Happy, Happy, Happy! -Capt. Chris Martin

May is here, and coastal anglers can count on air temperatures reaching into the 80’s and 90’s as we progress through this month and into the next. Inshore water temperatures will also recognize a climb in May as we anticipate the warming of the climate to take area bay waters to a temperate 75 to 80-degrees. This means local shallows will come alive once again with thriving sea grasses and a multitude of aquatic species, some of which are actively sought after by predator game fish such as the speckled trout and the red fish.

As May arrives, we are generally already into the annual speckled trout spawn which usually gets underway in most coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico by mid-to-late April. The male trout will be actively ready to spawn every night, while the larger females will look to spawn anywhere between once a week to once a month throughout the summer months and on into the month of September in many cases. The month of May will be a time of a heightened trout appetite, and due to this hunger anglers can often expect the bite to become somewhat aggressive in nature.

Due to the air and water warming this month, and because of a fierce trout hunger right now, anglers should look to find an early morning and late evening bite in some of the skinniest water they’ve fished in since October of last year. Look to focus much of your May effort atop flats areas consisting primarily of sand and grass, and expect to locate bait fish activity which will almost certainly lead you to some hot trout action. Anglers should try to be in place along the shoals prior to sunrise, but then be prepared to follow the bait fish as they migrate away from shore later in the morning as the sun rises high into the sky and is given a chance to heat the shallows to a point that drives the fish into the comforts of deeper, cooler water.

For all the artificial-bait enthusiasts out there, now is a great time to polish your top water skills and techniques. As mentioned earlier, the trout bite can become nothing less than ferocious during this part of the year, and there is absolutely nothing more exciting than having a hungry sow trout take her aggravation out on your top water lure. And for all those who like fishing solely with live bait, look for this month to be the start of what is sure to become yet another fine summer of croaker fishing. Good luck, and keep grindin’!

Throughout my life I have had the privilege of knowing some fine outdoorsmen and women who have been my mentors for both fishing and hunting. These are the people you can look up to because of one or two habits you admire and whom you try to be like. Most of the time I am talking about my family such as my dad, my neighbors, my church family and my friends. But they don’t really even have to be a part of your family or friends, and I haven’t even met some of them before. These are folks such as icons of the outdoors stage like Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Mark Sosin and others.

My favorite pastime at home is watching fishing shows when I am unable to be out on the water due to various reasons like holding our babies when they were infants; the times that I was ill over the years; the many times I had to be in Central Texas landlocked on a weekend; and more recently when I was recovering from surgery and going mad trying to take it easy and follow the doctor’s orders! I remember other times too like watching anything outdoors with my dad or siblings especially anything to do with the bays or seas of the world. Adventurists like Jacques Cousteau captured my attention and imagination as I was drawn to the programs years ago and that sense of adventure propels me even today.

Fast forward to today being a Coast Guard Captain and running guided fishing trips full time for Bay Flats Lodge out of Seadrift, Texas and you will find me with the same enthusiasm as back then. My interests are in taking anglers out on the bay and helping them gain skills to catching fish or polishing up on their already developed skills. Moreover, I’m interested in teaching the skills I have learned from others along the way and passing on my passion for fishing not only to that end, but as a much larger picture of conservation. Passing on this knowledge and these skills makes me feel like I am accomplishing my goals of spreading the wealth and sharing all I know to younger (and older) generations so that they may come to appreciate our saltwater environment, which may eventually lead to its protection in years to come.

The greatest gift you may give someone is that of knowledge and information which you have gained as a result of experience, putting in the time out there doing it yourself on the water. Adding to this and perhaps more importantly, we all likely have had someone teach us and pass these skills and techniques down to us so that we ourselves have been the student at one time or another. Share it all and see if it doesn’t make your own days on the water more fulfilling knowing you have done your best to ensure anglers are protecting your resource and acting responsibly on the water so that we all may prosper.

Capt Stephen Boriskie
Bay Flats Lodge, Seadrift, Texas
888-677-4868

Fishing Report

It’s a great time to live and fish in Texas. If you could bottle up the termperatures right now we probably couldn’t afford to live in this State…LOL The last week has been a blur with all the excitement building over our newly forming fly fishing division along with lots of trips with guests from all over the State. New approaches, new alliances, new charities and areas where our sphere of influece can benefit folks and change lives.  We’re very fortunate to have great guides and loyal clients that have stuck by us through the tough times, drought years, hurricanes, you name it.

On the bait fishing scene we’re transitioning from shrimp to finfish and that’s got it’s ups and downs. Bait is scarce at present, immature, and generally in poor condition.  Bait camps are reporting a coalition in the area joining forces in an effort to bring the market pricing to $10 per dozen in the Port Lavaca, Seadrift, and Port O areas.  Rockport which sports the best bait comes in at around $7…so we’ll see.

Water conditions are trying to improve, no great consistency yet and it’s hit and miss on the boat fishing scene. Today’s trip with a large corporate outing with guests in the legal field produced half limits or better working mid-bay shell reefs and spoils. Capt. Jake Huddleston reported torn up water with limits coming on a chip n chisel bump and move approach. Capt. Chris Cady reported hitting them on a good bite but had trouble getting them all the way in the boat.  Capt. James Cunningham had to abandon mid-bay structure because a guest was feeling “brown bottle/sea sick” but managed to close in on limits.  Capt. Ricky Carter managed a nice 26” Trout working through schools of Redfish and taking solid numbers of Black Drum.  Capt. David Garcia was surrounded by tight lips in Dewberry on slicked off winds.

Big winds earlier in the week had us penned down with guests on an afternoon trip, Redfish was in focus. Guests of Judson B. hit a pretty good 5 airboat trip late week taking solid numbers of fish working the back marsh as the front approached.

Fly Fishing Scene

Capt. Jeff Larson got the tap on the shoulder for another run at spot n stalk by airboat with Lex Hoechner and Michael Fertita. Jeff reported that the tide was bouncing back off lows and the fish were on the flats chasing shrimp. Shrimp flies were the go to today with both guests landing some solid Redfish with the long rods.  There’s sure to be some market shaping news coming in days or weeks in that arena as new alliances are being formed. We’ll be approaching fly fishing like we do everything else, effectively and with the thrill, memories, and experience of our guests in mind.

Mike and Lex had a good day and enjoyed the opportunity pursuing their passion. Each managed some nice Redfish for the effort and with many hook-ups, successes, and hook-pulls along the way. They absolutely loved the ability of the airboat to deliver them into the coveted and inpenatrable vast shallows inaccessible by any other means.

Flounder Gigging

Capt. Pat Lester reported an awesome run on the flatties late week by Flounder Boat. We’re starting to get in a rhythm here and we look for a lot of great opportunities ahead.

Charitable Opportunities

We have accepted “Title Sponsor” roll in this years Seadrift Chamber of Commerce “Shrimpfest” event and Fishing Tournament taking place June 16th & 17th. The event is targeted toward local youth development and schools. We are also supporting a number of Tournaments including The Salty Dog & Mullet Invitational which both support deserving children.
Because of your support along with our great sponsors, we are happily in a place to help many in need. Thank you!