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Joined: Apr 2003
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Lunker
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In celebration of completing law school and tackling the bar exam (hopefully for the first and only time), my wife and I went with another couple down to Port Aransas, Texas. We stayed at Port Royal. While the girls enjoyed the pool and the beach, my buddy and I went fishing our first morning there. It was my first trip this summer, so I don't have any fish located yet. We didn't hammer them as well as I would've liked, but we managed to get into some solid speckled trout and redfish. We caught seven trout and three nice reds in a few hours of wade fishing. The photo session wouldn't be complete without a Condello pose.
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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Very nice fish, that speckle is a gator as they call a big one in the Chesapeake!
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Nice fish and pics! Do you have to tag the Redfish that you keep?
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Dave, how much did those reds weigh? Nice fish!!
Just do it...
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Thanks, CJ!
Esshup, You only have to tag "oversized" redfish. In Texas, you can keep redfish when they are 20-28". Your fishing license allows you to keep two redfish over 28" per year, but they must be tagged. You can turn-in one of the used tags plus $3, and the TPWD will give you another tag.
I release a giant redfish, but I'll keep them up to 33-34" or so. Our main goal was to catch supper for the girls, and we succeeded. Fresh redfish and trout are hard to beat!
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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man o man, you got me itchin to get down to the gulf! What is your bait of choice for wade fishing?
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Randy,
I'm guessing the largest redfish weighed around 10 pounds. I didn't weigh any of them, but that would be a ballpark length to weight guess.
Nate, I "cheat" by using live bait. I use croaker or a pinfish we call "piggy perch." Other gulf/Atlantic states call them "pogeys" I believe.
If I can locate the fish and really get into them, I'll switch to lures and have some fun. The live bait helps me find the fish, especially when I'm limited on time.
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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When I was down in Texas earlier this year I kicked around the idea of fishing for reds and spots, but I didn't know if it would have been worth the time and effort considering I would have had to find a guide. Maybe next time!
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Wow, looks like fun davatsa! What type of tackle (pole, reel, line) do you use for them? Looks like they'd be good fighters.
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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I use live bait 95% of the time I am fishing in the gulf. Sometimes I cheat when the fish are really schooled up and throw a fake DOA Shrimp or a Spoon, but most of the time I stick to the purist form of matching the hatch!
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Lunker
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Lunker
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Now if you guys really want to have some fun .... Naw - I won't go there ...
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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We hardly have any medium sized red drum in the Chesapeake. Either they're little puppies or 30 plus pounders. It is total catch and release for the big ones though. Boy do they fight, nothing like trolling for schoolie stripers(rock fish as they call them in the Chesapeake) and hook into a 40 pound red drum!
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Now if you guys really want to have some fun .... Naw - I won't go there ... I know where you're going. I just watched a fishing show where they were fly fishing for redfish. Looked like so much fun.
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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Wow, looks like fun davatsa! What type of tackle (pole, reel, line) do you use for them? Looks like they'd be good fighters. Jeff, I use a 7.5' medium action rod. While the rod is longer for further casting, I don't use offshore tackle. I need the sensitivity of lighter tackle when using live bait. I prefer All Star or Stiffy rods (not to be confused with Wunder Boner). I'm partial to Shimano reels...I use a calcutta baitcast reel most of the time. I spool with 12 or 14 lb Stren mono, and I have a foot or so of 30 lb mono as a leader. The speckled trout have sharp teeth, and they can bite through the smaller mono easily. Both fish are great fighters, but there's nothing like hooking up with an angry 30"+ redfish while wading in 2-3 feet of water.
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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Oh... and George, I can't wait to hook one on a fly rod. Young whippersnappers like me just don't have the time, money, and patience to stick with a fly rod only.
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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Lunker
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Lunker
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David, the only reason I ever got a steady job was so I could hunt and fish – later when I had the money I didn’t have the time.
PA is one of my favorite spots – I recall Rockport when it was a small fishing village years ago when I worked from there … casting gear with popping corks and live shrimp was the way to go.
Only in later years the fly bug bit me.
Thanks for your story - and the memories.
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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George, I've been out of town, so I apologize for the delay in responding.
My family has stayed in Rockport for a week or two every summer of my life except for the past three years or so. It's by far my favorite spot on the Texas coast.
I'm honored to share the stories and the memories. I just feel blessed to have the opportunity to enjoy the time fishing with friends and family. I'll pick up a fly rod one of these days, and I'm sure I'll be ruined for life.
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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I had the chance to make one more trip to the Texas coast this summer, so my BIL and I pointed the truck southeast and took off. We had to be in Kingsville, Texas (original home of my grandfather) to become certified to teach the Texas Hunter's Safety Course. We got in one afternoon and a good morning of fishing in Corpus Christi first. For reference, speckled trout must be a minimum of 15" to keep. The trout on the far left met that mark. Redfish must be a minimum of 20" to keep. The redfish (second from the left) easily surpassed that mark. Needless to say, we had a good morning wade fishing and were able to find the large trout. After the certification course, we found a local street in Kingsville named after my grandfather. It was a great trip!
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Sounds like a great trip, and what a dork you look like pointing up at that sign. You fit right in.
Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:" "She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."
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Glad to see you enjoying yourself, David.
I would go fishing with my BIL, but he objects to being used as bait.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Sunil, The chosen hand gesture is a family inside joke. But I won't object to the "dork" statement...the secret's been out on that for awhile.
Theo, I'd try to use my BIL as bait, but 1- he's a good guy and handy to have around, and 2- not much (even in the gulf) could eat him.
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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Moderator Lunker
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Have fun Dave. As I recall, you enter the work force in a couple of weeks.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Great photos Dave, it looks like you two had a blast. Where's your BIL's chain? I thought his chain was like an American Express card, that he didn't leave home without it. Oh and don't pay any attention to Sunil. If he had a street named after him he'd point to the sign as well. Heck he'd probably make everyone bow down to the sign as they walked past it, or leave offerings of cold beer. Thankfully Sunil Ramchandran has too many letters in it to fit on a street sign.
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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