish. This is even more important during a tournament. Also, when using a monofilament leader, rig the hookset with wire or cable. We have seen mono hook rigs get chopped by a wahoo and then a big blue strikes no hook(s) not good! How about a nice big blue marlin bite. You are fishing the Poco Bueno Invitational and the big fish is cooperating and getting close to the boat. Everything is going great until the leader pops out of the water and you see the snap swivel is open, twisted, and the loop of the leader is barely attached! All of a sudden everyone on the boat starts to panic this winning fish could be lost any second. Not closing a snap swivel properly is common cause, but using quality snap swivels is also required. If the fish gets tangled in the leader or you are using a short leader, a fishs tail or body can actually slap it open. To prevent this, most crews will use just the swivel and crimp the leader directly, bypassing the snap. This is especially important if using wind-on leaders with a short leader attached to your bait or lure. The splash looked like a depth charge went off behind the boat. A huge fish has just taken your bait and is peeling line off your 80-wide reel. You have never seen a fish this big or a bite like that. The fish jumps fifteen times right behind the boat as the captain pursues and keeps the amount of line between you and the fish to a minimum. Your rod is bent over with 25 lbs of drag and you are getting line back as the fish gets closer to the boat. POW! The line parts and

the rod springs back hitting you in the face. There is an instantaneous exclamation of dismay from your crew. You are stunned; the fish is gone and you will have a black eye tomorrow. What Happened? One of the most important things you can do when big game fishing is to take care of your line. You must constantly inspect it, protect it, and change it often. Always take care when handling your line; freeing tangles, attaching it to rigger clips, and winding it on the reel. Check your roller guides on every trip. Keep them lubricated and make sure they spin freely. Take care not to let them get banged up, scratched and nicked. Changing your fishing line is one of the cheapest expenses in big game fishing and without a good connection between you and the fish, nothing

else really matters. We hope these examples will help you become a better fisherman and give you an idea of some of the things that are important when big game fishing. Oh and by the way guide the line on the reel properly with your free hand and it will keep the rod from hitting you in the face if the line breaks! Are you ready for a billfish tournament? Join us in Port Aransas, August 4-8 for the Texas Legends Billfish Tournament. For more information, please go to www.txlegends.com. To learn more about big game fishing, visit us at our Fox Yacht Sales - Seabrook office at Tops-N-Towers. At Fox we have an extensive inventory of

brokerage boats and we are the exclusive Texas dealer for Jupiter and CABO Yachts.

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A native Texan, Bobby Byrd has fished the Gulf of Mexico since he was eight. In 1995, Bobby combined his love of fishing and boating into a business when he openedTops-N-Towers in Seabrook, Texas.

ContactFox Yacht Sales / Seabrook 281-291-0656Tops-N-Towers 281-474-4000Capt. John Cochrane 409-739-4817Websiteswww.byrd-cochrane.comwww.topsntowers.comwww.foxyachtsales.com

Even a pigtail snap swivel can fail!

500 pound blue marlin on the leader.


F I E L D N O T E S

By Ed Hegen - Regional Director - Rockport, Texas

The end of winter is triggered by the lengthening of daylight associated with the approach of spring and summer days. And with more daylight, everyone looks forward to getting outdoors to participate in the many activities that our wonderful Texas coast has to offer. Fishing turns on, boaters hit their favorite ramps and Coastal Fisheries (CF) Division staff gets into full swing with data collection, hatchery production, habitat protection and permit review. The following are but a few of the highlights that our dedicated and professional staffs have participated in recently and during the summer months. We will provide full length articles on some of the topics in future issues.

Riechers Named CF Division Director

Robin Riechers, twenty-two year veteran of the division was appointed CF Division Director in February. He fills the 18-month vacancy created when Dr. Larry McKinney became the Director of the Harte Research Institute associated with Texas A&M University at

Documents

July 2010