Texas Fishing News & Reports
Bass Pros Pair With Military Vets for Lake Lewisville Tournament
The 2ndAnnual TOPS Bass Fishing Competition launches the morning of June 8 from Westlake Park on Lewisville Lake. A part of SummerFest on the Lake, the competition is for our military service members, veterans, and their families. Al Telese, LTC, US Army (Ret), Founder, President & CEO of Networking Warriors of America, says, "Fishing is great outdoor therapy. It provides an opportunity for the soldier to get in touch with the community, to relax and to get away from the chaos of their lives."
Military warriors and veterans from Texas and Oklahoma will compete to win their state's 2013 Lewisville Lake Bass fishing bragging rights. For the competition Oklahoma and Texas soldiers will be paired with top Triton Boat pros and other fishing pros. While the soldiers are fishing, their families will enjoy fun activities at the park and throughout the day at Summerfest.
"Fishing is a time for the soldiers to forget the world for a while -- to forget about medical problems and their day-to-day challenges," Bob LaMarch, Bassin' Guide Service and longtime supporter explained. "All they have to think about is their next cast, next lure and next fish."......Read More
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Toyota ShareLunker Season Ends With Mixed Results
ATHENS—The Toyota ShareLunker program received a below-average number of entries during the season just ended, but the number of lakes producing 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass continued to increase, and investments in DNA testing showed promising results.
One season highlight was the catch of a 12.54-pound ShareLunker offspring from Lake Naconiche near Nacogdoches and the subsequent identification of the parentage of the fish using archived DNA samples.
Ten fish were intergrades and two were pure Florida largemouth bass. The two pure Florida entries spawned, producing a total of 58,550 eggs. In addition, a ShareLunker offspring from a research lake produced 36, 957 eggs. Each lake producing an entry this past season will receive a share of the fingerlings resulting from those spawns.......Read More
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Naconiche Record Fish is ShareLunker Descendant
ATHENS—On December 4, 2004, Jerry Campos was fishing for largemouth bass on Falcon International Reservoir when he caught a 14.28-pound fish that became ShareLunker 370. On April 13, 2013, Allen Lane Kruse of Nacogdoches caught a 12.54-pound bass from Lake Naconiche that has been submitted as a water-body and catch-and-release record for the new impoundment near Nacogdoches.
The connection? DNA testing revealed that ShareLunker 370, which spawned at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens, is the mother of the Lake Naconiche fish. If Campos had not entered his fish into the ShareLunker program, Kruse would not have had the opportunity to catch his fish, because it would not have existed.....Read More
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Best Little Bass Lake in Texas Planned for Wichita Falls
ATHENS—What’s more fun than catching a big bass? For many people, it’s catching a lot of bass.
That’s the theory behind a new kind of urban fishing lake Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is developing in Wichita Falls with the help of the City of Wichita Falls and the local Academy store.
TPWD’s Neighborhood Fishin’ Program (NFP) partners with local governments to stock small neighborhood lakes with rainbow trout and channel catfish every two weeks throughout most of the year. This program enables many Texans living in urban areas to have enjoyable fishing experiences close to home that includes keeping some fish to eat. Wichita Falls residents have an NFP pond, South Weeks Pond, available for their fishing pleasure.......Read More
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TPWD Approves Changes to Fishing Regulationos
AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has adopted fishing regulation changes on two largemouth bass fisheries in East Texas, and new possession rules in state waters for aquatic resources taken in the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) as part of the 2013-14 Statewide Recreational and Commercial Fishing Proclamation.
The regulations go into effect Sept. 1......Read More
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Lake Amon Carter Produces ShareLunker No. 546
ATHENS—Once again an angler has proved it’s not the size of the lake that counts, it’s the size of the fish in the lake—at least when it comes to catching big bass.
On the morning of March 19 Johnny Spruiell of Iowa Park was fishing in three feet of water in South East Cove when a 13.75-pound bass took his 7-inch Power Worm. The fish was 26.5 inches long and 21 inches in girth and is now Toyota ShareLunker 546.
Lake Amon G. Carter is operated by the City of Bowie. The 1,848-acre lake is served by two boat ramps. It has a history of producing big bass in mid-March. The lake record, a 14.44-pounder, was caught March 15, 1996.....Read More
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Zebra Mussel DNA Detected in Five North Texas Lakes
ATHENS—The latest tests and monitoring looking for zebra mussels in North Texas lakes yielded mixed results.
While zebra mussel DNA was detected in Lakes Texoma, Ray Roberts, Lewisville, Bridgeport and Bob Sandlin, no zebra mussel populations could be confirmed by physical inspection in Lewisville, Bridgeport and Bob Sandlin....Read More
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Lake Palestine Produces ShareLunker Bass
ATHENS—Lake Palestine produced its first Toyota ShareLunker March 2, becoming the sixty-fourth public reservoir in Texas to allow an angler to land a 13-pound or larger largemouth bass.
Lindell Booth, Jr., of Chandler was fishing Kickapoo Creek on the upper end of the East Texas reservoir when the 13.14-pound bass took his green pumpkin Brush Hog in eight feet of water. The fish was 26.25 inches long and 21.25 inches in girth.
The fish is entry number 545 into the ShareLunker program. It was caught during a Media Bass tournament and is the new lake record largemouth bass.....Read More
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ShareLunker Bite Heats Up: Lake O’ the Pines, Toledo Bend, Lake Fork
ATHENS—Toyota ShareLunker entries came from three East Texas reservoirs within the last week.
February 14 Thomas McCraven of Gladewater caught Toyota ShareLunker 542, a 13.23-pounder from Lake O’ the Pines. McCraven caught the fish in six feet of water in Allen Creek using a Baby Brush Hog. The fish was 24.75 inches long and 21 inches in girth. It was held for pickup at Johnson Creek Marina, an official Toyota ShareLunker Weigh and Holding Station.
The next day, Toledo Bend Reservoir gave up a 13.06-pound bass to Casey Martin of Anacoco, Louisiana, who was fishing the FLW Everstart tournament. Martin’s fish, now Toyota ShareLunker 543, was 26 inches long and 21 inches in girth. Catch details were not revealed.
On February 19 Mark Hall of Winnsboro pulled a 13.11-pounder, Toyota ShareLunker 544, from Lake Fork. Hall was fishing for crappie when they stopped biting. “I know from experience that when the crappie stop biting, it’s because bass have moved in and starting feeding on them,” he said. Hall quickly switched to a swim-bait, and the big bass smashed it right at the surface on the retrieve....Read More
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Toyota ShareLunker 541 Comes from Falcon Int'l Reservoir
ATHENS—Falcon International Reservoir joined the Toyota ShareLunker action on Thursday, February 7, with a 13.4-pound entry into the ShareLunker program.
Isaac Denson of Monahans was fishing in two to three feet of water when the big bass hit about 11:30 a.m. The fish was 26.5 inches long and 20 inches in girth.
The fish was weighed and held for pickup at the official Toyota ShareLunker Weigh and Holding Station at Falcon State Park. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff from the A.E. Wood State Fish Hatchery in San Marcos picked the fish up and took it to San Marcos, where it is awaiting the results of DNA testing.
If the fish is pure Florida largemouth, it will be taken to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens and held for spawning; otherwise, it will be returned to the lake as quickly as possible.
The fish is the fifth entry of the season into the Toyota ShareLunker program, following entries from Lakes Austin, Fork (two entries) and Dunlap....Read More
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Toyota ShareLunker 540 Comes from Lake Fork
ATHENS—Richard Scibek of Granbury went to Lake Fork Saturday to enjoy a day of fishing with his friend James Quisenberry.
Using a black salty (a type of goldfish), Scibek caught a 16.04-pound largemouth bass that ties with another Lake Fork fish as the twenty-second largest bass ever caught in Texas. The fish was 25.75 inches long and 23 inches in girth.
Scibek’s fish is the largest to come from Lake Fork since 2002. On March 22, 2002, the lake produced bass weighing 16.12 and 15.65 pounds.
The 16.04-pound weight puts Scibek in the lead for Angler of the Year honors. The person catching the largest ShareLunker of the season receives a prize package from G. Loomis and, if the person is a Texas resident, a lifetime fishing license.
Lake Fork has now produced 16 bass weighing 16 pounds or more, and holds 32 spots on the list of the 50 biggest bass ever caught in Texas. (Because of a four-way tie for fiftieth place, there are actually 53 fish on the list.)...Read More
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Wanted: Coastal Ghost Busters
AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is looking for volunteers interested in helping to remove abandoned crab traps — ghostlike killers of marine life — from their haunts along the coast.
Starting Feb. 15 and continuing through Feb. 24, all Texas bays will be closed for crabbing. Any traps left in the water will be assumed to be abandoned and considered “litter” under state law. This allows volunteers to legally remove any crab traps they find.
Since TPWD’s Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program began in 2002, a total of 29,552 wire mesh traps have been removed and disposed of, mainly on the mid and upper coast. This year, the department hopes to see the count rise above 30,000....Read More
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Time to Begin Work on Texas Fish-Art Contest Entries
ATHENS—Student artists across Texas in grades K — 12 take notice: It’s time to start preparing your entries for the 2013 Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest.
The contest is open to all students in public, private or home schools. Entry deadline is March 31 each year.
Contest rules, guidelines, entry information and details about the contest can be found at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishart.
Major support for the Texas division of the contest is provided by the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, which makes it possible for the top three Texas entries in each grade level to win cash prizes. Additional support for the contest is provided by the William E. Armentrout Foundation, Friends of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center and Fish Flops®.
