July 8 & 9 in Port O’Connor

Offshore Awards:
Kingfish Blue Diamond 13.89 lb.
Ling Black Velvet 16.67 lb.
Largest Fish Black Velvet 9.29 lb. Red Snapper

Inshore Awards:
Redfish:

1st Place Spanish Fly 8.90 lb. 27 9/16”
2nd Place Lolita Boy 8.79 lb. 28”
3rd Place Hawg Hunters 8.60 lb. 27 1/8”
Trout:
1st Place Hookin’ Up 5.86 lb. 25 3/8”
2nd Place Lolita Boy 5.38 lb. 25 5/8”
3rd Place Michell’s Cut Mafia 4.67 lb. 24 7/8”
Largest Stringer:
1st Place Team AAA 31.50 lb.
2nd Place Lolita Boy 30.61 lb.
3rd Place Got Salt? 27.43 lb.

This fat, and soon to be very tasty flounder, was caught in a foot of water with a 1/16 ounce glow/limeade Bayou Chub. Robert Sloan photo

Last week my clients and I worked the early and late bite and caught a heck of a lot of reds, trout and flounder. The trick was to go nocturnal. The tides ahead of our latest full moon phase were high in the mornings and low in the evenings. My game plan was to leave the boat dock at 5:30 a.m. and fish until about 10 a.m. with the high tide. Then it was back to the dock, have lunch, take a nap and head out at 6:30 p.m. for an evening session of fishing.

With that game plan the morning bite was good for fishing up on the flats for tailing and waking reds. We found one “hot” area that held reds for about three days. On another flat, one that tends to load up with reds on a high tide, we had shots at well over 50 reds per morning. Many were caught on flies, but a lot more hit 1/8 ounce weedless gold spoons.

On one particular morning we hit the backside of an island and fished both flies and jigs up close to the bank and caught several nice flounder. The best jig was a glow/limeade Bayou Chub rigged on a slow sinking 1/16 ounce jig head. These are shad-like jigs that have a paddle tail. When reeled slowly along bottom they are deadly on flounder.

Our evening fishing prior to the full moon on July 15 was excellent. The best bite was about an hour before sunset to an hour after dusk. We caught reds and trout on bone colored Super Spook Jr.’s and spoon flies. The best red weighed about 10 pounds. About an hour prior to sunset we caught a lot of small trout in the 10 to 14 inch class. But right about sunset the big trout bite was on, and it lasted for a few hours with the moon rise.

Talk about perfect fishing. My clients love that schedule. It’s cool fishing at dawn and dusk. Plus you can work in a lunch and a nap. But the kicker is that you’re fishing at the prime feeding times, not baking your brain and catching more fish. Can’t top that.

For details on fishing with Capt. Robert Sloan call 409 782 6796 or go to www.hightailangler.com.

Capt. Robert’s thought of the day: Eat right. Stay fit. Die anyway.

Nothing like a Full Moon to bring out the “need to feel it and reel it”. We’ve been going for the big pull here lately and drag burning Reds have been in the crosshairs and answered the call. Trout fishing has been a go to as winds come down and more than a spot or two becomes fishable. We’re finding ourselves on super low water levels at present and that has made for really challenging conditions. Not everything comes up roses but we can’t complain, just have to keep plugging away.

Mud/grass environs have seen strong schooling action on pods of Redfish in the slot to 27.75” while Trout numbers continue coming off of mid depth shell. There isn’t anything quite as rewarding as seeing young and old alike battling Texas Redfish in 12” of water or bowed up on aggressively feeding Trout. I had a youngster yesterday that got tangled up with a 23” Trout that just about took him out of the boat on the initial strike! That’s building the next generation of Texas fisherman for sure.

Caution:
Switching to Fireline Radial Braid sometime ago, I was concerned about folks that think they have to touch or keep a finger on the line when terminal fishing. Sure enough, that’s not a good idea especially fishing with braid. I had a client that kept putting his finger on the line despite my warnings. When a Redfish tried to tear the rod out of his hand he came up looking for a Band Aid. So don’t do it.

Capt. Kris Kelley
Castaway Lodge
1-888-618-4868
www.seadriftbayfishing.com

Fishing with Castawy Lodge

Will Hunt, 9 years old, of Friendswood, Texas, caught this 21 -1/2 inch trout in Port O’Connor over the 4th of July weekend while fishing with his grandparents.

Ken Harter, Edna, TX, Don Larsen, Cedar Park, TX, Danny Murphy and Willard Ulbricht, Edna, TX caught a nice box of fish at the jetties including trout to 26”, fishing with Capt. Bob Hill.

Conditions have been pretty good of late. The wind has been much more manageable and the tides have been OK. Of course its been hot and dry but of course it is July. Some of the forecasts are beginning to predict some precipitation over the next week or so but we’ll just keep our fingers crossed and hope they’re right. Fishing has been pretty good lately.

Most of the bays have been giving up some trout. The oyster shell from here to Panther (and beyond for those who can afford the gas) has been real good for artificials and live bait. I’ve heard that there are trout at Greens but I haven’t been there lately.

The surf was good for a few days but for the last week it has been a bit rough to fish safely.

The jetties have been good for reds and drum and lately there have been some hog trout out there as well. The tarpon are showing up when the water is clear and I saw a 40 pound kingfish on Capt. Bill’s boat today.

All in all I’d say the Summer pattern is here. Be sure to protect yourself from this heat and stay hydrated. A little sunscreen can go a long way toward keeping you comfortable.

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