APRIL FISHING

3-25-2010--This entry will be longer than normal because it'll be the last for a few days. I've sold my Haynie Bigfoot tunnel hull boat and have a new Haynie 24' Cat on order. The new boat has been delayed due to the very high number of Haynie Boats on order and delays in designing and producing the new 24' Haynie Cat caused by the wet and cold weather. The exact date that I'll get my new boat is still unknown at this time. I'm told by those who got to ride in the first 24' Cat that it is an awesome boat. Roomy, smooth and dry were the words to describe it.

The fishing seasons are changing. April is the month we go from black drum and redfish to trout and redfish. The way I look at it there are two groups of trout. One stays in the bay all year but often gets hard to find in the winter. The other goes out through the passes in the late fall and winter and comes back following the bait about April each year. The returning "tide runners" can make for some great catches of large trout. The trout, when found this month, will be associated with structure, largely grass or oyster shell. I expect spring winds will keep us off most of the oyster shell the majority of days. On the shorelines, we'll look for areas with at least some grass. Most of last years grass has either been eaten by ducks or succembed to the cold, low water conditions. Once we're in an area with some structure, we'll want to look for bait. When we see the right structure and bait - that's the place to start fishing. There will be some days when the spring time trout are over hard sand but these will be the exception to the rule.

Not every day in April will be good trout fishing, but redfish will generally make up the difference on these days. I can recall some fantastic days of April and early May trout fishing. The tide runners, fresh from the surf, are much more aggressive and stronger than fish that have been in the bays for awhile.

April is also the month winter Texans leave for parts north. I'll miss them, but it will be nice for the stores and restaurants to be less crowded until the Texans with second homes start to arrive in force about the end of May. The other winter Texans, i.e. whooping cranes, will be leaving this month for their nesting grounds in remote Wood Buffalo National Park in the Northwest Territories, Canada. These highly endangered birds draw lots of visitors to the Coastal Bend each year from November through early April.

I still have quite a few days open in late April, and the rest of the summer for that matter, including some weekends. Call me to line up a fishing date. If you can only fish weekends recommend you start making arrangements as soon as possible. Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays get booked up early.

Ask me about lodging specials. Discounted rates are available at local establishments.