April 04, 2015
Winds of Change
by Capt. Craig Lambert
April is finally here and the winds have picked up already for the first week as usual. However with those winds came much better fishing. It is like someone turned on a light switch and the trout fishing started really picking up over the last week or so. Thank goodness because March was a rough month for anglers on Galveston Bay with several major cold fronts and what seemed like a years worth of rain.
The next few weeks are looking fantastic!
The black drum are at their peak in early April and can be found all over the bay system. I have good reports from the jetties, the concrete ship, Texas City Dike and all along the ship channel spoils and reefs. They seem to be everywhere that is close to the channel and loaded with shell. I have been targeting them on light tackle with popping corks in 3-5 ft of water over heavy shell. The hard part about catching them is not setting the hook right away. These fish move slowly and if you don't let them pull that cork under and chew on it for 4 to 5 seconds then most likely you will miss a lot of fish. A live shrimp is fine but a live shrimp out of your livewell and then tearing the head off before placing it on your hook seems to work better by creating more scent and an easier target for lazy drum.
Shallow water fishing continues to be paying off for best results. 2-4 ft. of water seems to be the target area for me along side dropoffs, rock walls and on top of heavy shell. Limetreuse or glo plastics are the standard colors for this time of year on 1/8th oz jigheads and topwater baits will become very effective this month as the water temperatures continue to climb. Marsh Shorelines can become hot with roaming schools of redfish after or near dark. They are typically on a feeding frenzy at this time but they are moving fast so getting a shot at them more than once means hopping in the boat and motoring down the shoreline in front of them. They will hit anything form a jalapeno pepper to a bare hook so don't worry about what type of bait to use. Just get a hook in front of them and you are on.
Now that the salinity levels are starting to climb back up the specks are showing back up in the North end of the bay system. I am getting reports from other guides of scattered catches all over the bay system. A few reefs in East Bay are starting to hold a fish but nothing outstanding. West Bay has about the same activity with a few speckled trout being caught but nothing to get excited about. Clear Lake and the Dollar area are starting to heat up but this last week has been hampered a bit with the stronger winds. Trinity is getting saltier by the day and will pick up soon and just these past few days has seen some decent speckled trout action in the San Jacinto River. I expect nothing but great fishing for the next few weeks all over our bay system! The rain that hurt us last month will certainly "sweeten" the bays and provide a much needed boost for April.
Take a kid fishing!
Winds of Change
by Capt. Craig Lambert
April is finally here and the winds have picked up already for the first week as usual. However with those winds came much better fishing. It is like someone turned on a light switch and the trout fishing started really picking up over the last week or so. Thank goodness because March was a rough month for anglers on Galveston Bay with several major cold fronts and what seemed like a years worth of rain.
The next few weeks are looking fantastic!
The drum are everywhere!
The black drum are at their peak in early April and can be found all over the bay system. I have good reports from the jetties, the concrete ship, Texas City Dike and all along the ship channel spoils and reefs. They seem to be everywhere that is close to the channel and loaded with shell. I have been targeting them on light tackle with popping corks in 3-5 ft of water over heavy shell. The hard part about catching them is not setting the hook right away. These fish move slowly and if you don't let them pull that cork under and chew on it for 4 to 5 seconds then most likely you will miss a lot of fish. A live shrimp is fine but a live shrimp out of your livewell and then tearing the head off before placing it on your hook seems to work better by creating more scent and an easier target for lazy drum.
Nice blackie!
Kids love fishing!!
Shallow water fishing continues to be paying off for best results. 2-4 ft. of water seems to be the target area for me along side dropoffs, rock walls and on top of heavy shell. Limetreuse or glo plastics are the standard colors for this time of year on 1/8th oz jigheads and topwater baits will become very effective this month as the water temperatures continue to climb. Marsh Shorelines can become hot with roaming schools of redfish after or near dark. They are typically on a feeding frenzy at this time but they are moving fast so getting a shot at them more than once means hopping in the boat and motoring down the shoreline in front of them. They will hit anything form a jalapeno pepper to a bare hook so don't worry about what type of bait to use. Just get a hook in front of them and you are on.
Doubled up on Reds!
Now that the salinity levels are starting to climb back up the specks are showing back up in the North end of the bay system. I am getting reports from other guides of scattered catches all over the bay system. A few reefs in East Bay are starting to hold a fish but nothing outstanding. West Bay has about the same activity with a few speckled trout being caught but nothing to get excited about. Clear Lake and the Dollar area are starting to heat up but this last week has been hampered a bit with the stronger winds. Trinity is getting saltier by the day and will pick up soon and just these past few days has seen some decent speckled trout action in the San Jacinto River. I expect nothing but great fishing for the next few weeks all over our bay system! The rain that hurt us last month will certainly "sweeten" the bays and provide a much needed boost for April.
Darn good fishermen for his age!
Take a kid fishing!