Category Archives: South Texas Fly Fishing Reports

Port Aransas South Texas Jetty Fly Fishing

South Texas Fly Fishing is heating up as expected…

While I await the arrival of my new flats boat from Ankona on April 12th, the fly fishing action at the jetty in Port Aransas is getting the blood pumping from the fantastic fly fishing action!

Colorful Critter

No need for spin gear and it is not necessary to carry loads of gear with you out there. When the jack crevelle show, they are in close to the rocks and any 9/10wt intermediate line with 2-3inch sink rate will be more than sufficient. Fly selection should be fairly large, in the 4-7 inch range as these powerful jack’s are feeding predominately on finger mullet and shad. The main factor in a successful day on the jetty is that the water must be clean, not stirred up with sediment from the bay if it is an outgoing tide and windy.

jack attack, sea habit fly, port aransas south jetty

Got color!

While this fish was not cast to nor hooked from the location shown on these rocks, Korkers are essential and mandatory for safely getting into a good landing position so that unnecessary injury to yourself and to the fish can be avoided. On this particular day the surf was low and wave sets relatively even and constant. Take note that very little time is spent down low on these rocks even during good conditions. At any given time a larger than average wave could roll in and knock a person off their feet. Keeping a vigilant watch and timing is crucial requiring excellent judgement of the wave sets is critical to staying safe. If you don’t feel comfortable in a particular moment, then that is the best indicator to get to higher ground and safety immediately.

fly fishing, texas, port aransas, jetty, jack, crevale, king, spanish, mackerel,

On Point

Scouting from higher vantage points gives the safety needed and sight advantage to determine where along the low underwater rock ledges these fish are cruising and chasing bait. Locate a good casting rock, preferably one that is fairly level and where the waves are not breaking over the rock and usually it can be a rewarding perch for a fly angler with keen eyesight.

Having gone through many different fly patterns in the last week trying to figure out which fly these fish simply cannot resist, I decided to tie up some of Trey Combs’ Sea Habits using yak hair in a 5inch size range.

sea habit, trey combs, kenjo flies, yak hair

Sea Habit tied by Capt Kenjo

Color schemes include the ever popular chartreuse over white, red over white, and green over white. Many other patterns are effective such as 4 inch grey over white mullet patterns which can be found in most local fly shops.

jack crevelle, port aransas, south jetty, fly fishing, texas

Persistence pays off with a large jack crevalle

Finally, if the conditions don’t seem good and you are especially hungry to eat some fish, the Spanish mackerel are great table fare in limited quantities and especially feisty on the fly. They will eat any Clouser thrown in front of them and will continue to hit it even after it has been shredded by their gnarly and razor sharp teeth. Be sure to use at least twelve inches of 50-lb bite tippet when attaching the fly because they will certainly chew through anything smaller before you can get them to hand.

Beating the Drum

On Guard!

While it has been a long time since I sat behind the musical instrument know as a drum set, it was refreshing to hear the beats that the black drum can make.

The black drum can produce loud drum-like beats which is how it got its name and surprisingly can make these sounds a a quick pace and repeating intervals.

badaboom!

These fish were hungry today and put on a good strong fight but due to higher winds and slightly deeper water conditions (knee deep) a more heavily weighted fly was necessary to stay in touch with the fly during the retrieve and made the strikes of these drum more easily detected. At one point the silversides were feeding on the back of my leg and the ghost shrimp are also starting to appear more frequently and can be seen flipping about like a single drop of water landing on the surface of the water.

heavily weighted flies turn tricks

Since the water’s surface was choppy from the steady wind with overcast skies it made sighting fish nearly impossible it was important to continue to slowly work the area making short casts in a fan-like pattern gradually increasing distance and angle with each cast and it showed that this technique can be used as a searching pattern and produced many more black drum before the day ended. The fishing is hot and only getting hotter with each day that passes so give Capt Ken a call or shoot him an email to book your trip!

