Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
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As I sit here in front of this computer I can’t help but be cautiously optimistic about the prospects for the new year on Sabine and Calcasieu. In the years since the upper Texas coast and western half of Louisiana got absolutely hammered by hurricanes the landscape has changed as far as the eye can see. Many traditional fall and winter “hotspots” have either been covered in mud or littered with debris making fishing that spot a much more difficult task. In years past we ha...
Fishing too fast is a common problem that many anglers have, especially when the fish tend to gather up and school in big bunches. Saltwater anglers who chase schooling fish along with freshwater fishermen who also key in on flocks of birds over hungry groups of stripers, hybrids, and whites are perhaps the worst. The frenzied activity puts everyone on the boat in high gear often leaving the majority of the water column untouched. It’s a proven fact that smaller more a...
Here in Texas there are a few things that are common from Sabine to Baffin at this time of the year and everyone who calls the coast or saltwater home has an idea what those things are. Probably the biggest and most common factor is the wind, you just can’t escape those big gusts that seem to come around every weekend. The wind is a constant factor and most anglers eventually figure out how to deal with the uncomfortable conditions, some seek shelter in protected waters w...
Here in Texas there are a few things that are common from Sabine to Baffin at this time of the year and everyone who calls the coast or saltwater home has an idea what those things are. Probably the biggest and most common factor is the wind, you just can’t escape those big gusts that seem to come around every weekend. The wind is a constant factor and most anglers eventually figure out how to deal with the uncomfortable conditions, some seek shelter in protected waters w...
Grey skies, low tides, falling water temperatures, and crowds that have now left the easy bite that was to be had in November. Boat ramps that appear to be ghost towns and all day trips with no mention of the sun wrapped up neatly in thoughts of big trout and hungry redfish. This is the beginning of the stretch of months that will earn you a big fish and saltwater badge of courage. This also is the time to recognize and realize the potential for both a trophy fish and a...
After a nearly 2 week layoff the Texas duck season is set to resume once again on December 14th and it happens to fall just perfect after the coldest weather of the year. The weather man appears to have not cooperated as forecasts call for warmer temps for several days leading up to Saturday’s opener. Reports from farther up the flyway suggest the biggest influx of birds has yet to happen as they migrate from the north. Many outfitters I have spoken with say the same thing a...
In all the major bay systems along the Texas gulf coast die hard big trout hunters are licking their lips in anticipation of finding that one truly big speckled trout of a lifetime. The late fall and winter months are regarded as the best times to pursue real wall hanger size trout, and here on Sabine lake we are no different. In years past we have seen some amazing things come our way to change the way we as anglers looked at fishing. Some or most of these ideas are not for...
For some strange and unknown reason it seems like the older I get the faster things tend to repeat themselves. At times I would swear the pages on the calendar flip by 2 months at time instead of just 1. Recently I just renewed my United States Coast Guard license for the 5th or 6th time and I started thinking about how much time that represented, especially knowing that its 5 years between each renewal. As I stood next to the island in my kitchen and opened up my new set of...
In every sport there are different levels of accomplishment, different levels of skill. In baseball you have rookie leagues, minor leagues, and then you have the guys in the majors who are at the top of the food chain so to speak. Far too many times in magazines the writers take for granted that everyone out there fishes just like they do. Nothing could be farther from the truth if you just get right down to it. On more than a regular basis I get asked about certain...
First of all before we get started on the fish I want to say on behalf of all the concerned outdoor folks “welcome back” to President Donald J. Trump and congratulations on the landslide victory. I found it incredibly interesting, as did many others, that the only states Kamala Harris won were ones that required no voter ID. As we have mentioned in this column many times as a hunter or fishermen you must present ID in order to purchase a license, seems like common sense tha...
Saturday morning will officially usher in the 2024-2025 waterfowl season for all our local hunters and expectations run the gamut from cautiously optimistic to gung ho. Texas duck and goose hunters cranked up last weekend and the initial reports were good overall. Many local marshes that are historically proven early season producers had limits on average which was a welcome sight. High water during the late summer jump started vegetation growth in many areas so the food sourc...
"You remember when...." is a question that I am hearing all too often these days, especially when I am talking to water fowlers. Less than a decade ago our area marshes were a haven for all types of migratory birds, world class wing shooting at its best. The skies were filled with ducks and geese and the local hospitality and great Cajun cuisine made this part of the world a magnet for hunters from all around the globe. Well the food and hospitality are still here but the...
One of perhaps the most anticipated hunting days of the year is upon us; Saturday morning starts off the annual youth hunting weekend in Texas. Young hunters and adults alike look forward to this very special weekend for a variety of reasons. For many young hunters this is their opportunity to take center stage and reap the benefits of all the practice and preparation they have been through during the off season. The trips to the range, the work at the hunting lease, or...
