Corpusfishing.com

gulftrout · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 20 Aug 2007 Posts: 1629

Wanting to go fishing and with whitecaps rolling across Nueces, I decided to give the Laguna a try. First time launching at the ramp at the end of Yorktown. I really appreciated the protected ramp after getting beat up at the Nueces ramp from a howling north wind. I haven't fished the Laguna but a handful of times since guiding in the area in the late 80's. I started the afternoon near the intercoastal drifting a flat in 4' of water. I was throwing a 3 1/2" red with a white tail sassy shad with a 1/8 oz. bass assassin twist lock jig head. This is a lure I used to use 25 years ago minus the twist lock jig head.(there was no such jighead in the 80's) The fishing started off slow with no bites the first 30 minutes. I decided to pick-up and head for the intercoastal. While running along I smelled trout and noticed a slick upwind from where I was running. I changed coarse and got upwind of the slick a couple hundred yards, shut down and started my drift. After catching a couple throwback trout I got a solid hit. After a brief tug-of-war I landed a chunky 21" red. I continued my drift for another 10 minutes and with no more bites, I picked up and went around for another drift. Another 15 minute drift only two more throwbacks. After a late start it was now nearing 3 PM. Since i had supper in the box I decided to head back to the marina. While running along I noticed the clear water had turned a little sandy and there were a few birds milling around the area. I decided to shut down and give it one more try. First cast a small 12" trout followed by another and another. I was in the middle of a large school of tiny specks, some as small as 8 or 9 inches. After catching and releasing a couple dozen I stopped to take a look at the area. I was probably in 5 or 6' of water and noticed a quarter mile upwind of where I had started my drift, the water looked to be around 3'. I decided to give it one last try and started my drift in the shallower water. On my 4th or 5th cast I had a solid thump and set the hook. Right in front of the boat the water exploded with a nice trout throwing water in every direction. Suddenly my heart was pumping as I clumsily grabbing for the net. After a several tries I finally landed what was surely my best trout of this winter season. While fighting the fish I could tell it was a 25" plus speck for sure. After a quick double measure on my cooler top this one measured out at 28". When I looked for the lure all I could see was the jig head and this one was solidly hooked in the gills. I cut the line and since it was hooked in the gills I put it in the cooler and headed straight for the docks. Only two keepers, but with the looks of these two I think I will give the Laguna another try when old Nueces is churned up and I'm ready to go.