Sunday, August 5, 2001

Fishing for answers

Chris Menard of Rockport, along with Gordon Taylor, not pictured, have been wading the Lydia Ann banks at dusk for trout, reds and flounder, using Cacohoe Minnows.

A lull in boasting at area marinas, though a refreshing change, usually can mean only one thing.
   Few anglers wish to talk about this - except when pointing accusatory fingers at a possible cause - but silence cannot hide empty ice chests and long faces.
   Depending on who is asked, reports of lean stringers can either be explained as the annual summertime grumbling of a vocal few or an indication of a greater, more serious problem.
   I'm not yet convinced of the latter, but those who are have gotten my attention.
   In our optimism, most of us believe the slump, whether real or perceived, would be fleeting. And in the grand scheme, perhaps history will prove this out. But in the short term, with the exception of a few bright spots, most agree that fishing hasn't reached expected levels in the Coastal Bend during the past two months.
   To believe that the long-term outlook is dismal based on what we're seeing now might be premature, not to mention melodramatic.
   Rampant speculation continues, providing myriad unsubstantiated explanations for poor fishing success. Meanwhile, many anglers profess that proof of a cause can be found in the effect. That's irresponsible and shows little loyalty to reason.
   Here's the catch
   State biologists, along with a many guides and weekend anglers, continue to insist Coastal Bend fishes are there for the catching. At the same time, these scientists and anglers are not that surprised at your lack of success on the water, either.
   Boat traffic, fishing pressure, unusual weather, oil exploration, shrimping bycatch and other perceived causes of poor fishing have led anglers and guides to suspect trout could be changing their patterns to survive. This seems reasonable.
   Some explanations have taken this a step further.
   Possible causes
   One theory suggests that after years of intense pressure and outboard noise, a number of trout may have abandoned their traditional spawning habits. Either they're leaving the bays for the gulf immediately after laying eggs or staying in the surf to lay their eggs, never entering the bays.
   If this theory were true, it could explain why the fish are becoming harder to find.
   Consider this:
  

Based on an average three anglers per boat, this translates to an estimated 41,000 Laguna Madre/Baffin Bay anglers last year out of one ramp.
   Multiply that by the number of other boat ramps from Corpus Christi Bay south and the number of props in the water is staggering. If I were a trout, I'd find quieter digs too.

David Sikes/Caller-Times

Chris Menard of Rockport, along with Gordon Taylor, not pictured, have been wading the Lydia Ann banks at dusk for trout, reds and flounder, using Cacohoe Minnows.

   Future prospects
   On a brighter note, state biologists say better fishing could be on the way. The last banner season for big trout was 1996-97. The most likely reason for this is the tremendous spawn that followed the freeze of 1989.
   Though we haven't had a significant fish-killing freeze since then, we did have better-than-normal spawns in the mid-1990s. If a substantial number of these fish survived, they should be reaching trophy size this year or next. Good luck in your search.
   John Glenn, one of the Coastal Bend's premier taxidermists, tells me he's seen better years and worse years. The flow of 28- to 30-inch fish into his shop has picked up lately. He received 12 trophy-size trout in April, 25 in May, 23 in June and about that many last month.
   Near Rockport, veteran guides are scratching their heads. Lure-only guide Jay Watkins said he's spending more time in out of the way waters and adding new areas to his strategy.
   Watkins believes Texas Parks & Wildlife's rosy outlook is way off base. But he's praying it's him who's wrong. Watkins believes the trout population is headed for a crash with the current level of year-round fishing pressure on mid-size and big trout.
   Longtime Rockport guide Jim Friebele isn't so sure about that. But he's certain that something is amiss.
   "I'm using 50 percent more gas and it's taking me two or three more hours to catch fewer fish," Friebele said. "I'm still catching fish. It's been tough, but I think the trout are out there somewhere. I can't buy a redfish, though."
   Friebele said that with the exception of fish-killing freezes, he couldn't recall a time when fishing has been this tough. He blames an increase in boat traffic for changing fish patterns. But still, he's finding somewhat respectable numbers of trout by thinking outside the box.
   Friebele was reluctant to reveal secrets, but suggested we try the oft-neglected south end of Aransas Bay. Look for underwater spoil humps along the Intracoastal Waterway, where depth changes can be as great as three to four feet.
   "People passing by will think you're fishing for gafftop, but there's plenty of trout around those humps," Friebele said.
   He promised to provide additional insight by showing me firsthand. I'll pass what I learn along to you.
   Behind the numbers
   From a biologist's perspective, recent gillnet surveys from San Antonio Bay to the Landcut reveal near normal or above average numbers of redfish and speckled trout in every age class. A possible exception is trout between 16 and 24 inches, which have dipped one tenth of a percent compared to catch rates in gillnet surveys from recent years.
   "This is not enough to send up a red flag," said Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist Kyle Spiller.
   Most encouraging is a significant boost in the number of year-old trout (12- to 13-inch fish) in Coastal Bend waters, said Larry McEachron, director of the TPW Marine Lab in Rockport.
   Count me among the people who find solace in these numbers. At the same time, I cannot reasonably explain why we're not catching traditional numbers of trout this summer. To some anglers, though, the reason is clear.
   They blame the weather. An unseasonably harsh winter could have caused fish to freak for a period, some anglers say. In this case, the trick might be to alter our angling habits to reflect nature's twist. Or perhaps we should get back to basics. Look for bait, begin fishing earlier, try night fishing or late afternoons, avoid high-traffic areas and explore new ones.
   Among the recent complaints I received a call from, my fishing partner Gordon Taylor, who told a different story. He found limits of redfish and a few trout consistently while wading the north bank of the Lydia Ann Channel at dusk. Then he proved it.
   What slump?, he asked.
   The fact that high winds have continued into August is another weather-related phenomena that may have resulted in finicky trout. Historically, winds subside somewhat in late-June or early July. Among other factors, the unceasing breeze could be a contributor to poor water clarity in the Laguna Madre and Baffin Bay.
   Murky water might send anglers in search of clearer conditions, but it doesn't stop fish from biting baited hook. Though lure fishing could be tough.
   McEachron points to July's higher-than-normal bay water temperatures as another possible cause of fish patterns to change ahead of schedule. Hot water is as uncomfortable for fish as it is lacking in oxygen, forcing fish to spend less time in shallow water and more time seeking cooler, deeper haunts and moving water. But there is nothing unusual about hot bay temperatures in summer. So this really doesn't fully explain empty ice chests in July.
   At Marker 37, manager Roger Viar sees little out of the ordinary regarding overall catch rates. Since May, he's seen about 200 trout that measured 25 inches or better. Some were headed to a taxidermist. Others met his fillet knife, never to be caught again.
   South for the summer
   It's no secret that more Laguna Madre guides than ever are making the long run to Port Mansfield to catch limits of solid trout, with more than a few trophy size fish coming from south of the Landcut. Some of these guides are fleeing crowds. Others say they were driven south by a lack of fish closer to home.
   Either way, the move south means croaker soaking has penetrated one of the last remaining refuges on the Texas coast.
   For those concerned about the proliferation of fishing guides in the Coastal Bend, here's food for thought: