2022 Salty H20 Thread.... Let's go! Part 1

[Killer]

Grant caught a few nice ones out of Port A

[kevin nicholls]

Yes he did. Nice work.

[Austin]

Loaded up rolling south for the first time this year Should hit the corpus causeway by 9:30. Hope this cold snap doesn’t mess it up too bad.

Anyone have any pointers for a newbie fishing the area east and west of the causeway would be appreciated really want to get my wife and kids hooked up on some nice fish

[Mexico]

^^^ Solid fish! Congratulations!

[HELLRAZOR]

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[fish4food]

Awesome trout on old Mirrolures!

^^^ solid stringer!

[DUKFVR]

Originally Posted by HELLRAZOR

]



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Congrats on a fun trip!

[DUKFVR]

Originally Posted by Killer

Grant caught a few nice ones out of Port A

Congrats to Grant! Nice fish!

[3ChordTruth]

Originally Posted by Killer

Grant caught a few nice ones out of Port A

Nice fish, congratulations.

[3ChordTruth]

Originally Posted by HELLRAZOR

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Nice fish, congratulations. Also, great fishing pics.

[HELLRAZOR]

Originally Posted by 3chordtruth

nice fish, congratulations. Also, great fishing pics.

thanks bud

[justletmein]

.

[kevin nicholls]

Kicking myself today. Put myself in the right place at the right time. I was grinding it out for the big bite. Caught a few small sand trout ( I've caught good speckled trout in areas with small sand trout historically) on small Mirodines. Switched over to some bigger lures to see if a big one was around. About 20 minutes in I set the hook on a really good one, got a good look and figured it in the 7lb range. She wasn't hooked very well and it was a short fight, saw the swirl and the line went slack. Only chance I had today. Oh well.

[fish4food]

That’s what keeps us going back!

Sure hate to hear she got off.

[Austin]

Been a struggle for us this weekend in corpus. Saturday struggled to find any fish and it was cold family wasn’t digging them temp so I dropped them off at the condo and got everything unloaded. Sun poked out and I jumped in the boat and took off for the last hour and a half or so first spot started catching some fish best being a 17” trout just did t have enough daylight.

Sunday the temps brought us in early again before finding any fish family was miserable anytime we were running.

This wind and fog doesn’t have it looking good for this morning so we will probably chalk it up for a loss this trip and try again in a month

[Killer]

Originally Posted by kevin nicholls

Kicking myself today. Put myself in the right place at the right time. I was grinding it out for the big bite. Caught a few small sand trout ( I've caught good speckled trout in areas with small sand trout historically) on small Mirodines. Switched over to some bigger lures to see if a big one was around. About 20 minutes in I set the hook on a really good one, got a good look and figured it in the 7lb range. She wasn't hooked very well and it was a short fight, saw the swirl and the line went slack. Only chance I had today. Oh well.

That sucks!

[TexasBob]

I need to respool 5 or 6 reels. I generally go with Power Pro or Suffix braid in the 30-40 pound range. Am I missing something better? What color while I'm stirring the pot here? Half tempted to go back to 12lb trilene like its 1998

[Man]

Originally Posted by TexasBob

I need to respool 5 or 6 reels. I generally go with Power Pro or Suffix braid in the 30-40 pound range. Am I missing something better? What color while I'm stirring the pot here? Half tempted to go back to 12lb trilene like its 1998

I always stuck with 12lb Berkley Big Game. Never tried to fix what wasn't broke.

[JES]

Originally Posted by TexasBob

I need to respool 5 or 6 reels. I generally go with Power Pro or Suffix braid in the 30-40 pound range. Am I missing something better? What color while I'm stirring the pot here? Half tempted to go back to 12lb trilene like its 1998

Go with Suffix 832 in 30 lb. I like the dark green. And then use a fluoro or mono leader, I use 20 lb. Trilene XL for my leader, knots work better for me with mono over fluoro.

[El General]

I like suffix over power pro.

[twright]

Originally Posted by JES

Go with Suffix 832 in 30 lb. I like the dark green. And then use a fluoro or mono leader, I use 20 lb. Trilene XL for my leader, knots work better for me with mono over fluoro.

this

[panhandlehunter]

With deer season and my boat being in the shop, I haven’t been fishing since October. We’ve been messing around at the river, and my girl has been wearing fish out. Lots of black drum and magnum croaker. I will hit the ground running next month.

[JES]

Originally Posted by panhandlehunter

With deer season and my boat being in the shop, I haven’t been fishing since October. We’ve been messing around at the river, and my girl has been wearing fish out. Lots of black drum and magnum croaker. I will hit the ground running next month.

