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Usual fall fishing pattern fails to appear
Published October 25, 2009
What many considered to be the cold front to kick off the fall fishing season, wasn’t. What many thought would be the weather pattern to get birds working over shrimp in East Matagorda Bay, didn’t. So, why not?
In his weekly fishing report on www.matagordabay.com, guide Tommy Countz referred to warm water temperatures as the culprit.
“Normally by this time in October, we are fishing for trout under working birds but with the water temps being higher than normal, that just isn’t happening. I really believe that we need some cold fronts to move in and drop the water temps to get bird action going.”
Countz said the trout bite has been slow for the past two weeks, but he has supplemented his catch with redfish.
“If it weren’t for the redfish, things would have been pretty dismal. I’ve spent as much time as possible in the back lake throwing topwaters at schools of reds and have been successful, but in times when the tides have been low we have had to look elsewhere to find my fish.”
Redfish have been the mainstay for most all anglers along the middle coast, especially spawning bull redfish. The beachfront from Sargent to Port O’Connor has been teeming with big females just waiting to inhale a menhaden, mullet, cracked blue crab or large table shrimp. Those fishing the granite rocks of the jetties have scored on days when the wind does not allow for safe passage to the Gulf.
Flounder have been hanging around drop-offs and muddy shorelines, preparing for their spawning run to the Gulf. Soft plastics worked gingerly over the mud and Carolina-rigged finger mullet or mud minnows have been the ticket. Remember, new regulations only allow for two flounder per person, per day during the month of November — and gigging is not permitted during the month.
Guide Chris Martin of Bay Flats Lodge in Seadrift said pre-front fishing this week was surprisingly good for trout and redfish.
“Fishing was explosive early this week on roach Norton Bull Minnows on light jig heads,” he said. “It was almost every cast at times on the outgoing tide around diving pelicans.”
Nagging winds have had an effect on the ability of birds to work, however, calming winds are in the forecast for the next few days.
“If the birds are going to work, you would think they would work after the front that passed through Thursday,” said guide Mark Talasek. “Trout fishing has been slow, but the falling tide has put redfish in the holes and sloughs. We have concentrated on redfish until the trout bite gets going again.”
Tough daylight fishing hours has prompted many angler to become nocturnal and seek out rivers and creeks to find fish. Recent rains have muddied the Colorado River a bit, but its waters remain salty on the bottom. Anglers along Caney Creek in Sargent have taken good catches of trout on shrimp along with lots of sand trout. That pattern should hold unless we have a wet winter.
Bink Grimes is a freelance writer, photographer, author and licensed captain. Contact him at binkgrimes(at)sbcglobal.net.
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