A very common misconception among coastal anglers is that trout and red fish go deep in the winter and the only way to catch them is to fish deep. They do, indeed, seek the warmth of deep channels during the coldest of times but believe me when I tell you they will be back on the flats as soon as the sun shines. January has been the best big trout month for me. The average high temperature for Rockport in January is 64 degrees. That means plenty of warm sunny days. In the past two years my clients have landed 14 trout between 25" and 31"in January. Most of these were taken by sight casting.

The best flats fishing in the winter is three to four days after a cold front when the winds lay low and the sun shines bright. Reds and trout, especially big sow trout will lie up in the shallow water to warm. When I say shallow water, I mean shallow water. Most of my winter time trout are caught in water a foot or less deep. Look for areas with soft mud and grass with deep water access. In the Rockport area the spoil islands along the ICW and Aransas Channel are prime big trout and red fish habitat in the winter. Shallow flats with pot holes are great spots to sight cast to big trout. Look for them lying on the bottom around the edges of the pot holes.

Hooked on Sight Fishing

Hello. My name is Mike and I'm hooked on sight casting. Since my first attempt at sight casting several years ago I have become hopelessly addicted to what I consider the most challenging and rewarding style of fishing the Texas coast has to offer. I consider my guide service something of a floating therapy center for fly casters and light tackle enthusiasts who share in my addiction.

As the name implies, in sight casting, a cast is not made until the angler sees a fish or group of fish. In this sense it is closely related to hunting. Often compared to bow hunting, sight casting requires stealth, nerves of steel, and a quick, accurate "shot" or cast. For the angler who has progressed to the point where the "sport" is more important that merely filling the cooler with fish sight casting can be the next step. I no longer measure the success of a fishing trip by the number of fish caught, but by the number of fish seen. For the trip to be successful I want to show my clients at least 50 redfish in a day.

I will do my best to get the angler in an area of clear, shallow water where redfish feed. While silently poling my flats boat along a shoreline or grass covered flat, from my elevated platform, I scan the area looking for our prey.

Working The Birds

Some of the hottest action you'll find on the Texas Coast is fishing under feeding birds. When they group up and start hitting the water, it's usually for one reason, and that is they are scooping up left overs that feeding game fish have left behind. There are several factors to consider in order to be successful at locating fish in these feeding frenzy's, especially quality fish.

I was recently crossing Aransas Bay headed for the boat ramp when off in the distance I see possibly the largest group of feeding birds I have ever witnessed. Fortunately we were on the upwind side of the action so it was pretty easy to set up on them, but that's not always the case. There are several keys to being successful when you encounter this spectacular natural occurrence.

Obviously the first step is locating the action. More often than not, that will happen by chance. It's important to always be alert to your surroundings while at the helm, not only for safeties sake, but it will also benefit you when it comes to catching fish. You should always be scanning the horizon for activity, not only the waters surface but in the air as well. When you see it, you'll know. They will be grouped together from just a few, all the way up to hundreds, diving toward the waters surface picking up their free meal courtesy of feeding fish.

Wade Fishing Essentials

Wade fishing has really exploded over the past few years. There's something about slipping into the water and becoming "one" with creation, it's therapeutic in more ways than one. And for those that like to live a little faster, there's nothing like stepping off dry land and becoming part of the food chain. But I imagine one of the biggest reasons people wade fish would be stealth.

If you're looking to jump in then there are few things you'll need to know before you head to the coast.

If you plan to wade in the colder months you'll need a good pair of waders. There are a lot of different brands available and I definitely have a preference but the most important thing to consider when shopping for waders is how they fit. You'll want them to fit snug, and you'll want to wear a belt. If for some reason you go down, this will prevent them from filling with water and becoming an anchor. For the colder months you might consider neoprene waders to help keep warm. In the warmer months waders aren't really necessary, but if you prefer to wear them I'd recommend a good pair of breathable waders to help stay cool.

Fishing Weedlines & Debris for Mahi Mahi!!

The next time you travel 10 or 15 miles Offshore, keep a sharp eye out for debris or weeds on the surface. Not just because you may not want to run over them with your boat, but because they make for excellent fishing opportunities. Although many different species such as skipjack, bluefin, white marlin & wahoo may enjoy feeding on the schools of bait that congregate around such surface structure, the dolphinfish or mahi-mahi are infamous for hanging around this type of area. Normally there are 1 or 2 males that bid for the attention of many females in a school. The males are known as "bulls" and have the well known flat angled head, whereas the females are much more rounded in the head.

Dolphinfish don't spook to easily, so you can get pretty close to the debris or weeds. I have seen 10 or 20 fish stacked up under just one 2x4 floating offshore. When fishing these areas you have only 2 real choices. Either troll some top-water feathers or bally-hoo around the structure, or cast a top-water plug or rubber fish as close to the debris as you can.