Courtesy is Important While Drift Fishing

Each year we fishermen enjoy the many benefits to drift fishing.

As we trailer our boats toward the bay with great anticipation, we take time to discuss with each other how we are going to fish this or that particular area, and what kind if bait to use.

Keep in mind; wind direction in the city and at the water’s edge is usually 180 degrees different.

Once away from the marina, head straight for the area you wish to fish.

Upon arriving, take note of the wind direction and start your drift sideways.

By doing so, more people can fish toward the structure with the wind at their backs.

If the wind is pushing your boat too fast for you to work the bait of choice (live or artificial), there are several methods to drift.

The most commonly used is a drift anchor. It is a bright yellow or blue plastic cone, with a half-inch rope attached to straps that are connected to the top of the cone. (Approx 4 feet across)

The cone fills with water and slows down your drift. The other end is just about an 8-10 inches wide. Other materials may include a five-gallon paint bucket allowed to fill with water and trailed on a half-inch line about 20 feet long.

If you don’t have either of these handy attachments, take your anchor and set it down backwards, allowing it to drag the bottom and slow down your drift.

Earlier, I mentioned keeping the wind to your back. It is almost impossible to cast into the wind or away from the direction you are drifting. Unless you are dredging the spoils of the channel. More on that another time.

You must keep up with the slack line between you and your bait. Once you have a fish on, tell your guide or friend immediately. He will then be able to set the anchor so you and the rest of the party can cast in the general direction of the first fish that was caught.

Do not over stay in the area. A good rule-of-thumb would be about 15 minutes.

If you don’t pick up any more trout or reds, pull up the anchor and continue to drift.

Sometimes I find it more productive not to use the anchor and just drift. Each structure or reef is different.

And, remember, never leave fish. If you have been successful either by anchoring or drifting, stay in the area. The fish will feed again or they may have moved nearby.

Tidal movement and presentation of your bait are very important. If you have caught fish in the area, work it deliberately for at least an hour before moving on. You may want to return to the area when the tide turns the opposite direction.

Boating courtesy is very important when drifting. You may have had another boat anchor right in front of your drift or what we refer to as being cut off from either a boat running through your drift area, or starting up the engine as soon as you approach their boat.

Keep in mind the fish are not likely to stay in the area if you continue to make lots of noise when you decide to leave. Pick up your anchor and drift out of the area then start up the engine and begin a new drift.

Use common courtesy and look for bait activity. A trolling motor comes in handy if you need to leave, but don’t want to stay.

Remember to always have fun and enjoy being outdoors.

See y’all on Galveston Bay.

Capt. Paul Marcaccio

Live Bait's Best, but Don’t Ignore Plastic Alternative

For some saltwater anglers, the recent shortage of live shrimp in Galveston Bay has put their weekends on hold. Others do not seem to notice.

Keep in mind there are times and places in which live shrimp is a must, but springtime along the Texas coast is not one of them. Hatching of the South Texas brownies along with their migration, sometimes is slowed by Mother Nature.

Fishermen who like to fish for the fun of it, shouldn’t let the absence of the white flag alter their fishing trips.

With a little persistence and some well placed luck, the use of plastic can be every bit as productive as the real thing on speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and maybe almost as good for gafftop and sandtrout.

Live shrimp is a fisherman’s tool, just like his rod and reel or his outboard motor and boat. But sometimes, this tool can be a crutch. Often times, some fishermen are too dependent on live shrimp. Typically, diehard live bait fishermen try the plastic route once or twice. If they are not successful, back to the live well igloo.

There are no guarantees even with a live well full of bugs or hoppers. And don’t give this writer the old adage, the family will go without, unless I bring home the bacon, if that were the scenario, the $12 or more it takes to buy a quart of bait would go much further in a discount food store.

Fishing is fun and part of that fun is being able to fool’em. Time, place and water conditions still matters as much, but you can do so choosing the correct lure and making it wiggle just so.

Granted, this is not easy, but the skills needed for most salt-water applications, come with patience and presentation.