That’s awesome, good stuff, thanks for sharing.

[MdStrutnRut]

Nice on the kids catchin, we have those species up here in Chesapeake and both good eats too. Call the croaker "hardhead" for some reason and a great fish for kids will hook them selves on any bait, squid, shrimp, bloodworms, peeler crab, cut bait, chicken and even fish bites. They put up a good fight too for a small fish we always said if they grew 50 pounds you'ld never get them in the boat. Grandkids off the dock coming soon up here with blue cats and white perch as soon as quits making ice at nite.

[panhandlehunter]

Originally Posted by MdStrutnRut

Nice on the kids catchin, we have those species up here in Chesapeake and both good eats too. Call the croaker "hardhead" for some reason and a great fish for kids will hook them selves on any bait, squid, shrimp, bloodworms, peeler crab, cut bait, chicken and even fish bites. They put up a good fight too for a small fish we always said if they grew 50 pounds you'ld never get them in the boat. Grandkids off the dock coming soon up here with blue cats and white perch as soon as quits making ice at nite.

That is how I got my daughter introduced to fishing. The croaker almost always cooperate. I spent a year working in Yorktown, VA and fished the Chesapeake a bunch. Great fishery.

[Mexico]

Good stuff Philip!

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[SaltwaterSlick]

Those croaker are about as good eatin' as any fish too!! Actually better'n most!

[panhandlehunter]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterSlick

Those croaker are about as good eatin' as any fish too!! Actually better'n most!

One of my favorite.

[Man]

I grew up being taught that anything that wasn't a Redfish, Trout or Flounder was trash and toss it back no matter the size. Now having grown up and spent many years traveling the world (mainly Asia) for business, I developed all new mindset. All good eating sized croakers, whiting, drum ect... go right on the cooler. I have really missed out on a lot of good eating fish with that misconception.

[Quackerbox]

Originally Posted by Man

I always stuck with 12lb Berkley Big Game. Never tried to fix what wasn't broke.

I still run big game on most reels. At the rec of Mexico Ive been trying a yo-zuri hybrid flouro/nylon. Its been good so far.

Ive only got braid on egg beaters

[Capt Glenn]

I will give y'all a tip on some more affordable braid that is really good. I use a ton of this stuff and it is really good quality line. It's called Hercules Braid and you can get it on Amazon. You can get all different colors and a bunch of different spool sizes. I typically buy grey 30# 4 strand. They have 4 strand and 8 strand. I have used both and I prefer the 4 strand, it seems to be a little smaller diameter and a tighter braid at the same breaking strength as compared to their 8 strand. The 4 strand casts better for me. 2200 yards of their 30# 4 strand braid is usually around $40. 1100 yards is $20. I have caught it on sale frequently where the 2200 yard spools are $25-30. I use this line on all of my spinning reels and have started using it on some of my baitcasters too and it works great. I've been using this line for 5 or 6 years at least and have caught many thousands of fish on it. My customers use it every day and it just flat out works. It holds up and casts very well and I have full confidence in it. Give it a try, it is a heck of a bargain IMO.

[Capt Glenn]

Originally Posted by Quackerbox

I still run big game on most reels. At the rec of Mexico Ive been trying a yo-zuri hybrid flouro/nylon. Its been good so far.

Ive only got braid on egg beaters

Back in the 90's before Power Pro came out I played around with a bunch of different braids and fusion type lines as they came out for years and none of them were great. Yo Zuri Hybrid 10# in smoke color was my goto mono. I'd try different stuff but would go back to the Yo Zuri. It's good line as far as mono is concerned. Once PP came out and I figured it out I have never used mono again for inshore fishing.

[Capt Glenn]

Originally Posted by panhandlehunter

With deer season and my boat being in the shop, I haven’t been fishing since October. We’ve been messing around at the river, and my girl has been wearing fish out. Lots of black drum and magnum croaker. I will hit the ground running next month.

She could catch a fish out of that orange bucket.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Originally Posted by Capt Glenn

She could catch a fish out of that orange bucket.

Well Glenn, looks like that's where she's puttin' 'em!! Got a big ol' tail stickin' out of it already!! Not only is she a fish-slaying pro, she's a deer killin' expert too with her own rifle!! She can flat shoot good as she fishes!!

