Tis the Seasons

THE YEAR HAS BEEN a whirlwind of seasons that, on Baffin Bay, were tremendous and interesting. Even the recent start of the dove season was totally off the charts, with lots of birds in the area.

The last couple of months of the year usually highlight the preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but, for outdoorsmen on Baffin Bay, it means a few things even more important than that. This includes dove hunting, duck hunting, a fall trout spawn with an opportunity to catch a double-digit big girl and giant redfish on the fly.

Outdoorsmen wrap that Thanksgiving/Christmas thing around those epic sporting events, to the chagrin of some family members.

Too good to pass up, the perfect storm of fishing and hunting cannot be denied. Having waited all year for dove and duck hunting seasons to begin, the actual opportunity to do it and do it often is a heavy draw.

There are only so many days in those two seasons. When it’s over, it’s over for a long time. Shotguns, dogs and birds are some of the best things in Texas so when the seasons arrive, the outdoorsman goes big.

Besides the fantastic dove opener on Baffin, the ducks have begun to arrive in big flights. Here at Baffin Bay Rod and Gun, we have a few permanent blinds in the bay, but guides primarily use “panel blinds” made by Tanglefree. These are five-panels, and they fold up like a giant briefcase.

Super light (15 pounds) and effective as hell, these blinds let you sit on the bank of the King or the Kenedy Ranch unseen by ducks as they totally blend in. Hunters, sitting in camo captain’s chairs, sit in comfort and out of the wind, waiting for the ducks to land in the decoys.

Guides at BBR&G scout the bay and go hunt on the “X,” where the ducks want to be. Using the panel blind system keeps hunters “on the ducks” throughout the season, concealed and in comfort.

Combining duck hunting in the morning and fishing in the afternoon is called a “Blast and Cast” and it’s popular. At some point during the last two months of the year, the dove and duck seasons overlap. That’s called a “Blast and Blast,” —duck hunt in the morning and dove hunt in the afternoon.

“Cast and Blast” fishing in the morning and dove-hunting afternoon will begin again when the second season of dove begins in December. The choices and combinations are endless. One of the most popular pastimes during duck season at BBR&G is the “Blast and Nap,” duck hunting in the morning and lie around napping and watching football at the lodge in the afternoon.

As the water temperatures begin to drop, fish get a notification from Mother Nature that the lazy, food-filled days of summer are about to end. It’s time for them to put the feedbag on and begin eating in a big way.

Just to survive the winter, fish need to pack on the pounds, but trout also have a special purpose. That’s to spawn more eggs. This fall spawn is very short and it is nowhere near as dynamic as the spring spawn, but it’s going on, nonetheless. That first real water temperature drop of 10 degrees is enough to kick it off.

Look in the usual spawn places such as the north shoreline of Baffin Bay, the south shoreline grass and even in the back of the coves of the Cayo del Grullo.

Shallow water, top water action should be fantastic early mornings on the bank, drop offs, edges and potholes. Soft plastic paddle tails in four-inch and five-inch sizes by Salt Water Assassin, Down South, Kelly Wigglers in light and dark colors are good choices. Tossed on the Black’s Magic 1/32-ounce jig head, they’re super effective on trout protecting their spawning grounds.

If the weather is right, try a morning of searching for a ten-pound-plus trout. Then go super shallow, on the sand and sight cast to some redfish and black drum, either with conventional tackle or the fly rod.

Epic fishing applies to reds and drum, but also flounders, that travel along the edges of the sand just like the rest of the predators. They’re up there looking for shrimp, crabs and small finger mullet.

The Black’s Magic 1/32-ounce jig head with a four-inch Gulp Swimming Mullet in chartreuse is deadly presented to anything up there. Fly guys toss white clousers, small crabs and anything that is a favorite confidence fly. Put it in the right spot and the fish really doesn’t care too much about anything—as long as it’s about the size of the goodies they are eating.

Time flies when you’re having fun, and it certainly did so this year. Hope to see you at the lodge taking advantage of all the very giving and uncrowded Baffin Bay provides. BBR&G is Orvis Endorsed for both wing shooting and fly-fishing, so you know it has got to be great. Come check us out.

See you on the water.

 

Email Capt. Sally Black at Sally@captainsally.com

Web: www.baffinbayrodandgun.com

 

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