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Volume 1 Issue 1 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME I | ISSUE I

IN THIS ISSUE

Star ng the Hobby of Fly Fishingby: Captain John Spencerpg. 14

Wahoo and Dolphin Fishing in the Northern Gulf of Mexicoby: Captain Damon McKnightpg. 20

Changing Seasonsby: Captain John Havenspg. 28

The Modern Art of Spring me Fishing in Galveston Bayby: Captain Craig Lambertpg. 32

Techniques for Catching Live Baitby: WIll Schorppg. 38

DEPARTMENTS Introduc on...pg.6 | Trophy Pages...pg.8 | Galley...pg.12

Publisher & PresidentGeorge R. Scocca

2coolfi shing.com FounderMonty Weeks

Managing EditorSal Amendolia

Art DirectorNick DiMarco

WebmasterJames Sullivan

VP of Marke ngRobert Pavlick

Account CoordinatorNicole Sinning

2cool Magazine ContributorsJohn Havens

Craig LambertDamon McKnight

Will SchorpJohn Spencer

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 fi sh for well over 45 minutes.

2Cool Fishing6

I DEPARTMENTSDEPARTMENTS

Welcome to the new 2cool magazine. The purpose of this magazine is

to feature our members in a new way while also sharing some great fi shing and hun ng ar cles. We look forward to tailoring this magazine to suit the community. In this fi rst edi on you will fi nd feature ar cles and special sec ons that all came by recommenda on from our members. We have fi ve awesome features that cover inshore fl y fi shing, spring pa erns in the bays, catching bait, and off shore wahoo and mahi. You will also fi nd 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 fi shing. 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 fi sh, 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 magazine@2coolfi shing.com

Monty Weeks2COOL MAGAZINE

Volume 1 Issue 1 7

E

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(bayougirl) Kim Prui with a West Bay fl ounder at her home in

Bayou Vista.

Jennifer Pandanell caught this

red on the

Galveston Jetties.

Patricia White with her 27” catch taken at Gas Well Flats near South Padre Island.

Sco Alford takes a break a er bringing in this nice tuna

Sharon Stewart caught this 26” trout in West Galveston Bay by Confederate Reef.

Trey German (FishinAg22 ) sent us a picture of his catch which was a 29” and 8.5-lb trout.

Last year we had an exchange student from Brazil spend the summer and enjoy her fi rst me in a boat, fi rst me to fi sh, fi rst fi sh to catch fi sh, and fi rst me to drive a boat.

Wri en by Walt Royse

T P DEPARTMENTSDEPARTMENTS

Volume 1 Issue 1 9

These were caught out of Galveston by Charlie (rifra 25)

Josh and Lucas’ Big CatchSubmi ed by Craig Ellington

Ryan Powell’s (southcoas x ) son cody powell

Sco Langdale achieved his

personal best on his annual birthday trip to Pirates Run, East B ay, November 16,

2011

R.I.P. Vic Mar nez aka VejerMarch 25th, 2012.

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.

T P

Mark Pandanell

and his catch on

the Galveston

Jetties.

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Matagorda. Galveston. Sabine.

The largest and longest running saltwatertournament series on the entire Gulf Coast.

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Volume 1 Issue 1 11

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GDEPARTMENTSDEPARTMENTS

The 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 threeredfi sh for submi ng a photo.

Ca ish Supreme

2 lbs Ca ish fi llets

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 fi llet. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

2. In a large skillet heat 2 Tbsp bu er un l it starts to sizzle. Sear the fi sh fi llets 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 fi nish cooking in the oven). Season to taste with cayenne pepper & hot sauce. S r well to combine and ladle this mixture over the fi sh fi llets.

4. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

If you would like to have your recipe featured in our magazine, email magazine@2coolfi shing.com.

Volume 1 Issue 1 13

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2Cool Fishing14

STARTING THE HOBBY OF FLY FISHING

BY CAPTAIN JOHN SPENCER

Volume 1 Issue 1 15

The single most commonly asked ques on I get from people is how to get started in fl y fi shing. 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, fl y fi shing was perceived as being exclusively for the rich. We all have the mental picture in our mind of the “historical fl y fi sherman.” He (of course it was a he) is wealthy, fi shing 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 fi shing community, were the early fl y guides of the Florida Keys. No longer was fl y fi shing 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 fl y fi shing 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 fl y. Suddenly, fl y fi shing was a sport of skill, not economics.Over the last 10 years, con nued improvements in rod technology, fl y lines and op cs has made fl y 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 fl y

“A day to learn, a lifetime to master.”

