Coastal Focus: Baffin Bay

March… Time for Trophy Speckled Trout

W HAT ARE THE TWO MONTHS that historically produce the longest and heaviest pre-spawn trout that, this year, may go head-to-head with the Texas State Speckled Trout Record? It’s March and April that is absolutely prime-time on Baffin Bay.

This is the time of year that anglers strategize, think about, and hang on every word of other anglers on Facebook. They realize that, if it’s not now, it’s never.

Trophy trout fever takes over. Those who seek the ultimate Big Girl put together the arsenal and the unstoppable spirit that they hope will bring that long-sought record home.

Bud Rowland, who recorded a whopping 15.6-pound trout on a fly in 2004, is one record to beat (recognized as a catch and release fish by the IGFA and ultimately the State of Texas record speckled trout). However, Jim Wallace’s 13.69-pound trout was legitimately weighed- in at an official weigh station in 1996.

If either one of these numbers is bested, the day will never be forgotten. Any angler tossing a lure in Baffin Bay during the months of March or April is truly trying to best these records.

The Coast of Texas offers up so many great fishing opportunities. However, this one record, the State of Texas Record Speckled Trout, is, without a doubt, the most sought-after record.

For many reasons, the speckled trout brings with it a long history of mystery and magic. Before the first state record was posted by Mike Blackwood on Baffin Bay (33.75 inches long, 13.5 pounds back in 1975), there was little doubt that many anglers brought in some behemoth trout. Mike Blackwood simply had the forethought to put his fish on the record books. After that, the race was on. It still is the most sought-after record on the Texas Coast. 

The numbers to beat are burned into the brains of those anglers who chase it, and Baffin Bay is the place for anglers to stalk it. Odds are, Baffin Bay, with its long history of producing this quality of fish, will cough up another speckled trout for the record books.

The pertinent questions, always, are “what, when, where, why and how.” These standard questions are still in play to solve the mystery of why Baffin Bay is the place to bring forth the next record.

“What,” is almost self explanatory, given the past three record fish, two of which came from Baffin Bay. “When” can be debated, as, almost any month can produce a big, giant trout. However, the spawning activity of the speckled trout in Baffin Bay always leads to a “feed up” in the spring. This adds tremendous poundage to those “big girls” who spend their lives giving life to more and more of their kind on Baffin, which answers the “Where.”

“Why” Baffin? No tides, no changes, land-locked, hyper-saline conditions just keep these “big girls” hanging out in Baffin Bay. They’re not really interested in moving much, just eating and procreating. It’s called, “homeostasis” which means, they are not moving around much to find their best salinity environment.

The trout in Baffin Bay have adapted to this hyper-saline environment and enjoy their lives without much change. Trout in areas where there is constant water flow in and out of the Gulf of Mexico spend lots of time swimming back and forth, trying to locate the waters of their choice. Baffin Bay trout hang around in waters that almost never change, thereby reserving their energies and their body mass, growing bigger and bigger.

This is the answer to the question, “How” do Baffin Bay trout just keep getting bigger and bigger? It’s because they are happy where they are and they don’t have to move around much. They just eat, grow and procreate, thereby creating the cycle of trophy trout life on Baffin Bay.

Trophy Trout seekers continue to be drawn to Baffin Bay because of these simple realities. The highest probabilities indicate that the next Texas State Trophy Trout Record will come from this bay. No other bay system in Texas can consistently offer the same conditions. The answers point to one bay system, and that is simply, Baffin Bay.

Two out of the last three Texas State Trophy Trout records have come from Baffin Bay. There is no reason to believe that any other bay system is in the running to produce a longer, heavier or bigger trout than the fish that Blackwood or Wallace brought to scale. That’s why almost all of the trophy trout seekers spend all of their time stalking the waters of Baffin Bay. 

Since Baffin Bay Rod and Gun is the ONLY Orvis-Endorsed Lodge on the Texas Coast and the ONLY dual-endorsed lodge in Texas, you can expect a high quality experience, not just fishing, but with lodging and cuisine as well.

Everything is taken care of, and the private, tropical atmosphere is inviting and warm. A fire ring, outdoor bar, covered entertaining area with a television, swimming pool, top-quality chef and a fantastic staff will make your group of up to 20 cherished people connected like never before.

See you soon and experience the awesome opportunities available to fishermen at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun.

Email Capt. Sally Black at Sally@captainsally.com

Web: www.baffinbayrodandgun.com

 

Roy Neves

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