Jay Watkins

Jay Watkins

Fish Smart: Learn to Exploit Opportunity

Writing this in early August, we have thus far experienced three tropical weather events that affected the Aransas Bay Complex....

Tough Conditions Make Us Better Fishermen

The summer pattern has truly set in. Afternoon water temperatures have reached 90° on multiple occasions recently. If you’re not...

Learning to Identify the Strike Zone

Do you remember when John Madden retired from coaching and became a football broadcaster? He was great at breaking down...

Praying For Stable Weather Patterns

It’s been a slow start to my springtime fishing in the Rockport area. Weather conditions are having an impact, especially...

Springtime Success: Bait Migrations and Precise Lure Placement

With the arrival of spring comes new seasonal patterns and a change in guiding locations for Jay Ray and I....

The Value of Continuing Education

Through the winter season we were lucky to dodge a couple of truly cold spells. The third week of January...

Improving Your Fishing Success During Frontal Approach

Winter is in full swing with frequent changes in air and water temperatures, and also wind direction. These changes create...

The Super-Clear Water Dilemma

The waters of the Aransas Bay complex have been exceptionally clear this winter, some of which I attribute to the...

Favorite Wintertime Structure for Big Trout

I had a group recently who wanted to know what my favorite type of structure was for big trout. I...

There’s a Big Difference Between Not Aggressive and Not Feeding

The cooler air temperatures are nice, right? Cooler air temperatures always equate to cooler water temperatures, and after the heat...

Gulf Coast Kitchen

Get all the latest coastal cuisine recipes from guides and authors.

Recipe of the month

Hot & Crunchy Speckled Trout with Mango Jalapeño Aioli

My friends Brandon Benton and Mary Anne Gunn shared this recipe with me. It’s got a little coastal kick and...

Capt. Robert Peel’s Red Snapper with Seafood Stuffing

Texas Chrome Outdoors Seafood Pasta

Upcoming

Getting the Most Out of Gut and Bar Structure

Watch for Tagged Ling and Tripletail