Fishing with plastics is not like open-heart surgery. Experience is the best teacher and your classroom is always open. Soft plastic shrimp and shad imitations are for the most part productive and most user friendly along the Texas Gulf coast. Give me a hand full of jigheads and tails, and this writer will surely have fun fooling a few of the Texas big three. These lures can be worked both horizontally and vertically to cover all the necessary water to attract a surprising variety of fish. Texas big three are the prime targets (trout, redfish and flounder).

The Rat-L-Trap seldom sees salt water action in Texas. If you don’t like this lure and it’s kin. Ask Texas bass fishermen for a recommendation. They are available in many colors and finished with corrosion-resistant hardware and they work on any fish that eats piggy perch or menhaden.

Spoons are a must to carry on the bays of Galveston, but this writer has noticed a real downturn in the numbers anglers throw these days. Man, they can cut through a howling southeast wind like a sharp paring knife. Use ¼ oz-3/4 oz depending on the depth and distance you are trying to cover. A wide body spoon wobbles near the surface, while a narrow body plows more deeply through the water. Many a redfish have been landed with a gold spoon as well as other types of plastic imitation shrimp and shad bodies. You can chunk and wind all day with a spoon.

Mirro-lures, Jumpim’ minnows and Corky’s are among a family of somewhat advanced lures, but there is no single, magic way to work any of them.

Start with a slow steady retrieve and have a fishin’ friend begin with a quick erratic pull. Keep it moving. Let it sit. Try anything. And when a fish hits the plug, try and remember to retrieve it the same way the next time.

The length or weight of my stringer does not measure the success of my personal fishing trips any more. More so, the uncanny ability to fool one speckled trout or redfish on a fake bait.

Remember, have fun outdoors. Good luck and god fishing.

See Y’all on Galveston Bay.

Capt. Paul Marcaccio

Fishing gear 101

It is often said that approximately 10 percent of the fisherman catch 80 percent of the fish.

If so, what are the fisherman that make up the other 80 percent doing wrong.

Many times it the little oversights that lead to a fisherman’s downfall and allow a trophy fish to escape the hook and net.

Here are a few ways I have managed over the years to lose fish.

Old line – Neither braided or monofilament last forever. Long periods of unuse, as well as constant action and excessive heat, weaken a line and cause it to break at the wrong time.
How often an angler needs to change line depends on how much he or she fishes and the type of water they fish in.Long hours of wade fishing around shell and structure might call for a line change every three or four trips. As a general rule, the average angler should change line with each season (approximately four times a year). Reels should be stored where line is not exposed to direct sunlight or excessive heat. You may select any number of lines. Personally, I prefer Suffix Elite or Pro-Mix. Other named brands are P-Line or Berkley. Cost is different with each.

Frayed line – Abrasion is probably the single greatest threat to a fishing line.

A wise fisherman will scan the line or lightly run it through his fingers to check for any rough spots before each fishing trip. Some anglers make it a habit to strip off and discard line before a fishing trip. Check rod eyes (guides) for rust or rough spots, which could damage line.

Damaged hooks – Dull hooks mean lost fish. Either sharpen the points or replace the hook.

Some fishermen make the mistake of reusing hooks, which have been spread open. Bending the hook back into shape weakens the metal.

And, of course, rusty hook should be replaced. Use Mustad triple grip.

Boat inventory – I had a nice trout at the side of the boat. When I reached for my landing net, it was tangled in my client’s feet. I lost the fish before I could free the net. To be prepared for such instances, an angler should be certain of three areas:

1. To be able to move freely around the boat if need be, without stepping in an open tackle box, or getting tangled in something (anchor line or landing net).

2. The landing net is within easy reach.

3. Once the fish is on board, there is a storage box or ice chest to put it in so it won’t flop overboard, which has happened on more than one occasion.

FUEL- always has a FULL tank of gasoline when leaving the dock. Never try to do it with less. Either weather or your ability will cause you to run out. It’s expensive to call the Coast Guard or you’re soon to be distant friend. By keeping the fuel tank full, condensation will not form in the tank, which could turn to water and cause the motor to stop. Water and gas is no marriage on the bay.

