Current reports from the Parks and Wildlife Department for Bay and Offshore

We are seeing some truly nice days, perfect for fishing!  Fishing isn't always the good when the wind isn't blowing and there are no clouds in the sky, take advantage of the milder days of this approaching Spring!  I'm on Redfish and lots of Black Drum!  We do still have lots and lots of snowbirds, Come on down and get some of those TONS fish they're taking back HOME up NORTH with them, strange how the possession laws only apply to Texans who pay so much for their natural resources!

We are seeing some truly nice days, perfect for fishing!  Fishing isn't always the good when the wind isn't blowing and there are no clouds in the sky, take advantage of the milder days of this approaching Spring!  I'm on Trout, Redfish and lots of Black Drum!  We still have lots and lots of snowbirds, Come on down and get some of those TONS fish they're taking back HOME with them, strange how the possession laws only apply to Texans who pay so much for their natural resources!

The fishing has been very good for Redfish and Black Drum, but only if you know the water because very low full moon tides and lethargic fish take a current knowledge of the fish bite and intimate knowledge of navigation in the water deprived areas that hold massive amounts of fish!  My fishing reports aren't aimed at telling people the honey hole I found for my paying customers, that would be stupid and don't think any guides do that, however I use it for a vehicle to enlighten my customers when they should be calling to book trips...with that being said, if you are a good angler you can read between the lines and figure out how and where to get these fish given a few days on the water!

Wow, what a Summer and I'm looking forward to Fall!  We have caught a lot of fish this Summer by fishing AWAY from other boats and in places that are NOT obvious to most people!  This has become a must to keep our catches consistent as there has been an unusual amount of boats on the water most likely due to the lack of water in our Texas lakes!  The best advise I could give you is to hire a guide because they know where to get the right bait or bait period, there is a shortage around here probably due to the drought, crowds however that helps me catch fish because I have the hook-up!  I have fished so much this Summer that I have really learned the fish that I'm staying on and keeping a VERY low profile on the water!  Come down and enjoy a less crowed and cooler Fall fishing or book a cast and blast trip for dove/duck and fish!

Wow, here it is a month and I've just now got the time to write a report and make web updates!  It's been a very busy summer, lots of tournaments being organized by many companies, associations, charities, blah, blah blah...TPWD has to get a handle on that now!  TPWD needs to have tournament regulations, permits, individuals fees and fish logging for biologist data for these rouge tournaments because they are inciting an unnatural harvest from our fisheries!  I'm sure nobody would complain about giving a little back for the health of the fishery BEFORE it gets bad!  With that out of the way Trout fishing has been tough from 9 miles south of JFK all the way to the north end of Aransas bay, very inconsistent Trout bites.  I've been finding a lot of redfish though and the black drum have been a great distraction from the trout!

The fishing has been pretty good lately!  The Trout bite has finally started and is consistent!  We are having a lot of weird weather but the fish are still biting in the normal June places!  I have been doing well with free lined Croaker, finally consistent!

We Won Babes on the Bay 2013 Guided Bait division and had the heaviest stringer across all divisions, Great Job Saltwater Cowgirls (Babes on the Bay is the World's Largest weekend tournament).  The windy conditions have been difficult to fish in but the fish are biting, experience and being on fish helps a lot!  East flats has some wind protected areas if you can get there!

The Trout fishing has taken off finally, with good catches coming from the usual places this time of year on croaker.  It's been a little slow taking off because of the strange weather.  Lately I've been catching BIG Trout in the flats and some really nice trout in the bay, remember RELEASE ALL Trout over 23" so they can procreate!    Full day trips I'm all about Trout and Half Day trips we're still doing great on Redfish...it's up to the customer!  Remember to concentrate on finding your own fish and Please keep your distance from other boats!  FISHNTEXAS.COM Capt. Scott Mccune "thesaltwatercowboy.com"

Well Duck Season is over and I'm looking forward to a GREAT fishing season!  The fishing hasn't been super steady lately but all that will change in the next week or so!  We have been catching fish, however on some days it just seems to take longer.  Redfish and Drum seem to be biting best and I have gotten some decent winter stringers of Trout still since we haven't really had any freezes, however the lack of live shrimp can make Trout fishing for numbers tough!  I can't wait to start busting the water on trips 4 or 5 times a week...back to the Spring and Summer routine!

Well Duck Season is over and I'm looking forward to a GREAT fishing season!  The fishing hasn't been super steady lately but all that will change in the next week or so!  We have been catching fish, however on some days it just seems to take longer.  Redfish and Drum seem to be biting best and I have gotten some decent winter stringers of Trout still since we haven't really had any freezes, however the lack of live shrimp can make Trout fishing for numbers tough!  I can't wait to start busting the water on trips 4 or 5 times a week...back to the Spring and Summer routine!

The fishing slowed down for a little while due to a long cold period we had about 10 days ago and because of the holiday crowds for the last 4 weekends!  The fish will get hungry again in the next few days and I'm looking forward to the new bite.  This is the begining of my favorite fishing time of the year and I'm looking forward to it!

The Last Duck Report of the 2012-2013 Season!

This week should be a good week for hunting, call to book a trip, I have Tuesday thru Friday open!

Ducks were good until they got the heck blasted out of them over the holidays, it really takes knowing their movements and reaction to the out of town Air boat crowd to be successful...get a guide!

The fishing has been very good because of the low tides...not everyone is catching fish though, you really need to know how to navigate the low water areas!  I'm catching fishing on live shrimp with the heads pulled off...fishing them on the bottom.  watch out going across the flats right now many many places you normally may drive only have a few inches of water now...it's a good time to get a guide, especially if your boat isn't super shallow! 

