LOWER COST FOCUS Baffin Bay November/December 2023
LOWER COST FOCUS Lower Laguna Madre November/December 2023
October 24, 2023MIDDLE COAST FOCUS November/December 2023
October 24, 2023
BAFFIN BAY
Reported by CAPT. GERAD MERRITT
Email Gerad Merritt at GeradMerritt@gmail.com
Visit Online: ParadiseGuideServices.com
Baffin Gets a Breath of Fresh Air
LISTEN: (2 Min, 26 Sec)
WINTER IS NEARING and the waters of Baffin Bay are finally dropping in temperature. After a very hot summer and water temperatures in the high eighties, this cooler water is bringing more life back in to the bay. Fish this time of year enjoy both the shallow waters and rock structures of the bay. Which one you choose to fish depends on the method you prefer. A lot of our bigger fish like hiding in the shallow grass early in the morning, then move out once the sun starts to rise. You still find average size fish mixed in with larger ones.
Moving from the grass to rock structures, you will find that they hold solid fish with the looming of a few larger speckled trout.
Our live bait of choice would normally be live croaker, but it is very rare this time of year to find croaker in numbers for a guided trip. This is when we get into fishing with live shrimp under a popping cork. Personally, I try to either buy or make corks that will have a loud rattle or bead hitting a hard surface to achieve the sound I want.
Fishing the flats with the popping corks, I try to have a shorter leader so the shrimp will just dangle right above the top of the grass flats. I allow for a longer leader in the deeper waters that hold the large rock systems famous to Baffin Bay alone. Our big red fish have moved into the bay’s cooling waters and have been plentiful this fall. Wade fishing with lures can be exciting this time of year. With the high summer winds behind us, the water has started to clear up and sight casting can be a fun time.
Remember to keep in mind that as you can see these fish while wading the shallows, these fish can see or sense you are there as well. Move slowly and pick a color choice that has some flash or sparkle to it that you are comfortable throwing. When you know fish are present, try to follow with your retrieve at the speed the natural bait is moving and give the fish every opportunity to eat. Patience and confidence are key in these shallows.
It is time to take friends and family out to enjoy the cooler weather and make memories on the water!