REELS- always carry an extra reel in your tackle with line on it. That way, if you have a professional override (backlash), you can replace the reel and continue to catch those pesky specs and redfish.

RODS- some will bring a extra rod for that moment when you least expect it to break. Most guides have adequate room for just that. Check the rod after each trip for nicks or stress areas after you may have hit the gunnels rail or a t-top.

BOAT TRAILER- now here a subject that if not properly keep checked, folks will wave at you as they drive by on the way to the bay or gulf. Pay close attention to your buddy bearing, check them after each trip and use a small amount of pressure to place additional grease in the tube. Not too much or you will blow out your seal. Check the springs and lubricate after each outing. Wiring important for turn lights and running lights. Sportsman Trailers in Sante Fe has great parts for all your trailer needs.

There are many other ways to lose a fish. Lack of concentration, not playing the fish long enough, poor net handling or lack of confidence can all set fish free.

See ya’ll on Galveston Bay.

Captain Paul Marcaccio

East Galveston Bay - Best kept Secret.

 You don’t need a huge bay for good fishing. A small bay with great structure plus marsh embossed borders can fill the bill.

That’s the case of East Bay, the smallest of the major bays in the Galveston Estuary. For years it was the best redfish bay on the upper Texas Coast, but back in those years it was also a best kept secret. East Bay is still the best upper coast redfish bay, but that’s no longer a secret, and the bay now gets heavy play from boaters and waders alike.

 Starting with Hanna’s Reef on the southwest end, East Bay is rich with structure: scores of deep oyster reefs and pipe stands, Hanna’s Reef is a favorite of anglers who like to anchor their boats to fish cuts and drop-offs along the reef. The deep reefs to the northeast of Hanna’s Reef and extending back to the bay’s connection with the mouth of the Intracoastal Waterway are favored by drift anglers and those who like to fish the birds.

 The borders of East Bay offer excellent wade fishing, especially the stretch along the Bolivar Peninsula side. This stretch from Goat Island, the bay’s junction with Lower Galveston Bay, back to Elm Grove offers excellent fishing for speckled trout, redfish and flounder. When the wind is light and parallel to the length of Bolivar Peninsula some of the bigger coves can be fished by drifting. Whether you drift or wade, a boat is needed to reach these waters because you have to cross the Intracoastal Waterway that runs the length of Bolivar Peninsula.

The whole of Chambers County side of East Bay can be waded, with the best action generally on the flats near the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Access is either by the Refuge or near Smith’s Point. Reefs like Stephenson Pt., Deep, and Robinson Bayou, just to name a few good ones.

 Some of the best redfish action in this bay is during the oyster season. Working oyster boats make the bay quite sandy and at times downright muddy. This isn’t conducive to decent fishing for speckled trout. The working oyster boats, however, stir up a lot of marine life upon which redfish feed. Fish in the immediate vacinity of the oyster boats. Fish the flats and along the saltgrass marshes on the Bolivar Peninsula side of the bay. As a rule of thumb, let the tidal movement move the sediment toward where you are drifting. Great production will results in following the oyster boats at times………………….

 East Bay is like West Bay in that it is a Galveston Estuary body of water little affected by fresh water runoff from heavy rains. This bay has two close connections with the Gulf of Mexico. Consequently the salinity level in this bay remains fairly constant. The connection with the Gulf of Mexico is Rollover Pass about 20 miles from the tip of Bolivar Peninsula. The other connection is the Lower Galveston Bay at the mouth of the entrance to the seaway between the North and South Jetties.

 Rollover Pass deserves special attention. It offers boatless anglers excellent flounder and golden croaker fishing every fall and spring.

There is no lack of fishing facilities (tackle and bait stands, boat-launching ramps, eating establishments) on Bolivar Peninsula. They are located all along the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s a different story on the Chambers County side of the bay. There are launching facilities on the roads leading to the bay, but all the concession stands selling bait, tackle, ice and food supplies are located near Smith’s Point at the far northwest corner of the bay.