Ducks were good until they got the heck blasted out of them over the holidays, it really takes knowing their movements and reaction to the out of town Air boat crowd to be successful...get a guide!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

Fishing this past weekend was pretty good...it's picked up, especially for shrimp and popping corks. I caught a good amount of big black drum and more than limits of Redfish...but most came bottom fishing!...More ducks came down after the split and we've had great shoots...get a guide!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

The fish have started biting again after the first prolonged cold period ended...even though it wasn't that cold it was cold enough, long enough to transition the fish into a fall pattern. I'll be using a lot of shrimp from now through the Spring! Trout will only get better while drifting especially if we get anymore rain! We need rain for the ducks and our fishery...seriously! The duck have a break for a about 10 more days...hunting ought to be great...get a guide!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

Duck season has now started so stay away from those locations until about 10:30am, Fishing is generally better in the afternoon anyway!  This time of year the same things as always apply, windy days or afternoons drift with shrimp and popping corks, set the hook just about the grass.  Drum are still around we free line shrimp to those guys!  The edge of channels and in the flats are all good spots to start!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

Fishing has been very steady!  The bait prospects are thin if you are using piggies...you can't get them on a weekend, however all other bait is in stock!  The Redfish are in all the usual places in schools outside the islands...the guides will already be working them and are pros at it...do not setup in wade in the middle of them or think that they want you 20' from their boat either...wait your turn be polite and everyone can get some!  It's not unheard of to wait over an hour to find a spot to fit in...and people...do NOT look for this in the flats...it's just in deep channels and the edges of islands!  More Trout will be caught soon and we can start drifting the deeper flats and outside edge water with shrimp and popping corks!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

Labor Day Weekend is History - end of summer...Thank Goodness! That means that the water will settle down some, I can come out of hiding and stop being swarmed by tons of other boats!  We have a little fishing to do before duck season is upon us and the water won't be as crowded, thank goodness again!  Piggy perch which are my primary bait right now is getting virtually impossible to find and that's make things very difficult, trying to transition into the next phase of fishing a little early! I'm stashing piggies so my clients won't have an issue, however if you are coming down for the weekend you need to take that into consideration. Croaker are still available they are huge though and you have to buy 3 times what you want to get enough that are a good fishing size! That brings up another point, 3 person all day fishing trip I buy a minimum of 12 dozens piggies...and I see some guy come in the bait shop and get 2 dozen piggies and a box of frozen shrimp (I could use that much in 5 minutes on undersized trout LOL)...then I look at his boat and he has 4 buddies with him too...what the heck are these guys thinking...I see it EVERYDAY!  To put it in perspective the guy goes out buys a boat, drives it down here burning a ton of gas, goes out to eat, rents a hotel and he can't afford to spend $60 more on bait to catch fish...that is stupid!

Ok now for the fishing report part Mud island has been holding some fish on both sides and the quarantine shoreline has trout. I haven't heard anything about drum this week! Dagger should be producing soon too!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

I can't wait for the water to get better south so we stop getting hammered here!  I have even stopped all morning Saturday fishing trips to try and stay on fish for my customers the rest of the week, too many lookers and pot lickers around on Saturday!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

The fishing has been pretty good for black drum and fair for Redfish. Paul's Mott is holding a ton of Drum and the sand pocket in the flats have Redfish, even the deep sand pockets...I'm still using piggy pearch for Redfish and Trout...Shrimp for Drum!

I have heard from many that fishing has been very tuff in Rockport, Port Aransas and Aransas Pass areas this summer. I believe it is because the JFK cause way and south of that crowd has been fishing north because of the water problems south! This makes sense because I have seen crowds 5+ times larger in our area this summer and they are in Majak's and other nice shallow boats. Now that that ground work is being laid this may be the cause for some of the fish catching issues, the fish are spooked and not as easy to catch unless you think like a fish and i know that is hard for someone down here for the weekend and not on the water everyday seeing the evolving patterns!

With all the above stated I would look fish the reefs in the big bay and grass lines within all island borders of Aransas bay, they will hold Trout and the redfish will be shallow (on grass).   The problem is they will both be shallow early and the bit will drop off, however the reef bite will staying going longer into the day.  If you have to fish the flats stay away from traffic, fish are all over and eat better without a lot of boats around and try to figure out where all that traffic is pushing fish!  Look for fish in some of those deeper sand pockets too!  I have been catching a lot of fish but have rarely had those quick off the water trips like usual...it has required I fish pretty hard and use all my knowledge of the fish and area!

I can't wait for the water to get better south so we stop getting hammered here!  I have even stopped all morning Saturday fishing trips to try and stay on fish for my customers the rest of the week, too many lookers and pot lickers around on Saturday!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

The trditional spots are holding fish however the wind has made it difficult to fish them. Early mornings have had the lightest winds for crossing the bay. Sand holes are holding redfish, I'm fishing with croaker and piggies, other bait should work as well. Look for grass lines and sand pockets, if they aren't working look for the deeper ones (4'-6') and fish piggies!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

Fishing has been pretty good despite the ugly crowds and high winds! The tide is running out now and will be out for a week or so...fish will be off the flats at the deeper edges...and the outside islands will have fish too...look for fish in the normal low tide areas soon too!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

Good Bait has been very spotty lately and that has been the difference in catching a lot of fish fast!  The wind has settled down and Trout are in the same spots as usual!  Redfish are good early but slower when all the boats are running about. Weekday fishing is consistently BETTER because of the traffic and rude boaters from out of town!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay at least 200 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

The fishing has been good lately even with the extreme wind! Bait that allows a sent has been working better for redfish while fishing pots holes in all area of our flats system. We are also catching an occasional Trout on croaker on edges of the deeper water and in the pot holes in the flats! The fish have not shown consistent patterns but hit the water with an open mind and change your tactics will allow you to catch a lot of fish! I have been able to catch some pretty good numbers by changing tactics and fishing hard!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay 400 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

Fishing has been off for a few days due to the full moon, numerous winter Texans and rude boaters (notice I didn’t call them fisherman!), VERY early morning fishing has been better.  I have been able to catch fish by extending my hours on the water, using many different baits until I find the one that works and covering a lot of water!  Beware of letting other boaters around here see you catching fish…they will drive over to your boat with their big motor cause it’s faster…to HELP you get in on the action!  Now we need to talk about a touchy subject – Winter Texans taking at least 50% of the FISH from our Texas fisheries due to the fact MANY of them fish 5 days a week for 5 months while they are here.  We are paying to replenish the fish they are taking and at a faster rate than even we (Texans) can pay for!  My proposal is to allow a 21 day maximum for the Texas non-resident license unless you live in a bordering state and you must live in the state for 6 months before you can buy a Texas Resident license!  Check out Minnesota where a lot of these people come from they offer a maximum 14 day out-of-state license and it costs almost as much as our yearly license…and Texans don’t catch more than half their FISH!  Texas is in a unique situation we have MANY MANY people spending months at a time on vacation here and they are really working our fisheries hard, it’s time they help the fisheries too!

