MATAGORDA

Reported by CAPT. MARK TALASEK

Email Mark Talasek at MarkTalasek@sbcglobal.com

A Long, Hot Wait for Relief

LISTEN: (2 Min, 14 Sec)

SCORCHING SUMMERTIME TEMPERATURES have given way to brisk fall northers. Three mile lake in east bay literally boiled some fish over the summer. Temperatures in triple digits and low tides didn’t let the fish escape. The lakes hold 6 feet of water and good numbers of fish. Weeks of heat raised the water temperature and killed scores of fish. I’m grateful for the cooler temperatures and so are the fish.

Traffic on the water thins out at the end of the year. Kids are in school. Deer hunters are in the woods. Most people don’t like to go fishing if they have to wear a jacket. I love it. Some of the best fishing of the year.

I like to put my breathable waders on and hop out on a midbay reef armed with a top water. Casting as far away from the reef as possible and twitching the imitation back to me. Nothing better for a fisherman than seeing the explosion of water right in front of your eyes. Be careful not to crunch the shell, it will scare off the fish. My favorite lure is black with a chartreuse head. Work it slowly. Imitate a wounded mullet. Some people reel too fast. Have patience. The reward is worth the wait.

A red snapper run is another fun fall adventure when the gulf waters calm down after a cold front. State waters remain open when the federal waters close. There are plenty of man-made structures within the nine mile boundary that hold scores of red snapper. Your tackle should include a little heavier pole than inshore and enough weight to reach the bottom in a current. Squid or cut bait dropped to the bottom will always work best.

The brisk temperatures make being in God’s great outdoors much more enjoyable. Drop me a line and let’s go fishing.