My day started out “kinda-sorta” boring as time passed with my arm aching from cast after empty cast. If it wasn’t for the calm, cool, and enjoyable Autumn conditions of being out on Galveston Bay waters, I probably would’ve cut a wake towards the ramp, and home. But then things began to change….
Spotting diving birds, I cranked up and headed in their direction, which was about 200 yards away. Catching a glimpse of another boat coming in as well we both cut our engines about 50 yards out from the action and manned our troll-motors. The birds, both terns and seagulls, were working the surface which was alive with skittering shrimp, flitting shad and leaping fish. All hell was breaking loose as we headed into the melee.
One of the most exciting times to fish for speckled trout is in the Fall, when cool fronts begin to cool the waters and fish begin to school. Harbingers of this seasonal activity are when the seabirds start flocking over these schools of trout to feed on the shrimp and shad that are fleeing the gnashing teeth of hungry fish. At times this can provide some really incredible action. This was one of those times….
The birds had broken up into three different flocks working schools of trout within 100 yards of each other. We, (the boats) began fishing and maneuvering around these pods of action catching fish after fish on just about every cast. Both of us were using soft plastics; with my choice being pumpkin pepper/chartreuse Assassins rigged to 1/4 oz big-eye jig-heads, the other anglers were rigged with a combination of chartreuse colored shrimp-tails. The birds hovered over the trout for 40/45 minutes before quitting, which was unusual. Normally, the action lasts only 5 to 15 minutes, but this time the schools of feeding trout and baitfish and shrimp must have been massive with the water literally boiling from the frenzy of the feeding activity.
One of my casts ended up in the jaws of a big redfish and the fight was on. With the red temporarily taking me away from the action, I watched the other boat with arched rods, there were three anglers aboard and all three were busy landing trout after trout. Soon though I landed the red and rejoined the fracas. Taking time only to snip a few photos.
After the action ebbed, my count was over 40 specks, with probably 2/3rds being keepers, with their tally of 39, boxing 23 keepers. But they were catching and keeping while I was catching and releasing, including the 38inch redfish I had caught. I was out for the fun and sport of it this time and the birds were providing that for me.
The birds, terns and gulls alike, are natural fish spotters. They know by instinct that when schools of marauding fish start feeding they will push pods of baitfish and shrimp towards the surface where they can be spotted and easily picked off by the birds.
Terns are referred to as “liar birds” by some of us who know when they may be on fish or not- while the seagulls will always be on fish. The best way to tell if they’re on fish or not are by the way they’re feeding. If they’re on fish they will be hovering low over the water, swooping and diving into the surface, picking off the panicked shrimp and baitfish which are trying to escape the gnashing frenzy of the trout. But when they are not on fish they will be soaring high searching and sporadically diving the surface.
The best thing I’ve found is to keep close to the flocks after they’ve fed and settled down on the water to rest before the action starts up again. Sometimes they may take off and fly in another direction. Watch where they’re going and navigate in that direction. Often the birds will hear the feeding cries of other flocks in the distance and will swoop off in that direction to take part in the feeding spree. The birds know more than we humans do about the feeding patterns of trout and reds as their lifestyle depends on it. So, by keeping in close contact with them you should be able to enjoy what they can provide for you….. After all, they are the original fish-finders with ions of experience.
NEVER!!! Move in on a feeding school by running your outboard right on top of the action. This will result in immediately spooking the fish and dispersing the birds. And if other boats are taking part in the action, you can be assured of the caustic remarks that will be aimed in your direction. ALWAYS!!! Shut your engine down about 50 yards out then use your trolling motor for moving in close enough for casting (about 10 yards from the edge of the action). If this is done you will be able to catch a lot of fish before the action subsides. If your rig does not have a trolling-motor try to go up-tide or upwind of the action to drift back in where the feeding activity is. You probably won’t catch as many but if you spook the birds and the fish NO-ONE will catch any!
I use Pinnacle or Shimano level wind reels with 7ft medium/light Castaway casting rods tethered with 10lb test Yozuri hybrid mono rigged to Assassin soft plastics and 1/4 oz wide-gap big-eye jig heads. Right now, the best color is pumpkin-seed/chartreuse, but that may change as the fall season ebbs into winter. Spoons are also good producers as are the “new penny” Gulp shrimp tails. But spoons have treble hooks that may cause delays on de-hooking your fish while jigs are pretty easy to extract when the action gets hot and heavy.
Now through December the top water action from schooling specks and working birds can be exceptional providing some of the best fishing for those of us who enjoy. The Galveston Bay system to San Luis Pass, Christmas Bay, and Matagorda south will become hot-spots. Chasing birds this time of year can provide those legendary fishing adventures of a lifetime. So pack up your saltwater kit, gas up your boat, and head to the coast for some fishing action that may seem “kinda-sorta” boring,… But then, things may begin to change!By: Ed Snyder / Ed Snyder Outdoors