If you see a boat drift fishing or anchored stay 400 yards away,

unless they are your friend and called you over!

Spring Break fishing was fantastic!  It wasn't simple though I had to incorporate many different techniques as the weather changed and the crowd gathered!  The most successful techniques I used the deep flats over grass was live shrimp which was readily available both on the bottom and under a cork…the other was menhaden which was much more difficult to get, it has to be fresh for a guide’s use!  The trick is finding where the boats aren’t, usually on big weekend one boat turns into two and two turns into three in a matter of only a few minutes…then most of them begin leaving within only a few minutes of stopping, clearly to soon to know if the fish are around!  I like the areas over grass right now in the more uncongested parts of the bay whether it is Aransas Bay or Redfish Bay…find an area and learn it well!

Fishing has been very good and live shrimp is available...some days I'm catching bigger fish by fishing it on the

 bottom instead under a cork!

Feburary 20, 2012

First off I'm sorry it's taken me almost a year to start writing reports again!  If you see old reports remember that I may mmore frequestly post picsand they are proof of the fish we are catching!  Right now I'm fishing for Redfish and Black Drum mainly because I can't get live shrimp!  I'm finding the the freshest dead shrimp available and sometimes buying heads on table shrimp to get the right size!  The Drum are close to shell bottoms and the Redfish are in sand pockets like usual!  If you find live shrimp drift the edges of the flats or drift the flats and cast into pot holes, do not work or pop the cork a lot for Redfish however when you are in Trout areas you can pop it more!

Fishing is great!  I have found Deep water access areas to the flats and they have been consistently holding fish!

  The trout have shown back up in areas that I was fishing last year at this same time!  I have had multiple days

 of double limits of Redfish, Trout and Drum!

February 22, 2011

Fishing Has been great!  I have had to put more miles on the boat, however I have found fish that will eat!  That is the problem, fish are EVERYWHERE, but you have to search for the ones that eat.  Trout are still holding in the deeper water areas and are abundant!  I'm catching a really nice size Black Drum or two during most trips too...and sometimes limits of them!

January 02, 2011

Duck Hunting has been good and bad...there are a lot of ducks here right now...but sometimes weird weather has kept them from flying...but 95% of my hunts have been fantastic!  Use a licensed guide when hunting here, please don't try to wing it on your own...guides are cheap!

What can I say I haven't done a lot of fishing but when I've had trips we have slaughtered Trout...and lately Reds and Trout!  I have been drifting deeper water in the flats with shrimp and popping corks!

November 25, 2010

Let me start off by saying that it is duck hunting season so please look to see if decoys are out, if so more than likely someone will be hunting so stay at least 400 yards away as a courtesy.  I’d also like to mention that you should not hunt other people’s blinds without their permission, remember that most good locations have been established by guides years ago and it is cheap to hire them for a non-guided hunt. 

Now on to fishing, we are going to have an Arctic Cold Front coming in Thursday night, so you can expect the tide to be rolling out with the north wind.  Look for those deep pockets in the flats especially because the water temperature should drop.  If it is windy try dead shrimp or live shrimp with their head squeezed off and put it on a jig head.  When it is not windy live mullet may be the ticket.  On the last note Shrimp and popping cork has been working very well, when I hook up to a good fish I power pole down and catch a fish or two more quickly then I move on.  Tight Lines!

November 17, 2010

The fish have been all over the place since the last report.  I have been on a LOT of fish and some oversized Redfish in the flats...not fishing with tourists at the jetties...LOL...there are still a lot of scattered Redfish but if you want numbers of big fish call a good guide as they are on individual schools and the action is a lot faster than the scattered fish.  I have one spot that I'm getting really big 27" + redfish, however I'm not willing to disclose that...this place also has some good trout and it is the only place I'm going on my trips...no need to try any other places until this place is burnt out!

October 20, 2010

The Fishing down here has been fantastic!  Redfish seem to be everywhere.  I have noticed a great afternoon bite as well.  I’m still finding fish in areas I have fished all summer…the deeper edge of grass flats.  I’m also catching a Trout way over 21” on about every trip, Super Cool
 

September 20, 2010

Fishing Report, how about a rain report!  I was able to get out a few times this past weekend and I was pleasantly surprised to be able to catch fish rather easily.  I was still fishing flats with grass and sand pockets, this pattern should hold true for any area you fish like this.  I did use shrimp and popping cork for one quick trip and we caught a lot of fish that way, most of them were small but we were able to get some nice Trout and Redfish on it too!  Before this little experiment the fish seemed to like croaker the best with a fish or two coming from a popping cork and piggy.  It was difficult to see the sand pockets the last couple of trips so using croaker and piggy and popping cork just help keep the bait out of the grass.  Tight Lines!
 

August 31, 2010

August 18, 2010

Fishing has been very inconsistent for most people, one day you have the gold mine…next you get the shaft.  The primary reason is the wind, when we are fishing on a trout pattern for days then we wake up in the morning and have to fish the flats for Redfish…with everyone else…it’s kinda like low tide instead of fish getting concentrated the boats do.  I have been able to find Redfish everyday, but sometimes it takes a lot of work.  Look for the deeper water fish on the edge of the flats, that’s where they go when they get nervous or when the water gets hot.  Quarantine shoreline and the Hog island area have been holding scattered redfish and small schools.  The tides have been very low late in the day, just a hint!

