Summer Groove

The unusual strong winds of the last few weeks have given way to a much more normal summer pattern, with light winds and green water as far as the eye can see. Last week, the gulf laid down enough to get in some surf and king mackerel action. In the bay, the deep reefs of San Antonio, Mesquite, St. Charles, Aransas, and Copano have been teeming with specs, and a mix of little males and some bigger females has been common. Croakers in 4-7 feet of water over shell has been providing quick morning limits. The lower tides and the green water has made it a little easier to find schools of black drum, and they are happy to eat both live and dead shrimp fished on bottom or under corks. As I sit here writing this, the remnants of Hurricane Hanna are collapsing in the Rio Grande Valley, bit the 2.5 inches of rain and 2 feet of tide surge that Rockport received will be the bump we need to get us through the dog days of summer. I always preach of the importance of rain, and Hanna insured solid fishing through September. The reds will start showing up soon, I suspect even tomorrow, and hopefully will only improve as we move toward fall. I have a couple days left in the last week of August, so if you want to get in a summer trip be sure to do so soon. Don’t forget, dove season is just around the corner as well so get those dates booked too!