The Texas first-place winner in grades 10—12 wins $1,000; second place $750; third place $500. Prizes in the 4—6 and 7—9 grade levels are $100 for first; $75 for second; $50 for third....Read More
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New Devil's River Permit Process Takes Effect Feb. 1
AUSTIN – Beginning Feb. 1, any paddler planning to put in or take out of the Devils River on public lands managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in Val Verde County must first obtain a permit from TPWD.
The new Devils River Access Permit is a key component of a pilot program designed to provide opportunities for responsible, resource-compatible public use of the Devils River, while respecting private landowner rights and protecting the ecological health of the river and its fragile ecosystem. Implementation of a permitting system was one of the key recommendations of the original Devils River Working Group that endeavored to strike a balance between private landowner rights and recreational river use by the public....Read More
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Top Bass Lakes in Texas
ATHENS—In reservoirs scattered throughout Texas, under the black skies of cool, fall nights, loud generators drone and bright lights beam from strange-looking boats built to transmit electrical current into the water to catch fish. Crews from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries district offices use these electrofishing boats to collect information on fish populations, including Texas’ most popular fish—largemouth bass.
Bass anglers are always searching for hot lakes, for bass populations that are primed for great fishing opportunities. With this in mind, TPWD’s Spencer Dumont used electrofishing information collected from over 4,800 adult bass (8 inches and longer) in 78 hours of electrofishing effort at 935 different shoreline sites from 62 reservoirs in Fall 2012 to rank the top ten bass populations in terms of small bass, keeper bass and quality bass.
What he found may simply confirm what you already knew. But more likely it will surprise you....Read More
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TPWD Seeks Input on Possible Coastal Fishery Regulation Changes
AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has scheduled three public scoping meetings in January to gather input about possible regulation changes for 2013-14. The scoping items include incorporation of a rule regarding recreational possession limit, clarification of fish harassment rules, bonus red drum tag requirement changes and new possession rules in state waters for aquatic resources in excess of federal limits...Read More
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ShareLunker 538 Comes from Lake Fork
ATHENS—Gary Sims of Gunter, Texas, caught Toyota ShareLunker 538 from Lake Fork December 12. The fish weighed 15.02 pounds and was held for pickup at Oak Ridge Marina, an official Toyota ShareLunker weigh and holding station.
Examination revealed the fish was caught previously on March 13, 2011, by Ed Carter of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. At that time the fish weighed 14.25 pounds and was 22.25 inches in girth and 25 inches long and was Toyota ShareLunker 518. The fish is now 22 inches in girth and 25.25 inches long....Read More
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Increased Access Available for Guadalpe Trout Anglers
AUSTIN—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has signed temporary leased access agreements with four Guadalupe River property owners to expand free public fishing access to the trout fishery downstream of Canyon Reservoir. In addition, new access sites for anglers are slated to open on the Brazos, Neches and Colorado rivers in time for high-quality spring fishing opportunities.
Recognized as one of the top 100 trout streams in America and the southernmost trout stream in the United States, the Guadalupe River below Canyon Reservoir is the only stocked trout fishery in Texas where trout survive through the summer. Free fishing access to the trout fishery is now available at Whitewater Sports, Rio Raft and Resort and Mountain Breeze Campground. Additional free fishing access will be available at Camp Huaco Springs beginning December 7, 2012...Read More
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Illegal Gillnet Activity Increasing Along Lower Coast
AUSTIN — With more than a month left in 2012, state game wardens already are looking at a record number of seizures of illegal gill nets and long lines in Texas and U.S. waters along the lower coast.
On Nov. 20, the U.S. Coast Guard notified the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that following a three-mile pursuit by one of its boats, coast guardsmen had apprehended a commercial fishing vessel from Mexico in Texas waters. At the South Padre Island Coast Guard station, game warden Sgt. James Dunks removed an illegal gill net from the seized Mexican “launcha” and found some 180 sharks entangled in it........... .......Read More
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Winter Trout Stocking Locations
AUSTIN – For an inexpensive, entry-level fishing experience the entire family can enjoy, it doesn’t get much easier than winter rainbow trout fishing in Texas.
Beginning in December and continuing through March, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will stock upwards of 250,000 hatchery-reared rainbow trout at more than 100 sites across the state. Many of the fish stockings will be conducted at small community fishing lakes, state park lakes and popular river tailraces offering easy angling access.
Locations such as Beal Park Lake in Midland, Eisenhower Park Pond in Houston, and Waldron Park in Corpus Christi will be stocked this winter.
TPWD has been stocking rainbow trout in small urban lakes, state park lakes and popular river tailraces each winter since the 1970s, providing Texans a simple and economical opportunity to go fishing.....Read More
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Group Recommends Ways to Protect Texas Seagrass
AUSTIN – An advisory group of fishing, boating and conservation interests has made nine recommendations to protect seagrass and five to reduce user conflicts along the Texas coast, Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners were told in a briefing here this week.
The 19-member Coastal User Working Group was created by TPW Commission Chairman Dan Friedkin of Houston and led by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries Director Robin Riechers, with representatives from the fishing, guiding, paddling, airboating, and birding communities, TPWD Law Enforcement, and various conservation organizations. The group met several times in recent months and recently completed a report containing its recommendations......Read More
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Fall Weather Adds to Appeal of Texas State Parks
AUSTIN – With summer vacations a distant memory, cooler temperatures on the horizon and foliage morphing into dazzling shades of crimson and gold, autumn promises optimum camping conditions in a Texas State Park near you.
Whether you’re a novice to the outdoors or seasoned camper, there’s no better time of year to pitch a tent or park your camper on a sunny beach, beneath towering pines or overlooking a sparkling lake at such destinations as Galveston Island, Buescher and Possum Kingdom state parks.
“Fall’s a perfect time to camp out because of cooler evenings, but daytime temperatures typically remain warm enough to enjoy water-based activities like canoeing and fishing,” says Ky Harkey, Texas State Parks outdoor education team leader......Read More
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NBC to Broadcast Toyota Texas Bass Classic November 11
ATHENS—More than 75 million homes will be able to watch this year’s Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) when it airs on NBC Sports Network November 11. Considered the world championship of bass fishing, the TTBC event was held in Conroe September 28-30 and featured three days of country music and a barbecue cook-off championship.
“Being able to air on NBC Sports Network is a great showcase for the world’s top anglers,” Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur said. “Sharing TTBC with such a large number of people is exciting, and it provides Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s conservation and education efforts with a broader audience. Fans will get a great look at what professional anglers deal with during competition.”
As the broadcast partner of TTBC, NBC Sports Network will air the championship in an hour-long broadcast. There will also be one weekday re-air, to be announced at a later date. The debut will air on Sunday, November 11, 2012, at 8:00 a.m. CST......Read More
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Largemouth Bass at Lake Sweetwater Face Uncertain Future
ATHENS — Lake Sweetwater, the small—and shrinking—emerald jewel of West Texas lakes, is loaded with largemouth bass. However, a dropping water level and declining bluegill numbers could signal trouble ahead for Sweetwater’s bass.
Sweetwater, which filled in fall 2007, has since experienced a 17-foot drop in water level, 10 feet of that since 2011. “And to add insult to injury, all that rain we had a few weeks ago missed Sweetwater’s watershed,” said Spencer Dumont, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries regional director.
Normally a dropping water level is tough enough on fish populations. For example, bluegill—a favorite food of largemouth bass—declined from over 1,000 bluegill in one hour of electrofishing in 2009 to just 69 bluegill in one hour this fall. Such a decline could eventually lead to slower growth and a stockpile of smaller bass. Add the possibility of golden alga blooms to a dropping water level and you have a two-headed monster, the same monster responsible for Sweetwater’s slow and torturous demise from 1998-2007, when the lake dropped over 40 feet and golden alga killed most of the remaining fish......Read More
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Toyota ShareLunker 537 Comes from Lake Austin
ATHENS—Bennett Cowan of San Marcos caught Toyota ShareLunker 537 about 2:00 a.m. October 16 from Lake Austin.
The 14.28-pound fish was 20.5 inches in girth and 27.25 inches long. Lake Austin has now produced 18 entries into the ShareLunker program, five of which weighed 14 pounds or more.
Cowan’s catch was also the earliest entry into the ShareLunker program from Lake Austin. The earliest previous entry into the program from the lake came on January 27, 2011. Two entries have come from the lake in January, seven each in February and March, and one in April.....Read More
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Outdoor Halloween Events Scheduled at Texas State Parks
AUSTIN – If you’re looking for a different and healthier way to help your youngsters celebrate Halloween, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department invites you to visit its state parks and fisheries centers for some special treats.
Ray Roberts Lake State Park in Valley View invites all little ghosts and goblins to the Johnson Branch unit of the park on Oct. 20 for the Spooky Critter Hike from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The park will host a very special night of family fun, candy, surprises and educational talk about critters of the night! Each time you find a night critter with a ranger on our short hike, there will be a treat waiting for you! Participants are encouraged to dress up! ....Read More
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Bryan Thrift Wins Toyota Texas Bass Classic
Enduring a field of 50 of the world?s best bass anglers, and brutally rough wind and rain conditions during Sunday's championship round, Bryan Thrift of Shelby, NC, boated a five-fish, 25-pound stringer on the final day of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic to run away with the top spot and a $150,000 prize package. Thrift brought in a three-day total of 15 fish, weighing 53 pounds, 4 ounces. ....Read More
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ShareLunker Season Right Around the Corner
ATHENS—The 27th season of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Toyota ShareLunker program will begin October 1.