Capt. Scott McCune FISHNTEXAS.COM
 

July 31, 2010

Capt. Scott McCune FISHNTEXAS.COM
 

June 10, 2010

June 10, 2010

June 1, 2010

May 17, 2010

May 12, 2010

May 5, 2010

April 26, 2010

April 19, 2010

April 13, 2010

April 12, 2010

Same thing as below...fishing has been great...but some days starts off a little slow!
 

April 6, 2010

On those windy days shallow water days use Shrimp and Popping cork along the deeper edges while drifting. If you double up on Redfish, quietly slip the anchor out or power pole down and through bait on the bottom to them. The bigger fish, both Trout and Redfish seem to be on the shallower edge.
 

March 22, 2010

Fishing has been really good lately with limits of big redfish25"-28".  The tide has been lower than I can remember in years!  I'm being asked why the tide is so low and the only thing I can say is Global Warming...Just kidding...the moon phase, wind, rain, strong winds move the Texas water, when you have the right combination of all these that is when you see the bigger tides one way or another.  This past week we had some low tides already and when the very strong Norther came through it blew the water out of our Aransas Bay system.  The last few days you really needed to know the bay to get around, many navigatable places were dry.  On days like this I drive until I see fish in the areas I expect them, they don't always bite in these conditions so bring different types of bait Crab, Mullet and live shrimp.  When you find a school or a few scatter fish stop and fish.   When you get them to eat them don't stop to take pictures yet, stay quiet on the boat and keep bait in front of them!  Take the pics after the action stops!  Tight Lines!

March 17, 2010

The bite has been slow for a few days.  The Redfish that were in south bay on low tide are gone, however today a large school of Redfish up to 9lbs were on the shallow edges on Morris and Cummings cut.   The fish were hitting everything from live shrimp to live mullet and seemed to vary on what they wanted at any particular time.  There is still a lot of Trout in California Hole however the keepers have become few and far between!  Tight Lines!

March 1, 2010

It is a late bite...just hammering it out to get real good numbers of Trout...they are coming easier late in the day over the mid depth (2'-3') grass...South Bay has been hammered by winter Texans and some locals...they are making numerous trips for extra daily limits...this place was a nice little pot of gold for all to share...now it is just being abused and therefore very inconsistent!  I'm catching some good fish at night now with the full moon!  Fishing has generally been decent if you know where to go and just hang in there through out the day...15 solid keeper Trout in a full day average now shrimp and popping cork...and some Redfish...keeper bottom fishing only for some reason they are a little hesitant to really swallow bait...but they will eat it if you let them run with it...so it is all bottom fishing for them.

February 21, 2010

Finally something to report!  I fished for the last 6 days now...Trout Fair to good with solid sized in the flats of Estes, Hog and Steadman's on Shrimp and Popping cork only...I finally caught the elusive redfish in good number on live shrimp (squeeze their heads off) and jig heads...frozen did not work, mullet did not work...it is an out going tide bite...now Redfish have been caught lately during extreme low tide conditions...but that is not a true bite...mine was on high tides and in the conventional areas!

January 25, 2010

Sorry for the lack of reports!  The last part of duck season was BUSY and hard to work to stay on ducks consistently...(my girlfriend most have written the previous report (she was missing me because of all my hunting excursions!) if you read it before the correction you know what I'm talking about...LOL!)...we'd have a great day then a day...one group would do outstanding and the other not so well...I hate that...the drought, salinity, heavy rains prior to the season, air boats chasing birds because the hunting was tough lead to the results...the fishing remained consistent until the historic cold front arrived...after a few days of that the fishing fell off...there is no live shrimp to be found...If I had it I would be on a lot of fish...I have had some great luck and lots of numbers of smaller fish using DOA under a popping cork...to be honest though I only spent a few hours fishing since the front...that will change over the next few days though...I'll get back with you then!

December 15, 2009

The fish are on fire...Redfish and Trout...the ducks are OK...there are a lot of them down here...but we have had calm foggy days...that is not normal...so the shooting should get very consistent real soon!

December 7, 2009

The fish are still biting...and there are tons of ducks down here after the fronts...Call me!

November 23, 2009

It's not fishing right now...it's slaughtering...Lots of Redfish on Shrimp and Popping corks with a handful of Trout...the Ducks are here too...4 per hunter average this should get a lot better soon...more showing up everyday!

November 15, 2009

Still getting bigger fish for the most part on live mullet, Piggies and croaker...but yesterday caught quite a few on shrimp and popping corks...and the 4 biggest fish of the day came on P&S!

November 12, 2009

Ok...sorry for no reports lately...been a little busy...today we used shrimp and popping cork mostly...and we caught a lot of undersized fish...keep in mind the wind was switching and at least we were catching and getting a few keepers...then we had a double Redfish and big Trout...I put the anchor out and we threw out some shrimp and jig head and a couple of croakers...yes I found croakers at Crabman...bought them because they were the right size and they were out of finger mullet...the fish smoked them...got a limit of Trout and 3 limits of Redfish on that spot...edge of oyster shell!

October 6, 2009

Shrimp and Popping cork time...Yee Ha!

September 26, 2009

I'll tell you what the fishing is still great...I have to move around to find the fish sometimes but they are in all they places you would expect...the flats are also holding Trout in some of the same sand pockets they Redfish are in.

September 7, 2009

Redfish have been VERY great in the flats...find some sand pockets!  Still some trout in Corpus Bay!

August 11, 2009

Redfish have been great in the flats...find some sand pockets!

July  27, 2009

Bay Fishing, Offshore Fishing and Near-Shore Fishing has been solid...Fish are on the shrimp boats within 20NM from the jetties...Redfish are on the flats in somewhat deeper sand pocket due to low tides...Trout are great south of the JFK...Bluewater fish are good but few weedlines to concentrate them

July  7, 2009

I have been catching the heck out of Kingfish on light tackle out of the bay boat from jetties, ships and close rigs...low tides have been concentrating redfish in Morris and Cummings...it only works during the low period and will be over soon...I have also been catching some good reds in flats again...the Trout are on the reefs when the wind is light!

