CUR APR May 13 A - CCA Texas

Upper CoastBy Capt. Steve HillmanThe easiest fishing one could ask for.Fishing in Galveston Bay has been well aboveaverage, with trout up to 7 pounds when theweather cooperates. Sustainability of our troutfishery is very important so we’re releasing allof the larger trout. The pattern for June and Julywill be a sequel to May. Drifting slicks overshell in 4 to 7 foot depths is about the easiestfishing one could ever ask for. Birds havealready started feeding over migrating brownshrimp in certain locales, with quite a fewundersized trout under them, but this willchange in coming weeks as the shrimp getlarger.Trinity, East, West and Lower GalvestonBays will continue to hold plenty of fishthroughout the summer. Work the eastshoreline of Trinity early in June and thenspend more time around the wells later in themonth and into July. East Bay reefs are reliablewhen the wind allows, while the shorelinesare good for wading on the breezy days. WestBay’s San Luis Pass can give up some nicetrout. Lower Galveston Bay around theCauseway will produce, especially on two-tidedays.Drifting or wading, the key is to locateactive bait and / or fresh slicks. Lots of surfaceactivity? Try throwing topwaters. If you just seeslicks and not much surface bait then softplastics will probably work better. Keep itsimple when choosing lure colors. Remember,it’s more about contrast in a speckled trout’sworld. Dark or overcast conditions in offcoloredwater call for dark colors such as RedShad, Morning Glory or Texas Roach.Limetreuse, Pearl or Glow are good examplesof colors that will work well in green water /bright sunlight conditions. Throw small, lowpitch topwaters in low wind conditions andloud, high pitch ones in choppy waters. It’s notNuclear Physics.Also, using the right equipment willincrease your odds of catching exponentially.Using a rod that is better suited for an Olympicpole vaulting competition won’t get the jobdone. I use a Shimano Core 50 Mg rigged on a6’6" Waterloo Ultra Mag rod and while I maynot stick every fish, I can definitely feel everybite. Have fun and remember….the big onesjust don’t taste as good. —Captain Steve Hillmanwww.hillmanguideservice.com 409-256-7937Jeff Sadler sent this 6 pounder back for furtherduty. Photo, Capt. Steve Hillman.Middle CoastBy Capt. Billy TrimbleIt happens fast.Spring in Texas is a blink of the eye on atypical year, but this year has not been atypical year. In mid-May, we still had coldfronts pushing through, slowing the progressof our summer conditions.There is still very little grass on the flatsand a lot of clean sand and mud flats wheregrass should be. Find grass and pods ofredfish feeding on grass shrimp, find somegreat sport.As spring transitions into summer ourweather pattern will settle down and the waterwill clear, and it happens fast. Lately, fishinghas been very good. Fishing extremelyshallow water, on two days of north windgreyovercast-spitting rain, my angler landed14 Redfish that averaged 27".I had several days of wade fishing ankledeep water picking off large redfish, great fun.Almost every day we are getting shots atspeckled trout in the 24-28" range in less than18"s of water.We have been taking some really nicespeckled trout, 18-20"s, off of mudding podsof hardhead catfish. I am seeing big schools ofsmall mullet and pin fish with redfish and troutfollowing them and can hear redfish crashingthem back in the flooded mangroves. Schoolsof Black Drum are moving up on to the flats inthe late afternoon offering some fine sport.As summer approaches I am very excitedabout the “State of the Fishery!”Last year was a tough one but this year isshaping up to be much better. We havereceived some timely rains which should helpthe food chain, shrimp/crab. I am seeing manymore fish this year than last and the patternsare what one would expect to see. Goodnews for the avid salt-water angler, so get outthere and go fishing! Tight Lines, —CaptainBilly Trimble www.trimbleflyfishing.combillytrimble@cableone.net 361-205-1266Headed your way? Cutt Ableson's CPR of Neal Nichols big trout.Lower CoastBy Capt. Bill ShekaAlgae bloom not withstanding...The summer pattern hopefully will fall intoplace now. The spawn was behind nearly 2-3weeks, due to the abnormally cold temps fromall the late fronts. Even the shrimp runs, andthe size of croakers were off. I would say thatthe trout run and valleys and peaks of thespawning of trout could also be running longer.The temperatures and the continuance ofNorthers have changed the currents in ourLaguna Madre system to North to South, whichis not normal for the late April and Mayperiods. But, lots of bright, sunny days willbring our water temps up and a return to oursummer patterns of a south to north current.The algae bloom has been with us sinceMay of 1990. A different strain last year,according to TP&W, was to blame for killingmany fish, including some trout, redfish, drum,sheepshead and large numbers of ourmenhaden shad. What I have seen now is theflushing of the Laguna Madre with a drop ofover 12 inches in the water table in in May.This displaced lots of water and the bloom ranhard to south of the Land Cut with threerecording-setting frontal passages, whichhelped it change directions. Talk about trying tostay on top of the water color... We had a shortrun on some LARGE trout from 28 inches to 30inches and a few a bit larger.That strain of algae bloom could end upappearing again during June and July periods,but as the currents stay south to north we areseeing much prettier water moving north fromthe lower Laguna Madre. With all that beingsaid, the current algae bloom is not killing fishas of yet but hampering watery visibility andthose wanting to throw artificial lures and topwaters are going to have to rethink and usescented lures like my favorite Berkely Gulps.Try an Almeda rattler, Mansfield Mauler orCajun Thunder with a Gulp and a 1/8 or 1/25ounce jighead. Think sound and scent for thebloom waters. But, if you can concentrate in theareas from Baffin Bay south, including theYarbourgh Pass area, Kennedy Ranch shoreline,the Landcut, the Nine Mile hole and southto the Lower Laguna, these areas are shapingup for CLEAR water with NO Algae Bloom.Good fishing and God Bless, —Capt. Bill Shekabillsheka@msn.com 361-991-7191Many of us old salts know Cap'n Bill as a fineguide, and appreciate his military service.~10~