Keeping the hooks sharp,

Captain Ken Jones

361-500-2552

ken@kenjofly.com

Grateful Redfish

Kissed by a redfish…

Upon arrival it was soon discovered that the saltwater flat was almost drained dry making the normal redfish haunts obsolete and more than skinny. So much for depending on the accuracy of the printed tide tables.At least the wind was down and made for more dependable sight casting.

Without hesitation, the angler suits up for what proves to be a gorgeous day with blue bird skies and light and variable winds from the West. Wading out beyond the normal terrain, eyes are peeled back as if they were stuck open with toothpicks looking for anything that moved. Before to long, a large spot tail appears about 50 yards away and the pace is quickened to close the distance. With care, so as not to spook the finned creature from the skinny water lagoon, the distance is closed in a matter of minutes and once within casting range the fly is presented carefully and lands with a soft plop. The redfish turns and follows for a few feet then is distracted by the real deal and turns away to eat a live crab nearby. Another presentation is made just off the right shoulder of the hefty redfish and not more than 3 feet ahead. “Gotchya now” a voice is heard… Then WHAM! The fish eats the fly and with two good strip strikes the fish lets loose and clears the angler’s line as if it were on a power driven motor and with a few more kicks of its powerful tail the backing appears on his 8wt.

Strong 28-inch red drum in skinny water

After a brilliant tug-o-war the fish succumbs to its challenger and is posed for a quick portrait of a beauty of a 28-inch redfish. “There you go, swim free my pretty. Your game was great and more than fair.”he Lone Red Ranger swims a few feet away freely, then turns 180 degrees and comes back and kisses the anglers boot. A gentle nudge with his hand guides the grateful redfish away and a moment is taken in silence to consider that the redfish came back to thank the sportsman for his fair fight and safe release.

what the h3!!?

Bad Weather Fly Fishing

A very intimidating weather forecast…

Port Aransas Weather Forecast – POOR CONDITIONS

…accompanied by high winds and dense cloud cover lasting over a week and a half, only the dauntless are crazy enough to find these types of weather conditions just another extreme fly fishing challenge! In a true fly fisherman’s heart, visions and dreams of wicked redfish on the flats with an 8wt mingle and party hard. Venturing out into the wild grey yonder, the events that unfolded for 3 days straight warrant a play by play account of what happened a hundred times during this stint of pure craziness. Maybe being hard-headed is the key, otherwise you will end up tucking tail and running for shelter, or never leaving the couch in the first place. I consider these kinds of conditions to make one a true “fly man”.

rum, hard core, fly fishing, red fish, flats, port aransas

Dark and Stormy – Dreaming of Rum

You take the good with the bad. If you’re a true Flyman dedicate, these shitty conditions are good conditions too.

“11’Oclock, 30 feet and closing FAST!!! He yells to himself realizing he was very much alone miles from the shelter of his trusty pickup truck. Instantly a smile grazes his weathered and somehow sunburned face. “CAST man! CAST!” Into the wind a 30ft cast to a distance-closing redfish estimated around 30 inches will even make a seasoned angler’s knees knock. Especially since in only seconds, that 30 feet is now only 20 feet, and the wind driven currents are causing a tremendous amount of line slack.

The angler thinks to himself, “Even if this fish eats, good luck seeing or feeling the take.” And suddenly a blue tail with a distinct black spot appears 15 feet in front of him signaling that the fish ate the rough offering. “SET! SET! SET!”, comes another barked command held silent in his head. He strip strikes with all the length his seemingly short-ass arm can muster yet feels nothing but more slack in the line and with the motion and movement of his body the red fish heads for the depths of the black lagoon. “DAMMIT! NOT AGAIN!” …a good time for lunch he thinks out loud as if his fishing partner were nearby.