June 26, 2009

The windy has laid for a bit...this made for good Trout fishing in the deeper water...we have also found reds in deeper water after the tide fell out of their usual shallow water places...right next to the shallow areas running the grass lines!

June 11, 2009

Trout were great fishing the deeper reefs.  Redfish are good on top of the spoils or non-oyster reefs.  The wind has been blowing and slowed down the Trout fishing on the big water however I have resorted to throwing piggies under a popping cork and drifting with them...it is working good...but Piggies are hard to find...and by Piggies I mean PIGGIES not Pin Perch which are completely different!

May 18, 2009

Redfish Bay Pot Holes...Babes On The Bay Report...Trout 22.5", 24.5", 26",26.5", 27.5", 28.5"...Trout later in the day from reefs in Aransas Bay 19.5"...Redfish 10 fish from 21" to 27"...Flounder 17.5"...we got all these fish but the 19.5" Trout on one lucky anchor before 8:15 in the morning then the action really slowed...probably because of boat traffic...you know the kind that drive pretty close to you to see if you are catching fish....so they can stop and fish next to you...and run your fish off...LOL!...not really LOL but what can you do...yelling doesn't help!  LOL!

May 12, 2009

The fishing has been steady...I'm still catching a lot of fish using shrimp and popping cork...but the Redfishing has been better using cut perch and anchoring...serving your time!

April 26, 2009

I've been catching enough fish using shrimp and popping cork.  I have used cut bait and live perch lately with moderate results.  I'm having some GREAT fishing days during the week when the traffic is down and the evening bite is the best!  The crowds are showing up on the weekend so that means people are going to be driving 100 yards in front of your drifts and worse even when you are anchored, notice as they pass they are nearly breaking their necks looking to see if you are reeling in a fish...funny when they find that boat with a fish on they finally stop...LOL!  Remember:  We all can catch more fish if the boats don't all stack up in one area, drive well behind other boats...and if you must go in front, stay even further away.  The other tip is to stay out of the channels going into the flats or the ones in the crossing areas, theses are high traffic areas and probably don't have fish anyway.

April 06, 2009

You know with the wind howling the fishing has been good using shrimp and popping cork or on those very few windless days anchoring up and live mullet has been good.

March 04, 2009

I've been doing boat work for the last week so I haven't been on the water...but the same report should be in effect!

Fishing – The days seem to be different...if you have descent tides and wind drift with popping corks...if the tide is low and you have no wind the bite will be slow...when and if the wind picks up the fish will turn on in the normal guts we fish on low tides!

February 22, 2009

Fishing – The days seem to be different...if you have descent tides and wind drift with popping corks...if the tide is low and you have no wind the bite will be slow...when and if the wind picks up the fish will turn on in the normal guts we fish on low tides!

February 16, 2009

Fishing – The tides are high and the winds are up...fish are biting!  Trout and Redfish have been great drifting the flats with shrimp and popping cork!  We're also catching a few black drum like this too!  I tried topwaters in the evening a few times with no luck...still checking it out!

January 28, 2009

Fishing – Low tides are allowing many angler to load up on Drum and Redfish!  The tide is back up now...Thank Goodness, so the fish slaughter is off.  Yesterday we caught many Redfish and Drum drifting and anchoring in the normal areas over mud and grad or over muddy shell beds (Drum)...As I do more drifting this week throwing shrimp and popping cork...if I can find live shrimp...I'm sure the Trout will start showing!

January 05, 2009

2009 brings a new look at Hunting and Fishing.  Numerous cold fronts will push more Ducks down to the Coastal Bend for a hunting season that is about to close and guides will soon start focusing only on fishing!   I always enjoy the final month of Duck Hunting and I hope this year will be the same!  This year the birds have experienced a lot of pressure from hunters that usually don’t hunt the Coastal Bend area which has kept the Duck Hunting Guides on our toes since they have been hunting their blinds, sky blasting, roost shooting and blocking flyways into lakes where multiple guides are hunting…most of the outside hunters are not even aware of the problems they have created for the birds or other hunters.  Please use a Hunting guide for at least a non-guided trip when hunting in our Coastal Bend Communities so we all can flourish!

Fishing – Cold weather and low tides bring a lot of Redfish fun!  This is a great time of year for fishing, often the weather is 20 degrees warmer than even areas as close as San Antonio!  When fishing low tides be sure you know your way around the flats, any pockets of deeper water on the open flats can hold numerous fish, Trout and Reds!  I’ll be using Shrimp on Jig Heads, Mud Minnows (Trout love them) and sometimes mullet on those days that the wind isn’t blowing.  Windy is better; I love fishing windy days because it allows me to drift the flats and cast for the fish, on these days I catch a lot of Trout too!  Shrimp and popping cork is the order of the day when you have these conditions, however for those who choose lures should try Spoons, Swimming Shad and even Topwaters!

December 22, 2008

The Fishing has been pretty darn good, we did have a couple of days when the fish turned off after the Moon...but with a tide that smoked out they started biting again!  Duck Hunting has been pretty solid...we did have a couple of no wind and foggy days that where slow...but they are flying now!  Try the guts for fish and the back lakes for ducks!

December 08, 2008

Fishing has been a little tough the last couple of trips...but we have caught enough fish to have fun...especially because we have caught big fish...fewer but bigger!  The weather has been calm...wait for the wind to start blowing and the fishing will get way easier!

December 02, 2008

Protecting My Customers!

