The Saltwater Magazine for Gulf Coast Fishing!
SPRING 2006
		Sample of Fishing Forecast Page in PDF
Intracoastal Trout by Chester Moore, Jr. Don't Overlook This Fishing Goldmine   The red/white Super Spook walked along the shoreline with an almost military like rhythm. "Splish-splash" "Splish-splash" "Splish-splash"   My cousin Frank Moore is a real pro at working this particular plug and as I commented on the smoothness of his presentation, he looked over at his graph and smiled.   "We're marking lots of bait and I'm pretty sure it's mullet," he said without causing his plug to break a stride. Mullet are exactly what we wanted and as we both worked our topwaters over this big school, we hoped a super sized sow speck would come out to play.   "Splish-splash" "Splish-splash" "Gulp"   Frank's Super Spook disappeared as the water below it boiled with a hint of silver... On the Flats by Robert Sloan Lightweight boats and push poles lead the way... One of the most unique aspects of  fishing the flats along the Gulf coast  is that they provide great fishing opportunities year round for a variety of species, specifically reds and trout. But there is no denying that come spring and summer the skinny-water action comes to life quicker than a short fuse on a Roman candle on the Fourth of July.   There is no shortage of flats to fish along the Gulf coast. And, lately, neither is there a shortage of fishermen looking to get the jump on shallow feeding reds and trout. In fact, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, there are more anglers heading to fish the coast for trout and reds than ever before. The reason why is simple - the top two target species are abundant, relatively easy to find and catch, and they fight a heck of a lot harder than most freshwater species. Cobes in the Sound - by Robert L. Brodie The coastline has changed, where will the cobes be now?   Come April, the minds of saltwater anglers in southern Mississippi stir with the thought of doing battle with one of the most highly prized game fish that prowls outside the Magnolia State's barrier islands. Hey, no matter what you call them including: cobia, cobe, ling, brownies, big brown ones, lemonfish, crab-eater, or the Cajun lingo of limon, these beautiful brown hued game fish are the star of the show come springtime. However, this spring there will be many changes along the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's path of destruction. Coastal bait shops that once dotted Mississippi's coastline providing all sorts of live and dead baits, chum, tackle, and other supplies required to seek out cobia probably won't be as plentiful, so anglers may have to spend more time on the water catching their own live bait.   Amberjack - Agony or Ecstasy? - by Pete Cooper, Jr. These fish are tough!   Old folks occasionally develop a propensity for telling tales, and every now and then some of them contain a bit more fact than fiction. The following are a few of those, and I remember the incidents well, even though the first one occurred long before I had a beard, much less a possum-colored one!   Like the others, that trip involved amberjacks then a species I knew less than nothing about, but a charter skipper/buddy had a day off and wanted to fish for them. Having always been game to try something different, I was eager for the trip and felt absolutely nothing like the proverbial lamb being led to slaughter. Gulf Coast Closeup - "Indianola, Tx - Good Fishing - Then and Now" - by Gary Ralston   The Matagorda Gazette says that fishing was never better on our bay than at present. Red fish, trout, flounder, and all the other varieties are caught in great numbers. The shrimp fishing has about closed. On this side (of) the bay our sportsmen have been equally fortunate, and besides a constant supply of the dainty luxuries mentioned they have had abundance of stone crabs. We notice, however, that jew-fish, the best of all, have been rather scarce this season. The oyster season has fairly commenced and the market is well supplied. (INDIANOLA, TX COURIER, October 15, 1859.)   Once a bustling seaport and cowtown, the lights of Indianola were punched out by a pair of hurricanes 11 years apart.   Located on the western side of Matagorda Bay on a shell beach only a few feet above sea level, it was an invitation for the disaster that was inevitable, yet unexpected. Its sister city of Galveston to the east would have its own rendeveous with disaster in 1900...   OUR DEPARTMENTS...   Equipment Notebook - "Safety Equipment" - by David Ayers   Rod & Reel'n Offshore - "Hook Sharpening - Going Against the Norm" - by Patrick Lemire   The Bay Naturalist - "Getting to Know Seaweed" - by John Hook   Tackle Time - "Hooks - Two or Three" - by Colby Sorrells   Bait Hook - "False Advertising" - by Jim Martin     From the Publisher... Besides all these great articles and departments, Gulf Coast Fisherman is the only source for the Wells Daily Fishing Forecast. Each issue carries three months of the Wells Daily Fishing Forecast - with Monthly Fishing Calendars. This will provide what you need to intelligently plan your fishing trips - hours, weeks, and months in advance!   Top saltwater guides and fishermen use the Wells Daily Fishing Forecast - shouldn't you be using it ,too?...   "The fisherman that knows what the currents are doing has the advantage - over fish and fishermen!" And remember - "Fish feed everyday, somewhere " - Harold Wells   Gary Ralston Publisher   Home