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 Good Picture Is Worth 1000 Words

Memorable fish catches don’t come along on every fishing trip, but when they do, you certainly want a permanent record of the occasion. You could, of course, take your catch to the taxidermist and have a real fine wall mount made. I’ve gone that route, and it is satisfactory to a point. The problem is this can become quite expensive. I’ve been sport fishing since 1965 and if I had a wall mount made of every big fish I’ve caught or especially admired, I would be trophy rich and money poor.

No, not every fish I’ve caught was a record at the time. Other points figure in, like the circumstances under which the fish was caught, the tackle or special lure used, etc., etc.
There is an inexpensive way you can make permanent those memorable catches. Photograph the catch. If it’s to be a record of the catch, you need to do some planning in taking the photo. Simply pointing the camera and pressing the shutter release is not enough.

First off, consider the background. Don’t clutter it up with objects and whatnots totally unrelated to fishing.

Use a marine background. You can shoot from a low angle and have clouds in the background or shoot for a high angle and get the water in the background. Or you can take the photo in the boat with tackle, motor, and etc. in the background.

The main object in the picture is going to be the fish. Present its best side to the camera and wet the body before taking the photo. This will give it a more lifelike appearance. If the fish has been cleaned, don’t turn the cavity to the camera. And forget all about holding the fish out in front of you so it will look better. A photo like that will stamp you as a real hayseed and make you the butt of a lot of jokes.

When there is a person in the photo, the first thing viewers look at is the eyes. The viewers will then normally look at what the eyes of the photographed person is viewing. Thus hold the fish at shoulder level off to one side and look at the fish. Similar “blunder” photos crop up many times daily at the Grand Canyon. The photo is of someone looking right at the camera with the Grand Canyon in the background. Make the photo a lasting one by having the person stand off to one side and then look toward or point at something in the Grand Canyon.

Let’s say you come in with a 9-pound speckled trout and you want a photo of it. Hold the fish with both hands, one supporting the head and the other grasping the tail to extend the fish to full length. Hold the catch to one side with the head of the fish at eye level, but a little to the front.
Then look at the fish’s head. The resulting photo will show you with your head partially turned toward the fish and with your eye on the fish. The fish is what you want people to see when viewing the photo. Have the photographer move in close to snap the picture. You want the full length of the fish to show, but there is no reason for you to appear full length in the photo. After all, the important subject is the fish, not your fishing pants and old shoes. If there is any doubt at all about the light, use the flash.

The poorest light for a daytime photo is during the time period between 10a.m. and 2p.m.
Sure, the light may be strongest, but the sun will be overhead. A hat or cap will cast shadows on faces. Use a flash to eliminate those shadows. Avoid taking photos with the sun directly behind the photographer or behind the person in the photo. In one case, you end up with the photographer’s shadow on the person in the photo. In the other case, the result is a bright background behind a darkened subject.

Record fish come along only a time or two in a lifetime. Trophy size fish may be caught only slightly more often. With this in mind, never take just one photo. Film is not expensive. If your catch is big enough for a trophy, it is worth using a whole roll of film. If it is a record fish, there is nothing wrong with using two or three rolls of film. You may never, ever catch a fish so large again. And take the photos from various angles with various backgrounds. Very often what you feel is the best pose may turn out to be the fourth or fifth, etc. best when you get the processed photos back.

If the fish is to be taken to the taxidermist for mounting, make sure to take a number of color photos of the catch. It will enable the technician to better match the colors on the fish when he has to touch up the final mount.

God bless your families and good fishing.
See y’all on Galveston Bay.

Capt Paul Marcaccio
www.gofishgalveston.com

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

Anahuac Pocket - The Golden Goose

This day a good friend, Mike Heideiman, and I were looking for that elusive trout and redfish. I was using soft plastic Saltwater Assassin’s and Mike was a Baby Super Spooks. We were intending on having heavy stringers.

One moment the water below the next, and us just looked different a gaping yellow mouth with two canine teeth seemingly appeared from nowhere to engulf the Assassin. The strike was as vicious as it was fast. Water splashed as the big trout dove under my boat, straining the graphite rod and having Mike to turn to see what the commotion was all about and then grab the landing net.

The drag was screaming as my line left the reel in a most characteristic fashion. Got to tell you’ll folks, just does not get any better...........

Mike grabbed the landing net, but this trout’s "time" had not arrived and she made several more runs away from the boat. We finally got the opportunity to slip the landing net under the spent fish. Several more of the same size trout were caught that morning, ranging from 18 inches to 23 inches long. No redfish could be found that day.

Trinity is the largest body of water in the Galveston Bay complex, offering miles of shoreline as well as a huge area of deeper water in the open bay. Trinity provides a good number of oil and gas rigs as well as live oyster reefs for boaters and wade fishermen alike.

Speckled trout, redfish and flounder are found in this natural nursery, but perhaps her greatest claim to fame comes from waders throwing topwater baits for big trout. She is large enough that it would pay most weekend anglers to invest in a few trips with experienced guides so they can get to know the area a little better.

Live bait is always the percentage call on any water. Shrimp, finger mullet, and croakers will always produce at the right time. While live bait is not always easy to find and is expensive, most fishermen will either but it, net it, or simply not go fishing. There is, however, something about Trinity that seems to inspire some of us who would not be caught with live bait or a cast net. That’s not to say, clients may buy the bait and put it on my boat any time. From time to time, word leaks out about enormous trout taken on topwaters.

Her greatest drawback is the seemingly annual flooding of fresh water down the river into the open bay. Trinity has been reported, in recent years, for anglers to catch fresh water stripers and bass. But, when she’s right, Trinity Bay can grant some of the most consistent, if not the hottest, fishing on the entire Gulf Coast. THIS IS THE CASE NOW...........

It may be hit or miss from now on until the first spring flood tides, but when the tides get right and there is a lull between these blue northers, the fish will be there. Salinity and color now is as good as this writer could imagine.

Along with others, I will be back.

As always, enjoy fishing. Remember what you have learned and pass it on to the little ones. You, too, were young once.

See y’all on Galveston Bay or maybe Trinity Bay near the shoreline at .................Oops?

Merry Christmas to one and all. God bless our land and the men who defend it for our enjoyment outdoors...............

Capt. Paul Marcaccio
www.gofishgalveston.com