Duck Hunting - I'm GLAD the CROWDS are gone!  I'm trying to find a politically correct way to let help people understand the duck hunting situation down here.  It seems that Eagle Lake, Anahuac area hunters and other are getting the word that its great hunting down here...and you don't even need a guide just pick a spot.  Now what has happened is people that do not know the area or get bored and start sky blasting birds are ruining the great hunting we enjoy from Rockport to Baffin Bay!  So if you have not hunted this area avidly for at least 4 years, have constant communication with a few Duck Hunting Guides, Fish down here often to see where the paying parties are setting up (there really is NOT much good unclaimed areas)...if every single one of the previous statements do not fit you...Hire A Guide!  Example: 3 different groups of hunters setup outside of my lake blind, 2 groups moved there after hearing my shots, they weren't getting birds so they sky blasted birds that would have worked for us, another guy in an airboat tried to hunt the lake before I could get there in the afternoon, this is just not how things work down here guys, it ruins the time for people who actually pay to be put in the properly scouted areas!  Other guides were complaining about groups hunting their blinds, setting up too close, destroying their property (Blinds) and nasty attitudes.  You know just because we aren't in the blind probably means that we wanted to give that blind a break...it doesn't mean it free for the taking, you are screwing a paying customer later!  Please take this as constructive criticism, just trying to let people know what our hunting ethic is in this area!  With all that said we should expect great hunting in the corpus area when the season starts back up...usually the crowds are busy doing other things!  Thanks!

December 02, 2008

Fishing - Fishing has been a little tough...but if you hang in there you will be rewarded...I'm catching some BIG Trout on Mud Minnows right now too!  Remember if they are over 23"...LET THEM GO!

November 25, 2008

The last cold front brought in a LOT of ducks, we're hunting closer to Port Aransas, That's were most of the birds are!  I've found a lot of redfish lately...Dagger has been great!

November 18, 2008

Well the tide is out finally...waaayyy out, need I say more?

November 11, 2008

Well we had some pretty good fishing last week...the water is STILL high...but with the high winds turned the redfish on...we also caught some 20+ Speckled Trout in really dirty water!

November 06, 2008

The Fall pattern hasn't set in completely STILL, the tide hasn't taken a big fall...still looking...we're catching fish but working hard at it...the fish are a little thicker in the flats with some really good days...then with a weather change the bite stops for a day or so...strange days...we did have two great days of fishing this week though!

October 21, 2008

The Fall pattern hasn't set in completely yet, the tide hasn't taken a big fall...still looking...we're catching fish but working hard at it...I'm putting 50 NM a day on the boat...covering a lot of area...all the way to Corpus...it's kinda fun getting out of the day to day fishing area!

October 08, 2008

Well I'm Sorry For Slacking Off, but you guys have been keeping me busy!  Thanks!

This isn’t your normal Fall Bay fishing patterns article, because this Fall is no ordinary Fall.  Let’s start off by saying that my last trip I was fishing the flats in a twin engine offshore boat, No Joke!  The past summer I have fished places that I haven’t ventured into in over 6 years and the fish were there!  It is October 8^th, 2008 and I am still using and catching fish with piggy perch (unfortunately because they are expensive)!  Today was my first day trying shrimp under a popping cork along with the Piggies, Piggies won by a long shot!

There is no doubt our fall transition will occur soon, with the bite dropping off dramatically for a week or two.  Usually the transition will be proceed by a really good feeding, everyone will talk about their catches then the following week the late anglers will come in to get some action only to find out they are too late!  You needn’t worry the Fall and Winter fishing happens to be some of the best fishing of the year, outside of my favorite “The Spring”!  I like having the water to myself this time of year; it makes for peaceful and successful days!  I’m waiting for the first strong cold front to run the Pin Perch off the flats then the popping cork action will turn on, that is if you would rather cast and be active instead of throwing a chunk of dead bait and sitting on your laurels!

Hey but sometimes we can’t all have what we want, give the fish what they will eat!

Capt. Scott McCune

Look for all the boats...then go the other way!  HaHa!  Then see if they follow you!  Seriously, fish away from the crowd...Trout are in the deeper flats over grass and the reds are in the shallow flats.  The boat traffic on the weekend has been making the reds hide over the normal areas we fish during the week...anchoring up will still get some...but I'm still drifting to pickup Trout too...I just try to stay away from the traffic...and it kinda stresses me out to have other boats come from the other side of the flats to start a drift 50' to the side of my drift blocking my customers access to the fish for a second drift...and most of the time they run over my fish when they start the drift...I'm in love with weekdays...weekends are wearing on me!  Tight Lines! 

I'm catching good fish when I can hide from the winter Texans and cut in boaters...so I'm fishing later...I catch a decent amount during the day...then when the boats get off the water I can fish the areas I know hold fish and they are ready to eat...this keeps me and my customers happy because the fish stay in the area from light pressure...defensive fishing 101...it's a must now in days...unfortunately!

Bay fishing has been tough when fishing regular hours, the Winter Texans have been hammering productive areas pretty hard...taking fish of all sizes illegally and keeping more than their limit...they're working it particularly hard now because they are about to go home...and they need fish in their freezer to sell for fuel money when they get home...what a waste...it seems they stay longer every year...it's taking a toll on our fishery...now to the next subject...they along with a lot of weekend boaters have become too damn accustomed to looking for boats to find fish...If it applies, I'll give you a clue fish where the boats aren't...that's is a true sportsman and the proper educate...if you don't know where to fish hire a guide occasionally to help, don't don't drive around looking for where they are fishing...and to my customers...let your boating friends know they should not cut in on drifts or close to were other boats are fishing...my customers pay good money to fish and it's not fair to them when other people see bent poles and cut in on an area we're fishing! 

Well the Yellowfin a biting on long range $6,000.00 trips on 2 or 3 weather breaks a month...Trout has been the big story were catching the big in the shallows on good days...and Redfish have been biting good...remember fishing is great all year but occasionally the bite will be off after a front or if you have repeated fronts...if the wind switches directions the day you are fishing...the bite will probably be slow!  Tight Lines!

The duck hunting slowed down to good from out of sight...but some new birds have come in lately and hunting should be outstanding!  The redfish have been on the same winter pattern, guts when it cold and the tide is low and up on the flats when it warms up and the tide comes in.  Offshore over night Tuna trips have been kicking butt on Blackfin and Yellowfin, just hard to get the weather for long trips.

Ducks! Ducks! Ducks!  They are here Big time!  Bay Fishing has remained solid - especially for Redfish.  The Flounder should be taking off after this last front...Offshore floater should be great...the few times weather will permit!

