Cast’n – Saltwater Lodge
Hammer time! October was killer! We spanked every specie we targeted during October. November came in with a Bang! Deer and Duck Season both are record breakers. We have been Cast’n and Blast’n with great success. The other day Charlie, Luke and Tony came down to the Lodge with perfect pre front timing. We left out of the marina at 2:30 pm with high hopes. The Grey Ghost (2019 Air Ranger) was purring like a kitten. Airboats are so much fun to fish out of, especially this time of year when those reds are way back in those hard to reach places. 1st stop was a small drain in front of a sand flat in an area way in the back of Matagorda Island that we always see fish. We eased the power pole down and slung some Spanish Sardines on the custom Carolina Rigged Leader. We used some shrimp also but lately those sardines have been the ticket. They put out a nice slimy slick. You can always see where they land when they hit the water.
It hadn’t been 5 minutes, BAM! the reel went off screaming with a red freight train on the line. This group of guys are so laid back that they were telling each other to take the rod. Usually I have people fighting over the rod like kids. These guys have stayed numerous times at the Saltwater Lodge and fished with me so they were confident that there would be more to man handle. As the clouds increased so did the bite, we used cut Mullet, Shrimp and Spanish Sardines. They wanted Spanish Sardines! I thought they were called Spanish Sardines because they came from the Gulf of Mexico. Then I saw the box. Said made in China, maybe that was the box, who knows. Spanish Sardines just work. We caught 9 slot reds in about 2 hours and took it back to the Lodge.
The next day was the Blast Day. We rolled out of the marina early so we could watch the sun rise and hopefully get some rice rockets early. It was a mild morning, barely a breath of wind. It makes for a nice Airboat ride across the Bay but sucks for Ducks. Well Ducks like it because they can just hang out in the middle of their roost all day. The wind kicked up to 5 or 6 mph and it helped. We had a flock of pins come in and smoked our 1 a piece. Am I happy about the 1 a piece law. No not really. If it truly makes a difference and you could convince me it does a world of good then I would wholeheartedly support it. I believe in historical cycles. Farming practices and their efficiencies with new equipment could be more detrimental than Duck Hunters who hunt on the weekends. Oh well I will just go south of the border.
Ok back to the hunt. Minutes later 2 gaddys came in for a look-see…that was their mistake. 2 more hit the water for Ryder to bring back to hang from my Custom Robinson Leather Gator Duck Strap. Everything was decoying to finish up the morning’s hunt. We had a couple of flocks that utilized the calm morning and pick us off as enemy hunters. Hey that’s half the fun trying to trick those weary suckers on calm mornings.
Quick Debate Topic:
Mallard call on the coast or NOT? We typically laugh at guys who mallard call at every flock of ducks that they see. I’m talking Arkansas Cranking down on the blow hole type calling at Coastal Ducks. Here’s when I might try it. If its after a super strong cold front and we are hunting new birds that may have been roosting with mallards. I have killed less than 20 mallards in 30 years of hunting the Island. Do the math. When I started coming down here as a kid our guide never even blew a call. He had a whistle and barely blew that when we saw ducks in the distance. I believe you need a whistle down here more than a mallard call. We get a push of Gadwall but that’s a softer quack compared to the Ol’ Mallard Hen.
Oh here’s another reason why I don’t like just 1 Pintail. Have you ever watched and listen to hen Pintails in the decoys before shooting time. Numerous times those Brown hens have been sitting in my spread soft quacking like a Gadwall. The 1st time I ever saw it I didn’t know. It was shooting time and all my customers were ready to take em. It was Pintail hens. Quack…Quack…It is hard enough to identify ducks in flight in low light let alone a Gadwall or a Pintail Hen. I prefer the 2 Pintail Bag Limit for that reason. 2 of any duck should be the bag limit, so it is easier for new Duck Hunters to stay within the guidelines
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A front is moving in right now! My Kentucky Boyz just hit the ground and we will smoke em tomorrow!
Tight Lines! Heavy Straps! And Full Coolers!
Captain Jeff Larson 281 217 0399
