Texas Cast & Blast Slam
-Capt. Jeff Larson

We hope all our readers and customers are having a great new year so far. We are still in the El Nino weather pattern which makes for a warm and wet year.  It sure has been making it nice for fishing.   The duck hunters are shedding clothes faster than they are putting ‘em on. We were at the boat ramp yesterday and sweat was pouring off all the guides’ foreheads.  Luckily, we were going fishing.

2015 was not a record breaker by any means, but it was a consistent year fishing.  Due to the consistent patterns, we were able to break personal records for a bunch of our clients.  This is all part of why we love the outdoors.  Trout, Redfish and Flounder maintained a solid pattern which was good for sending plenty of fish home with customers.  We also filled  up their coolers with Black Drum and Sheephead. These are also great table fare. Hard to clean, but good to eat.

Duck Season 2015 – 2016, was better this year than last by a slim margin in relation to numbers killed. The Diver Duck numbers are pretty much the same due to our staple Redheads and Scaup that migrate yearly to our county.  We logged more puddle ducks this year than last year. Plus, we have two more weeks of the season.  The key to the puddlers for us has been a run and gun approach. Basically, we scouted the flats that held puddlers and set up near their pothole they were using and draw them off as they left to either feed or just get some exercise.  If the outskirt spread didn’t pull em in then we had to go to the proverbial X.   Oh, and weather,  Wind or Fog is always helpful getting the puddlers in the spread to the strap.

I categorize 2015 as a good year.  Fishing was good. The weather was good.  Hunting was good. Flounder gigging was great.  We can leave the world problems like  Politics, the Oil and Gas Market,  terror and X’s for the duck blind. There is still no Country better than Texas. I am an optimist and prefer to look at all the good.

The last several days have been great trout fishing.  They have been scattered over soft bottoms, ie. mud.  The Solunar Tables have been real accurate and I suspect they will continue to be accurate.  If you can plan your trip to the Saltwater Lodge around good Major and Minor feeding periods that would be a plus.  Most fishermen and hunters just go when they can; I get that, but if you can control your time outdoors, I always recommend looking ahead at the moon phase and solunar tables.

We have been getting on some Monster Sheephead.  They have been doing  their annual migration so they are an easy target right now.  We cooked, actually Chuck cooked, some fresh Sheeper Fillets last night and I must say they are still one of the best eating fish in the bay. They are called Bay Snapper for a reason.  Eating is one of those reasons.  The key to catching these teethy bait thieves  is one, sharp strong hooks.  Second, shrimp, preferably live but fresh dead shrimp works great also.

The Houston Boat Show runs right to the end of Duck Season.  Robbie Gregory will be up there with several Mowdys ready to go. He said they already sold the one with the 300 Suzuki.  So, swing by the booth and get on the list so you can be ready for Spring Break.

The Saltwater Lodge reel screaming reservation line is: 361-785- 3825. Don’t wait!!! Get your dates and deposits booked for tournament season.
Hoping your 2016 brings you more Ziploc Bags, Dull Fillet Knives and another Freezer, Capt. Jeff Larson

Building Memories!
-Capt. Jeff Larson