Call upon the weather forecasters or your favorite weather app or the Farmers Almanac and you may get similar answers to your questions of “what is the weather going to be like the first week of December 2017?” Almost unbelievably, we are experiencing weather right now that reminds me of the skies and temperatures we get in March. I guess since December is really the beginning of our “winter” and March the beginning of our “Spring” around here in the middle coast of Texas it makes sense. It’s hard to imagine the reality of our fellow Americans in Washington, Idaho, North Dakota and Ohio and what they go through this time of year, but then that is why we do not live there!

Today’s trip with three gentlemen in the agriculture business around these parts was an almost unusually perfect weather outing for anyone. Temperatures began in the middle 50s and quickly rose to the low 70s as the sun beamed down upon us and gave rise to countless downed corks as we were offering live shrimp on popping corks, with two foot leaders and a number five kahle hook.

The bite has been hit and miss lately which also reminds me of the fishing in March. As the water both cools and warms in and out of the 60s the Speckled Trout must be standing by with a thermometer of their own which tells them it’s time to feed here or there. You can be, as one of our fellow guides put it the other day, ‘on the fish and if you aren’t, you are off them!’ Now that makes me say something along the lines of “ NO KIDDING, REALLY?’ in a smarty sort of way. But he is right and that’s the way it has been. If I am 50 yards from you and your crew in a very similar reef pattern, let’s say, and we are getting bites on every cast of solid keeper trout and you are sitting there with your guys catching all smalls, you are probably looking at us thinking ‘well I’ll be!’ Why is it that 50 yards makes that much of a difference when we all know conditions around the reef like depth, current and water color are the same? It’s because we are not fish and the fish know what they want and where they need to be at that particular time of day and tide movement. How do they know that then you ask? These keeper trout recently have figured it out over time and that’s why they are beyond the 15” minimum and are actually a bit larger than the trout you may be catching. Today we had trout in the 19” range being the norm! Granted I will not turn my nose up at 15.75” trout any day of the week but when you stick the ones closer to 20” you have to be impressed, and appreciative of them and the fact that you have found a formula on where other similar good ones will be for this time of the year.

By the way our bays are uncrowded and there is plenty of room to spread out and FIND YOUR OWN FISH so come down and do it your way, don’t stop on a reef or flat just because there are other boats there. Heck they may not know what they are doing and have stopped just because one other boat was there. Trust what you know over time and figure it out for yourself and I promise you will enjoy your success more and gain confidence on the water.

Growing up on the Texas coast near Galveston I was fortunate that my dad and mom believed in getting us kids out on the water whether it was fresh or salt and having us experience the wonder of God’s creation of the lakes and bays of the South. I will never forget the excitement and anticipation of knowing we were going to walk the jetties or drive up to Lake Somerville and get out on the water for the weekend. Sometimes we would stay in a motel and other times we would get to stay at my cousins places but then the coolest trips were those we got to camp out and spend the weekend exploring campgrounds, boat ramps and shorelines.

Our kids are almost grown now and I don’t know that we continued these traditions with them that I was able to grow up with. Maybe there were times of the same wonder and excitement but I’m really not sure. I will tell you one thing for sure, if they don’t remember the times or it was unclear I will surely make it up with our grand children when the time comes. Fast forward 10 years from now and I bet if you ask them their favorite times with Pops they will tell you how much fun it is fishing with him, being a Captain and all.

Search your own life and relationships with your loved ones right now and maybe there are opportunities around you that you can do something about. Maybe it’s a work in progress or the kids just aren’t ready but hopefully if you give them some time and let it come naturally they will come around and want to be a part of the thing that makes you tick. The only way to perpetuate this sport of fishing and the love of the great outdoors is to pass it on to those in our lives. Personally I plan for our kids to be taking me fishing (and catching fish by the way) when I’m well into my 80s. My own dad is in his mid 80s right now and I try to get him dow to fish as often as I can and his schedule allows. The greatest gift we can give to our young people is our passion. Try passing it down and see if it doesn’t turn someone’s life around or make them a better person. Kid’s are so open to new ideas and fun times and they like nothing more than to model their mom and dad, their grandmother and grandad, or their uncle Stephen. Capitalize on these moments because they are precious and cannot be reborn. Make the most out of your time with those you can reach out and touch and take them out on the water. Stories of long ago are great and cherished but imagine yourself as that person you are introducing the outdoors to and then realize that they are just trying to be like you, the fun, exciting, great story teller that you are and that they can’t wait to tell their friends about and to later share with their own children.

Capt Stephen Boriskie
Bay Flats Lodge

Because of our physical location along the Texas gulf coast, the only thing predictable in December is the unpredictability of the weather – it can be either cold or warm on any given day of the month. But the fishing, however, should be downright “HOT” this month. The water is in good shape, the salinity levels are back to normal for this time of the year, and our bays have managed to maintain more than favorable levels of baitfish throughout the year. This has been a fantastic year for fishing, and we should almost certainly be able to look forward to some incredible wintertime catches as we move forward into the colder months of the year.

As the days get colder, so shall the fish. Yes, the fish actually get cold, too. So much, in fact, that their body functions undergo adjustments during cold weather which leaves them moving much slower and eating a lot less often. That’s why you should slow your retrieve quite a bit once bay waters have become chilly, and it is also why you slow the speed at which you wade a cold-water shoreline.

We’ll probably experience some prominent frontal passages in December that could be supported by some pretty hefty winds as they
blow through the coastal bend area When this happens, wait until the second or third day following the actual passage of the frontal system before getting back out on the water. Wind conditions often settle to little or no wind at all by the third day, and you should be out there to take advantage of the nice conditions. Some very productive days last winter occurred on the second and third day after fronts when there were slight winds. You should position yourself so as to be able to toss top water baits atop a mud bottom that’s mixed with shell and grass. If there aren’t any takers on top, try a slow-sinking plug that enables you to work various levels of the water column, something like a Corky, a Fat Boy, or even a Devil . These are all effective baits this month, and all are fun to experiment with.

As usual during winter, anglers need to be looking to the dark lure colors to pay good dividends within the reef areas of San Antonio Bay, as well as in some of the more secluded spots that can be found in any of the many back lake areas that are situated out on Matagorda Island. Here’s to hoping that everyone has a very Merry Christmas, and even a better Happy New Year! Be careful out there, and we’ll talk again next year!

The Intercoastal 4-H Club had their monthly meeting on December 4th, 2017 We had Eric Taylor the 4-H Agriculture Agent come talk to us about Consumer Decision Making (C.D.M). C.D.M is one of the many 4-H challenges. Any 4-Her is welcome to do.

Intercoastal 4-H teamed up with the First Baptist Church POC Youth Group on December 13 for a food drive at Speedy Stop. Non perishables collected were taken to POC’s food pantry.

Our next 4-H meeting will be held January 8th, 2018 at 6:30 at the POC school library. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come!

McKenna Guevara
Reporter/Secretary