Record Number “Take A Kid Fishing” at the Port O’Connor Chamber’s Kids Fishing Tournament

The Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce Annual Kids Fishing Tournament was a record setter this year! Thanks to all the folks who brought the kids fishing this Memorial Day at King Fisher Beach. We all had so much fun!

It was a very windy day indeed, but this did not put a damper on any spirits. They all came excited and ready to wet a line, to take home one of the trophies. Since we want to keep it simple for everyone we have no pre-registration. You register upon arrival – so we have NO idea how many participants we will have. We base it off of the previous years entries, which usually are around 50. This year caught us way off guard! We had 85 entrants, mostly all fishing from the pier. A few did wander down the beach shoreline. Through my years of being in charge of this tournament (about 15), I have tried to make sure all participants receive something. As we know, they will not all get a trophy, so, needless to say, we were scrambling for 35 more goodie bags for these little fisherkids. Everyone was extremely kind and patient with us and we greatly appreciate that. This really sets good examples for the children when they see their parents being kind in such situations.

Eighty-five participants, ages 3 through 12, landed a total of 106 fish which were brought to be measured. The biggest was a 32 inch stingray, the first time stingrays have been caught in this tournament. Many different species were caught – many perch, several hardheads, a few reds, some whiting, one dogfish, and three stingrays. A HUGE thanks to my son, Doug Walker Jr., for helping me out, especially for measuring the stingrays; to Ann Brownlee, Patti Elkins, Bernice Shell and Terry Shell for helping me with getting this all set up and flowing smoothly, and to Freda Howard and Terry Shell for taking photos as well.

We had multiple winners in a few of the divisions. Trophies have been ordered and will be sent to the winners who did not receive theirs at the tournament.

Two things that we learned: You DO NOT have to have a boat to catch fish; and you can still catch ‘em even if the wind is blowing!

Largest Fish (6-8 yrs) Sarah Vance

Largest Fish (9-12 yrs) Jasmine Dodson

Most Fish (9-12 yrs) Evan Clifton

Smallest Fish (9-12 yrs) Lily Shell, Landry Payne

3-5 year olds (L to R) Largest: David Weischwill Smallest: Kristen Leuschuer Most: Briley Smith

6-8 year olds (L to R) Smallest: Cora King Kacin Pair Carina Berryam

6-8 year olds (L to R) Most Fish: Abby Carswell Clay Martin Justin Meeks

Port O’Connor is where you’ll find clear, blue-green tides and islands as far as you can see. A more appropriate name for Port O’Connor would be islands in the sun. It is where anglers come to tap into some of the best wade fishing for trout and reds on the entire Gulf Coast. Much of that wading is done along the many islands that include Matagorda, Blackberry, Dewberry, Grass, Bayucos, Farwell, Steamboat and Long.

The big draw at POC is the raw beauty. This is where the Gulf Coast tides are clean and green, and on some flats the water can be gin clear. I’ve been fishing POC since about 1970. Not much has changed except the pre-dawn line of anglers at the Speedy Stop grocery store checkout. One thing that hasn’t changed at POC, over the past four to five decades, is the scenic wade fishing on the clear water flats. You’ve probably seen paintings of what I’m talking about. Artists like John Cowan, John Dearman, David Drinkard and Sam Caldwell have captured the essence of Port O’Connor flats fishing on canvas.

Even with ever increasing angler presence at POC there are still places that offer some of the best and most scenic wade fishing you’ll ever find for trout and reds.

One of my personnel favorites is the surf along Matagorda Island. The beaches here are undeveloped, isolated and only accessible by boat. What you want to do is head toward the old Coast Guard station, then out Pass Cavallo. From there go south and begin fishing anywhere you take a notion. If the surf is clean and green to the beach you can anchor the boat and wade the first and second sand bars. When the surf is calm and flat the wading can be exceptional. One of the best lures you can use is a 1 ounce Badonk-A-Donk in either red head/flash or natural mullet. This is a topwater mullet imitation plug that can be cast a county mile. Another option in the surf is the Bomber Super Pogie. This is a lipless rattle bait that looks just like a shad or pogie – two baitfish that can be found on any given day running the surf.

Some of the most popular areas to fish can be found east and west of the Army cut, that is south of town by several miles. Once you pass through the cut look east and you’ll see the water along Blackberry Island; look west and you’ll see the shallow flats along Dewberry Island. Both islands are very popular among waders and can be crowded on the weekends. Along either of these islands you’ll find hard white sand mixed with grass and lots of clear water.

