Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

Texas anglers look forward to the annual running of the bulls — bull redfish, that is.

It’s large schools of mature red drum – male and female – aggregating near gulf passes to spawn.

Bill Balboa is Galveston Bay Ecosystem Leader. The bull red run begins in late August, crescendos about now, and continues through the fall. And these fish, most over 28-inches long, give anglers a good fight.

They call them bulls for a reason, and it’s because they’re very strong fish; they don’t give up easily. So generally most anglers are going to fish for bull reds in the surf using what I would consider typical surf tackle — which is a little bit heavier rod and reel, because what they can expect is a lot of long runs from this fish. They pull very hard. Much like a bull would pull if you had it on a rope.

Although anglers can reel in bull reds all along the gulf coast, their best opportunities lie north of Matagorda Bay.

:08—A lot of bull red fishing occurs in Sergeant up off of Freeport; Crystal Beach and Bolivar, in that area, and off of Sabine Pass.

Learn more about the annual bull red run when you visit passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…made possible by the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

Obsolete oil rigs and decommissioned ships accepted into Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Artificial Reef Program become the hard substrate marine organisms need to grow. But these objects are too large to deploy near shore.

We need 50 feet of clear water from the surface down to the top of the structure.

Dale Shively, who coordinates the program, says near shore reefing using concrete and steel provided by the public is one solution.

The public reefing would be a method where members of the public can take materials that are pre-approved by us to one of our permitted parks and wildlife reef sites and reef those materials.

The 160 acre sites are in Texas waters, nine nautical miles from shore.

And the idea behind near shore reefs is that the average fisherman should be able to get out there and back within a few hours.

The materials, and the reefing plan, must be evaluated by TPW staff.

If we approve that, we certify that and actually tag it. Then we will assign them a spot within the reef site, with special coordinates that they’re allowed to reef material in.

Find links to more information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show made possible with a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

The Gulf of Mexico has a soft bottom.

The Gulf [of Mexico] in itself is basically barren of a lot of hard substrate.

This is a problem for marine invertebrates like coral, barnacles and sponges that need to attach to hard surfaces to survive.

To address this lack of substrate in the Gulf, TPW developed an artificial reef program. Dale Shively is its coordinator.

Reefs in general provide habitat for marine organisms, and we have reefs that are made from oil platforms—obsolete oil platforms—which are in the rigs to reefs program. We have ships to reefs program, which includes things like the Texas Clipper Ship that we reefed recently. And then we have other materials that we try to reef near shore in our near shore reefing program.

Near shore reefing, sometimes called public reefing, allows organizations and private citizens to deposit materials such as concrete and steel, in predetermined locations, off shore.

So, these smaller reefs and the materials that we put out provide a base for marine life to grow. That creates a mini-ecosystem reef environment in which larger fishes will live and reproduce.

There’s a process involved in public reefing, and we’ll discuss that tomorrow.

The Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series and provides funding for the operations and management of Sea Center Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

People who don’t live in Texas are usually surprised by the amount of water we have here, as well as the extensive and diverse angling opportunities available in the state.

If freshwater fishing is your thing, and bass your bag, then Lake Texoma, near Oklahoma, Falcon Lake on the border with Mexico, Caddo Lake near Louisiana, and even the White River Reservoir in the panhandle have healthy bass populations just waiting for you to reel them in. Each lake also has plenty of species like catfish and crappie for your angling pleasure.

For some… saltwater angling is a passion — and if it is for you — consider Goose Island State Park, where you won’t find any geese, but you will find prolific waters of Aransas, Copano and St. Charles Bays. Mustang Island, meanwhile, offers primitive camping on a first come first served basis, as well as prime opportunities to get into the surf and pull in rockfish, red fish and maybe sea trout, as well as other sport fish.

Come to passporttotexas.org where you’ll find useful links to help bring out your inner angler.

That’s our show…made possible by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…working to increase fishing, shooting, fishing and hunting in Texas.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Don’t wait for the summer sun to get your fishing gear out again, you can make some great catches this winter!

Texas has year-round saltwater fishing and it’s very productive, even in the worst of weather.

While you can find the usual Texas fare of redfish, flounder and speckled trout, professional fishing guide and outdoor writer, Danno Wise suggests casting your line to make some other great catches.

Down here in the Rio Grande Valley is the only place in the continental United States outside of South Florida there’s a fishable population of snook year round. They’re sensitive to cold so they’re going to go into the deeper portions of our bay systems, but because the fish will be concentrated, we have excellent snook fishing during the winter time.

We also have a substantial amount of beachfront fishing which is kind of overlooked. Whiting, which is a simple kind of fish, and the pompano. Very tropical looking species; in Florida, they’re targeted very heavily. Fish such as those are plentiful and good eating, and if you want to target going out just to get out of the house, relax, and catch a few to take home to eat, those are excellent choices.

Winter fishing season usually lasts between early December through March. Just remember some warm clothes and a waterproof jacket for that ocean spray!

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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