Title sponsor Toyota has agreed to fund the angler recognition program for another three years. Anglers entering fish into the Toyota ShareLunker program receive a free replica of their fish, a certificate and ShareLunker clothing and are recognized at a banquet at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. The person who catches the season’s largest entry will be named Angler of the Year. If the Angler of the Year is a Texas resident, that person also receives a lifetime fishing license.....Read More
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$100,000 Up for Grabs at Toyota Texas Big Bass Classic ShareLunker Tournament
ATHENS—The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) is proud to welcome back the ShareLunker Club Tournament (SCT) on Lake Conroe, Oct. 1–21, 2012. Once again, members will have the opportunity to compete for $100,000, and this year, participants will also be competing against the world’s top anglers.
To participate in the tournament, anglers will need to first register and become a SCT member, and then fish on Lake Conroe between Oct. 1 – 21, 2012 (the “Tournament Period”). A $100 fee is required to become a member and only pre-registered members will be eligible for the $100,000 prize. The member who catches the largest Toyota ShareLunker from Lake Conroe during the Tournament Period will win a cash prize of $100,000. A portion of the program proceeds will benefit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s youth outreach programs.....Read More
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Three New Public Fishing Access Areas Open on the Guadalupe River
AUSTIN—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has signed temporary leased access agreements with three Guadalupe River property owners to expand public fishing access to the trout fishery downstream of Canyon Lake.
Access is now available through Mountain Breeze Campground, Rio Raft and Resort, and Whitewater Sports.
Recognized as one of the top 100 trout streams in America and the southernmost trout stream in the United States, this segment of the Guadalupe River is managed through special fishing regulations and is stocked in the winter months by TPWD and the Guadalupe River Chapter of Trout Unlimited.....Read More
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TFFC Bluegill Family Fishing Tournament September 29
ATHENS, Texas—The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center’s annual Bluegill Family Fishing Tournament will take place this year on Saturday, September 29.
Numerous prize packages will be awarded, including an X-Box 360 with game, fishing equipment and gift cards from local businesses. More than $2,500 in prizes will be awarded.
Sponsors of the event include: Wulf Outdoor Sports, Lake Athens Property Owners Association, Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership, Best Western Royal Mountain Inn, Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites—Athens, WalMart Supercenter of Athens, Chicken Express and First State Bank.
Sponsors also include Lake Fork Trophy Lures and Brookshire’s Grocery. Brookshire’s will provide free bottled water to contestants.
The tournament awards prizes for the heaviest stringers of sunfish, but the event is really about adults and children having fun fishing together....Read More
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Toyota Texas Bass Classic Announces First Group of Qualifiers
ATHENS — The Toyota Texas Bass Classic has long been considered a world championship of bass fishing, bringing the top anglers to Lake Conroe year after year, and with the first set of qualifiers to the 2012 field, the tournament will continue to be a showcase for the world’s best.
The top 15 Professional Anglers Association members from the 2012 Walmart FLW Tour Angler of the Year List have qualified for the tournament. Highlights from the field include Angler of the Year David Dudley and 2009 Toyota Texas Bass Champion Dave Lefebre.
The Toyota Texas Bass Classic will take place Sept. 28-30 at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center in Conroe.....Read More
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Hill Country River and Stream Anglers Survey Underway
AUSTIN — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Inland Fisheries Division is partnering with Texas Tech University’s Department of Biological Sciences and the TTU Llano River Field Station to conduct a four-month survey of anglers who fish Texas Hill Country rivers and streams.
The survey will determine recreational angling effort (time spent fishing), gather information on angler attitudes and opinions, and evaluate the economic impact of angling in the region’s rivers and streams.
Anglers who have fished a Hill Country river or stream during the past 12 months are encouraged to participate in the survey. Information from anglers who target Guadalupe bass, the state fish of Texas, is of special interest. TPWD is engaged in an ongoing effort to restore and preserve Guadalupe bass populations in the Llano, Blanco, Pedernales, San Antonio and James River watersheds....Read More
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Youth Sets New Striper Record on Lake Texoma
ATHENS — Drake Hunter Holmes of Sherman shattered the junior angler Lake Texoma record for striped bass Sunday with a 5.03-pound, 23.5-inch-long fish.
Holmes caught the fish while fishing with his dad, Kennith Holmes. If approved as the official record, the fish will beat the old record of 2.68 pounds caught by Mitchell Kisel of Denison. He caught the striper while they were slabbing on the Table Top area just outside the Little Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma.
Kennith Holmes said Drake has caught bigger stripers, but they did not realize what the record was until they went to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) website (www.tpwd.state.tx.us ) to check.....Read More
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TPWD Seeks Businesses to Weigh Big Fish
ATHENS — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Angler Recognition Program will launch a new tool this fall to assist Texas anglers in locating certified public scales for weighing record catches. Businesses that agree to participate will be publicized as official weigh stations on the TPWD website.
The new initiative is designed to partner with fishing-oriented businesses and facilities that will be provided official signage and a supply of Angler Recognition Program applications. There is no fee to participate, but participants will be required to keep their scales certified on an annual basis.
Businesses and facilities that wish to participate are invited to sign up now......Read More
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Emergency Zebra Mussels Order Signed
AUSTIN – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Carter Smith has signed an emergency order adding Lake Ray Roberts and Lake Lewisville to the list of water bodies under special regulations intended to control the spread of zebra mussels.
Smith’s action comes following the discovery in mid-July that the destructive invasive species had been found in Lake Ray Roberts, north of Denton.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission earlier this year amended TPWD’s regulations to require that boats operated on Lake Texoma and Lake Lavon be drained (including live wells and bilges) before they leave those water bodies. Taking this precaution is crucial in efforts to slow the spread of this species, since contaminated boats are one of the primary ways this happens. Draining water from boats prevents the spread of a microscopic form of the zebra mussel called a veliger, which is invisible to the naked eye......Read More
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Zebra Mussels Found in Lake Ray Roberts
AUSTIN – Three years after the discovery that zebra mussels had established themselves in Lake Texoma, the destructive invasive species has been confirmed in Lake Ray Roberts north of Denton. This is only the second lake in Texas found to have zebra mussels, and the first in the Trinity River basin.
“Unfortunately, from an environmental and economic standpoint, this is very bad news,” says Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Carter Smith. “For a host of reasons the implications of this discovery are substantial to Texas waters and their future use and management. We intend to continue working with our partners to do everything reasonably possible to try and prevent the further spread of this harmful invasive species.”.....Read More
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Texas Early Migratory Seasons Set for Dove, Teal, Geese
AUSTIN — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SRC (Service Regulations Committee) has approved the 2012-2013 Texas early migratory game bird seasons, including a 70-day season and 15-bird daily bag statewide for dove, a 16-day early season statewide for teal, and 16-day early season for Canada geese in the Eastern Goose Zone.
Texas dove season in the North and Central Dove Zones will run from Saturday, Sept. 1 through Wednesday, Oct. 24 and reopen Saturday, Dec. 22 through Sunday, Jan. 6, with a 15-bird daily bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.
The South Zone dove season will run Friday, Sept. 21 through Sunday, Oct. 28, reopening Saturday, Dec. 22 through Tuesday, Jan. 22 with a 15-bird daily bag and not more than two white-tipped doves......Read More
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Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Season to Open July 15
AUSTIN — The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for both state and federal waters will open 30 minutes after sunset Sunday, July 15, 2012. The opening date is based on an evaluation of the biological, social and economic information to maximize the benefits to the industry and the public.
In making its determination, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries Division used the best available scientific information including samples collected by using trawls and bag seines in TPWD routine data collection......Read More
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TFFC Gearing Up for Fourth of July Fireworks
ATHENS, Texas—Preparations are under way for the annual Fourth of July fireworks show at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC). The show will last approximately one-half hour and is one of the biggest in East Texas.
The fireworks show is directed and produced by Alpha-Lee Enterprises, Inc., of Liverpool, Texas. The show is a Keep Athens Beautiful event.
TFFC will be open for regular visitation from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission for the fireworks show will start at 4 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to fish in the stocked casting pond while waiting for the fireworks, which will begin at dark. No license is required to fish, and bait and tackle are furnished for free. Fishing ends approximately one-half hour before the fireworks begin.......Read More
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Angler's Legacy Program Offers Anglers Chance to Share the Gift of Fishing
ATHENS—It is generally recognized that getting young people involved in the outdoors benefits them in many ways. Research shows that children who engage in outdoor activities are happier and do better in school. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries biologist Spencer Dumont of Abilene has some suggestions on how to make that happen.
“Many times over the years anglers have asked me what they can do to help make fishing better,” Dumont said. “Anglers have helped by providing tournament results, assisting with habitat projects, going electrofishing with us, and a few other things. However, there is another way, one that may be more important than anything else an angler can do: Introduce someone to fishing who has never been fishing before.”
The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) is an organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating and thereby increase public awareness and appreciation of the need to protect, conserve and restore this nation’s aquatic natural resources......Read More
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Texas Fish Hatcheries Serve as Refuges for Imperiled Species
ATHENS—The five state-operated fish hatcheries in Texas generally have one job: to produce fish for stocking into Texas waters.
But the record-breaking drought of 2011 was a game-changer for Texas in many ways, including how Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) uses its fish hatcheries. One, the Dundee State Fish Hatchery near Wichita Falls, actually had to suspend operation because of lack of water.
Two fish hatcheries added new activities to their ongoing sportfish production responsibilities. The Possum Kingdom State Fish Hatchery used one pond to hold two species of minnows from the upper Brazos River in case it went dry. The A.E. Wood State Fish Hatchery in San Marcos improved a small portion of their incubation room to hold mussels that might be lost to dried-up rivers or highway bridge construction.
In both cases the purpose is the same: to provide a refuge for species threatened by natural conditions or human activities until they can be safely returned to the wild......Read More
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Angling Legends Inducted into Texas Freshwater Fishing HOF
ATHENS—Anglers Tommy Martin and Lonnie Stanley were inducted into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame at a banquet in Athens Saturday night.
