The incoming tide looked good pushing green water into the shallow bays. Swimming against the tidal rift were large schools of mullet with shrimp skittering the surface. Although I didn’t smell the scent of watermelon mixed with fish oil telling me that speckled trout had been feeding, I just knew they were here. I had a good feeling that today would provide one of those rare mornings when the specks were ready for action.
Dropping anchor and easing out 30 feet of rope and slowly drifting to the struggling pods of mullet. Grabbing up my already rigged rod I made my first cast. It took only two turns of the reel before feeling the tell/tale “tic” of a trout inhaling my bait. The speck, a rather large one, vigorously fought frothing the surface with its headshakes and runs. Boating it after a hectic battle a 24 inch speck of about 5 lbs came to net. THIS was the start of an incredible morning that would put a ten speck limit in my cooler within 20 minutes, with forty six more on a catch & release option an hour and a half later.
I fished this same spot two days prior and managed to catch five nice specks and three good flounder on saltwater assassins. But felt like I was on the tail-end of the action with the wind gusting at 15/20 mph, pushing muddy water in with the tide. So I made plans to return on Friday, but earlier.
We anglers only dream about such fishing days as these when the bite gets going and the fish keep coming. In my 62 years of angling I can only count under twenty times when I’ve had such continuous action. Once, while fishing Tampa Bay, Fla, with angler and saltwater lure manufacturer, Bill Luv, I managed to boat over 80 specks in four hours to his 180. We were trying out a new soft plastic lure of his line. Another time while wade-fishing “the cut” near the north jetty last year, I managed to bring in 68 specks from 6:30am thru 8: am while throwing silver and gold spoons.
The key here for enjoying the superb action I was having was due to several things falling into place. First, the tide was right (incoming) and the water color (sandy green) was great for casting reaction type lures. Second, the bait was present (mullet and shrimp) and I was able to position my boat without spooking them. Third, and most importantly, my choice of lures initiated the bite to an almost feeding frenzy. Saltwater Assassins in the pumpkin-seed w/chartreuce tails cleaved to 1/4 oz chartreuse jig-heads turned them on.
Oh, I tried other colors and brands and even switched to spoons and top-waters, but they wouldn’t hit them. The trout were locked in on the Saltwater Assassin style and color. Fortunately I had several in my tackle pack. Although the bite slowed somewhat with the ebbing tide changing to an outgoing, there was still enough action to keep my interest peaked. But I was tiring now and soon called it quits. I had had my fun.
Hurricane Ike created quite the dilemma for those anglers who enjoyed fishing San Luis Pass area, with its system of shallow bays and flooded salt-marshes. But a year after its negative impact the fishery is definitely back, and actually better than it was before that Ike hit. But the Brazoria County RV Park that was built on an island after another infamous storm “Alicia” split the peninsula in 1983 was unfortunately destroyed. This was a special place for anglers who enjoyed the fishery. Rumors have it that they’re rebuilding the park, but the launch area is now open and accessible to the public.
The tackle I was using was a 6’6″ Kistler Helium LTD rod rigged with a Platinum 100 Pinnacle casting reel spooled with 10 lb test Yozuri Hybrid mono. The “air” light rod and smooth casting reel with 10 lb test made the day for me. Every hit was well transmitted through the rod and the light line made for some superb action with my hookups. With the exception of the 24 inch “gator-speck” I caught on my first cast, all but one of the trout were from16 to 19 inches, which is a very good sign that the speckled trout populace in Texas waters are healthy and robust.
Now, I won’t pinpoint my little patch of heaven to you, but I will give you some hints on where it’s at. It’s in Cold Pass at an entrance to Christmas Tree Bay. My spot sits on the end of a boat run that’s on a shallow flat that drops off into deeper water. If, by chance you’re able to locate “my spot”, best of luck to you. For if it produces the kind of action that I experienced, you will have one “heckuva” story to tell your fishing buddies.By: Ed Snyder / Ed Snyder Outdoors
