EVERYTHING BUT FLOUNDER

3-30-2013--Only had one angler today.  The wife had planned to go but woke up not feeling well.  First we went for big drum but left there after having no bites, to drift for trout.  That didn't work either so we went for sheepshead.  The angler quickly caught a limit of 5 sheepshead and one sand trout.  We checked on the big drum again but had no takers.  Next we drifted for trout and caught 4 before the bite ceased.  Since the tide had slowed we went back to try the big drum a third time.  My guest caught and released a 39 inch black drum right away but there were no followups.  Next we went for redfish and he caught a 25 inch red.  While fishing for black drum he caught gaftopsail catfish and while fishing for redfish he caught hardheads.  Flounder was about the only species of those catchable at this time of year that he didn't get.

 

OVER SIZED BLACK DRUM

     

                      

 3-27-2013--Had three fishermen for a full day.  The first half day was good with six large black drum hooked and four landed and released after pictures.  After the black drum we fished all over the Redfish Bay area, everywhere I had caught fish lately, but couldn't get a keeper fish.  I had two of the same fishermen the next morning (March 28) so I really needed to make a good showing, but the fish gods were not with me.  We launched at Saint Charles Bay, thinking the fishing north of Rockport would be better.  They caught a lot of trout that were short on one end or the other but we didn't manage a single keeper before quitting time at 11 AM.

BLACK DRUM AND TROUT

 

3-28-2013--Picked the 3 afternoon fishermen up at 12:30 at Ingleside and went for oversized black drum with sea lice and crab.  They landed eight black drum between 34 and 37 in. which were of course released after pictures.  They opted to leave the black drum and try for some trout after a couple of hours.  We drifted with shrimp and a popping cork in five different areas to catch one 18 nice inch trout.  With just minutes left to fish we drifted by the edge of a grass line off of an island with quite a bit of bait fish showing.  I'm not sure if it was the time of day, right amount of tide or what, but the trout were there.  The 3 fishermen quickly caught 2 nice trout and missed a couple. I felt like we were leaving the beginning of a good trout feed.  Picture is of the fishermen holding 3 trout which is all the keeper trout caught from my boat all day.  

 

REDFISH AND BIG BLACK DRUM

3-20-2013-- The two very good fishermen today booked me because they wanted to experience catching big black drum.  When I saw that there would be a strong north wind today, I asked if they would like to wade for redfish first and then go for the drum.  They agreed and we set out in 35-40 mph winds.  I know they were dubious, because there were zero other boat trailers in the parking lot.  We got in the water at 7:30 and had their 2 limits of redfish on white gulp jerk shad by 8:00 am.  They went on to release some more before we left to get the big drum at 9:00 am.  Put the boat on the trailer and went to the launch at Ingleside after a stop for tacos.  They tugged and pulled in 4 black drum up to 40" before the bite stopped.After that it was one small shark, some hardheads, and so many gaftop catfish we finally gave up.

CATCH AND RELEASE

3-19-13 --Had a good day with 2 experienced fishermen.  The predicted strong north wind didn't materialize but we had enough northeast wind to make the redfish and trout come up to feed.  The fishermen only kept one Red that was deep hooked but we caught either 5 or 6 keeper reds and an estimated 15+ keeper trout.  Most of the Reds and the larger trout, i.e. 18-23 1/2 inches came on the first wade, basically standing in one spot.  Had the same two fishermen yesterday but fishing was very tough.  The day began with no wind and little tide movement.  Yesterday we fished from Long Reef to the reefs in San Antonio bay for only a few keeper trout and one flounder.  I like this catch and release - no fish to clean - so we  can fish longer and it's better for future fishing.

CATCH AND RELEASE DRUM

2-13-2013--My two guests today caught and released 7 over sized black drum.

GREAT FLOUNDER DAY

Had one wade fisherman today.  Picture is of his stringer after the first wade.  He caught 5 large flounder.  I told him he should mark it on the calendar because it would likely be a long time before he caught a limit of flounder again.

Black Drum

3-11-2013--Great day for black drum.  Had a 2 boat trip.  I took the 3 boys and had another guide take the parents.  Started the day fishing for eating size drum.  We were late getting to the spot where my crew limited at 8:30 yesterday because one of the boys had to go get a fishing license before we could start.  When we got there an air boat was setting on the spot.  We moved to several other spots and caught lots of fish but most were small reds and drum.  We left there at noon with 4 keepers and went to Aransas Pass to fish for oversize drum.  That worked.  They ended up catching 13 drum between 31 inches and 37 inches and losing four that pulled off and one the broke off.