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fi shing for tarpon, bonefi sh, redfi sh and striped bass has exploded. I think interest for these species in par cular has increased for two primary reasons. The fi rst reason is the visual intensity. Fly fi shing the fl ats is as much hun ng as it is fi shing. Poling a skiff or kayak, or wading, in inches of gin clear water, then cas ng a fl y 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 redfi sh or a 100-pound tarpon, the fi rst me you see your target and cast

your fl y, you will miss badly. It’s inevitable. And you will likely

con nue to miss. But at some point you begin to understand the cast, understand the fi sh and understand the approach and you will witness what to me is one of the most beau ful sights in fi shing – a totally oblivious fi sh, in its environment, inhaling the fl y, and in an instance, realizing how vulnerable it now is on this clear fl at, 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 fl y fi shermen take a keen interest in the beginner. In almost every major Texas city there is a local fl y fi shing club. Find the closest club on-line and ask about their next mee ng. In every case I know of,

the clubs have competent and eager members who are happy to teach you the basics of cas ng and fl y gear. Alterna vely, most fl y shops have cer fi ed cas ng instructors who will not only help you with cas ng instruc on, but are also great sources of informa on on local fi shing, 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 redfi sh 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,

Volume 1 Issue 1 17

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 fi sh with people (and they know who they are), who fi sh with me once a year. In between, they may fl y fi sh a few days for bass or trout, but basically, they do not fi sh 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 diff erent than golf, or playing the piano, or whatever else. A lesson will help teach you. But it is then up to you to go refi ne 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 signifi cantly. Take a towel and mark off fi y feet. If you can hit that towel consistently, you WILL catch redfi sh. If you can make that consistently cas ng over either shoulder, your guide will love fi shing you.Once you are confi dent in your cast, hook up with someone who has real exper se – either someone you have met through the fl y clubs or with a guide. One note on guides – fi sh with a reputable, fl y fi shing guide. A lot of guides will tell you that they “do fl y fi shing too.” This is not what I mean. There are a number of full me guides up and down the coast that specialize in fl y fi shing.

You will fl a en your learning curve signifi cantly by spending a couple of days with one of them. Clubs, on-line message boards and local fl y 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 fl y fi shing the fl ats. A breeze puts ripple on the water, which tends to make spooky fi sh a li le less wary. At the same me, cas ng into even a modest breeze can be both diffi cult and in mida ng. Learning to double haul will increase both your range and your eff ec veness in the wind. Beyond that there are a myriad of more advanced loop management and distance cas ng

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2Cool Fishing18

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 fl ies. Many river trout fi shermen carry their vice to the river with them, intent on perfectly matching the hatch to ultra-selec ve trout. In this respect, saltwater fl y fi shing is easier. Any number of simple fl ies that a novice tyer can quickly master can, and do, catch both redfi sh 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 fl y tying.Fly fi shing will add a whole new dimension to your angling life. While not for everyone, it can be

a challenging and rewarding way to expand your fi shing horizons. Because it is so in mate, it can also engender a deeper respect for both the fi sh we seek as well as the environment in which they live.

A er I wrote this, I e-mailed several people I have fi shed in the past who were just beginning. I asked them what advise they had for beginner fl y fi shermen, and here were some of the responses:

“Wading and cas ng is easier than cas ng from the boat. But I s ll would much rather fi sh from the boat. You just have to be a be er caster.”“Like a lot of things, when

you watch someone who is really good, they make it look easy. It’s not. But it’s s ll the coolest fi shing experience I have ever had.”“Like you said, prac ce, prac ce, prac ce.”

