Big Ugly

The fishing was a little slow this weekend but there were some surprising catches made at PPRV #7. We got to see a picture of a 29 1/2" trout our neighbors caught off the rocks in front of our spot so we were eager to get in on some of that action.

Tracy (definitely NOT a big ugly) caught this nice 20" trout on a topwater on Friday evening.

The big girl had a cat eye on one side.

Here is the happy fisher and her catch. Catching a big trout is always fun!

After an unsuccessful trip up river in the boat, I managed to catch my own big trout on live shrimp off the bank in front of the trailer. I had two trout blow up on my topwater but both managed to perform a Houdini manuver and got loose before I could bring them to the boat.

After lots of slack time I hooked this huge black drum aka "Big Ugly". It was 41" long and weighed in at 36 lbs! We see these brutes working up the shoreline but since we normally fish with lures, we haven't caught one until now. I could have done a commercial for the light tackle industry as this guy really tested my graphite rod and 14lb line! After measurement and some pics it went back to the river.


We kept on fishing with the shrimp and I snagged this big sheepshead.


These guys have some chompers! They can be found nibbling barnacles off the rocks.

My dentist would have a field day with this mouth.



Tracy caught a few hardheads but couldn't seem to get into the variety of fish that were taking my shrimp. She fished hard all day but couldn't seem to find the trout.




Everything will eat shrimp - even this jack crevalle. You never know what you are going to catch in the Colorado river.

We were blessed with this beautiful sunset as the day cane to a close. We had enough trout for our dinner and to share with our neighbors. God is good.

Live Shrimp

This week's trip to Pelican Point was full of new and exciting happenings.

I had some volunteer activities at the MBNP on Friday and was also able to participate in some conference calls while watching the Colorado River slip into the Gulf of Mexico.

That's what I call work-life balance!


We saw this small gator cruising down the river on Friday evening. That's the first one we have seen this close to the trailer. Our neighbor better watch her little dog!

We threw topwaters and other than a couple of ladyfish on Thursday evening, there seemed to be no fish interested in eating. On Friday morning, I watched several big trout hang out along the bank right in front of our spot but they just weren't interested in anything I had to offer. I even witnesses a redfish come up and put his mouth on my topwater and casually swim off. It looked like a kiss... I did also see a dolphin cruise by within 30 feet of my spot and when he spooked the trout I gave up.

On Friday night, I had an interesting experience not soon forgotten. I was fishing off the boat dock catching small trout under the lights when a BIG trout grabbed the small trout I was fighting. I was unable to get the hook in the big one but saw it several times with the 10" sand trout sticking out of it's mouth. I'm estimating the big one was over 24" based on what I could tell from my recent experience. It was quite a sight with the sand trout with a DOA shrimp in his mouth being carried around by the big speck. All that was visible of the sandy was his head. Even though I didn't get to land him it was one of the most exciting fishing experiences I've ever had.



We were going to take the boat out for a ride up the river on Saturday morning but since we had to leave early, we opted to fish from the bank instead. I saw this big black drum making his way along the rocks below.

We were out fishing before breakfast throwing tops, cranks, and plastics but again the big trout were there but would not commit. We got a few halfhearted blowups but none of the fish would take the lure in their mouth.

I finally had enough and decided that if we were going to catch fish I was going to have to change tactics. I headed off to get some live bait and came back with a bucket of live shrimp. I've heard a lot about fishing for specks with live shrimp but didn't have much experience at it. In this case I knew the big fish were there and live bait is nearly fool proof.

I laced up a Cajun Thunder cork with about four feet of 20lb mono leader and a single treble hook and stuck a big lively shrimp on by slipping one of the hooks under his horn. I made a short cast to where I'd been observing the trout and it was game on almost instantly!

My first fish was this 22" beast that proved to be the big one of the day.

I got Tracy rigged up and before long she had her first fish - a nice 20 incher.

This old girl showed evidence that she had been caught before as her bottom jaw was split. Apparently, it didn't keep her from feeding as she was nice and fat.

We caught six nice trout and ended up pretty even - we both caught one over 20", we each caught a 20 incher and a nineteen incher as well.

Tracy was on track to take the lead but her hook gave way on a nice fish. In the heat of the action, neither one of us had checked for nicks or wear in the leader and after several big trout had been chewing on it, the 20 lb mono gave way.

Blame it on the guide...

Fishing with live shrimp is as fun as I had heard but can be a little pricy if you don't catch fish. I figure that our catch cost about $1/pound live weight. I that is whhat it takes I guess it was worth it!

Boat Ride

We took the boat out for a spin this morning.

