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Mid-Coast Bays: January 2011
Lindsey Kahn shows off her first San Antonio Bay redfish of the day.
November and early December fishing here on the mid-coast was the best we had all year. The redfish bite was "off-the-hook fantastic" whether we were using bait or lures. Speckled trout were just as cooperative but many days the winds that came with each norther kept us out of our favorite holes in San Antonio Bay. There were days when we couldn't get out of the trout but unfortunately most were less than 15 or barely on the mark.
There has been lots of talk about mid-coast trout numbers slowly declining. TPWD has already addressed this situation in the Lower Laguna Madre by enacting a five fish daily limit in 2007. If you can believe the grapevine we might soon have a five fish limit here on the middle coast and I support it fully. While we are still catching good numbers of trout when the weather allows, and especially this past fall season, I have to admit that the catching in general seems to be on the downward trend. There are many anglers already practicing "Just Keep Five" and there are even more keeping only a few for dinner and releasing the rest. I enjoy seeing this mentality among local anglers but I can tell you there are still too many anglers judging a day by how full their coolers can get.
I completely understand those who don't get to fish often stocking up when they can and I have some customers that enjoy taking a limit home. But the anglers I am referring to are the ones that are fortunate to fish a couple of times per week and still feel the need to fill their ice chest on every trip. Technology makes it possible for anglers to catch more fish while floods and drought are both hard on the trout. Something has to give. Besides, if five trout isn't enough to take home, what's wrong with targeting black drum? They're darn good eating too.
Speaking of changing limits, I have to mention flounder. TPWD reduced the bag limit to five per recreational angler and thirty for commercial fishermen effective September 2009. During November the only method allowed is rod and reel with a two fish limit. I know it has only been one year but I have to say we are already catching more flounder. And even though the flounder are on the small side I am encouraged what next year will bring. It would be great to start catching flounder "accidently" more often.
January fishing can be very rewarding if you fish the right areas. Moving off the sandy shorelines into the softer bottom back lakes is a must this time of year. We are lucky here on the mid-coast that we have many back lakes. Use caution when fishing lakes like Shoalwater, Post or Fifth Lake because our water levels are typically lower this time of year and are best suited for flats boats or kayaks. Wading these lakes can be difficult in places due to the muddy bottoms but usually well worth the effort. If wading is out of the question for you, drift fishing is another option. One recommendation I would like to mention is the use of a trolling motor. If you don't already have one you should surely invest in one. I use mine on a daily basis and would be totally lost without it whether I am wading or not. Electric motors allow anglers to move quietly from one area to another without disturbing the fish. I almost always run close to a spot I intend to fish and then shut down and use just my trolling motor to get closer.
Choose lures that are more natural in color for this time of year since the water tends to be clearer. Pumpkin-chartreuse and salt and pepper Silver Phantom Bass Assassins will always be my top choices when throwing plastic. Berkley's Gulp jerkshad in the smelt color will come in a close second. Rigging a popping cork above your soft plastics sometimes yields better results because it slows down the presentation and also makes the right kind of "noise" to attract more fish. If you prefer hard baits, Mann's Bait Waker lure is hard to beat when it comes to catching redfish, they cannot resist the wobble.
May this New Year fill your heart with new hopes, open new horizons and bring for you promises of brighter tomorrows. May you have a great New Year. Happy Fishing!
There has been lots of talk about mid-coast trout numbers slowly declining. TPWD has already addressed this situation in the Lower Laguna Madre by enacting a five fish daily limit in 2007. If you can believe the grapevine we might soon have a five fish limit here on the middle coast and I support it fully. While we are still catching good numbers of trout when the weather allows, and especially this past fall season, I have to admit that the catching in general seems to be on the downward trend. There are many anglers already practicing "Just Keep Five" and there are even more keeping only a few for dinner and releasing the rest. I enjoy seeing this mentality among local anglers but I can tell you there are still too many anglers judging a day by how full their coolers can get.
I completely understand those who don't get to fish often stocking up when they can and I have some customers that enjoy taking a limit home. But the anglers I am referring to are the ones that are fortunate to fish a couple of times per week and still feel the need to fill their ice chest on every trip. Technology makes it possible for anglers to catch more fish while floods and drought are both hard on the trout. Something has to give. Besides, if five trout isn't enough to take home, what's wrong with targeting black drum? They're darn good eating too.
Speaking of changing limits, I have to mention flounder. TPWD reduced the bag limit to five per recreational angler and thirty for commercial fishermen effective September 2009. During November the only method allowed is rod and reel with a two fish limit. I know it has only been one year but I have to say we are already catching more flounder. And even though the flounder are on the small side I am encouraged what next year will bring. It would be great to start catching flounder "accidently" more often.
January fishing can be very rewarding if you fish the right areas. Moving off the sandy shorelines into the softer bottom back lakes is a must this time of year. We are lucky here on the mid-coast that we have many back lakes. Use caution when fishing lakes like Shoalwater, Post or Fifth Lake because our water levels are typically lower this time of year and are best suited for flats boats or kayaks. Wading these lakes can be difficult in places due to the muddy bottoms but usually well worth the effort. If wading is out of the question for you, drift fishing is another option. One recommendation I would like to mention is the use of a trolling motor. If you don't already have one you should surely invest in one. I use mine on a daily basis and would be totally lost without it whether I am wading or not. Electric motors allow anglers to move quietly from one area to another without disturbing the fish. I almost always run close to a spot I intend to fish and then shut down and use just my trolling motor to get closer.
Choose lures that are more natural in color for this time of year since the water tends to be clearer. Pumpkin-chartreuse and salt and pepper Silver Phantom Bass Assassins will always be my top choices when throwing plastic. Berkley's Gulp jerkshad in the smelt color will come in a close second. Rigging a popping cork above your soft plastics sometimes yields better results because it slows down the presentation and also makes the right kind of "noise" to attract more fish. If you prefer hard baits, Mann's Bait Waker lure is hard to beat when it comes to catching redfish, they cannot resist the wobble.
May this New Year fill your heart with new hopes, open new horizons and bring for you promises of brighter tomorrows. May you have a great New Year. Happy Fishing!