Photo by David J. Sams
Story by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News
Midcoast anglers aren’t just targeting trout this winter, as the redfish are shallow and hungry.
“The wind has really been blowing, but the fish are still biting,” said Capt. Rene Rubio of Double R’s Guided Fishing in Port O’Connor. “We’re working the mud bottom in 3 feet of water, using a real slow retrieve with sand eels in Texas roach. We let it rest and they are picking it up and heading sideways — it’s a lot of fun.”
Rubio said the water clarity hasn’t mattered much to the reds in the back lakes, and popping corks with a shortened leader above a scented plastic also has been productive.
“The color of the lure hasn’t made much difference,” he said.
Capt. Nathan Beabout of Port Lavaca fishes out of Seadrift, and usually turns his attention to redfish after the trout fishing is done.
“I love catching redfish,” he said. “We have been working the same depths over mud and grass, and have located some pelicans crashing on bait. Now, we’ll drift lures or throw popping corks across the mud and grass flats. If we catch it just right, we’re getting some reds on top-waters.”
Beabout said the redfish numbers have picked up in his area, and credits the mild winter and small cold fronts as the reasons for the good fishing.
“There are redfish everywhere right now,” he said. “They showed up in the last week or so in the back marsh and on little mud flats — we have dodged a bullet with these little fronts; it makes it easier to stay on fish.”
Beabout said a few reds are being tricked by the Corky, but the red shad paddletail seems to work best.
It’s not just guides with boats finding the redfish. Kayaks and airboats are being used to get to the back marshes and bayous and hit the drains on falling or low-water conditions.
“We’ve been getting a good tide swing and that’s pushing fish up shallow and then taking them back out deep,” said Kris Kelley of Castaway Lodge in Seadrift. “The action has been good with reds pushing the upper edge of the slot.”
Henry Stokes of San Antonio fished last weekend and landed several reds over grass near Port Aransas, using the Skinny Water Aresenal lures he created in Stoker Skinny Penny and Mootruese.
“It was rough on Saturday but it smoothed out Sunday and the water warmed a bit with the clear skies,” he said. “The bite turned on.”
Capt. Rene Rubio (361) 550-9295
Capt. Nathan Beabout, Seadrift (210) 452-9680
Castaway Lodge (888) 618-4868
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