The river was calm and there was rain predicted for later on in the day.

Hop in and let's take a ride...

First you have to launch successfully - watch out for the hidden sandbar!


Click on the video above to experience the ride.

Always slow down as you pass fellow fishermen to keep from creating a wake.
Once you get clear you can get back on plane and cruise at 25-30 mph.

Captain John at the helm.


We were up to our old game of chasing speckled trout with topwaters. We returned to the same spot up river where we had caught several specks. The big sows were hanging out near this concrete bank stabilization. We aren't sure if this is a feeding or spawning spot but all the big trout we have caught here are full of eggs.


We had a few pesky skipjack trying to hit our spooks.

This little guy got tangled up with a lure almost as big as himself.

Tracy struck silver on her first cast. She saw a fish working, made an accurate cast just beyond the fish and worked the lure right into the fish's strike zone.


I didn't get a picture of Tracy's first (or second) trout but she took this one of my first topwater trout of the morning.

In a couple of hours we had boxed four nice trout - one just under 20" and three over.

We each caught two fish - just enough for a nice meal for us and some to give away!

Now it's time to head back to the launch.

Here is the view of the boat slips - the ramp is on the right side.

After backing the trailer down the ramp, it's time to bring the boat in.

Once you get it lined up you can drive the boat right up on the trailer.

Most excellent photography by my First Mate, Tracy.

Thanks for visiting and for coming along for the ride!

Redfish in the Marsh

There are several road hazards that graduates of the Smith Defensive Driver System are taught to avoid. Snakes in the road like this big rat snake didn't make the list but probably should have!



I encountered him while on the way to the boat storage to load up the kayak for an early morning paddle at McNab Lake. It was hot and still when I put in at 0600 but after 4 hours of paddling and "fish hunting" I managed to string up a limit of reds - two in the upper slot.




Check out the video below to get a small feel of what the day was like.

Topwater Trout at Noon?

The past couple of weekends have been brutally hot. Temps in the triple digits and not much wind has made for some tough fishing conditions.

I recently read on a guide's fishing report that he was recommending throwing topwater lures near midday. I thought I would give it a try and was surprised with the results.

We have also been figuring out the trick to fishing in the "Second Honeymoon". We finally got some fish slime on her as we caught some nice trout in the river.

Tracy has really taken to fishing for trout with tops. She can really "walk the dog".



This 20" trout had an 8" mullet in it's belly and still wanted the spook jr.

Ken & Nelda's sign brought us good luck!

The boat earned it's keep today.

Tracy always catches the pretty ones.

Here is the first mate at the dock as I go to back the trailer down the ramp.

This 22 1/2", 3+lb trout hit a full sized super spook at noon. It was 100deg in the shade!

Go figure...

June Sharks

Yes dear reader, there are sharks in Matagorda.

We caught them in the surf and in the river this year.

Check out Tracy's baby blacktip video:






I caught the bonnet nosed beauty below in the river out in front of our trailer. I was fishing with cut mullet and he was hungry!


Later that day, I was fishing with whole pinfish for gafftop and when I reeled this guy in I realized that there were still some sharks left in the river!




Nothing like a barge at sunset.

Matagorda Critters

Never one to pass up a good nature shot, I had to grab the camera when we saw this big rat snake on the way in to Pelican Point.



This guy was about 6 feet long and was looking for his evening meal.



This beetle was seen near our boat storage building.


It is a wood borer and I'm glad I don't have a lot of teak on our boat!




Mark's recent pictures of the doe & fawn have put me on the ropes. I came up with a pretty good entry from my trip to PA but when I tried to catch these on the riverbank last weekend I couldn't quite get them all in the frame. If you click on the picture and look hard, you can see "Bambi" and the rest of the herd.

Matagorda Cattle Drive

While in Matagorda for our anniversary week, Tracy and I got to witness part of the annual cattle drive. Local ranchers move the herd from the peninsula to the mainland in the Spring. Some of these had to swim across the mouth of the Colorado river.
Enjoy the video!

PA Trout Fishing

I had a work trip to western central PA in June and brought along my fly rod "just in case".

This should have been a clue that I was in some pretty sweet country.



Click on the video above to get a feel for the "Fisherman's View".

This is Sinnemahoning Creek and though it is late in the season, there were still a few browns willing to rise to a caddis.

This is the money shot. Caught during the early afternoon.

Nice brown being released to grow up.

I had a coworker following me upstream who volunteered to take this shot.

Ready for the release.

Recovering after a tough battle.

I saw lots of wildlife including this family of hooded mergansers.


Another cool scene. This doe and nursing fawn came out along the river just upstream.





Parting shot.