29 Degrees Outside - January 31, 2009

My good friend KW offered to take me fishing East Matagorda bay along with with his boss, DM . I quickly accepted as this is one of my favorite bays and the optimal time of the year to fish it. After arriving at Sargent at just after 5AM, the thermometer read "29" for the outside temperature. After a couple of quick turns we arrived at the launch and the thermometer read "34". But the water temperature will be in the low 50's. Well then, let's go fishing!

After navigating the Intercoastal through dense fog (thank the Lord for GPS) we popped out in the bay and proceeded to the chosen spot. The forecast called for light WNW winds and the conditions were true to the forecast. We waded to the targeted area and worked our way East. The water temperature was 51 degrees and the spot had a great mix of shell, mud and varying depths, but was gin clear with no evidence of bait. After fishing the spot for 45 minutes and watching a beautiful sunrise, we decided to make a move to find water that was a bit cloudier.

The water temperature at the second spot was 52 degrees. It featured a sandy bottom with a thin layer of silt and mud, but the water was off color and the depth was about three feet. After looking at it, we decided to wade it as it was just past 8AM and the sun was warming the top of the water. After 15 minutes or so, KW had a short-strike on his Corky in Silver/Chartreuse. Ten minutes later I felt the 'thwock' of a trout striking my regular Corky in Pinkback/Pearl. I measured her against my rod and weighed her on the boga grip. Perfect - a 22 inch, 3.5 pound female trout for supper tonight.

While stringing my fish, I caught sight of Ken fighting a good size trout. After playing the fish, he netted and strung her. This was a better fish, measuring 24.5 inches and weighing 4.5 pounds. DM switched from a tout to a Speckled Clear/Chartreuse Corky Fatboy. We continued the wade for another hour and a half drawing only two other short strikes.

We tried one additional spot and fished it for another hour and a half without a strike. KW and DM took the inside and fished in two feet of water. I fished the outside in three and a half foot of water. The bottom was very similar to the second spot. I had fished this same area a year ago and had found a transition from sand to mud in four and a half foot of water with the trout hanging over the mud. Of course, that was before Ike so who knows what type of bottom and contour is really there. Today was a great day on the water and I am grateful to my friend KW for taking me fishing.

Conditions: 2-3 knot WNW wind, pressure of 30.13 in between fronts. Sunny skies with water varying between gin clear and partly sandy. - Water temp: 51-52

Nautical Twilight 6:17 am
Civil Twilight 6:45 am
Sunrise 7:10 am
Moon Rise 09:56 am
Sunset 5:58 pm
Twilight 6:23 pm
Nautical Twilight 6:52 pm
Moon Set 11:14 pm
Main High Tide 6:07 pm 1.0 ft

MainLow Tide 11:34 am .38 ft
Second High 6:24 pm 0.94 f
Second Low 10:20 9m 0.82 ft
Inshore Fishing Forecast 6

2009 A. M. P. M. SUN TIME MOON MOON IS
Jan Minor Major Minor Major Rise Set Rises Sets Up Down
31 Sat 8:57 2:46 9:19 3:08 7:08 5:58 9:56a 11:09p 4:24p 4:10a
Major=2 hours/Minor=1 hour

Moon Phase(0.18%)
Fish caught: Trout
Baits: Corky Fatboy in Morning Glory, Corky Fatboy in Silver/Chartreuse, Regular Corky in Pinkback/Pearl

Currently Reading: The Shack by William Paul Young