Summer Pattern-Galveston

July-August, 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. Near the April Fool shoreline and Eagle Point. On a FTU Green rod, the lime truse plastic mullet imitation looked deadly swimming through the sandy green bay waters. Long cast with my Green Titanium 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 30 lb Sufix braid 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 Green 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, baby Spooks, and soft plastic Assassins and Norton 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 top. 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 Heidemann 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 Stanley Jigs and Salt Water Assassin 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 July and August are great times to be on Galveston Bay. 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 beachfront. We are catching a great number of sharks in the bay this year due to the salinity similar to offshore because we have had little or no rainwater……………..go figure 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... B.O.I. (born on the island) with over 30 years of Texas Coastline experience.

Fishing with Sunglasses

Fishermen and women alike take great pride in having the proper equipment for fishing the bay system and offshore. Sometimes, the little things will make a difference on the outcome of what we consider a good day’ of fishin’ (catchin’). What items of equipment would you say are the most often overlooked part of your fishing gear? Maybe an extra reel, braided line, sunscreen or even an extra cap? Wrong, it is your sunglasses. I can relate to the obvious benefits of comfort, as well as helping preserve the long-term health of your eyes. Wearing sunglasses will also protect the night vision following a bright day on the water. Studies show that exposure to strong ultra-violet light will slow your eyes’ adaptation to the dark, meaning you might not have normal night vision until several hours after the sun sets. Intense sun bleaches the chemicals out of your retina that you use for night vision. The chemicals do recharge, but it takes time, especially if your eyes have been exposed to strong light over a period of days. Shielding your eyes from ultra-violet (UV) rays can also slow the development of cataracts, essentially a clouding of the lens. Cataracts are caused by a host of factors, including heredity and poor nutrition. Studies indicate long-term exposure to bright sun and glare can make folks already predisposed more susceptible. U V Standards You can hold a sunglass lens up to the sky to see how much visible light it factors out, but you’re dependent on the manufacturers word regarding the most important aspect of sunglass performance: filtration of UV light. Ultra-violet rays are the invisible light rays that cause sunburn and can jump start cancer and cataracts. There are three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVC has the potential for causing eye damage. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends sunglasses that block 99 percent to 100 percent of UV light. UV absorption up to 400 nm, a measure found on some labels, is the same thing as 100 percent UV absorption. A wide variety of coating types and colors can also filter out UV rays. Glasses that don’t seem especially dark can still provide complete or near complete UV protection. Even sunglasses with 100 percent UV blockage can’t seal out all UV light. Moving a pair of standard sunglasses one-quarter of an inch from the forehead increases UV exposure by 4 percent, depending on the design of the glasses. Side panels will prevent light bleeding into your eyes, but depending on the shape of your face, you’re always going to have some bleeding at the top and bottom of the lenses. Polarization Polarized glasses are famous for letting you see structure just below the water and fish. Polarized lenses contain microscopic mesh to diffuse reflected glare. You get a little less depth of field and contrast because of the way the light is diffused in the lens. A higher price can buy you better optics and more durable frames. Fashionable colors and frames may also boost the price of a pair of shades, as do special features like polarization. A quick test of lens distortion is to look through the glasses at a straight horizontal line, and then turn your head from side-to-side. If the lines seem to wobble and stretch, the lens quality is poor. Good quality sunglasses tend to have lenses made either of glass or a plastic called CR-39 or polycarbonate. In general, glass in the most scratch resistant; plastic are lighter and more shatter resistant. CR-39 is naturally more scratch resistant than polycarbonate, which wins in the impact resistant category. Both CR-39 and polycarbonate lenses can be molded and polished to achieve a superior optical surface, neither is cheap and the CR-39 lenses tend to be expensive. For those who still insist on tossing their glasses into the tackle box with the car keys, manufacturers have mixed up special ultra hard coatings. Always Ask about scratch resistant coatings when you purchase that pair of sunglasses. Remember, you have spent lots of dollars for fishing equipment. Don’t leave out one of the most important pieces of equipment the next time you go fishing. A good pair of quality sunglasses is essential and should be part of your basic tackle. Memories are made each day. Protect your vision and wear the best available lens………………………….. As always, have fun and enjoy the outdoors. See you’ll on Galveston Bay. Capt. Paul Marcaccio U.S.C.G. & T.P.& W. license