Sea Shell Bar a great place for lunch break

Once he crossed the deep gut that separated wet mushiness from a dry spit of seashell crusted land, the gear was ripped off his tired and sweaty person and a nice ham sandwich emerges. It of course is scarfed down faster than a redfish can eat a crab as he knows the tide continues to rise and it is about time that the primary flat in this area which is normally ankle deep should now be shin to knee deep and has potential to harbor more red fish. So off he goes, renewed with energy from the miniscule hamwich and determined to dislocate another redfish, or at least attempt to do so, even if some may consider his attempts to be unsuccessful, the hard-headed angler once again sees another opportunity to dance with a marvelous redfish in close proximity. Wading back, a lone boat with big outboard motor and two helpless dogs impede withing 50 yards and cut his wading path short. Blowing the flat and sending all red fish within 150 yards into hiding, the fly fisherman whistles and motions to the guy to be silent but he knows it is too late and continues wading away from the boat that just dropped anchor in the area he had planned to fish. One thousand yards further and 30 minutes later, the fly man is now setting up to work another grassy bank almost out of sight of the boatman with the honking wind in his “favor”. Thinking to himself, “the water is too deep (at the knees) to see any tailing reds”, he strategically sets up in position approximately 50 feet from the grass edges and shuffles slowly parallel to the shoreline, casting gently and as quietly as possible up into the grass edges, but not more than a foot into the grass so as not to spook anything further back in the grass.

A flood tide can push redfish deep in the grass banks

The small brown creature fly sits for a moment after a decent cast lands in a small nook between thicker grass patches while a small knot is removed from the running line. Wonder races through the fly man’s fatigued mind and his strained eyes begin to see a mirage. “A wake, coming straight at me!” Tick tick, the fly is moved with two short strips and suddenly it is realized that this is no mirage but a redfish coming out from deep in the grass to inspect whatever had just plopped down in the water. The 30 second pause after the cast must have been just enough time for the red fish to move from its previous position over to where the fly had landed in the water. “Perfect, I got him now” I say to myself out loud, then a small tap is felt in the line and in the same instant a strip strike is deployed only to feel what? You guessed it, nothing.

The water then explodes as the human’s body movement tips off the wily creature and send him away swimming as if the redfish’s life depended on it. And it does. You can’t argue with natural instinct, and if anything was learned during the last 3 days of hard-core fly fishing the flats of Port Aransas, it is to let your natural instinct guide you. When you feel the instinct, don’t delay and ask yourself, “Is this my natural instinct?” because only practice makes perfect. Especially in a time where humans are more disconnected from their natural instincts than ever. Let yours guide you, and “GO FISH Flymen and be not deterred!”

Keeping the hooks sharp,

Captain Ken Jones

361-500-2552

ken@kenjofly.com

wade in wade out

Five out of the last 7 days has been spent wading the flats, at all all hours, morning, afternoon and evening, in all kinds of weather such as winds blowing North at 20-knots or a gentle breeze from the East at 10-knots. As usual the fish behavior and locations along with water levels are certainly different each time. This morning was no exception and as my lower back cried out for relief and a much needed break, I can’t help but wonder when I will have a few hours to spare and go back out to see what kind of no good the fish are up to!

Red fish counts are strong but not in great quantities just yet, some days the balance between number of stingrays and red fish is toppled like just the other day when I only saw one red fish but counted 22 stingrays.

Red Grass Flats Redfish

The Texas Shuffle is a critical maneuver if you want to keep your legs from being pierced by the barb of an old stingray and at this point it is quite the primal instinct for me to glide my feet across the mud and grass flats much like one would glide along while cross country skiing. Same motion of the legs and feet and one other benefit of doing this is to allow the toes of the front foot to feel for the next hidden hole that is ever so slightly filled in with a light smackery of detritus. It seems that most holes I discover are caused by old prop scars as they can be trench-like in shape and size. Others are soft mud pits which you could lay down in if it weren’t for the 12-24″ of water covering it. That’s one bath I don’t really want to take. Onto the next one! Keep your hooks sharp, just in case you run across some big bull redfish busting tiny shrimp just before sunset and you still have a one hour wade just to get back to dry land.

Captain Ken Jones

361-500-2552

Port Aransas, Texas

Churning Food Chains

In the last two weeks (and several fishing expeditions) a warming trend has swept over the South Texas Coastal Bend area and prevailing winds evolved from 30kt Northern blasts to calm winds light and variable from the Southerly direction. This trend has signaled the food chain to spring into action and species of all shapes and sizes have been eating reasonably placed flies eagerly.

