Acquiring Local Knowledge Without Hard Knocks

Probably the number one question I get asked for the month of April is, “Do you think we will need waders?”

“Bring them just in case,” is how I usually reply, because you just never know this time of year. It’s not that we have hard-blowing northers to deal with, but with cool nights the water temperatures can still be chilly in the morning. If the sun doesn’t pop out early and you have 15–20 mph winds working, you will definitely feel better with them on.

Now, on the days with partly cloudy skies and climbing water and air temperatures, we have found so many fish up shallow you could actually wear shorts. I tell people fish are like us sometimes—most days in April we would rather sit in the sun than hide under the shade of a tree.

Fish will hover tight to shorelines and can be found on top of sandbars in as little as 6–8 inches of water. Sand heats up faster than anything around it on these days, so paying close attention to areas like this can be the key to success, especially for trophy trout.

There may not be stringers full of fish in these small or tight-to-work areas, but the quality of fish you find there can be surprising. Stealth is key—turtle-speed walking and long casts. Most of the time these areas will be holding gin-clear water. Throwing small baits like 4-inch Down South Lures or Big Smooths is the ticket, in my opinion.

Getting close to some of these bigger fish lying on top of the sand can test one’s patience and skill, but the payoff can lead to some personal-best specimens being landed.

Working areas like this can take quite a bit of time, and don’t be surprised if you end up several hundred yards from the boat. Do not worry about trying to keep the boat close behind you by controlling it remotely with the Power-Pole and/or trolling motor. After many years of careful observation, I tend to believe that practice simply creates too much noise and pushes fish farther out in front of you—or even out of the area entirely.

I believe another factor contributing to this type of trout activity is the spawn. Typically in late March and April we begin to see more big fish up in shallow water. Part of this, I believe, is preparation for the first spawning events of the year.

Now, in saying that, we probably will not see them—at least not in large numbers—in areas like this every day. But if a person pays attention and takes note of the days when they do see more fish up shallow, they can begin putting some of the pieces of that puzzle together.

This does not mean you need to start burning shorelines and pushing these big fish off their beds. The most successful fishermen are those who can read what the water is telling them and walk into an area with confidence, knowing that timing and location have already given them the information they need to stalk some of the bay’s biggest trout.

From Port O’Connor to Rockport, we offer navigational trips designed to help anglers of all levels. Whether you are new to an area or an experienced angler exploring a certain body of water, we provide tips and techniques for each situation.

We also emphasize safety and boat etiquette on these trips, along with teaching anglers how to run new waters safely and mark hazards on their GPS units along the way.

Our goal is to help you learn how to read the water from both a navigation and fishing standpoint, while having detailed fishing discussions in each area we visit during your trip. These discussions include weather, tides, seasonal patterns, what to look for, and how to approach each specific area.

Whether you are new to fishing or a seasoned angler, we try to customize each trip to fit your needs. With most anglers spending the bulk of their time on the water between May and September, a summer navigational trip might help you be just a little more successful.

Captain Nathan Beabout
USCG/TPWD Licensed
Full time guide since 2007
Seadrift, Port O’Connor, & Port Mansfield, TX
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