Hotspot Focus: Upper Coast

Fish and Game Gear
January 2, 2014
Hotspot Focus: Galveston
January 2, 2014

The Promise of a New Year

The time has come once again to bid adieu to another calendar year and welcome the promise of a new one with open arms. 2013 is now a thing of the past but I hope all of you will have memories of great outdoor excursions with family and friends that will last a lifetime.

Now that 2014 is officially upon us there is no time like the present to begin making new memories. For those who are willing to brave the elements, the Sabine ecosystem can really pay off big in January.

Years of logging countless hours of wintertime fishing has taught us a thing or two. For starters, fishing the clearest water that you can find is a key ingredient for success.

Also, don’t waste your time on areas with sandy bottoms. The fish will be holding in areas that have the warmest water. Clear water warms faster than murky water and mud warms quicker and retains heat better than sand. A slight difference in water temperature that may seem insignificant to us can be huge to the fish. It can mean the difference between casting and catching. It may only be a degree or less but that is very significant to the fish in cold water.

Another thing that will help your chances is to use straight tailed plastic baits rather than those with more movement. Curl tailed or more wobbly baits don’t really do much for these cold blooded fish in cold water. Use a straight tailed plastic on the lightest lead head that the elements will allow and work it slowly.

Other good bait choices are slow sinking mullet imitations like MirOLure Catch V and Catch 2000 as well as Corky Fat Boys and Devils. These baits are designed to sink very slowly so give them time to get down before twitching and retrieving.

If you’ve got good sunlight penetrating the water your best bet would be to use dark or natural colored baits. Morning Glory, Red Shad and natural mullet work well in bright sun conditions. Lighter colors like chartreuse, limetreuse, and glow are much more effective with cloud cover.

The eastern bank of Sabine Lake has multiple bayous, cuts and drains. Some of these open up into big shallow ponds that have their own cuts and drains.

Because of the massive amount of water that moves in and out of the bayous with the tides, your chances of finding decent water to fish somewhere along the eastern shoreline are pretty good. If you can find clear water that is holding bait you should be in business.

 

 

THE BANK BITE 

Location:  Intracoastal Canal (Hwy 87, Sabine Pass)

Species:  Redfish, Croaker, Black Drum

Baits/Lures:  Fresh dead shrimp, cut bait

Best Times:  Any tidal movement

 

 

 

 

Contact Eddie Hernandez at 

EHernandez@fishgame.com

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