Saltwater Scouting

Most everyone who knows me has realized that I have a new Friday night habit.

Not long ago I used to spend time at football games, plays, and other school related activities. Lately I have been hanging off the 1st Street Pier in Palacios until the wee hours trying to trick some Texas trout.

This Friday was no exception and I arrived at about 9PM to find the dreaded East wind blowing at about 10mph. The bay was chocolate brown from the recent rains and wind, but I was hopeful just the same.

I tried the pier, the wall, and the light in front to the Baptist Encampment - all without any success. I walked down to the Pavilion pier and fished under the lights of the small rock piles on the way. I tried every open light on the pavilion pier and watched several shrimp soakers pull in some hardheads and gafftop.

I began to believe that I too may fall prey to the saltwater catfish before the night was over to avoid the dreaded skunk.

About midnight I returned to the 1st Street Pier and hooked up some Gulp shrimp. I have yet to catch anything on these "miracle baits" but I am still a believer. Anything that smells as bad as they do will eventually catch something.

A couple of guys were fishing live shrimp at the second light and were catching some tiny sand trout (3-5"). The wind finally started dying out after midnight and some small trout moved in under the lights. I quickly dumped the Gulp and went to my old standby. The tiny glow double shad were the ticket and I caught my share of these feisty trout.

I moved around and caught 5 more under the light in front of the Baptist Encampment. All were too small to keep but fun to catch. I caught two that were nearly legal but I try to be careful not to stretch them too much. I want to make sure that if I keep any fish there is no doubt that they are well within the size limit.

Shiny Silver Speck


Agressive Yellow-Mouth

I got a few hours sleep and got up to hear the weather report (from Tracy) that conditions were predicted to be conducive to outdoor photography so we decided to take a drive and get some shots of the new scarf she had recently finished.

The pattern for the scarf is called "fish tail lace" so I suggested we go to Matagorda beach for the photo shoot. You know, there is plenty of driftwood and scenic waves and such..... Who knows, I may even be able to catch something to contribute to the theme.

Tracy took her pictures and even took some of me keeping busy while she was shooting her scarf.

Surf Fisher

After a while, we continued to explore and found Three Mile lake on the bay side of the dunes.

Blind Casting


Salt Marsh

I got in some practice casting and saw lots of bait and mullet. I was about to return to Tracy & the truck when I got hit by a hard THUMP and to my surprise and delight pulled in a keeper flounder that hit my 1/8 oz Cubby Micro Jig!

Southern Flounder.....


AKA - "Supper"

See, I told you I would contribute to the scarf theme!

We continued exploring and I wanted to check out a "secret spot" I was informed about earlier by a guy who was walking the beach with his shell-hunting spouse.

I would disclose the location but I want to wait until I have a chance to prove whether there are any fish first so I won't be accused of spreading rumors.

Another Fisherman


Watching the Bait


The Catch


Pier Fisherman?

I didn't get any hits from the bridge and the pier, but I did see a couple of nice oyster reefs and a waterway into the marsh where the promise of an inland saltwater lake awaits.

All in all it was a great day and I now have some new ideas for kayak fishing.