 Take advantage of the north shoreline, reefs like Deep, Whitehead and Richards, are excellent reefs to drift and find good solid speckled trout and redfish. Make use of the Salt Water Bass Assassins or Mirrolures baits in soft or hard plastics. Colors include bone-diamond, limetruse, Texas roach and pearl-chartreuse. Top water products like the She Pup or the Baby Super Spook are great tools for those elusive fish over 25 inches. Colors should be light in clear water and dark in off-colored water. Present temps are in the mid-70?

 Recent winds and rains from the upper watersheds have had a great effect on quality catching of speckled trout and redfish. Spring tides are up 2-3 feet at present. Fish are close to drains and bayous on the incoming and out some on the outgoing tide periods.

  Always file a flight plan. That way, someone can start to look for your group should you break down or worse, need medical assistance.

God bless you and your families.

Capt Paul Marcaccio

Winter Fishing is Hard Work

Most of the fishermen we know have put up their rods and taken up rifles and shotguns, at least temporarily.

From December through mid-March, this period offers trout that feed very much like piggy perch or hardheads. The cold weather often makes the trout very sluggish. Since the body temperature of a trout is that of the water in which it lives, the cold slows the metabolism of the fish.

Trout fishing is supposed to be fun, but only for about nine months of the year. With winter fishing comes more work than fun. All the time you are suffering through the cold day. It is apparent that there are fewer fishermen in the bay and you should not have the problems encountered during the summer months.

Needless to say, if one endures low temperatures and sluggish fish that nibble, you can enjoy great action during these frigid months.

Passage of these northers are sometimes frequent and the more violent the front, the poorer the fishing afterwards. These fronts cause the bay system to turn chocolate milk and can lower the water level. I have seen a two or three foot drop in the water level after one of these fronts passes Galveston Bay, leaving a lot of good fishing areas exposed as mud or shell reefs. This then will force the trout to move to deep holes and the channels.

Depending on whom you ask it takes sometimes three to four days for the return of normal tide levels and clear water.

Once the front passes, a fisherman can experience several days of good fishing. Most often, the trout are suspended in water that is six to nine feet deep. Work areas like oil and gas platforms, shell or oyster reefs. If you know a well pad has been productive in the past, anchor up and work it for 15 to 30 minutes. Then you might want to try drifting certain oyster reefs and return later to the wells when the alternate tide starts moving again.

Remember that the fish will be deep, so work the bait on the bottom.

Birds (working gulls) are not usually found due to shrimp migration in the fall. Occasionally, you may find some trout along the shoreline adjacent to deep structure. Trout will feed during these periods and prior to frontal passages, thinking they need to store up food before the next winter blast of cold air arrives.

The shortage of live bait during the winter keeps many fishermen at home. Some don’t know how to fish lures, or they dislike using them.

When live bait is available, use it under a popping cork about four to seven feet deep from the cork to the hook. You also may free shrimp or use a slip weight depending on the bottom you are fishing. Also, the use of live finger mullet or mudfish is good when live shrimp are not found. The above mentioned should be hooked at the top dorsal fin or the tail and hooked on the bottom. Make long casts and when the bait hits the water, let out enough line to drop the bait where you first hit the water. This will keep the bait from coming back to you because of the current. The method is to retrieve slowly and pause until the bait is back at the boat. Each time you cast, move your location and cover as much water as possible.

The use of artificial baits during the winter will test your patience.

This is not the time for the novice angler to use these baits without some prior experience.

Remember that proper presentation is important. Lifting the rod tip as you retrieve is important, as you will have to put the bait within a few feet of the trout.

Be sure and cover as much water as possible as you drift or anchor the boat. Another popular winter fishing trout lure is bottom-bumping plugs with two sets of hooks. The extra hook gives the fisherman the edge.

Keep this in mind while wading in the winter: trout have a much heavier than usual coating of protective slime. Be sure to carry a landing net. If you think these fish are slippery in the summer, try grabbing one in the dead of winter when your fingers are numb.

The clothing you wear is also important. Be sure and layer the clothes you select, so in the sun should come out, you will be able to remove a layer at a time as necessary.

As always, have fun and enjoy the outdoors.

See ya’ll on Galveston Bay.

Capt. Paul Marcaccio