Crunch N Munch – Sheephead on Fly

The 2013 season is looking better and better and even as I write this the birds are chirping and the sun is greeting us this morning at its usual early hour undaunted by what few clouds remain in the sky. A crab pattern experienced recent developments and produced a banner fly-fishing day on the flats with 4 of 5 species coming to hand.

Strike a pose

The prized catch of the day was multiple sheephead on fly, while slot redfish, black drum and wily pompano also ate well.

The sheephead usually hang near deep-water rocks and structure but they also move well into the flats during late fall and stage there thru the winter to take advantage of the prolific crabs that are seeking shelter and warmth in the soft dark mud bottoms.

Good numbers of speckled trout exist with many quality gator trout and can also be taken on the fly. The gator trout seem to be more territorial and usually the larger trout can be found just one or two rocks away from the last one even though the big ones are not holed up in a single spot.

fly fishing, pompano, corpus christi, bay, port aransas

Bay side Pompano on Fly

This time of year it is important to not be discouraged on those few brutal winter days and persistence is the key to locating a strong and consistent winter bite.

The new wade fishing spot recently explored has really proven to produce fish in multiple weather conditions and stays in my mind. Even though the hike is torturous the action is hot enough to warrant the leg work needed to reach this honey hole.

redfish, flats, fly fishing, port aransas, mustang island

3 on the right, 4 on the left. That makes this red fish a 7 spotter

All good things come through hard work, which is why fly fishing negatives are actually positives in a crazy anglers mind.

Get your boots on, lace’em up good and get out there to explore the surrounding environments. What you discover may be as cool as a consensual lightning welk orgy, or even better yet, a fish on the end of your fly line. Remember to keep your hooks sharp and your wits even sharper.

rocks, jetty, south texas coastal bend, tourisn, things to do

Giving chase!

Bull redfish can be found and taken on fly if a person is willing to devote precious time into locating them. Three inch mullet patterns are great for searching out these big fish around the rocks and where water currents exist. The reward is exceptional and greater satisfaction comes once a creature of this caliber is released unharmed to maraud unsuspecting baitfish.

39″ Long X 21″ Girth = 19.6lbs est.

Captain Ken Jones

Port Aransas, TX

Kenjo Fly Fishing Charters

361-500-2552

Hareline Dubbing Mullet Imitator

hareline dubbing, texas, saltwater, tarpon, mullet, fly fishing

Hareline Dubbing Baitfish Emulator Flash makes a great mullet imitator

Having recently discovered Hareline Dubbing’s Baitfish Emulator Flash I instantly knew it would work perfect for tying finger mullet patterns on the big gaped tarpon hooks made by Tiemco (600SP) in 1/0 & 2/0 sizes. These flies are sure to smell like fish. Its only a matter of time. Everybody hurts sometimes.

This particular pattern uses splayed tail hackles (4-6 hackles max) then hand blended some ice dubbing (also by Hareline) for the body using a dubbing loop to build the shoulders of the mullet. The dubbing is tapered in thickness as it is applied to the dubbing loop to give the bulk forward placement on the fly. The emulator flash is then tied in at the front like a collar and palmered in place 3 or 4 wraps then tied off. The bottom fibers can also be trimmed if desired.

Overall I am truly impressed with this material as it is a way to build the body of baitfish patterns with ease and cuts some time from behind the vice which can be a while for me. Over the next few days I will continue playing with this material to see what else can be tossed around.

Keep those hooks sharp,

Captain Ken Jones

Kenjo Fly Fishing Charters

Port Aransas TX

361-500-2552

Tarpon Style

Dreams should jump high. Be ready thru the very last second. You wont regret it. I will be trying to hit’em HARD this spring during the tarpons northerly migration along the South Texas Coastal Bend. You can only fly as high as your dreams take you. Here’s to the month of March!

Its not YOUR fish It is OUR fish

Take a moment to consider all the coastal fish species and other marine life for that matter.

Then apply the thought that its not just “your” fish, but these are “our” fishes. A sense of responsibility goes with this, to protect and respect those that came before and those which will come after.

