Nathan Brown of Gonzales brought his nephew Colton Ennis, 14, of Castle Rock on his first fishing trip. As a result, Colton earned his Boy Scout Fishing Merit Badge! Check out the big pompano (top row, center) that Colton caught. -Capt. Bob Hill

We are definitely seeing the Spring pattern in full swing. The warmer temperatures (as high as 90 degrees here lately) have warmed the water and the tides have been holding at Springtime levels.

Last weekend was Easter and the crowds were strong, Sunday Beach looked like mid Summer. Speaking of Sunday Beach, the J Hook continues to silt up and the trip out there requires that you know where you’re going. We have had several boats run aground out there and some have resulted in serious injury. The bottom out there is hard sand and if you run aground its like hitting concrete.

The high tides and warmer weather coupled with huge pods of bait entering the bays has brought much improved trout fishing to the bays. Many of the trout have been holding near shell but as the temperatures continue to rise you will see the trout begin to move to sand and grass bottoms along the shorelines. It will be prime time for wading with either soft plastics or topwaters. Of course, live shrimp under a popping cork is the choice of many anglers in the bay as well as the back lakes.

The lakes are giving up mainly reds right now, but look for the trout to show soon as the bait begins to find its way back there. Experienced fishermen are drifting with soft plastics, but if you prefer bait, live shrimp under a float is hard to beat.

The Jetties have been good for Sheepshead, small Drum and Reds. Shrimp, live or dead has worked well. The Pompano are beginning to show and some big trout have been eating the live shrimp. Its been breezy the last few days which makes the conditions a bit uncomfortable but the fish still bite.

Capt. Bob Hill
Port O’Connor Charters
(361) 983-4325
www.fishportoconnor.com