[doodah]

Been on several trips since the beginning of the year, some days in the 60s and some in the lower 40s and water temps all over the place lol. We have been doing well every time out, only a couple days where we caught a ton of fish but overall we are catching enough to only hit a few spots a day and the day goes by quick! Have only fished 9 mile south to SPI but mostly between the cut and Mansfield. Going this weekend even with the coming front but will wade since winds are expected to be stupid on Friday. I'm too new to post pics but plenty of slot reds and several oversized. Not as many trout but I did catch a 22" and a bigger trout than that spit the hook at the boat a couple weeks ago. I'll post more so I can add pics later LOL.

[El General]

https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/rel...?req=20220218a

Anyone going to the Oyster Reef Closure scoping meetings tonight in Galveston, Rockport, or Port Lavaca?

[Leemo]

Originally Posted by El General

https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/rel...?req=20220218a

Anyone going to the Oyster Reef Closure scoping meetings tonight in Galveston, Rockport, or Port Lavaca?

Yep

[zztex]

2 of us caught a half limit on Monday afternoon in West bay



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[El General]

Originally Posted by Leemo

Yep

I am curious about your take on the closure in Mesquite, Ayres, and Carlos. I know you are an oysterman and certainly have a different point of view than I do.

Or about the coast wide closure this season based on, I believe, average size caught in TPWD sampling.

[Leemo]

Originally Posted by El General

I am curious about your take on the closure in Mesquite, Ayres, and Carlos. I know you are an oysterman and certainly have a different point of view than I do.

Or about the coast wide closure this season based on, I believe, average size caught in TPWD sampling.

I’ll reply after while
Thanks for asking

[kevin nicholls]

Originally Posted by zztex

2 of us caught a half limit on Monday afternoon in West bay



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That's what I'm talking about. Nice work.

[kevin nicholls]

Originally Posted by Leemo

I’ll reply after while
Thanks for asking

Please post about it later, I'm interested in your opinion too. It's a shame they don't listen more to the people who are out there every day like you are.

[El General]

Originally Posted by Leemo

I’ll reply after while
Thanks for asking

Gracias. Looking forward to it.

[bboswell]

Originally Posted by Leemo

I’ll reply after while
Thanks for asking

I look forward to this as well

[Killer]

Caught about 75 to 80 between them
This was the biggest he caught all on Paul Browns

[Quackerbox]

Also look forward to it.

He and captain Glenn. Those should be the voices the idiots in charge listen to

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[Leemo]

Originally Posted by El General

I am curious about your take on the closure in Mesquite, Ayres, and Carlos. I know you are an oysterman and certainly have a different point of view than I do.

Or about the coast wide closure this season based on, I believe, average size caught in TPWD sampling.

In all honesty, it would take a couple hours to discuss what has happened to the Industry in the last 20 years, much less the last 5. It’s a combination of a lot of factors that have led to the demise of the industry, mostly mismanagement by TP&W, their mission statement is to “Conserve and Protect”, nowhere in protocol is there a contingency plan, so in desperation, TPWs answer to anything in peril is to close, fish, game, waterfowl, aquatic products whatever the case may be. In all actuality, there are very few licensed Oyster Boats left in the industry, from the outside it appears the opposite because all the boats are piled into one area to work because of closures, so yes it does look frustrating to an outsider, you can only plow a field so many times, in years past when everything was open, boats basically stayed and worked in their respective counties, was no need to travel . Yes , there is a decline in oyster populations in respective areas brought about by mismanagement, droughts, storms, floods, disease etc...... HB 51 was passed to restrict the sale of undersized oysters caught by fishermen among other things, in other words , strike 3 and your out, closing areas with healthy populations of oysters only puts pressure on other areas, if TPW would model a contingency plan like our brothers to the East have done, a win , win situation would probably be available. I’m not blaming anyone who is employed by TP&W, they basically follow the protocol set before them, unless like minded individuals from all interested parties get together to advise TP&W on a plan that could and will work, I think we will only have lopsided results, although I am a Commercial Fisherman, I’m a Conservationist first, the problem with a lot of Commercial fishermen as well as Conservationists groups, they’re focused on the forest and can’t see the trees, only their opinion matters, end result....... these bays will be shut

[Man]

Originally Posted by Killer

Caught about 75 to 80 between them
This was the biggest he caught all on Paul Browns

75-80! Wow i havent had a day like that in years. Congrats!

[bboswell]

Thanks Leemo, as expected facts and perspectives I had not considered.

Seems saving these reefs is good but will cause unwanted stress on others.

[Killer]

Originally Posted by Man

75-80! Wow i havent had a day like that in years. Congrats!

Yea they have really been into them for about a month and a half in the bay. You ought to see the boat there fishing out of they call it “The Bucket”. It’s a 13ft Boston Whaler that’s about 30 years old!