See ya’ll out there. First to arrive and last to leave. An ethic which I can get down with and understand beyond what mere words can explain.

Keep your hooks sharp and your minds sharper,

Captain Ken Jones

Port Aransas, Texas

361-500-2552

Fly fishing Tarpon in Texas Winter Storms

IT’S GO TIME!

The phone rings while sitting in the truck at the airport fully loaded with enough fly fishing gear, food and water rations for two people for four days. The restless ringer on the phone indicates that a fishing buddy has landed at Corpus Christi International Airport. “You ready for this?” I ask and Captain Natereplies, “READY AS EVER!”

Heading to Fly Fishing Heaven

First things first! Get to Wal-Mart and purchase a non-resident fishing license for the tourista. “You better get the annual, you WILL be back!” We promise each other there are no doubts. If this winter’s fishing season is as good as it has been lately, it would be a good idea to change your return flight now and stay a few more days to be able to enjoy some decent weather after these gale force winds and small craft advisories lift. Good luck with surviving that cold front!

Nonetheless, we were going NOW, before the North storm hits with 30-knot winds freezing anything wet and we are running out of daylight since the flight landed around noon. Hot on the throttle of the old Chevrolet, all 4 wheels engaged and spinning like mad men, we head off-road in search of tarpon on foot in the South Texas Coastal Bend area.

There is nothing like rigging rods and leaders in the truck as it barrels down the dirt road leading to a dead end like most fishing trips, it is a rough road going nowhere and makes tying knots a true challenge of any skilled fly-angler.

“What are they eating?” he says with courage. “Baitfish in 3-6 inch sizes,” I tell him. “Here, use this, tie it on good, and it wouldn’t hurt to add a bimini twist to the class tippet.”

As we arrive and park, we scramble to find stripping baskets and then he turns to me and I see him grab a medium weight spin rod. I protest necessarily and inform him that if he’s going to use a spin rod, “You’re going to want a bigger rod!” Laughs are exchanged with a wink or two and we start to lace up, strap on, and close any open zippers with grueling anticipation of the approaching storm which could shut down our world-class fishing spot faster than an American Banker can foreclose a delinquent home-owner in America.

“Where do we start casting?” I am asked as we head in the direction of the rocky terrain most people call the jetty. “Hold your fire!” I respond with encouraging patience, “We are almost to the honey hole!”

City of Granite – South Texas Jetty

Within minutes of arriving on that special granite rock which would become our perch and our shelter from the tormenting winds and rain we see fishy stuff going on and the excitement builds. It is soon to be learned that those giant granite rocks will also become our refuge for the next four days. Our eyes are already stinging as the winds grow and white water spray begins coming over the jetty showering us, we scan the water surface for all 360 degrees looking for the tell-tail sign of megalops.

Almost covertly, a soft plastic flies from its 7’6″ cannon of a spin rod rigged with 30-lb braid and lands in the water with a big splash. “Are you sure this lure isn’t too big?” Nate says.

“Hell no! Keep it in the water, work it good and hold on when you snag a rock,” I respond.

“What rock? OH DAMN! That rock just moved!” Set the hook, wait for the screaming drag to slow to a dull roar and try your best to reclaim the long length of line that was just stolen from the spool minutes ago. “Done!”

Howdy!

First fish landed, a respectable red fish measuring just inside the slot limit. We release the fish quickly back into the water which is beginning to churn like a butter bucket strapped into the tea cup ride at Disney world.

Then it happens again, another nice redfish takes the soft plastic yummy bunny and this time the redfish is just over slot limit. Back it goes like 99.99% of all fish we catch. The sense of urgency increases and our motions begin to accelerate as we hop over a few more granite obstacles searching for another safe spot to stand with advantageous positioning.

Then I hear someone familiar scream. “TARPON! It just rolled! There! Quick! CAST! CAST! CAST!” we yell to each other. “Damn! No takers.” Cast again, this time with a little bit of frustration. “What are they eating?” our eyes strain to try to identify any visible bait in the water.