Martin, of Hemphill, and Stanley, of Huntington, were joined by about 100 friends and family as they received their awards and viewed videos recapping their careers.
The two were the twenty-third and twenty-fourth inductees into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, which was established in 1996 and inducted its first honorees in 1997. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor those who have made a lasting contribution to freshwater fishing in Texas, and to foster a sense of appreciation, awareness and participation in the sport of fishing......Read More
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Clean Your Boat, Save Your Lake from Invasive Species
ATHENS — Invasive species, plants or animals that find their way to new places they don’t belong and cause economic, environmental or ecological damage, have wreaked havoc throughout the U.S. A couple of well-known examples are the lamprey invasion of the Great Lakes and everybody’s favorite in Texas, the fire ant.
Texas is home to a number of aquatic invasive species. Two species in particular are at the top of the most-wanted list: zebra mussels and giant salvinia.
Zebra mussels are small, less than 1 ½ inches long as adults, and currently exist in Lake Texoma (on the Red River of the Texas/Oklahoma border) and in West Prong Sister Grove Creek above Lake Lavon.......Read More
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Public Meeting Set for June 13 on Lake Texana State Park
AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, June 13 regarding plans to terminate its lease with the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority to operate Lake Texana State Park.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the recreation center of the LNRA’s Breckenridge Park and Campgrounds, 891 Breckenridge Parkway in Edna, across the highway from the 575-acre state park, which has been operated by TPWD since 1981.
TPWD invites all interested parties to attend the public meeting that will include an overview of the agency’s plans to terminate the current lease and tentative plans for operating the site as a public park. LNRA and TPWD are currently discussing issues related to the transfer to ensure minimal impact to the public........Read More
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Free Food, Fishing to Highlight National Fishing Day at Freshwater Fisheries Center
ATHENS, Texas—The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens will kick off National Fishing and Boating Week June 2 by making a family fishing trip affordable with free admission for kids 12 and under plus free fishing for the whole family.
Free hot dogs, chip and drinks will be served from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. by employees of the Athens Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Kids may also win prizes in a catfishing tournament at TFFC’s casting pond.
In addition to fishing, visitors can walk the wetlands trail; see a diver hand feed fish; learn about the history of fishing in the freshwater fishing museum; shop for a Father’s Day gift in the Flat Creek Bait ‘n Goods Gift Shop and watch the alligator feeding at 3:30 p.m........Read More
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Game Wardens Stress Boater Education in Water Safety
AUSTIN – With many Texas lakes holding more water than they did this time last year, Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens are anticipating a busy boating season. And while they will be doing everything they can to make it a safe one, wardens could use a little help from boaters.
“Last year we had 32 boating fatalities across the state,” said Jeff Parrish, assistant chief for marine law enforcement. “Tragic as that number is, we can learn something from statistics. Of those 32 deaths, all but five were of people not wearing a personal flotation device. That really underscores the vital importance of wearing a life jacket.”.......Read More
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New Regulations to Affect Boaters, Anglers on Texoma, Lavon, Red River
ATHENS—Recent changes mean that boaters and anglers who take steps designed to prevent the spread of invasive species such as zebra mussels, silver carp and bighead carp won’t have to worry about being in violation of state laws prohibiting the possession of certain exotic species. These changes take effect May 17.
“Boaters and anglers on Lake Texoma, Lake Lavon and the Red River and its tributaries are being asked to take proactive steps toward being good stewards of the state’s aquatic resources by draining all water from their watercraft before leaving a boat ramp and hitting the road,” said Brian Van Zee, regional inland fisheries director for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
Zebra mussels have become well established in Lake Texoma, and they can be spread to other waters by boats. Boaters are already prohibited from transporting exotic species that are visible to the naked eye, such as adult zebra mussels.
The new regulation is intended to prevent the spread of zebra mussel larvae, or veligers, which are so tiny they cannot be seen without a microscope........Read More
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Toyota ShareLunker Season Ends
ATHENS—April 30 marked the end of the 26th season of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s ShareLunker program.
Thirteen largemouth bass weighing 13 pounds or more were entered into the program during the season, bringing to 536 the number of big bass entered since the program’s inception in 1986.
The season also saw the end of an era with the retirement of David Campbell, who had guided the program since its beginning and personally picked up most of the fish. Campbell was “Mr. ShareLunker” to hundreds of anglers.
Campbell handed over responsibility for the program to TPWD fisheries biologist Juan Martinez at the end of March.
The largest fish entered into the program this season was a 14.39-pounder caught from Falcon International Reservoir by Gary Wingate of Amarillo. Falcon was named the number one bass fishing lake in the nation by the editors of Bassmaster magazine......Read More
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Legendary Anglers to be Inducted into Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame
ATHENS—Professional angler Tommy Martin of Hemphill and lure manufacturer and angler Lonnie Stanley of Huntington will be inducted into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame June 2, 2012, at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.
Martin began guiding on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in 1968 and fished in his first tournament the following year. He turned pro in 1972 and won the prestigious Bassmaster Classic just two years later.
In 1975 Martin became the first professional bass angler to acquire cash sponsors. He won 19 national tournaments, was a 19-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and won five B.A.S.S. national titles. He also competed in FLW Outdoors events and qualified for both the Forrest L. Wood Cup and the Stren Series championship.
Martin helped found Texas Black Bass Unlimited, a Texas conservation organization that played a key role in developing the Texas bass fishery into the best in the nation.
He was inducted into the National Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2003.
Stanley, owner of Stanley Baits, Inc., started building jigs in 1979 after winning a tournament on Toledo Bend Reservoir with one he’d made. In 1980 he founded Stanley Lures, manufacturing jigs, spinner baits and other products. While continuing to build jigs in his garage in College Station, he won six more tournaments in 1980 and 1981.......Read More
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Texas Coastal Fisheries Hatcheries Celebrate 30 Years
CORPUS CHRISTI— Putting blackened redfish on the menu back in the 1970s almost helped land the popular game fish on another list, for protected species, had it not been for an ambitious fisheries management initiative that included development of the Texas marine fisheries hatchery system.
Providing a jump start to resurrect a red drum, aka redfish, fishery depleted by commercial fishing pressure was the impetus for constructing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s first marine fisheries hatchery, the CCA-CPL Marine Development Center, now celebrating its 30th anniversary.
In 1980, the Gulf Coast Conservation Association (now CCA Texas) announced plans to partner with Central Power and Light Company (CPL) and TPWD to build the world’s largest red drum hatchery at the Barney Davis Power Plant in Corpus Christi.
The CCA provided funding for the construction of the original hatchery as well as the expansion phase in the late 1980s. Much of this money was used as state match towards a $10 million dollar U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration grant for construction of the hatchery expansion. The hatchery facility became operational in 1982.......Read More
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O.H. Ivie Proves ShareLunker Bass Was No Fluke
ATHENS—When O.H. Ivie, the West Texas reservoir now below 20 percent capacity, produced Toyota ShareLunker 535 March 25, some people assumed the catch was an aberration.
That illusion vanished on Good Friday, April 6, when Kyle Johnson of Abilene caught Toyota ShareLunker 536, a 13.36-pound largemouth bass that was 27.5 inches long and 20 inches in girth.
Johnson proved that even in a lake that is more than 30 feet below conservation pool, it is still possible to find the shallow water where bass like to spawn. He caught the fish in three to four feet of water on a jig.......Read More
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Falcon ShareLunker Produces Large Spawn
ATHENS—Toyota ShareLunker 531, caught from Falcon International Reservoir March 16, spawned more than 44,000 eggs March 29.
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) hatchery staff removed the eggs from the spawning mat, counted them and put them into a hatching jar. The eggs will hatch in three or four days, and the fry will be raised to about 1.5 inches in length before being stocked.
A video of the processing of ShareLunker 531’s eggs may be viewed on the ShareLunker program Facebook page.
ShareLunker 531 was caught by Gary Wingate of Amarillo and is the first ShareLunker to spawn this season. Multiple spawns from the same fish are not uncommon. Six of the current entries are pure Florida largemouth bass and are being held for spawning. Those fish came from Lakes Falcon, Austin (two fish), Fork, Ray Roberts and O.H. Ivie......Read More
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Lake Austin ShareLunker Streak Continues
ATHENS—Lake Austin has produced two more Toyota ShareLunkers, bringing its season total to five. The last two were caught on the same day, March 21.
Lake O.H. Ivie, which had a hot streak the past two seasons, produced its first entry of the current season March 25.
O.H. Ivie now ranks number 3 in total number of ShareLunkers produced, with 24. Lake Austin ranks sixth with 17.
Other reservoirs that have produced double-digit numbers of ShareLunker entries include Lake Fork with 249; Alan Henry, 25; Sam Rayburn, 23; Falcon, 19; Conroe, 16; Choke Canyon, 13; and Amistad, 12.....Read More
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Falcon, Fork Each Produce ShareLunker Bass
ATHENS—Perennial big-bass lakes Falcon and Fork each produced a Toyota ShareLunker over the weekend.
Falcon started the ball rolling March 16 with a 14.39-pounder, the biggest fish entered into the program so far this season. Gary Wingate of Amarillo caught the fish in 12 feet of water using a plastic worm. The fish was 26.5 inches long and 20.75 inches in girth. It was weighed at Robert’s Fish ‘n Tackle in Zapata.