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2Cool Fishing20 2C2CCC2C22 oooooooooll l FiFiFiFishshhshhiningggggg22202020220202002020200002222002000000222220002000002002222200000020200022222000020200020200020002202000002202002022200002220000022222000222200002222000222202222000

Wahoo and Dolphin Fishing in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

By Captain Damon McKnight

Volume 1 Issue 1 21

The northern Gulf of Mexico is probably one of the best areas in the world to fi sh 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 fl ying fi sh or on bait balls in huge numbers. This is when you get the true feeling of just how abundant these two species of fi sh 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 fi rst 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,

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 fl ying fi sh are usually easy to fi nd, but I would put an emphasis on the amount of Menhaden and Mullet that would be mostly consumed by

2Cool Fishing22

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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 fi nd 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, fi shing tackle has

defi nitely made signifi cant progress with the introduc on of braid or spectra line. Then match that with fi shing 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 fi sh in the boat. I see a lot of wahoo anglers fi shing 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 fi shing is four Torsas spooled with 80lb. power pro braid/with a top shot of 80lb. Momoi monofi lament, matched with four 40-unlimited Calstar blanks built by

Bar-Bar Tackle. This setup produces fi sh with li le eff ort.Dolphin, Mahi-Mahi, Dorado are all the same fi sh and are highly regarded as one of the top sport fi sh in the world. Temperature plays a very important role for this species of fi sh. 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 fi sh 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 fi sh, mainly because of their short life span, and just

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Volume 1 Issue 1 23

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 fi sh in this area. The most recent year was 2007. In early June, there were very strong currents off shore (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 off shore 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

that were probably used to get from Cuba to Florida that got caught in these currents and ended up off the coast of LA, all sorts of debris, trees, you name it. One of the local charter captains even came across a boat that s ll had Cuban refugees in it. The currents were so strong, it caused them to miss their mark, which I assume was South Florida and ended up off the coast of LA. This was also the summer that we had so many Dolphin of all sizes, but the average was about 25-30lbs., that we were literally running from them to fi nd other species of fi sh. It almost didn’t ma er where

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 fi shing 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 fi sherman happy. Normally we catch them on the sargasum grass lines caused by two currents pushing against one another or any debris that is fl oa ng off shore. They also hang around the oil rigs and stand-by buoys used by the supply boats that service the oil rigs. Their main diet consists of fl ying fi sh, bally-hoo, and hard-tails in our area, but they seem to eat just about anything. There is not just one style of fi shing that produces catches of Dolphin. Usually the day predicts what method will work best but that changes from day to day for sure. Some anglers prefer to ride along the rip lines and sight cast Dolphin. Their bait of choice is usually a top water plug such as a Frenzy Angry Popper or one of my preferred top-water baits, made by OTI, is the Wombat chugger. Color doesn’t really seem to make a diff erence. There are days that Dolphin will get fi nicky but there aren’t many. One of my favorite sayings when dolphin fi shing is that “Dolphin will make the worst fi sherman look like they know what they’re doing” and some mes they are the day saver when nothing else will bite. They

2Cool Fishing24

will usually eat anything that hits or is trolled on the surface, but on the days they won’t, have a rigged bally-hoo 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 diff erent styles of fi shing 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 fi cial 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 fl ying fi sh whereas the other ar fi cials mimic diff erent species

of fi sh. Some look like absolutely nothing at all that resembles any type of fi sh 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 fi sh them without any natural bait. Just about any type of rod and reel setup will do while fi shing 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 fi n Tuna while trolling the rip, so

I don’t like to troll with anything less than 30 wides spooled with 80lb. braid with a top shot of 80lb. monofi lament. 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 fi sh in the Gulf of Mexico during certain mes of the year. They basically

Volume 1 Issue 1 25

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2Cool Fishing26

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manage themselves and are very unlikely to suff er any decline in stock due to fast reproduc on and I would think are impossible to overfi sh. They are probably two of the most exci ng species of fi sh 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 fi sherman to jump away from the reel at fi rst strike. Dolphin put on an aerial display a er hooked

that will cause fi sherman 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 fi sh can go a long way on the dinner table. The two species of fi sh are extremely important to the Gulf of Mexico and are what makes fi shing what it is today.

“Dolphin, Mahi-Mahi, and Dorado are all the same fi sh and are highly regarded as the top sport fi sh...”

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Changing Seasons

As 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, fi sh will become more ac ve and bait will begin fi lling 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 fi shing 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

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 fi sh, 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 fi sh eat every day regardless of condi ons.

