Laguna Madre?

[Diggedy]

I'm thinking about taking a vacation with a friend to Port Mansfield in December to sight fish reds. I have never done this before and was hoping to get a better Idea what the fishery is all about. We would probably go with a guide and fish for 3 or 4 days.

Coupla questions:

Is the sight fishing still good down there in December. I have heard that it is because of the tides.

Would it be better to fish farther south - say port Isabel or are the flats around Port Mansfield equally good?

What is the average size of the reds down threre? I have heard anywhere between 23-30 inches. Are they generally around in good numbers this time of year?

Any reccomendations for a guide? I have heard Charlie Stewart is good.

Thanks!

:D

[Apache]

Diggedy,

As long as doesn't get to terribly cold (that's relative for Texas) nov and dec can be the best. Just a few days ago I caught this 30 ++inch beast and three others similiar in the Port Aransas area.

Good Luck!
G

[Animal Chris]

Today it is 78°, 90% humidity (give or take) and a South wind blowing about 12kts.
It can be great that time of year for redfish and some good speckled trout. You should also find some black drum, along with some sheepshead, to stretch your line. Several of the guides in that area, along with South Padre Island, have websites. Another good source is Larry Haines at the Fly Shop.
Look forward to having you down here. Tight Loops, AC

[bones]

It can be really great fishing at that time of year. Better have a contingency plan, however. It can be rugged down there at times. I recall one Thanksgiving it was in the low 20's degrees with ice on the edges of the islands. Duck hunting was good, but fishing was about a 10 on the Scale of Suck.

Good luck.

[THE GAME]

The likelyhood of it being 20 degrees down here is very very unlikely.The last time it snowed here was in 69 and it was only in the air.The temp was upper 30's.port Mansfield and Port Isabel are real close to each other. not much dofferents in one or the other.If you want to try it just come on.It is usualy nice weather 90% 0f the time.

[RJ]

I'm heading down to Duval County for some desert Quail hunting in mid January. It looks like its about 80 miles to the coast at Corpus Christie. Will a 10 weight be ok or do I drop down to an 8 wt?

Also, what are some good flys for the Port Aranasas area?

Is there a fly shop near Corpus Christie?

Thanks,

[bones]

Bumper-crop of quail this year,...you will have a great hunt.

10wt. too big. An 8wt. will do well in the wind. I personally use a 6wt.,....awesome.

Clousers tied on size 4 or 6 SS hooks; I tie some on long-shank hooks. Yellow over white, chartreuse over white, tie several of each using different weights of dumbell eyes, don't forget the 4-5 strands of sparkle. This time of year ya might have to get deeper and hence a heavier fly.
Deceivers work well also, but not any better than Clousers and the Clousers are so much simpler to tie.

Flyshops: 1) Gruene Outfitters in Corpus, 2) J &J Tackle in Rockport, 3) Orvis shop in Shoal Grass Lodge in Aransas Pass.

Never leave home without a baitcaster and a 7' rod, one made for light to medium wt. baits....a handfull of 1/4 ounce Johnsons gold spoons is mandatory on the Texas Coast.....the reds eat those even if they are not hungry.
Have a great time.

Let me know if you need any other assistence.

[bones]

I checked your profile and see that you are a Yakker.

The Port Aransas area has some awesome Yak trails, no motorized boats allowed. I am not a yakker but I am certain the flyshops I listed will have info on these places, with maps, and outfitters where to rent a yak.

Ya need to get down here this summer for some reel action.

[Animal Chris]

RJ, also check with Capt. Sally Moffett in Rockport and SlowRide Kayak shop in Aransas pass (Both rent 'yaks and sell flies, as well as guide). Also Port A Outfitters in Port Aransas. Animal Chris

[THE GAME]

I reccomend Sally's rockport outfitters also.She sent me some flies just 4 kicks when I bought a fly rod from her.If you make it down to the lower lower laguna madre check in a The Fly Shop in Port Isabel.Larry is always up on what is happening .I wish I was goin quail hunting too.

[RJ]

Thanks Guys,

Texas folks like y'all are the first reason I sent both my sons to Texas A&M.

The second reason was so I'd be able to pick on them for the rest of their lives. Know any good Aggie jokes?

I spent some time on the rice prarie, snow goose guiding with an old Marine ponyo in the 1980's and love your part of Texas. He's the fella I'm gonna hunt quail with. "Old Marine grunts never die, thay just march a little slower!"

Happy New Year and May your tribes increase and prosper!

Bob Creeden

[bones]

Thanks Guys,

Texas folks like y'all are the first reason I sent both my sons to Texas A&M.

The second reason was so I'd be able to pick on them for the rest of their lives. Know any good Aggie jokes?

I spent some time on the rice prarie, snow goose guiding with an old Marine ponyo in the 1980's and love your part of Texas. He's the fella I'm gonna hunt quail with. "Old Marine grunts never die, thay just march a little slower!"