Wingate’s catch boosted him into the front-runner spot for Angler of the Year. The person who catches the season’s largest entry will be named Angler of the Year and will receive a prize package from G. Loomis valued at $818. The package includes a G. Loomis NRX854C jig and worm rod, a Shimano ChronarchD1007 casting reel and 150 yards of moss green Power Pro super-braid fishing line. If a Texas angler catches the largest entry of the season, that person also receives a lifetime fishing license.
Lake Fork chimed in Sunday with a 13.1-pounder caught in a JC Outdoors individual tournament. Michael Justus of Garland was fishing alone when the big bass took his finesse worm on a dropshot rig in six to seven feet of water.
This weekend’s fish are the eighth and ninth entries of the season.....Read More
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Lake Ray Roberts Produces ShareLunker Bass
ATHENS—Big bass are where you find them, and Stan Lawing of Poetry, Texas, proved that while fishing in a Bass Champs tournament on Lake Ray Roberts March 3.
Lawing had reeled his spinner bait almost all the way back to the boat when a 13.06-pound bass took it. That fish is now Toyota ShareLunker 530.
Lawing reported the fish bit about 1:30 p.m. in 2.5 feet of near-60-degree water. He won big bass and placed third in the tournament. Half his bag weight was the one fish.
When measured at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, the fish was 25 inches long and 21 inches in girth.
Four ShareLunkers have come from Lake Ray Roberts in the past, the last in 2005. Two were caught in 2000 and one in 1999....Read More
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Trophy Bass Management Symposium Set for March 24
ATHENS – Private bass pond managers will get a behind-the scenes look at how Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) inland fisheries biologists monitor fish populations and care for trophy bass at a statewide symposium set for March 23—24, 2012, at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens.
“There are more than a million private impoundments in the state, many of which could be used for increased recreation through bass fishing with better management,” said Dr. Billy Higginbotham, Texas AgriLife Extension wildlife and fisheries specialist. “As many landowners have learned, you just don’t stock a pond or lake with largemouth bass and automatically get trophy-size fish.”....Read More
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Lake Austin Produces Third ShareLunker of Season
ATHENS—So far five fish have been entered into the Toyota ShareLunker program for the 2011-2012 season, and Lake Austin has produced three of them.
Wesley Hayden of Round Rock caught Toyota ShareLunker 527 from Lake Austin February 11. Landon Glass of Jarrell caught No. 528 from the lake February 14.
Brett Ketchum caught No. 526 from Lake Austin January 29, starting the three-fish streak.
Hayden was fishing in four feet of 57-degree water about 2 p.m. using a jig when he hooked the 13.22-pound fish. It was 26 inches long and 21.25 inches in girth.
Glass caught his 13.03-pound Toyota ShareLunker while fishing in 10 feet of 58-degree water with a Sixth Sense football jig. A scan of the fish revealed it is the same fish caught February 27, 2010, by Carl Adkins of Austin, at which time it became Toyota ShareLunker 481. At that time the fish weighed 13.1 pounds. DNA testing at the time revealed the fish to be pure Florida largemouth....Read More
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Fly Fish Texas Set for March 10
ATHENS—Tie a fly. Cast a fly. Catch a fish.
That’s all there is to fly-fishing, and Fly Fish Texas is the place to learn it. The annual event takes place March 10 at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.
Show hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All Fly Fish Texas activities are free with regular paid admission to the center.
Fly Fish Texas emphasizes hands-on learning and immediate application of newly acquired skills. Visitors can collect aquatic insects from the center’s streams, tie a fly to imitate one of those insects under the supervision of a skilled tier, learn to cast it from a casting instructor certified by the Federation of Fly Fishers, then use it to catch a rainbow trout, catfish or sunfish from one of TFFC’s stocked ponds or streams....Read More
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New Texas Saltwater Fishing Book Now Available
Fishing along the Texas Gulf Coast is more popular now than ever. Additionally, saltwater anglers are advancing an increasingly technical style of fishing for speckled trout, redfish, flounder and snook in Texas inshore waters. With that in mind, long-time Texas outdoor writer and inshore fishing guide Danno Wise has condensed a lifetime of fishing tips and tricks into a neatly packaged 60-page book. Now available through Amazon.com as well as several tackle shops and other retail locations throughout Texas, Danno Wise's Tips for Fishing the Texas Coast is a must read for fishermen wanting to increase their knowledge and skill level....Read More
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Artificial Reef Domes Placed in Galveston Bay System
HOUSTON – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recently enhanced one of its oyster restoration projects in East Galveston Bay with the addition of 59 concrete artificial reef domes donated by Galveston Bay Foundation.
The artificial reef domes were placed on a 1-acre patch of restored oyster reef in East Galveston Bay (approximate center point 29° 30’ 44”, -94° 39’ 54”). Each dome was individually placed on the site using a crane on a construction barge. Care was taken to ensure that the domes were not stacked on each other so that water depth over the site would be maintained at safe levels for small craft navigation. The domes will be used to attract fish and oyster larvae and will facilitate studies on oyster density and fish utilization.
The department’s artificial reef program has enjoyed tremendous success placing large reef domes in the Gulf over the past 15 years. Dale Shively, Artificial Reef Program Director, notes that there was a marked increase in the number of fish after the placement of the reef domes. Though smaller than the large artificial reef dome structures in the Gulf, the reef domes in Galveston Bay may also attract large game fish.....Read More
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Angler Lands Toyota Share
Lunker 526 from Lake Austin
ATHENS—Lake Austin gave up the third Toyota ShareLunker of the season to Austin angler Brett Ketchum January 29.
The 13.0-pound bass is the thirteenth ShareLunker to come from the urban lake. Ketchum caught the fish on a jerkbait in 10 feet of 56-degree water while fishing in an Austin Bass Club of the Deaf tournament. He won big bass and placed second overall.
“She was a very good fighter,” Ketchum said. “Once she jumped, I noticed she was big, but I kept fighting her, and when she got close and I saw her I thought, ‘Oh, it’s big!’ I was nervous because I saw only one treble hook in her, and I knew I could lose her in a second. But I stayed calm, let her fight until she was tired, then reeled her close to the boat. My partner Sammy Oates, Jr., netted her beautifully. He and my son Braden were shaking when I bought her in.”....Read More
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2012 Toyota Texas Bass Classic Schedule Set
CONROE—Dates for the highly-anticipated return of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC), the world championship of professional bass fishing and country music festival, were announced today with all of the action set to begin Friday, Sept. 28. The three-day event (Sept. 28-30) will feature anglers from across all major tours and some of country music’s premier artists with event proceeds benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and its youth outdoor programs.
“We are very excited to return to Conroe and bring together the best anglers in the world and offer amazing entertainment value each day,” said Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur. “The TTBC has become an annual community event that has generated over $1.2 million for the TPWD and the state of Texas and we are thrilled about what we’re putting together for this year.”
Daily tournament weigh-ins, outdoor expo and concerts will take place at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center and the TTBC will offer a wide range of activities that families, outdoor enthusiasts and music fans will enjoy. The 2012 concert line-up will be announced this summer with previous year’s performers including Trace Adkins, Billy Currington, Pat Green and Blake Shelton....Read More
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Central Texas Zebra Mussel Forums Scheduled
Three forums will be held Jan. 18 and 19 in Kingsland and Marble Falls and Burnet to address the threat of invasive mussels in the Highland Lakes. The purpose of these forums is to raise awareness of potential consequences associated with zebra and quagga mussels in the Colorado River system.
Speakers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Lower Colorado River Authority, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Inks Lake Dam National Fish Hatchery will present at the forums.
“Zebra mussels are one of the most prolific and destructive invasive species found in the US,” said Brian Van Zee, TPWD Inland Fisheries Regional Director.....Read More
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Boater's Ed Now Required for Operators Born after Sept. 1, 1993
AUSTIN – Anyone looking forward to operating a motor-powered vessel, sailboat or personal water craft on Texas public waters this year needs to have completed a state-approved boater education course if born after Sept. 1, 1993.
While the new law became effective last year, Texas Parks and Wildlife suggests starting off the new year with a boater education course to make sure you’re good to go when the water warms up and Texans begin heading to the state’s many lakes and streams for fishing or recreational boating. Prior to passage of the new law, only boat operators ages 13-17 had to take a boater education course.
The mandatory boater education law requires certification for anyone born after Sept. 1, 1993 who operates a vessel with a motor of more than 15 horsepower or a wind-blown vessel measuring more than 14 feet in length. While all boaters are encouraged to take boating safety education, those born before Sept. 1, 1993, are exempt from required certification.......Read More
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Season's Second ShareLunker Comes From Falcon Lake
ATHENS—When Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine publisher Randy Brudnicki planned a fishing trip to Falcon International Reservoir with his sons Jason and Dustin for the week after Christmas, he knew the time was right to catch a Toyota ShareLunker.
But the trio struggled for two days, catching only small bass mid-lake and near the dam. On Wednesday, December 28, the north wind shifted to the south, and that made all the difference. “I knew to look for places where the south wind would blow in to points,” Brudnicki said.
It was their last day to fish, and they wanted to get on the road early, so they put in at the county ramp in Zapata and began fishing around the city’s water intake structure. “After spending some time on the main point but only catching small fish, we moved upwind to a ledge,” Brudnicki said. “My son Jason, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, started throwing a Strike King 6XD crankbait, a Christmas present from his older brother, Dustin. The big girl hit right under the boat as he ended his retrieve. He set the hook and she pulled a little line. Dustin grabbed the net and in seconds the fish was in the boat.”... Read More
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Happy New Year's from Texas Weekend Angler!
