April Options on Galveston Bay

The trip was planned to explore several areas in the San Leon, Dickinson Bay, and Texas City near the Dike. But, the old pier pilings that have always been such a magnet for redfish beckoned. It's hard for this guide to give up good old bad habits, especially when they have produced fried redfish filets so many times. The Big Bay Parker just seemed to go on autopilot, quickly swinging into familiar territory.

On a Bass Assassin ¼ oz wide gap lead head, the limetruse plastic mullet imitation looked deadly swimming through the sandy green bay waters. Long cast with my All-Pro Fishing Tackle Unlimited rod back toward the shallows drew the bait in an almost parallel course to the old pier pilings near April Fool Pt. Just as the sun was clearing the eastern shoreline of East Bay, my 6-½ foot rod bowed deeply. The power and style of the run indicated that I had a good redfish. The ultra light action of the rod along with my 10 lb. Elite line by Suffix proved to be lethal again. However, the pier pilings are different. It was over in less than two minutes. Twice more, my presentation proved to fool me'. It was embarrassing……

Then there was that magic day a couple of days later, back near the Texas City Dike. Using medium action All-Pro FTU rods, four of us did battle on some awesome black drum. Lots of Big black drum. It was a bright sunny day with a light east wind. Those fish were stacked in a deep hole near the Dike. And they were eating fresh blue crabs just as fast as we could serve them up. Passers by on the Bolivar Ferry were treated to several Herculean tussles. These spawn-minded females were all in the 25-40 lb class and they make ones forearms similar to Popeye's……

There was the beautiful April morning, spent with a very dear friend, Brother Chuck, around Goat Island near the Hog Pins in East Bay. We used several assortments of She Dog's and soft plastic Assassins and Tidal Surge baits to tally a mixed bag. By the end of the day, we had waded that entire shoreline and come away with speckled trout, redfish, sand trout and even one grandee gaff stop. My brother Chuck was equal to the test and found great success, both on top as well as feeding those great fish with soft plastic.

And yet again was the morning with Mike Heidaman and Casey, along the north shoreline of Trinity Bay. Get this, with no tidal movement, we boxed speckled trout to around four pounds on soft plastic Salt Water Assassins and Tidal Surge baits. On still another day, when cabin fever trampled good sense, a hasty run to the back of Moses Lake seemed to ease the situation. That campaign featured deteriorating conditions with a light drizzle. The only fish happening were several sand trout and some Hugh ribbonfish. Still again, the need was served.

The aforementioned episodes are described, not for the quality or quantity they produced, but to highlight the exciting fact that April is the month when it all begins. Most of the action we find on the Texas Coast pecks during the warmer months. By the firth of May, water temperature is in that magical 70's and the summer smorgasbord is being served up…

The large black drum show first. While the run pecks in September, bull redfish are year round possibility. As the beachfront warms to the sunlight, gaffs top, speckled trout and keeper redfish begin the work the shallow guts. Big flounder are funneling through the passes and ditches, working there way back into the upper part of Trinity and East Bay. Sharks will oversee the migration in numbers most people do not begin to realize. The first of these will usually be the small sand sharks. Not far behind them will be the black tip, bulls and hammerheads. By mid-June, Spanish mackerel, jackfish pompano, king mackerel and even ling will be taken near the beach front.

It is easy to rush this great out door experience. As much as this writer and guide love fishing the colder months, I eagerly anticipate that which is to come. Rare is the year that I don't try to will the fish into place before it's time. The next three months will offer more and more varied opportunities than any other time of the year. The possibilities are virtually limitless. And every year, during the dog days of summer, I suddenly blink one hot, steamy afternoon and wonder where those magic days of spring went already……

God bless you and your families, while you enjoy His great backyard.

Captain Paul Marcaccio, USGC & TP & W.

Article-April 2006-a B.O.I.(born on the island) with over 30 years of Coastline experience.

A Tribute to a Man and his Son

In life, only a hand full of people, including your parents, can forevermore have a lasting effect on your natural ability.

There was one who had a profound effect along with his son. That person was Bob Stephenson Sr. and Junior, as I knew him. Bob Jr. had a passion for the outdoors that his father gave him from the time his was just a little tot.

Bob Sr. and his lovely wife Dottie have a wonderful family and shared everything about the outdoors with their sons and daughters.

The first I remember Bob Sr. was he doing the commercials for Friday Night Wrestling for Paul Bausch. Then later Bob Sr. was the weatherman for CBS, channel 11 here in Houston. I'm not sure of the time frame next, but Johnny Valentino of Eagle Point tells me that his dad and Bob Sr. were close friends. Somehow, either Bubba or Johnny's dad convinced Bob Sr. to do a fishing report on the radio for the Outdoor Farm Show. Bam………Thus was born the re-Known show, sometime around 1968, called "The Bob Stephenson OUTDOOR Show". Do not hold me to all these dates and time. The rest is history.

Bob Sr. made a lasting effect on this guide and angler. The show played to a listening audience daily from 4am to 5am and on the weekends from 4-7am. Except Monday, when Bob Sr. would take a little time off, like maybe the barbers did as well. The format to this angler was simple. Tell it like it is. No exceptions. Wind direction, tide movement and general location of where you caught your fish. Bob Sr. expected no less than the truth. Lots of time, he would try to close the gap to where I was catching. All in good fun. Bob Sr. loved the outdoors like our Lord indented. He always had a smile, a look and a touch for everyone he came in contact with. His outdoor show was on the air for well over 30 years, heard on the AM radio side of 740, 950 and finally settled down to the 610 spot where it played till our Lord called him home four years ago. This man knew more about fishing and hunting than any I could remember in ten lifetimes. Forgive me while I dry my eyes a little...

His passion to help one and all was unique. From the advertising Boat Dealers, Professional Hunting and Fishing Guides, and especially the men and women that would call in to his show. He treated us all with the same passion and conviction for telling the truth above all else. He later tutored his son, Bob Jr., to help so he could spend more time with his lovely wife Dottie and other members of his family.

Bob Jr. and I became very close friends during the 80's. His passion mirrored his dad for the outdoors. Bob Jr. fished some of the tournament trails in the southwest. At some point, Bob Sr. asked Junior to continue the family tradition. Bob Jr. took over for his dad, so dad could spend quality time with his family and friends. Bobby was a great friend, who knew the importance of family and how to get the most out of all of us, when it came to hunting and fishing reports. There were times, he could push my buttons... Man, and He was awesome.

Bob Jr. maintained the airways all during the 80's, 90's and the 2000's. Everyone that came in contact with Bob Jr. loved and admired him as a person and a family man. His lovely wife Melba and daughters, Dana and Shelly are true grit to this writer. They all continue to live life to the fullest. Bob Jr. lived life the way you should. To the fullest. One day at a time. He was a man's man like his dad, Bob Sr. Bobby passed away in 2002. I will truly miss them both…….

The show lives on in their memory. Wayne Vinton and Benny Hatten are now the hosts daily. Tune in @ AM 610 Thurs-Sunday @ 4am. Great guys to listen to about the outdoors….

I can still here them sometimes, while I drive toward the coast to go fishing. Bobby laughing out loud about someone's funny story and the show always closed with Bob Sr. famous line.

"Folks, HAVE FUN OUTDOORSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS......."

God truly blessed these two great men.

Dottie, Melba, Dana and Shelly.... Thank you for sharing your father and husbands.

Capt. Paul Marcaccio-A b.o.i.(born on the island)

With over 30 yrs. fishing experience the Texas Gulf Coast. U.S.C.G. & T. P. & W. license

www.gofishgalveston.com