By Captain John Havens

Volume 1 Issue 1 29

This me of year my preference is to wade when fi shing for big trout, but unfortunately you cannot wade many areas holding fi sh at the present me so they must be fi shed 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 fi sh, or on the line the fi sh 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 fi nd 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-fi ve minutes to

an hour trying diff erent lures and presenta ons, while also scanning the water looking for any signs of feeding fi sh 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 fi sh 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 fi gure out how to catch the fi sh. Another thing to beware of is s ng rays, make sure

to always shuffl e your feet and do not step backwards. Many people are hit each year when they step back during a hook set or fi gh ng a fi sh. 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 fi sh. Slicks are one of the best signs of feeding fi sh. 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,

while pla er-size, round slicks will many mes put you on top of feeding trout. We should also focus on fl eeing 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 eff ort, 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

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for an area where be er condi ons exist. Some mes it is just not going to happen despite being on top of fi sh. 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 fi sh get real fi nicky, 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 fi shing 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 infl uence 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 fi sh with as li le harm as possible. Handling a fi sh with minimal damage from the beginning is crucial. We should always make sure our hands are wet and handle the fi sh as li le as possible. Contact with dry human skin and bouncing around the bo om of the boat can greatly remove the fi sh’s protec ve slime coat, thus causing infec on. Be careful not to touch the gills or hold the fi sh in a compromising posi on. Release the fi sh as soon as possible and raise all of our chances of catching another one soon.

Volume 1 Issue 1 31

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THE MODERN ART OF

SPRINGTIME FISHING IN

GALVESTON BAY

By Captain Craig Lambert

Volume 1 Issue 1 33

Spring me fi shing in Galveston Bay is hea ng up like the

weather. Hot fi shing and hot temps are soon to be upon us. Feeling that crisp morning air while fl ying 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 fi shing 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 fi shing of the year is just ahead. A complex the size of Galveston Bay off ers countless structures and shorelines to fi sh 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 fi shing 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 redfi sh, trout and fl ounder have permanently se led and thrived in this ecosystem. For several hundred years or more, man has fi shed Galveston Bay waters for

these species but none as good as the modern day fi shermen. We can break these modern day anglers into two categories; lure chunkers and live baiters.

The Hardcore Lure Chunker:This guy is usually an above average angler who has paid his dues and has good rod control and cas ng abili es. Fishing for hours and making hundreds of casts during a day is the norm. The whip of the rod while working so plas cs or plugs is usually unique to the angler’s personality and style. Using live bait is a defi nite No-No and would usually be looked down upon by fellow lure chunker peers. Wadefi shing with ar fi cials creates opportuni es for anglers that others just can’t experience. Throwing live bait up against a shoreline and hooking up is incredibly exci ng but it doesn’t compare to catching that same fi sh on a topwater bait that visually s mulates the senses by being crushed in an instance of beau ful violence toward your lure.

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 fi cial baits allow you to dissect the three strike zones (top, middle and bo om) you encounter on every fi shing trip with ease. Topwaters, spoons, suspending plugs and plas cs will cover these three areas well. Keep your colors simple when choosing baits. A few dark colors and a few light colors will cover everything. When it comes to baits there are all types of op ons, the most versa le fi sh catching bait is the so plas c. A so plas c bait similar to a Texas Tackle Factory Mrs. Trout Killer will always be my number one go to bait for the rest of my angling career. It will catch fi sh in all condi ons. There is no doubt that more inshore saltwater species will be caught on so plas cs through me eternal than any other ar fi cial out there. The fi sh will tell you from day to day if you should be using a larger 5 or 6-inch bait like a Texas Tackle

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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 fi rst fi sh on ar fi cials 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

then try it. You will be surprised at its universal fi sh 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, fi shing the birds or working the gas wells, it will produce a few blowups if you s ck with it. Bigger than average fi sh tangle with topwaters. A topwater plug will catch specks and redfi sh in 6 to 10 feet of water on most days in summer. The hook -up ra o is defi nitely 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

fast. Not se ng the hook un l you feel the fi sh pull your rod down is crucial to posi ve hook-ups. The visual s mula on that this bait off ers excites the senses like no other. A suspending bait will work the middle por on of the water column and can be deadly eff ec 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