As 2011 draws to a close, Texas Weekend Angler would like to wish a Happy & Safe New Year's to all of our readers and advertisers. January 2012 will begin our fifth year on the world-wide web. During that time, we have grown from a tiny start-up to the largest content-driven fishing website in Texas. Much of the credit for that accomplishment goes to our readers and advertisers for their support through the years. In the upcoming year, there will be many exciting new additions to Texas Weeekend Angler, but, as always, you can rely on us to provide up-to-date fishing reports, fishing news and how-to articles. Have a happy, safe and prosperous New Year. Be sure to visit Texas Weekend Angler often during 2012.
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Texas Anglers Alerted to Possible Coastal Freeze Events and Fishing Closures
AUSTIN — As Texas approaches the winter season and temperatures drop, many anglers continue to enjoy great fishing on coastal bays. However, when temperatures on the coast are predicted to fall below 32°F for three or more days, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) executive director has the authority to close some areas to saltwater fishing until the threat from the freeze event is over.
When a closure occurs, this doesn’t mean all fishing is closed. It simply means that a few deepwater harbors and canals may be closed to angling if freezing conditions warrant it. For a complete list of these thermal refuge areas subject to closure go to the TPWD Saltwater Freeze Events web page........Read More
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Conference to Teach Trophy Bass Management Techniques
ATHENS – Mark your calendar if you want to grow trophy largemouth bass in your pond or lake. An upcoming program set in Athens will show you how, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert.
"Bass Tech: The Technology to Manage for Success" will be held at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center- Conservation Center, Farm-to-Market 2495, Athens, on March 24, to show bass enthusiasts just how to do so, said Dr. Billy Higginbotham AgriLife Extension wildlife and fisheries specialist, Overton.
A joint venture by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and AgriLife Extension, programming will include presentations starting with basic pond ecology, water quality, pond fertility, supplemental feeding, bass population assessment, aquatic weed control, controlling nuisance wildlife, bass genetics and managing for trophy bass, Higginbotham said.......Read More
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Low Lake Levels Allow for Habitat Improvements on Fork
ATHENS—Members of the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association (LFSA) partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Inland Fisheries Division staff in making fish habitat improvements at Lake Fork on November 30.
Taking advantage of drought-induced low water levels that have exposed shorelines, teams planted 400 buttonbush plants at various sites. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), a native woody shrub commonly called “buckbrush,” was chosen in an attempt to establish woody cover for fishes. When inundated by water, it helps provide great bass fishing........Read More
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Winter Trout Stocking Program Locations Announced
AUSTIN — Throw your rod and reel in the car and take the short drive to your local fishing hole, it’s time once again for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s annual winter rainbow trout stocking.
Each year TPWD stocks roughly 250,000, 9-12 inch hatchery-reared rainbow trout in more than 100 neighborhood and state park locations across Texas as a part of the annual stocking program. Locations such as Brackenridge Park in San Antonio, Bullfrog Pond in Austin, Bob Sandlin State Park in Mt. Pleasant and Arena Park Pond in Marshall are some of the locations used by the program in past years. The program occurs in the winter due to the cooler water temperatures in Texas water bodies.......Read More
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TPWD Sets Public Scoping Meeting Dates for Seagrass, Freeze Event Regulations
AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has scheduled five scoping meetings this winter, starting Nov. 30, about two possible regulation changes for 2012. The scoping items include consideration of a new state scientific area to protect seagrass in the Laguna Madre near the John F. Kennedy Memorial Causeway in Nueces County, and a clarification of emergency rules to protect fish during coastal freezes.
Dates and locations for the meetings are listed below. All meetings will begin at 7pm. Also, a Public Comment link will be placed on the TPWD website homepage to allow comments to be submitted electronically.
The two coastal items are part of possible statewide hunting and fishing regulation changes for 2012. After receiving input regarding these two issues, they may move to an official proposal after the January commission meeting, after which there will be more statewide meetings and comment opportunities before final rules are approved by the TPW Commission in March.......Read More
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Season's First ShareLunker Bass Yet to be Caught
ATHENS—Only the sound of running water fills the Lunker Bunker at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. The 22 round, 1,500-gallon ShareLunker holding tanks are ready to receive fish.
So far none have arrived.
The Toyota ShareLunker season starts October 1 and runs through April 30 because Texas is so large that the spawning season stretches over many months. Over the 25-year history of the program, six 13-pound or bigger fish have been entered into the program in October, nine in November and 20 in December.
In a typical season, the action really picks up after the first of the year. There have been 55 entries in January, 119 in February, 224 in March and 85 in April.......Read More
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TPWD Seeks Input on Expanded Seagrass Protection
AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will hold initial scoping meetings and take online comments this winter about two possible regulations changes for 2012, depending on stakeholder input—a new state scientific area to protect seagrass in the Laguna Madre near the John F. Kennedy Memorial Causeway in Nueces County, and a clarification of emergency rules to protect fish during coastal freezes.
The two coastal items are part of possible statewide hunting and fishing regulation changes for 2012. They will not become official proposals until January, after which there will be more statewide meetings and comment opportunities before final rules are approved by the TPW Commission in March.......Read More
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Red Tide Update 4
October 31, 2011
To date, the red tide has killed 4.2 million fish since September. While significant, this number is a far cry from the 22 million fish killed during the 1986 red tide.
The red tide has caused recent fish kills in the Victoria Barge Canal near the State Highway 35 bridge; the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in a boat channel near the ICWW on the east side of the refuge; Goose Island State park between the island and the boat ramp; in Corpus Christi Bay at La Quinta Channel and Joe Fulton Canal.......Read More
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Red Tide Update 3
October 24, 2011
Matagorda/Lavaca Bays: Dead mullet were found at the Perry R. Bass research facility on Friday. On Sunday, TPWD staff found dead spot, flounder, redfish, and spotted seatroutnear Sand Point and along the eastern portion of Lavaca Bay. Discolored water and feeding seagulls were seen between Keller Bay and Cox Bay. Seagulls were also feeding on dying fish in Cox Bay near Weesatche Cove and buzzards were seen feeding on dead fish along the banks. Dead and dying gizzard shad were found in Keller Bay.
Espiritu Santo/San Antonio Bays: On Friday, TPWD game wardens observed stressed red drum and dead sand trout in the ICWW on the western portion of San Antonio Bay. On Saturday, TPWD staff noted older dead gulf menhaden, sheepshead and shrimp eels at the Shoalwater Flats Association boat ramp near Charlie’s Bait Camp. Others at the ramp reported breathing discomfort in the area on Friday.......Read More
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Red Tide Update 2
October 17, 2011
Calhoun County: TPWD Law Enforcement observed over the weekend that Espiritu Santo Bay had a very marked set of red tide patches measuring 100 feet across and 1/4 mile long stretching in bands across the bay. Numerous dead fish were sighted along the ICWW near Charlie's Bait Camp, including some legal-sized redfish. The game warden noted that larger fish are comprising more of the fish kill.
Port Aransas/Mustang Island: Conditions have improved along Mustang Island. No fresh dead fish are washing in and aerosols have diminished greatly. K. brevis cells are still being found at the UTMSI pier at Port Aransas. Mustang Island State Park has removed the dead fish along a stretch of their beaches in the pedestrian day area and along the first half-mile of beach camping. A fisherman called to report that he had fished all around Aransas Bay over the weekend and saw no evidence of red tide from the southern tip of Mud Island near the old shrimp boat wreck up to Paul’s Mott reef along the north side of San Jose Island, none at Treasure Island, and none in South Bay. He did report aerosols but no discolored water at the Port Aransas jetties.....Read More
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Red Tide Update
October 10, 2011
Aerosols have now been reported from the Corpus Christi and Port Aransas areas: the entire length of Padre Island National Seashore, Packery Channel, Newport Pass, Mustang Island State Park and Port Aransas. Water samples collected from the UT pier and marina both contained high concentrations of Karenia brevis. Biologists are investigating reports of lethargic fish in the Packery Channel area.
The South Padre Island area continues to have low concentrations of cells around the causeway, the San Martin boat ramp and the end of the Brownsville Ship Channel......Read More
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Are You Ready to Catch a 13-pound Bass?
ATHENS—Largemouth bass weighing 13 pounds or more are rare. Only 523 have been entered into the Toyota ShareLunker program in the last 25 years.
Therefore, finding one on the end of their line comes as a total surprise to many anglers. Panic usually ensues when the biggest bass the angler has ever seen breaks the surface. “Holy [unprintable]! What do I do now?” is a common reaction.
The first problem is getting it into the boat, especially for anglers fishing alone. Those with a partner but no net can have their buddy grasp the fish by its lower jaw and tail and bring it in. Ideally there will be a rubber net available for landing the fish. In either case the fish should not be allowed to flop around in the bottom of the boat. This removes the slime coat that protects the fish from infection and can also result in wounds......Read More
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Rare Piranha Catch Illustrates Need to Prevent Invasive Aquatic Species in Texas
AUSTIN – A rare catch of a red-breasted piranha in a community lake near Houston recently illustrates the need for prohibition of invasive aquatic species in Texas waters.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials an actual piranha is a VERY rare occurrence in the wild—only 2 documented specimens in 30 years—and possessing and releasing live piranhas and dozens of other exotic, harmful or potentially harmful fish species is prohibited by Texas law.
Dave Terre, management and research chief with TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division, said the 23-acre Tom Bass Park community lake in Pearland on the outskirts of Houston where the piranha was caught on Aug. 27 remains a great place to go fishing and is completely safe to go fishing there......Read More
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Federation of Student Anglers Organizing Clubs Across Texas
ATHENS—The Federation of Student Anglers (FSA) wants to hear from students in Texas middle and high schools who want to form or be on a school fishing team and from school administrators who are interested in starting a club team at their school.
FSA is expanding its two flagship programs, the Texas Middle School Fishing Challenge and the Texas High School Fishing Series, with chapters and club teams forming in and around North Texas, Houston, Austin and Tyler.
