Padre Island Safaris

PINS 12/17/06

Water beautiful. No weed South of 40 mile. Driving excellent on low tide and bad in Big Shell on high tide. Finger mullet encountered in large numbers in 2 places between the 50 and the jetty. Birdsobserved working in close in the Big Shell early. 1 flock of feeding birds observed at the 34 mi. and another in the
40s. Lots of small sharks being reported including at least one Bonnethead and one Finetoothed. 6' 8" Sandbar was landed by Mike Shindle and another large Sandbar was seen. Whiting were thick in the 50s and some nice Pompano were mixed in. Late afternoon upper slot reds were available on live finger
mullet in the 30s. Fishing slow early then picking up with the rising water
in the early afternoon.

Area Fishing Report 12/15/06

The next 3 months is the time of the least amount of visitor use of both PINS beaches and the Coastal Bend bay systems and the rare solitude often available added to the quality angling for several species of fishes makes this a wonderful time of year to enjoy a day in the Natural World. Overall, tides tend to be moderate to low in level now through the end of Feb. although Cold Fronts with high velocity NE winds will often bring the tides high and approaching the dunes for short periods of time. Sargassum is
usually not an issue. This is the time of year that one of America's favorite food fish, the Florida Pompano, is most available and it is common for 2 person charters to catch 40+ Pompano in a day's fishing. This is also the peak time for lure fishing for trophy sized Speckled Trout in the Winter surf. PINS is renowned for having the only "Winter Surf" trout fishery in Texas. We often target both these species in the same day although not at the same time as locations, tactics and techniques are quite different for the 2 species. Large Whiting, some slot and oversized "Bull" Redfish, and occasional Black Drum and Sheepshead are also available. Sandbar, Lesser Blacktipped and Bull Sharks are available throughout the period in varying numbers. The famous Mako Sharks landed from the beach of PINS have all been caught during the Winter months. Anglers seeking a shark fishing charter during the next 3 months must realize that moderate weather conditions are necessary and that if bad conditions are forecast for the date of an upcoming charter the charter will have to be rescheduled. Shelling and birdwatching trips are also often very productive during this period.

This same time frame is also the beginning of trophy Speckled Trout fishing in the bay systems with a goodly number of 7-8 and ½ lb. Specks being landed with regularity currently. I am available for bay fishing charters for 2 throughout the Winter months and am well acquainted with Baffin Bay, the N.
Laguna Madre, Nueces Bay and other local bay systems as I have fished in the bay all of my life just as I have PINS.

Plan your outings around incoming Cold Fronts, stay warm, have a good holiday season and be good to yourself and kind and considerate to others.

Capt. Billy

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