If you’re looking to wade gin clear flats for reds you’ll want to make a run to Matagorda Island where it runs into Lighthouse Cove. From there you can fish south along the island towards the Army Hole. That’s a lot of water to cover, but it’s a good escape from the near-town islands crowded with weekend waders. Up along the bank in about a foot of water you can sight cast to reds with 1/8-ounce weedless spoons in gold or copper. This is where fly fishing is a good option as well. You can move away from the shallows and fish the flat where it drops off into deeper water. This is where the bigger trout and reds will be feeding. Top lures in the deeper water will be a Chug’n Spook or the new 5 inch Super Spook XT. Top colors are bone, ham bone flash or red/white head.

Espiritu Santo Bay runs from Port O’Connor down to South Pass. From there you’ll enter San Antonio Bay. From the Army Hole and south along Matagorda Island you’ll have miles of excellent flats for wading. This is mostly clear water that looks like the Caribbean. This is where a chrome/blue Super Spook Jr. rules. From about 30 minutes before sunrise till 8 or 9 a.m. the Spook is the go-to plug for both trout and reds. Once the sun is up and shining bright trout will move out to 4 or 5 feet of water. In that situation you can fish a soft plastic jig under a Bomber Paradise Popper rattle float.

A very good wade fishing option within rock throwing distance of town can be found to the left of the town jetties. This is the far south shoreline of West Matagorda Bay. It’s mostly firm sand and provides excellent wading for trout and reds. This is several miles of shoreline. Once you clear the town jetties the first cut you’ll see is Boggy Slough. The best wading option is between Boggy and Huckleberry Bayou. This shoreline continues on down to the mouth of Powderhorn Lake. It’s all good wade fishing, and generally clear water. Look for reds up close to the bank and trout out in the deeper water. The grass is sparse along this shoreline and is perfect for topwater plugs early and late. This is where you’ll want to fish something like a jointed Rebel Saltwater Minnow in silver/blue for trout or black/gold for reds.

If you’re new to fishing Port O’Connor it’s usually best to hire a guide to show you around. Spending a few hours on the water with a guide will save a lot of trial and error. Plus, it’s a lot more relaxing.

For details on fishing with Capt. Robert Sloan call 409-782-6796, email him at sloan288@aol.com or go to www.hightailangler.com.

On the last report I mentioned game changing fresh water inflows. As indicated, the fresh water is having the desired affect on Trout fishing. Full to near limits of fish ranging to 24” have been coming to hand for our guests.

Along with fresh water coming to bays for the first time in a long time, we are also seeing suggestions of another “pattern shift”. Thunderstorms brought on by daytime heating were a staple for the better part of our careers but have been distant memories since the 2009 drought. Sitting on the porch with Capt. James Cunningham, he and I were marveling at the towering clouds and storms piling up mid-afternoon. The sight and smell of these storms brings back distant memories and seeing them pile up is like seeing an old friend for the first time in a long time.

So perhaps the terrible spell of drought is behind us and we are re-entering familiar waters. It would be hard to not be upbeat about the environmental shifts we are seeing and welcoming as they relate to fishing. Freshwater will minimize chances for Red Tide and strengthen overall bay health and even the beat down Crab fishermen may get some relief. Crabbing has waned horribly since 2009, they are certainly due for some relief and better fishing.

Soft Plastics Keep Pace with Bait

Capt. James Eastep managed to light up the Reds while taking good numbers of Trout fishing paddle tail over area shorelines and shell reefs. Plum/chart and pumpkin/chart tipped with bare hooks and no lead heads was the ticket. Fishing with Randy M. and guests James reported that “we waded about 30 yards from the boat and started lighting up solid Reds in the slot”. After strong catch and release action on the Reds, the guests worked out deep taking Trout over shell.

More strong trout fishing yesterday with full limits coming in wade fishing and boat fishing. Capt. Chris Cady reported full limits coming to hand early off sand/grass shorelines early with boat fishing shell pads producing as well.

Back Lakes Beat

Airboat fishing the back marsh continues productive with pods of Redfish and Black Drum working mud/grass pockets in the shallow pocket lakes and sloughs. Capt. Chris Cady has been staying on limits to near limits with the occasional oversize fish coming to hand. Black Drum continue to appear schooling up and working sparse bottoms with little grass.

Testing The Waters

The next test will be Tropical Waves and Tropical Storms making their way back to the Texas Coast. If we manage at least one or two of these events, then we will know things are nearing the norms of what we have come to expect environmentally along the coast and I think the drought years will start to fade. This will have far reaching benefits for all Texans and not just those of us prying the waters for a living.

Like us on Facebook or Pin us on Pinterest and we promise to “love you back”!

Capt. Kris Kelley, Castaway Lodge
1-888-618-4868
 www.seadriftbayfishing.com
Facebook or Pinterest: Castaway Lodge