Telling myself to keep calm, I prepare for another cast of the fly line and launch it out into the open water as if it were a hot grenade with only a second remaining before detonation.

Count to 15 while recovering from a small bird’s nest in the running line. Stripping line in slowly, the last of the slack is removed from the 80 feet of fly line in the water and contact is made with the fly. Slow long pulls, short strips, and toss in a few A.D.D. twitches, a tap is felt in the line, however slight, I set the hook and immediately the silver king erupts from the water like a government missile sent on its one-way mission. “TARPON!” I scream at Nate, “You should have grabbed your fly rod! HAHAHAHA!”

Estimated at 50 inches of Pure Rock Fury

As the first school tarpon is released into its watery lair, the sun begins to set on our environment and we notice that the tarpon are feeding more actively and the pressure is building. Suddenly we see a large shark in the distance also get airborne and the image of a 200-300 pound shark is burned into our minds as we imagine it trying to eat a tarpon from our hands rock-side. I hand the fly rod to Nate and say, “Here! Use this! It’s your turn homey”.

Off it goes the 3/0 tarpon fly flings about and lands in the water. Strip, strip, strip, And SET! Nate’s virgin tarpon launches itself into the air in desperate attempts to throw the razor-sharp Tiemco hook to no avail and soon Nate has landed his first tarpon on the fly. Snap some pics and off it goes quickly before Mr. Shark decided to join us on the rocks for a cocktail!

So as night falls and the tarpon continue feeding at our feet, Nate and I take turns with the fly rod and we land a total of three more poons, once of which took its rightful place as my personal best and Nate was lucky enough to mark two more species (the tarpon and redfish) off his bucket list. We retire for the night not wanting to wear out the fish too much, and of course, allow them to continue to feed on their own uninterrupted.

Fly Fishing Tarpon into the night in the South Texas Coastal Bend

With the flower of sugar cane made into a welcoming beverage, we shed our saltwater soaked clothes and prepare a sandy dinner of steak and hot chili peppers on an open fire. We recount our experience from the evening and strategize ourselves into a stupor while we dance around the fire with Clutch for our evening tunes.

When we awoke the following morning we notice that the Winter Storm had not arrived and we begin preparing our gear to go knock on Mr. Tarpon’s door again. But just minutes later, gale force winds with gusts over 30+ knots set down on us hard and we move the truck into what little lee can be found on the beach and watch the sandstorm ensue. “There goes our morning fishing session” we say to each other.

By the afternoon we couldn’t stand to watch any longer with hopes of diminishing winds, we reluctantly venture out into the granite city of rocks and hope for the best even though the winds have not dropped below 20mph. Low and behold we find some tarpon still feeding and are able to land three more teenage tarpon and jump just as many more. Time to retire, day 2 seemed to take forever but ended so fast. The third day conditions had not improved and no sign of weather change coming in the future for day 4, we decide to fish the morning and head home late afternoon with little fuel and a luckily low tide to lick our wounds, regroup and try to target some other species a little more local to my house where fresh water showers and dry clothes await.

In retrospect it is always good to break a personal fish record and to do it on foot brings such enjoyment in our sport and why we do it regardless of the weather. We claw our way around exposed to elements regardless of how horrible the conditions are. Bearing our teeth and with true grit setting ourselves up for a single moment of excellence, or pure accidental catch, it is truly the fish themselves that makes our efforts worthwhile however invaluable the experiences are priceless. In any other case, our determination would be unnecessary and futile if the fish were not a more determined individual than we.

Early Morning Colors

As we head back to the airport to bid my fishing buddy farewell, comrades reflect, and we realize that our concrete passions are shared. Not only as mere mortals, hard-core sportsmen, personal conservationists and obsessive about the next time Mother Nature deals us some brutal fun but also filling us with vibrancy for life as we know it.

I’d rather not be in any other place than where my mind lives, my body resides and where flies are eaten eagerly by the next awesome creature that fills our thoughts by day and dreams by night.

Keeping the hooks sharp,

Captain Ken Jones

USCG OUPV-6 Licensed

361-500-2552

Port Aransas, Texas