Fishing Before and….. After--- –Northern Fronts

 Rich Gidrey and I knew that the weather was not optimal !!  In fact, we had a Northern coming in at us with over 45 mph winds.  We knew that the window was tight, but we knew that fish should be feeding hard ahead of the front showing up.   Pre-Front fishing is generally really Smoking Hot !!

We were using Shrimp under a Popping Cork.  This time of year, the Shrimp is generally excellent.  We stopped in at Billings Bait Stand, just outside of Corpus Christi, on the Island and we got some really nice 4-5 inch shrimp that were text-book healthy.  Thanks Scott and Gene at Billings Bait.

On our pre-front day, Saturday------we left Bird Island with Guy Douglass of Media Brokers Group and we fished hard---we had a great start—the first cast yielded a great Redfish of 25 inches.  The second cast yielded a 15 inch Black Drum.  We are “Off to the Races”-----.  In less than two hours-------we had caught 20 fish.  It was rock solid.  Then………………………………………..

 The Skies to the North-West showed their Vigor---Dark-Grey-Blue !!  If you have ever been on the water and seen the “Ominous”…. Dark Skies form to one Horizon you know  what that can mean for you !!

We suited up in our fowl weather gear and made the long run from the Badlands to the Bird Island Boat Ramp.   The ride was rough and wet.  The winds were north of 40 mph and rain was coming down in sheets.   We made it safely but the ride was one I will never forget !!

 Then on Sunday------The Post-Front Day.   The winds had laid back to around 20 mph and we left Bird again for the Baffin Bay area at 7am.   I expected chocolate milk for water color but was pleasantly surprised.  The water quality was really good.  Take a look at the picture here of one of the spoil islands that we fished.   Nice !!!  This shot was taken with a Polarized filter on the camera, so this is what you would see if you were warring your polarized sunglasses.  The fishing was rock solid on Sunday as well.   In fact the strike zones were the transitions from the island and the deeper water adjacent to the islands.  Remember; try to predict where the bait fish are.  They want safety and a food source.  If you can find bait fish………………you will find GAME FISH !!!!!

Anglers Note—

On both our pre-front day and our post-front day we caught great fish.  We used shrimp under a popping cork.  We used 30 lb braided line as our main line, a cork and a 3 foot 30 lb shock leader of monofilament line.  Don’t forget the split shot weight about 8 inches up from the hook.   It holds the hook down in the cast and in the water.  The hooks we used were size 5 Mustad croaker style hooks.    Simply make a cast to a strike zone around the reefs, tighten the line, make a pop and wait.   When the cork stirs in an unusual manor, get ready……………..when it goes down………………Set the Hook Hard !!!  Then,………………………………. the fight is on.

Thanks for your time today……………..And,,,,I’ll see you on the water !!!!!!!!