All along the Texas gulf coast the pattern is the same, cool fronts signal the much anticipated frenzy that is fall fishing. Anglers of every description ready themselves with the latest technology and gear in hopes of finding flocks of gulls working over schools of hungry speckled trout and redfish. Shiny fiberglass cruisers masquerading as bay boats are stocked up with an array of tackle that would make most anglers drool with envy. It is the same scenario in each bay...
I have no idea why we as anglers are constantly trying to complicate things, always re-inventing the wheel and adding corners. In our never ending quest to catch more and bigger fish we often stray down the path which we think leads to discovery only to find that out that if we had just read the street signs we’d be in much better shape. Over the years it seems like we have become so detailed and specific that the average fisherman suffers from “paralysis by analysis”. Fishi...
We have all heard the saying “time flies when you are having fun” but there aren’t many times you can actually watch it happen. The 16 day early teal season will come to a screeching halt on September 29th just about the time the biggest migration is forecast to enter our part of the flyway. By all accounts most hunters saw a healthy influx of new birds beginning this past Saturday and the numbers have continued to build in many areas. To our east, across the state line into...
Consistent hunts and good numbers of birds have been the norm for many local waterfowlers enjoying the early teal season so far. Opening weekend of early teal season can best be described as a classic case of "have or have not". For many hunters it was one end of the spectrum or the other and no in between. Rarely will you see birds as concentrated as they are right now and that pattern doesn't look it will change any time soon. If you were one of the fortunate ones who were...
In what has become a highly anticipated yearly ritual, wingshooters from all over Texas will make there way to the fields and marshes as the 2024-2025 waterfowl hunting season officially gets underway Saturday. The teal season opener has become a real gathering of sorts, almost a social get together if you will. Hunters eagerly awaiting each new hunting season head to the fields for their first taste of what is in store and this one looks promising thanks to some recent...
The sleek silhouette coasted over the tree line with that familiar darting flight pattern, the volley of shots only confirmed the obvious and the dove continued on its way toward the stock tank to get a much needed drink. This scene is played out thousands of times in the state of Texas as hunters take to the field suffering the effects of a long off season without much, if any, practice. Shooting these fast flying birds is enough of a challenge without any other...
It doesn’t make any difference if you’re a hunter or a fisherman because this time of the year has something for everyone and it’s all good. The brief cool down from near triple digit heat has both hunters and fishermen alike thinking of what’s in store for the coming weeks. The very first hint of hunting season starts with teal and dove season in September and if you look at the calendar it's here. Hunters of all shapes and sizes flock to the field to take advantage of the...
Locals only or Worldwide? “Pssst…..hey buddy? I got what you need, GPS coordinates, reef names, secret spots full of shell guaranteed to give you what you’re looking for. I got it all.” In a wide eyed frenzy the unsuspecting and overly enthusiastic angler who’s hungry for information does exactly what you would guess, he buys it all. Anything for an edge and everything for a big fish. The quest for these big fish drives many folks to extreme measures and often different...
Chance Hobbs took advantage of a late afternoon summer bite. Texas 2 a Days Now unless you live under a rock in a far dark corner of the planet you probably have some sort of idea about how completely fanatical Texas folks are about football. The summer months in our great state are often looked upon with great enthusiasm as thousands of football players begin their preparations for the fall campaign by first trying to beat the Texas heat. The football term “2 a days” ref...
The list of "honey do's" posted on the refrigerator is a dead give away, the longer the list the better the fishing is at the moment and vice versa. Every now and again it's a must to get off the water and get caught back up on things around my house that have been pushed back to the point of being ridiculous. You know the fishing is good when you are cutting your grass at night with the help of a q-beam mounted to your riding mower. Don't laugh, I know some of you will employ...
Say the words “sight fishing” and a few thoughts that immediately pop into your head are “tails” “clear water” and “shallow”. None of the previously mentioned words conjure up thoughts of the upper coast of Texas, sight fishing is a lower coast activity and can only be done down there. Well if you subscribe that line of thinking then you have either have a rude awakening coming or you are cringing at this article because you have already figured out how good this style of fish...
For the majority of upper coast anglers the thought of actually seeing a fish before you cast to it is more of a foreign concept than going to a restaurant that doesn't serve sweet tea, it's just not natural. In the minds of most anglers who fish with me the thought of water with clarity good enough to see fish in is usually reserved for venues farther south or some Caribbean island where the white sand is nearly blinding, not the upper coast of Texas or Louisiana. Now don't g...
