A recent survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service puts the breeding duck population at 49.2 million, surpassing the previous high set in 2012 and 8 percent ahead of the 2013 estimate. Robert Sloan photo

Waterfowl hunters got some very good news this week. North America’s spring duck population is at a record level, and the birds returned to find a high number of ponds on the breeding grounds, according to the 2014 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey released this week by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Here’s a quick breakdown of duck numbers from the survey.

Breeding mallards (10.9 million) and gadwalls (3.81 million) are at the second-highest levels in the history of the survey. Green-winged teal (3.44 million) and blue-winged teal (8.54 million) came in at the third-highest tallies since 1955, while shovelers (5.28 million) and redheads (1.28 million) are at record-high breeding population levels.

Wigeon increased 18 percent to 3.11 million, while scaup added 11 percent to 4.6 million. Wigeon are now 20 percent above the long-term average, which is notable given concerns over a declining population trend in the 1990s and 2000s.

Unfortunately only pintails and canvasbacks declined. Pintails dropped by 3 percent to 3.22 million, while canvasbacks were down 13 percent, registering at 685,000.

The annual spring survey, which has been conducted jointly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service since 1955, puts the breeding duck population at 49.2 million, surpassing the previous high set in 2012 and 8 percent ahead of the 2013 estimate.

In addition to record breeding duck numbers, more good news lies in continued wet conditions. Most of the Prairie Pothole Region, which encompasses much of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Dakotas and Eastern Montana, is very wet. The May pond count, which registered a soaking-wet 7.18 million, is 40 percent above the long-term average. Better still, many prime duck production areas are even wetter today than when the survey was conducted. That’s unusual. Most years, temporary seasonal wetlands begin drying out by June. The one notable dry spot was eastern South Dakota.

“Exceptional water this year will lead to high duck production,” said Dr. Frank Rohwer, president of Delta Waterfowl. “When the prairies are really wet, ducks settle in the best quality habitat. Hens will nest and renest vigorously, and duckling survival will be high.”

Strong breeding duck numbers and very good water conditions should translate to more ducks in the fall flight, but it’s still not a guarantee of more birds over every duck hunter’s decoys this season. Local conditions during duck season always have a huge impact on hunting success.

“We know that when breeding duck numbers are high and duck production is strong, hunters shoot more ducks,” Rohwer said. “However, three other factors are probably as important as the breeding duck count. Weather is most critical, because that drives duck migrations. The site conditions such as food and available water at your honey hole impacts hunting success, as does the amount of hunting pressure.”

Still, considering the high duck counts and excellent water, the many millions of ducks will be out there this season, somewhere in North America.

“Rejoice in the great breeding pair counts,” Rohwer said. “Better yet, rejoice in the good May pond counts and continued good water conditions. Duck production is likely going to be off the charts. But don’t count your ducks in the bag until the weather and conditions bring you impressive flights.”

Spanish mackerel show up in numbers along the Port O’Connor jetties. Last week fishermen looking for reds and trout along the Port O’Connor jetties were surprised to find that big time numbers of Spanish mackerel had taken over along the rocks.

Mackerel, are fun to catch, but have razor sharp teeth and snip lines faster than greased lightning. One way to keep your lure and catch lots of these hard fighting fish is to rig up with a short 6-inch wire leader. Top lures are small silver spoons and soft plastic jigs in white, yellow or red.

Capt. Robert Sloan runs jetty, bay and surf fishing charters for reds, trout, tarpon and sharks. For details call 409 782 6796, email – sloan288@aol.com or check out www.hightailangler.com.

Trophy Trout by Cindy, fishing with Captain Boriske while visiting Bay Flags Lodge July 4th weekend; with live croaker in San Antonio Bay.

 
I’ve talked a bit in recent Guide Lines about how good fishing among oyster reefs can be during the really hot months of the year. What I haven’t talked a lot about is how I normally go about fishing these reefs. Now then, if you are fortunate enough to have become familiar with San Antonio Bay (SAB) and the Seadrift area, then you already know of all of the open-water shell that’s available to us on a regular basis. This may be the largest, and the finest, accumulation of oyster reefs that the Texas coast has to offer. These reefs are of all different shapes and sizes, and some of them have parts that are exposed above the water’s surface, while others remain completely submerged. All of these reefs are basically like miniature islands out in the middle of the bay, and each one is made-up of several parts – the reef walls, the crest, and what I refer to as the “points”. Because our predominant winds are of a southerly direction for a major portion of the time in our year, the reefs in SAB, which stretch from north to south, tend to have steeper walls, or sides, than those reefs, which run east to west. The north wall on an east-west reef will normally taper gently to the bay floor, whereas the south wall (the side exposed to the wind) will generally slope more steeply down to the bay floor, and it is often referred to as the “drop-off”. The crest of the reef is the highest point of the reef, and in the case of a submerged reef, receives a lot of the force of the bay currents and wave action. The ends of the reef are what I call the “points”, and each may taper slightly, or each may drop-off abruptly depending upon the physical layout of the reef, the winds, and the currents.