Offshore has been fairly rough and the fishing has not been consistent.  I have spent the last 3 months mainly catching tons of fish at the various floating rigs, that action should stay on however the weather is a big obstacle.  Bay Fishing is is going strong, we are still getting limits of redfish every trip or darn near...but sometimes it takes longer...we are also catching on average 10 Trout per trip too with some over 20"...we have been working the flats...the fish seem to move almost everyday but we find them by working all the usual places...Hogg, Buns, Estes and so on...Ducks are here in the back lakes of St. Jo...Duck season is almost here!

Ok more reports now that Fall is here and I'm not water logged!  I believe there are some billfish and other offshore species near Dutra and the dumping grounds...the weedlines have not really made up consistently this year...I've been using single hook wide ranges to make an almost weedless lure so I can fish where the fish are...I've been praying for wind and getting what I asked for in most cases in the bay...throwing Piggies under popping cork and covering ground in the flats...remember to vary your leader lengths to just above the grass...strawberry and white has been working great for trout when we want to throw lures!

Wow!  It's been almost a month since I've had a break to write a report, Sorry!  we have had an unusual windy summer however most of my nearshore trips have yielded lots of nice size Kings and big Ling.  We raised 7 Billfish in one day a few days ago catching a Blue and a Sail...Bay fishing Trout on the outside islands, you may have to try a few different places or make multiple stops to get limits...use Piggies in the pot holes on the flats for Reds, Ransom Flats would be a place to try!

Just got back from a 1200NM journey of being the 60' Hatteras back for our offshore charter operation...the offshore fishing was fantastic on the way back from the Keys!

Bay fishing has been tough for the past few days because of the wind...we have however been lucky enough to find large schools of reds to save the day...just hard fishing...when the wind is not blowing we are catching a good number of Trout like usual this time of year...offshore has been fantastic...more Wahoo then I have seen in years...and a lot of Mahi...try off Baker...Colt 45 had a lot of fish...the new floater in the Alaminos Canyon had a huge weedline a few days ago...

Well Piggies and popping cork worked like a charm today...lot's of boats on the water...fish were in deep water with grass on the bottom...been offshore several times this week...Wahoo are great!

Finally got some Piggies the other day and man did they work...the only thing was they are small and we caught more small Trout than usual...but the action was fast and we got the keepers we needed...surprisingly I had a little trouble with Reds yesterday...but you can't stay on them everyday...I found nice Blue water holding fish offshore of Baker...watched a Blue Marlin eat a sandwich Mahi...caught Wahoo and Mahi...water looked great and should only get bettter...

Same Thing...the Trout bite on croaker is good but you have to look...Traylor, Dagger, Corpus wells...sometimes I have to try them all but the numbers end up good at the end of the day...Redfish are great during the week but on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday they can be hard to find...I'm getting one here and one there...still ending up with limits but not a easy as on the weekdays.

Same Thing...the Trout bite on croaker is good but you have to look...Traylor, Dagger, Corpus wells...sometimes I have to try them all but the numbers end up good at the end of the day...Redfish are great during the week but on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday they can be hard to find...I'm getting one here and one there...still ending up with limits but not a easy as on the weekdays.

The Trout bite on croaker is good but you have to look...Traylor, Dagger, Corpus wells...sometimes I have to try them all but the numbers end up good at the end of the day...Redfish are great during the week but on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday they can be hard to find...I'm getting one here and one there...still ending up with limits but not a easy as on the weekdays.

Redfish are great, you just have to look hard for them...being on the water a lot helps...but I can't tell you any specifics areas...Trout good with limits popping up occasionally...look to the outside island...croaker is available now too, though a little small!

Well we are still catching fish...however we have had a bad weather pattern come through...don't mind the rain...dress appropriately and catch a lot of fish!

The fishing is in the Spring pattern now...good numbers of Reds in the flats pot holes and the Trout where there is 2.5' to 3' of water with grass on the bottom!

I think the fishing is in the Spring pattern now...good number of Trout in the flats pot holes and schools of reds roving around are starting to become more active.

The Fishing really picked up yesterday...Reds really turned on in the Flats...this will probably pretty steady through the spring, try areas like Mudd Island Flats.

Seems the evening Bay fishing is still better than morning...the flats fishing has been inconsistent lately because of the fronts...we are getting fish but working hard for it...but the fishing should be really be getting red hot soon...I look for it on every trip!

Seems the evening Bay fishing is better than morning!  Saturday we fished all over the flats...then found a good number of reds in South Bay...during low tide...and on the way back home made one stop to drift the flats and scored fish over grass in Hogg.

Seems the evening Bay fishing is better than morning!  Saturday we fished all over the flats...then found unlimited reds in South Bay...and on the way back home made one stop to drift the flats and scored fish over a place we had previously fished.

The Duck hunting season was great...I just got back on the water for the first good bat trip...we caught Reds, Trout, Drum, flounder and Sheephead...in Hogg and California hole...not SA bay...nasty weather and all...check out the album...3 trophy fish too...on shrimp and popping cork...and a few on DOA's!

We've been finding fish...and doing a lot of wading for the fun of it...I've been playing around with lures when I have not had trips...and catching some quality fish on spoons and plastics...Lots of Ducks down here because of the recent fronts...it will be a great finally to duck season...been trying to get offshore for 2 weeks...too rough!

Went out in the bay yesterday....lots of ducks!  We had a hard time finding fish...we fished hard...the storm must have shut down the fishing...last year the fish really turned on in the middle on January...so I look for the same action this year.  I haven't heard any offshore reports and I haven't had the weather and schedule allow for a offshore visit...but ready and waiting for the next chance.

Trout...I've been catching a lot of Trout...with mixed Reds...Popping Cork and Shrimp...this action should switch back and forth in the traditional places like estates, California hole and Hogg Hole...fish the breaks

Trout...I've been catching a lot of Trout...with mixed Reds...Popping Cork and Shrimp...this action should switch back and forth in the traditional places like estates, California hole...fish the breaks

Colt 45 Floater is hot...Marlin on Colt and at the Floater...and lots of Yellowfin...even more Blackfin and Mahi-Mahi...Redfish are good on Estes Flats...popping cork and Piggies or Shrimp.