Volume 1 Issue 1 35

same fi sh 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 redfi sh lures. My all me favorite suspending bait has to be the Corky Devil. The versa lity of this bait from wading on a fl at 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 eff ec 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 defi nitely 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, fl ats 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 fi shing with ar fi cial baits is truly an art form. Our modern style of lurefi shing has been sculpted to an art form that has been honed and perfected by some of the local icons of fi shing 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 fi shing that most of us know today. The Live Baiter:There are also many legendary live bait anglers such as Cookie

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 defi nitely 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 fi cials 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

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Bay in the mid-90’s and it has caught on like a fi restorm. 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 fi shermen, and the croaker fi shermen benefi ts greatly. Marking reefs, small humps and guts will allow bait placement to be at a premium. Live shrimp, piggy perch and fi nger 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 gamefi sh searching for an opportunity. A variety of corks and hooks can be used depending on your tackle

p r e f e r e n c e . Midcoast Corks and Cajun Thunders are i n c r e d i b l y popular and have been the demise of thousands of trout in recent years. Both of these corks are durable and will make an eff ec ve p r e s e n t a t i o n . 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 aff ord to use fl uorocarbon on all your leaders, then do it. If not, then monofi lament will work just fi ne. 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 eff ec 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-fi sh all other techniques. No ma er what type of angling style you prefer, just remember to have fun and be safe!

Capt Craig Lambert832-338-4570Galvestoninshorefi shing.com

Volume 1 Issue 1 37

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2Cool Fishing38

Techniques for Techniques for Catching Live Catching Live BaitBait

By Will Schorp

Volume 1 Issue 1 39

“Nothing beats the real thing”…. It is well known o n 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 eff ec 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 fi sh 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 fi sh 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.

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I also approach an oil pla orm from various angles and dri pa erns. Just like their larger cousins, bait fi sh can stack up on one specifi c 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

on a boat never works well.One of the easiest ways to see if there is any bait on a weed line or weed mat is to use the above, visual inspec on. Another trick I have used is to take small pieces of frozen bait, about the size of a quarter and throw a handful of them next to the weed ma and see if anything comes out. If these two methods don’t work, try cas ng a small crappie jig or Sabiki and work the clean side of the weed mat so you don’t get tangled in the weeds. Retrieve/jig the bait

as fast as possible. This quick ac on can help excite the fi sh 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 diffi cult 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

same technique as I use when fi shing a weed mat. I will say, when fi shing for live bait behind a shrimp boat, I have seen more interes ng things occur than any other place. Probably the most unusual was when we caught a small bonita behind a shrimp boat. Right a er the bonita was hooked, a blue marlin decided to eat it right behind the boat. We were actually able to land the billfi sh and successfully release it. As I men oned above, be mindful when fi shing for live

Volume 1 Issue 1 41

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 fi sh 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 fi sh 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 40- pound 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 fi nish off my rod and reel, I have a Spro snap swivel on the end to

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 fi sh a Sabiki on an Accurate 665 on a Calstar 670L. It is spooled with 80-pound braid and fi nished 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

2Cool Fishing42

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 fi shing skills. As a kid, one of the most enjoyable mes I can remember was catching spade fi sh 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

the guys! It was trips such as this one that taught me the importance of landing my own fi sh, how to rig live baits correctly, and that catching bait is work. To this day, if you ever see me fi shing 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 fi shing with, especially, if you are not familiar with the people with whom you are fi shing. With

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 fi shing for trout and redfi sh, 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 specifi c type or shape.

Volume 1 Issue 1 43

However, I am par cular about how they are rigged. I always upgrade the treble hooks on the jigs I fi sh for bait with. Since I am usually trying to winch in as many baits as possible, a stronger hook makes a big diff erence. 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 fl uorocarbon 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 specifi c 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 fi sh a wide depth range very quickly. At mes, the baits are there but they are down deep and are diffi cult 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 fi shing 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 off shore 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 fi sh into the boat. Some baits are obviously more sensi ve than others. Try not to drop the bait fi sh 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 fi sh 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

on when you are fi shing for live bait. Where there is bait fi sh, 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 fi sh, 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 fi sh with off shore. I hope that they help you in your quest for your next personal best fi sh!

WSchorp@hotmail.com