At the beginning of the summer when the days aren’t yet as hot as they are in July and August, I don’t tend to focus as much attention on whether I choose a submerged or exposed reef to start my day with. Instead, I concentrate on locating any reef, which happens to be offering me the preferred combination of active baitfish, a bit of mud underfoot, and immediate deep-water access for the fish. The consolidation of these three key ingredients will generally spell a recipe for success above these reefs. However, once July arrives, you’ll find me making it a point to start my initial morning wade session over a submerged reef before the sun comes up. Why a submerged reef, and why so early in the morning? Well, there are actually a couple reasons for this. The reason I prefer a submerged reef is that the fish tend to swim in the shallowest spots atop submerged reefs during night-time hours while they’re looking for a meal, or while they’re seeking shelter from night time predators in deeper water. And the reason for the pre-sunrise endeavor is to allow me to be able to take advantage of the cooler nighttime water temperatures of the shallowest spot of the submerged reef. Because the daylight hours at this time in the year heat shallow water so rapidly, it is important to beat the heat by advancing upon the reef just as early in the morning as possible.

Upon locating my reef of choice, I like to begin by positioning myself at a spot upon the reef that’s just within casting range of the crest of the reef. In doing this, I’m allowed the ability to experiment within the different levels of the entire water column. I might work a top water lure across the crest and onto the other side of the reef. I’ll place myself so as to be able to overshoot the crest of the reef by several feet, and then work my surface plug slowly across the shallowest point of the reef’s crest.

I’ll completely work the area immediately in front of me by making several casts from my 10 o’clock to my 2 o’clock positions. If I don’t experience any results, I’ll then shuffle down the reef about twenty feet in either direction, and then repeat the previous routine. Or, maybe I’ll choose to throw favored plastic bait from the crest of the reef and back along the downward contour, or perhaps even a crank-bait or a slow-sinker.

These are proven practices by which I have historically facilitated the process of pinpointing the bite above these reefs. If, or when, I determine that the bite is coming from deeper water that is located away from the crest of the reef, I prefer to begin examining the effects of some of the more popular suspending plastic and hard baits. I’m usually not able to cover as much water at the same rate of speed with these baits as I am when I use my standard plastic baits, but once I’ve located the bite, there’s little else that compares to the excitement.

Chevy team rep fishing at Bay Flats Lodge released this huge trout July 3 with Capt. Boriskie.

CCA TEXAS and THE PORT O’CONNOR CHAPTER INVITES YOU TO A

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE DINNER AND APPRECIATION FISH FRY

COME OUT AND HELP US HELP OUR FISH

Guest speaker : Capt. Jay Watkins

Meet Jay Watkins, a leader in the sport fishing industry. Jay is a student of the game; his FISH SMART FISHING SEMINARS are some of the best saltwater seminars on the market today and have been for the past 14 years. Jay is revered as one of the best teachers in the industry today. As times change fishing patterns change. Jay will be on hand to discuss what to expect with these changes from season to season and how best to tackle them. Jay will inspire you to become a better angler and a true conservationist. Come join us for a fisherman’s night of conversation and conservation.

Date: Thursday, August 7th, 2014
Time: 6:00 PM
Place: Josie’s Cantina
Cost: $500 donation at the door

SAVE THE DATE: Please RSVP to Ellen@ccatexas.org or 800 626 4222 or to carlray@tisd.net or 361 983 4252 or
to wildbm@tisd.net or 361 983 4690

POCO Bueno July 16-19
Lone Star Shootout
July 22-27
www.thelonestarshootout.com
Possum Invitational
August 1
www.possuminvitational.com
Readin’, Ritin’ & Reelin’
August 1-2
George Wenzel at 361-649-7707
Speedy Stop Kids Fishing
August 9
Nails & Tails
August 15 & 16
361-578-7711
POC Offshore Tournament
August 22 & 23
361-935-1857
Get Hooked on Fishing
August 29-30
361-552-9747
Chirs Ragusin Grand Slam
October 3-4
361-935-8745; 361-655-3521

Readin’, Ritin’ & Reelin’

Port O’Connor Community Center

August 1 & 2

Lots of Door Prizes, Cash Prizes, Live Auction and Raffles

Proceeds to benefit Nazareth Academy Catholic School in Victoria, Texas

For information contact:

George Wenzel (361) 649-7707
Bryan Ellis (361-894-4136
Scott Smejkal (361) 655-2658

Get Hooked On 4-H Fishing
August 29-30

Calhoun County 4-H is proud to announce their first “Get Hooked on 4-H” fishing tournament to be held August 29 and 30 at the Port O’Connor Community Center.

Proceeds from this tournament will benefit Calhoun County children for scholarships, supplies such as bows, rods and reels and cooking supplies, sewing supplies, and supplies for fair animals and District and State events.

Entry fee is $250 for a 4-person team, with $75 per additional person. The limit is six people per boat and entry fee includes one meal ticket and T-shirt per paying person. Children under age 16 fish free and will receive one meal ticket and a T-shirt. Team entry includes the Heaviest Stringer award (5 trout/2 redfish).

For a brochure of complete rules, prizes, and events, please contact the AgriLIfe Extension Service of Calhoun County at 361-552-9747.

A lot of supplies are needed to help our 4-H kids as they learn and grow in 4-H. You can help in this worthy endeavor while having a fun day of fishing and fellowship. Thanks in advance and 4-H is looking forward to your participation.