More fish at the Floater...and a new floater off of Colt 45...should be HOT...Blue's, Tuna, Wahoo and Mahi...the Bays are producing great Redfish!  Trout are slow...but there are a few to be found in the flats too...Red Tide in Buns and Hog area...dead fish in the water...but the Redfish are still biting in there too!

Fall Fishing is really here...we are starting to phase in Shrimp and popping cork on windy days.  We are fishing the flats still...concentrating on the pot holes...Offshore - there is a floater is 58 NM off the Jetties...smack dab on the corner of the dumping grounds...it's holding Tuna, Wahoo and Mahi...with that it should have the fish with a stick on it too!

Windy...sorry for no reports lately...we have been catching a lot reds in the guts on the flats during the low tides...Trout at the wells on pigs...SA Bay should be starting up too!...we have had many Blue Marlin hookups and catches between Falcon and Dutra over the last 7 days...water seems dead though hardly any other fish...

20 Days without a report!  Sorry!  It's summer...the fish patterns sure do change with the weekend crowds!  There are Trout and Reds in the flats...but you have to work for them...pot holes...drifting with Piggies and Popping cork or pull the anchor  A LOT!  the fish are outside trailer when you can get out there...Kings are still good at the jetties on nice days...and the Trout are in the surf...and a few Reds are showing up out there as well...Blue water...still big fish every where from the close rocks to the floaters...look for rips and weedlines...last one I saw was between Baker and Aransas banks working Southeast...

Lots of rain...I've found one little spot offshore holding fish...I'll let everyone know after the Round-Up if they are still there...still fishing the Reefs in the bays and going to the Surf when weather allows!

Lots of Kings at the jetties...Trout at the wells in Corpus bay...Trout in the surf...scattered Reds in the flats...lots of Mahi and Wahoo on offshore weedlines...with some blues

The wind has been blowing here for 5 days...the fishing has been rough...before the winds came we were really catching a lot of Trout in the surf...then taking a bay boats to find Kings, Ling and Mahi...I have not been offshore in a week and a half...but the fishing seems to be good for the boats heading to the blue water...anywhere from East Break to the Dumping Grounds.

The surf bite has been great on flat conditions...you can even bring along some Ribbonfish and catch Kings...Traylor has still been OK but not the bite in the past years...Offshore...the weedlines and weed patches are holding lots of Wahoo and a few Big Mahi...watch for the Blue they are there too!  Don't be scared of scattered weeds...I've found a few ways to troll them and stay somewhat weed free!

The Trout bite outside Traylor island and some of the other Islands has finally materialized...we're catching many limits.

Wow...I'm very busy right now...but I just opened up the next two weeks...so hopefully I get some calls...anyway we have been catching some very good fish on Shad...in the flats and pot holes up against islands...also out in the middle of the flats...but keep moving and keep your bait fresh...I've still been catch fish on shrimp and popping corking...some good ones at night...a new invention of mine...croaker is working OK...and great when you find that right hole...but it is not on fire like we all expected...

I can't believe that I have forgotten about the reports...I've been VERY busy fishing...the bay fish has been nothing but spectacular for 38 days...EVERY trip...but it's got to fall off at sometime...it's croaker season now...they are small but have worked occasionally...the Shad bite for reds has been great the last few days...wherever Reds are found in the flats...Offshore should be warming up soon...the floaters are still going strong

Fished Friday Night...caught huge Trout and Redfish...slaughtered them...released all but one nice Red...Fishing Top Waters too! Awesome!

Note:  This should change soon...and Shad is working for Reds and Trout too!

Fishing has really been GREAT in the flats around Rockport and Aransas Pass. We've had a lot of windy days, great for Shrimp and popping cork. We've caught limits of reds and half limits of Trout for about 23 days straight! look for the edge of deep water next to flats when the weather gets a little colder and the tide goes out. Drift the flats with higher Spring tides, the fish are there!

Nothing to report Offshore too windy!

Lots of fish around, however they seem to be moving around a lot with the weather!  I have been finding trout and reds in front of City by the Sea and California Hole.  A large school of big Redfish seem to be on Quarantine,  use your trolling motor to find them, as well as some nice fish on Hogg Flats.  For the birds you just have to scout...still lots of them!  Wahoo at Southern and Ant Hill!

Pintail Season Open!!!

  Ducks are thick and we're averaging 5 birds a person with lots of shots!  Fish are on  the flats again...Drum  n the deeper holes on the flats!

REDFISH STILL!!!  

More fish...the tide is out and the fish are biting...guts off/in the flats!  Morris Cummings edges too!  Ducks are thick and waiting for Dec 10th! The Floater has moved out of the area!

REDFISH!!!  

More fish...the tide is out and the fish are biting...guts off/in the flats!  Morris Cummings edges too!  Ducks are thick! Floater report coming a couple of days!

REDFISH!!!  

More fish...the tide is out and the fish are biting...guts off/in the flats!

REDFISH!!!  The last three days have been great on scattered Redfish on the flats with grass and shell, like Hogg and Carbon Black!

A floater inshore of DH is holding LOTS of Tuna YFT and BFT...and they are taking top waters readily...the bite turns off a little when the wind starts blowing.

I haven't been out but the word is snapper are being caught south towards Port Mansfield.  Atlantic Sharpnose are everywhere .  Other than that fishing is a little slow.

I just got back from Fort Lauderdale and heard the fishing was slow, I decided to head to Big Southern to check for Wahoo, a scattered weed lining was running through it and made it almost impossible to fish, we did find bait and sharks on the rocks though.  We were on a scouting trip so we headed to Hospital Rocks and found Shark and Bonita, I believe the Tuna were there if we had time to chum them up.

The Noble Homer Farrington (80 miles) floater was loaded with Yellow Fin to 100# and big Black fin to 30#, no marlin there, YET!