Student members fish every month of the year in on-the-water tournaments, online tournaments, in club and chapter outings and in the Summer Fishing Series that fishes one weeknight each week for the entire summer break. Club teams compete against other schools in their chapter for trophies, plaques, fishing and paddling equipment, boats, letter jackets (yes, you can now letter in fishing!), and most importantly, scholarships.......Read More
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REPORTS
Salt Water
Fresh Water by Region
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When it comes to outdoor recreation, `tubing' is a distinctly Texas activity. However, not all Texas tubin' involves inner tubes, clear cold Hill Country rivers and Shiner Bock. In fact, this article has nothing to do with Lone Star State summer river recreation. But, it does deal with another popular summer past time - inshore light-tackle angling.
Throughout late spring and well into summer, the otherwise glassy surface of back lakes and coves in various Texas bays will often explode with what appears to be tiny slivers of glass. However, these small shards are actually diminutive glass minnows leaping quite literally for the lives in order to escape hungry predators beneath them. 
It is a common belief among weekend bass anglers that visible cover is the easiest type of structure to fish. Since it can be seen, it is certainly the easiest type of structure to find. However, 5-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Lonnie Stanley knows getting maximum productivity from visible structure can be deceptively difficult. As Stanley is quick to point out, success typically lies with what you can't see - even with visible structure
Spring's warmer weather and warmer water welcomes new life to Texas' inshore bays. Shrimp, crab and finfish have - or soon will - release this year's crop of younglings. When this happens, the bay's resident predators will shift their focus from large, hard to catch adults to the young, naïve hatchlings populating the flats. 
Rain, rain, go away. That's a popular children's refrain. In that same spirit, coastal anglers are likely to chant, wind, wind, go away. However, during April along the Texas coastal curve, that's a highly unlikely occurrence. The wind is going to blow this month, so you might as well get used to it. If you do attempt fishing in high spring breezes, you might do more than get used to - you might actually start liking it. In fact, more than one fisherman has been heard to utter the phrase, wind, wind, please blow today after having a few successful windy days on the bay. South Padre Island guide Capt. Eddie Curry counts himself among the windy weather aficionados.....
On June 2, 1932 George Perry used a Creek Chub Fintail Shiner to fool a 22 pound, 4 ounce black bass. That fish remains the world record today. However, it's hard to say what is more surprising - that the record has stood for so long or that Perry used an artificial lure to set record. After all, artificial lure fishing was still in its infancy during the Depression Era. Sure, Creek Chub, the brand used to set the record, had been in business for over two decades at the time. And, a handful of other manufacturers were also offering artificial lures to fresh water fishermen. But, the overwhelming majority of anglers during that time utilized natural baits as opposed to artificial ones.
March is the month that ushers in spring. Spring's warmer weather and warmer water welcomes new life to Texas' inshore bays. Shrimp, crab and finfish have - or soon will - release this year's crop of younglings. When this happens, the bay's resident predators will shift their focus from large, hard to catch adults to the young, naïve hatchlings populating the flats. 
Anyone who has browsed through a tackle shop or flipped through the pages of a fishing catalog can attest to the massive amounts of lures on the market today. And, anyone with a few bucks in their pocket can buy the lure of their choosing. However, despite what the ad may say, few, if any, of these lures guarantee an angler success. Sure, it's your job to find the fish. But, even once they're found, it's up to you to make that lure look as good to them in the water as it did to you on the store shelf. To do that, you have to know how to properly retrieve the bait under the prevailing conditions.....
January typically ushers in true winter weather along the Texas coast. When the 'blue northerns' begin to push across the coastal curves, the relatively shallow inshore bays can become downright chilly. During these cool periods, trout and redfish will leave the shallows and bury themselves in the deepest water they can locate. Depending on the bay, this deep water may be found in shipping channels or boating lanes, natural 'holes' in the bay, port areas, holes blown during oil and gas exploration, or rivers feeding into the bay. Regardless of what feature is responsible for the deep water, if it is accessible, the fish will find it.....
As we move toward late winter and, eventually, spring, we are entering a time when fish - particularly big fish - prefer a slow-moving bait. Topwaters and slow-sinking plugs are useful for times like these. However, these baits only produce when fish are working the mid- to upper-levels of the water column. So, what can you use when fish are buried down in the grass or hugging the bottom of potholes and refuse to raise up to take a bait? Soft-plastics, of course.....
When anglers shivering through a winter snowstorm in northern climes consider a tropical escape, Texas rarely enters their mind. However, located on latitude 26 - the same as Miami, Florida - South Padre Island, Port Isabel and the waters of the Lower Laguna Madre which separate these two towns, as well as Port Mansfield some 20-odd miles to the north, are warm year around and offer excellent shallow water fishing opportunities even during the dead of winter. 
"If you want to catch fish this time of year, you've got to slow down your retrieve." That quote could be attributed to one of thousands of guides or anglers along the Texas coast. During seminars, in print articles and on television shows - everyone gives the same generic "work it slow" advice, generally leaving the angling audience wondering, "What the #@%$ does 'slow' mean?!" After all, slow can mean a lot of things and without a relative scale, it is almost impossible to determine exactly what someone means when they say "fish slow." 
When most anglers hear Corpus Christi, they think beach, bay and a host of inshore salt water species. However, just a short drive away from the city it provides water to, a freshwater impoundment provides a completely different angling experience. Though Lake Corpus Christi takes its name from the Sparkling City by the Bay, and though it is a short drive away from its namesake city, from an angling point of view, it is worlds apart.
When most people think of winter fishing along the Texas coast, they think about fishing slow and deep. While this long-standing stereotype of Texas winter fishing does hold true, a more accurate way to view the winter pattern is summer fishing in reverse.
With its silvery sides, bright yellow chin and deeply-forked black tail, the Florida pompano is one of the more tropical looking species found in the Gulf of Mexico. And, despite its name, anglers don't need to travel to the Sunshine State in order to tie into this popular light-tackle quarry. However, relatively few Texas anglers take advantage of the well-established pompano fishery along the state's southernmost stretch of beach......
There is a difference between general bay fishing and the more specialized discipline of flats fishing. Simply put, flats fishing involves angling pursuits in shallow water, usually three feet or less. Although this brand of fishing has become increasingly popular in recent years, many anglers are unprepared for the unique challenges presented by fish in shallow, clear water.
For years anglers searching for fishing adventures full of trophy size largemouth bass probed a variety of Mexican big bass factories. From Lake Guerrero to El Salto, these south-of-the-border lakes produced an incredible amount of big fish during their prime. However, in recent years it has become evident that US fishermen heading into Mexico were passing up a pair of the best big bass lakes in North America.
From the moment it filled in 1965, the 114,000-acre Lake Sam Rayburn has held a prominent spot in the minds of bass anglers everywhere. Located just outside of Jasper in Deep East Texas, Rayburn became an instant legend. Over the decades, the legend of Lake Sam Rayburn only grew larger, helped in part by the legions of legendary anglers that began their careers there. Since its inception, the BASS tournament trail has been well populated with fishermen who cut their teeth on Big Sam.
As fall continues toward winter, most fly fishers have one thought in mind - redfish. After all, most areas of the Gulf Coast have plenty of "spot tails" waving above the waterline during October, as fish feed nose down on shallow flats. Casting to tailing reds is most fly fishers "perfect day." However, don't be so quick to rule out specks on autumn afternoons.
“Hot dang, fishin' them frogs is fun,” joked Lonnie Stanley. However, no matter how much “foolin'” he was doing when he uttered that sentence, Stanley is dead serious about frog fishing. In fact, for a man who made his professional angling and lure making reputation with jigs, Stanley sounds as if he's had some mid-life revelation.
Over the past few years, artificial shrimp such as the DOA Shrimp have become more and more popular among coastal fishermen. However, a number of questions always arise as to the best way to rig and fish artificial shrimp. Here are a few of the more popular and productive methods.... 
Up and down the Texas Coast, talk of the “Big Three” often dominate the discussion whenever and wherever bay fishermen gather. However, at the extreme southern tip of the state, the “three” consuming most anglers' thoughts are different than those referred to by fishermen north of the Lower Laguna Madre.
Halloween is undoubtedly the signature event of October. And, as virtually everyone knows, `trick-or-treat' is the battle cry for millions of costumed revelers on Oct. 31. However, as fall begins in earnest, `trick-or-treat' is a fair credo for flats anglers as well. For, the tenth month is a time when redfish are tempted both by tricks - artificial lures - and treats - natural baits. Combining the two can also be effective. Here are just a few of the top tricks and treats for taking spot tails during the Halloween season....
The majority of Texas inshore anglers are familiar with the 'Big 3' inshore species - redfish, speckled trout and flounder. Hands down, these three species are the most popular among Lone Star State saltwater fishermen. Catching all three in a single session is a feather in any fisherman's cap. October offers up the best opportunity to do so on a routine basis.
Each year, as fall moves closer to winter, Laguna Madre area anglers are treated to a “run” of good mangrove snapper fishing. Although these feisty fighters are found year around in our waters, late fall is perhaps the best time to target them.
Redfish are among the most popular targets for fly fishermen plying the temperature salt waters of coastal Texas. Visions of 'tailing reds' on shallow flats often fill fishermen's minds as they make their way to the coast. However, during late summer and fall, an entirely different type of red drum fishing is available throughout the fish's range. 
From the lakes in the East Texas Piney Woods to cold Texas Hill Country streams panfish of all varieties are popular among Lone Star State anglers. And, whether it be crappie, bluegill, Rio Grande perch, or any other of the myriad of panfish that call Texas home, there are a handful of lures that every panfish angler should have in their box......