Happy New Year and May your tribes increase and prosper!

Bob Creeden

What!! You think all Texans are Aggies!!?? Nope, not all of us. Texas Apes and Monkees is where we send the culls...........Aggies are to Texas as backwoods folks is to Appalachia........remember Deliverance ? Be careful!

Give us a hunting/fishing report on your trip down here.

[Northfork]

Check out this month's FFSW. It has an article on Laguna Madre. Lists places, guides, equipment - everything you need to know.

[gonzo]

Off on a tangent I know, but how hot does it get in August and is there any fishing wothwhile?

[Animal Chris]

It can get hotter than a burning stump in August, but the fishing can get just as hot. Where in the Laguna are you thinking about. In August off the Port Isabel jetties, they find trout, redfish, snapper, the occassional snook, jacks, kingfish and tarpon. If SPadre is your destination, keep in mind August is when they hold the TIFT and it gets packed and the room rates sky rocket.
If you are going to the north end of Laguna, you can drive (if you have a 4WD) down the surfline and fish the surf. This is the time of year that the winds will lay and the water is a clear green on the beach, blue about a mile off. Cruise the surf and watch for the birds working or the fish busting the bait. Capt. Billy Sandifer guides the seashore and is very good at it. With Billy, not only do you get a fishing guide, but also a resident naturalist and historian. For more information on this, you can contact Capt. Everett Johnson at Gulf Coast Connections and get some back issues of his publications. Billy writes a very good column for GCC.
If you are short on time, I suggest getting a guide on either end. If you are planning a longer stay, I suggest you get a guide for at least one day. He can show you some spots that are easy to get to wade in. The main thing I have found about August is hit the water early. Watch the tides, but hit the water early. Tight Loops, AC

[THE GAME]

Yep it gets pretty hot here on SPI and LLM in august. But not near as bad as North East Texas in august.Where I am from.It hits 100+ with 80%+ humidity and 0, no breeze. On the Island it is usualy about 10 degrees cooler than inland and there is most always a nice breeze moving to keep the sweat drying.Feels like air conditioning. As for surf fishing September marks the very begining of prime surf fishing. But it just gets better through December.Huge schools of bait along the second sand bar with plenty of ship jack , tarpon Etc to chunk at.

[gonzo]

Thanks guys... Think I'll leave August alone!

[RJ]

Bones,

Y'all must have gone to u.t.? I had a great trip! the quail fishing didn't work out. It got rained out! But I had three great days fishing the flats near Port O'Connor. Mostly "rat reds" and specks, but lots of them. The Clousers worked beautifully. Went to Rockport on a wednesday and missed Capt. Sally. I'll be heading back next Feb. to do the quail thing and some yak fishing with Sally!

Really had a good time. Did a little cattle work hanging on the forelegs of calfs while my ponyo's son-in-law made steers out of them. Very interesting stuff for a NY City born Yankee! A 300 pound calf can really kick your butt if you are not prepared to hang on tight. Then I went to a youth rodeo and was absolutely amazed what 7 to 10 year old young Texan boys and girls can make very large and fast horses do. Facinating bidness to see a 50 pound, little girl haul a full size horse around three barrels in under 24 seconds. Yahoo! The calf roping was pretty cool too!

Texas is definately a "State of Mind!" and I love it so! --126-3-
:-% See ya!

[bones]

RJ
Glad you had a good time. Shoulda stuck around for a coupla more days, the weather changes on an hourly basis around here and you maybe coulda had your bird hunt.

Happy you could experience some good ol' Texas cowpunching while you were here. Lotsa fun. My wife is from a wealthy Houston family and therefore was quite startled when she moved out here to the ranch and had to learn to help with bob-wire fence repair, feeding the Longhorns, hold the new baby calf while I stick a tube down his throat for feeding, etc., etc. She long ago gave up on trying to keep her fingernails perfect. My prize steer has horns with an 8' spread from tip to tip and every now and then she has to slap the **** out of him when he gets a little rambunctious,..........all in a days work.

Mother Texas..........."where the men are men,.......and so are the women."

If ya get bored this summer, come on down and do some fishin. POC is my favorite venue. Or maybe we could hook-up with The Game for some Luguna Momma fishing.

Stay warm..

[THE GAME]

I once heard a saying.
Never ask a man where he is from.
If he is from Texas he would have already told you.
If he's not, there is no use in causing him any extra embarrassment.

Have you ever noticed that the word embarrassed has barrassed in it.LOL

[RJ]

Bones,

No promises, but if I can break away this summer, your on!

Your take care,

Bob

[THE GAME]

Sounds like a plan to me. I got a kayak this year and I hope to find some new & exiting water. If the wind will slow down a tad maybe I can use it.

[bones]

Hey, Diggedy,

Did you ever get down to Laguna Madre in December? How did you do?