Located on the northern tip of Padre Island, less than a 3 hour drive from San Antonio or Houston, Port Aransas is a quaint community offering excellent fishing opportunities both in the bay and along the beachfront. In addition, Port A offers a variety of other vacation activities, including shopping, excellent dining, golf and a vast array of hotels, condos and beach houses. This combination makes Port Aransas an excellent angling vacation destination for family fishermen heading to the Texas coast.
During September, wind is often absent, resulting in mirror-calm conditions on the bay. In this situation, specks and reds inhabiting shallow flats can become extremely wary of any intrusion of their personal space. Often, the best way to tempt this fish is to go light - as in using ultra-light conventional and fly tackle......
Most every serious salt water angler in Texas has, at one time or another, read an informational fish identification book. Although various volumes differ on some points, most of them concur on major issues. 
For anglers in the Laguna Madre area, July signals the beginning of an incredible couple months of fishing opportunities. From now through September, inshore and nearshore anglers can realistically expect to hookup with everything from speckled trout to tarpon to kingfish. Granted, some years see this potpourri of saltwater game fish show up sooner than others. And, this year we had a pretty early jump on kingfish and Spanish mackerel. However, year after year, July marks the point at which all of these species will be consistently found in catchable numbers in and around the Laguna Madre......
Most every bass fisherman has encountered schooling bass on the surface of their favorite lake. More often than not, these encounters were memorable ones, with bass coming cast after cast. For most weekend anglers, these run-ins with schooling bass are welcomed, but unplanned, highlights of a day at the lake. 
Each year the beaches of the Lower Texas Coast see an invasion of Spanish forces. No, not the long-ago fleets of galleons, but smaller, speedier seafarers. Adorned with gold (spots), these visitors call the beachfront waters home throughout the summer and fall months. 
Historically, the Texas tarpon fishery rivaled that of Florida. However, through the 1980s and 90s, the fishery declined to the point of being virtually non-existent. Luckily, over the past decade tarpon have returned in record numbers. While no one is certain why they disappeared or reappeared, anglers up and down the Texas coastal curve are once again enjoying seasonal runs of Silver Kings. As Texas fishermen have gained more experience pursuing these majestic game fish, they have also developed ways of chasing tarpon that are distinctly `Texan.' .....
To the general public, spring is known for flowers and showers. Fishermen know that wind is also a key characteristic of the season. Rare is the April day that doesn't see 15 to 20 mile-per-hour breezes sweeping across Texas bays. In fact, for much of the Texas coast, April is perhaps the windiest month of the year.
Beginning Memorial Day weekend, the tiny island community of South Padre in extreme south Texas holds weekly fireworks displays. Every Friday night at 9:15 sharp, the sky above this small sliver of sand erupts in at pyrotechnic performance that strikes awe in every observer. The weekly shows run throughout the summer, eventually culminating in one last hurrah over Labor Day weekend. 
Once school lets out for summer, thousands of families will be embarking on their annual vacation adventure. For many of these families, angling is an important part of their yearly sojourn. 
Most Texas fishermen are familiar with king mackerel, but relate to them as an offshore target. While it is true kings spend the majority of their time well off the beach, late summer along the entire stretch of South Padre Island - from Brazos Santiago Pass to the Mansfield Cut - they can be found sharing water with swimmers. It is then that jetty walkers, surf casters and old men in john boats are just as likely to tangle with these tasty tackle-busters as the boys in big center consoles.
For years anglers searching for fishing adventures full of trophy size largemouth bass probed a variety of Mexican big bass factories. From Lake Guerrero to El Salto, these south-of-the-border lakes produced an incredible amount of big fish during their prime. However, in recent years it has become evident that US fishermen heading into Mexico were passing up a pair of the best big bass lakes in North America.
Jerkbaits: Virtually every bass fisherman has heard of them. However, a relatively small percentage of fishermen actually use them. This is partially due to the perception they are only effective in very specific instances. While it is true these baits aren't the best choice for many circumstances, when the conditions are favorable, few artificial lures will out produce a suspending jerkbait.
Life as a shrimp is tough. Brown shrimp, white shrimp, grass shrimp - it doesn't matter what species, if you are a shrimp, you're born to be eaten. Virtually every fish that inhabits Texas bays love to gobble these tasty crustaceans. And, as summer gets into full swing, salt water fishermen in the Lone Star State can't do better than using live shrimp to tempt inshore predator fish. Or can they?.......
Rain, rain, go away. That's a popular children's refrain. In that same spirit, coastal anglers are likely to chant, wind, wind, go away. However, during April along the Texas coastal curve, that's a highly unlikely occurrence. The wind is going to blow this month, so you might as well get used to it. If you do attempt fishing in high spring breezes, you might do more than get used to - you might actually start liking it. In fact, more than one fisherman has been heard to utter the phrase, wind, wind, please blow today after having a few successful windy days on the bay. South Padre Island guide Capt. Eddie Curry counts himself among the windy weather aficionados.....
It is a well-known fact that larger red drum eat mullet, pinfish and other finfish. It is an equally well-known fact that baitfish imitating plugs produce good catches of redfish. However, what is not so well known is that one of the original fresh water baitfish imitating hard baits - the crankbait - produces redfish in saltwater equally as well as it does black bass in freshwater. 
The group of fresh water sunfish species collectively known as panfish provide perhaps more hours of angling enjoyment than any other types of fish found in North American waters. This is largely because everyone from children and beginners right up to experienced fishermen are able to enjoy catching these feisty fish. However, though they are a `user-friendly' quarry, there are a few basic baits, lures and techniques that can help every angler increase their catch........
Redfish are arguably the most popular saltwater gamefish in Texas. But, it hasn't always been that way. In fact, as recently as the 1970s, redfish weren't even classified as gamefish in the Lone Star State. Sure, they were popular among sport fishermen, but they were more popular among commercial fishermen. At the time, speckled trout were considered a more desirable light tackle target. 
The old saying, "Big bait, big fish" does not always ring true. But, late winter through early spring is a time that it certainly does.
Valentine's Day is the first thing that most people think of when mid-February rolls around. Weather this time of year can be a bit brisk, windy and often times a little wet. Casual anglers don't think of fishing for another month or so. However, a select few Gulf Coast fishermen know that this is the time of year when our bay systems offer up prizes that are far more treasured than those found in a box of chocolates. 
Red drum, or redfish as they are commonly known, are among the most popular game fish in Texas. In fact, nearly as many anglers head to the Lone Star State in search of redfish as black bass. Additionally, thousands of resident Texans ply the inshore and nearshore waters along the Texas coast in search of these bronze beauties. However, you don't need to fish in salt or even brackish water in order to land a Texas red. 
During the first few months of the year, Texas sees boat and fishing shows staged across the state. Although many Texas anglers fish year around, there are plenty of 'bad weather days' in January and February when shows offer a nice alternative to spending a day on the water. And, as most fishermen know, shows are often a good place to pick up good deals on boating and fishing equipment. Here's a sample of some of the most popular annual events held during the winter months in the Lone Star State......
Most Texas light-tackle anglers love taking advantage of summer's excellent surf fishing opportunities. However, a great number of these same fishermen fail to realize winter also offers plenty in the way of beachfront bounty. Whether fishing from dry sand or using a granite jetty to extend their reach, surf fishermen have plenty of available options over the winter months. 
Each year, as fall moves closer to winter, Laguna Madre area anglers are treated to a “run” of good mangrove snapper fishing. Although these feisty fighters are found year around in our waters, late fall is perhaps the best time to target them.
Bass fishermen have long been known for experimenting with new tackle, tactics and techniques. Traditionally, saltwater anglers have been a little less experimental. However, in recent years, a growing number of Texas bay fishermen have been taking a page from the bass anglers' handbook - not just by developing their own new techniques, but also by outright borrowing some from their freshwater fishing brethren. Although it may strike some of the more traditionally-minded saltwater fishermen as odd, there are actually quite a few freshwater lures and techniques that can be quite deadly on speckled trout and redfish. Here's a few of the most productive crossover lures and techniques...
Anglers know Texas heat can become unbearable during August. This heat wave is every bit as formidable beneath the waters surface as above. The key for fishermen routinely scoring good catches during the dog days of summer is finding pockets of cooler water. Depending on tides and time of day, these areas of 'agua frio' can be found in various areas of a bay system.......
Once the Gulf waters lapping against the dry sand on Texas beaches turn deep green and warm above 70 degrees, anglers get itchy to “go pluggin'” in the surf. In fact, probing the beachfront waters with metal and plastic artificial lures is a Texas tradition that dates back to the introduction of artificial lures into the saltwater fishing realm. And, since the ideal conditions for surf fishing in this manner are highly seasonal, this angling pursuit continues to have an aura of adventure about it.
Summer, more than any other time of the year, offers coastal anglers a variety of fishing options. Not only are there more species of fish available during the summer months, there are also more places and ways to catch them. Fish may be shallow or deep, in the flats or along the channel edges. And, this may change not just from day to day, but throughout any given day as the sun and temperature rises. Being versatile and capable of making a change in locale or technique from hour to hour can make the difference between catching fish all day and just catching them during a portion of the day.
For decades, anglers from Texas as well as other Gulf Coast states have flocked to Lake Calcasieu, just outside Lake Charles, Louisiana, to sample its legendary fishing. Located a scant 2 1/2 hours from downtown Houston, Lake Calcasieu is close enough to be convenient, yet far enough to be 'exotic' for fishermen from the Lone Star State. Most often, Texas fishermen take their initial trip to Big Lake to "do something different." But, after that first foray, they are hooked and become regular Lake Cal fishermen.....
