Record-sized fish expected from smaller lakes
Anglers report trophies
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is on the lookout for
trophy-sized largemouth black bass.
Fishermen who catch bass 10 pounds or larger are asked to
report their catch to the department via its statewide toll-free
number, 1-800-252-9327.
This is not just idle curiosity by the department, said inland
fisheries management coordinator Bob Bounds, but rather an at
tempt to monitor the progress of the Florida strain of largemouths,
which are growing to trophy size and being caught with regularity
from a number of Texas lakes.
He said so many Floridas in the 10- to 12-pound range are being
caught that optimism is growing among the ranks of state biologists
that the long-standing record for largemouth bass of 13 pounds,
eight ounces will fall this year.
The confirmed report of a 12-pound, four-ounce Florida bass
caught from Lake Monticello in East Texas last month added fuel to
the fire.
This is the largest Florida bass caught in Texas so far, Bounds
said, and its presence lends credence to the speculation that there
are probably others in Texas lakes which could surpass the magic
13-pound, eight-ounce mark.
The fisherman who reports a 10-pound-plus bass will receive, in
addition to the adulation of his peers, a “Big Fish Award” certificate
issued by the department.
Bounds said a fisherman who catches a large 10-pound-plus
bass should go to the nearest certified scale and weigh the fish in
the presence of two disinterested witnesses. Then, he or she
should contact the department either through the toll-free telephone
line or a local department fisheries biologist or field office. The fish
may be gutted, but should be preserved with the head and scales
on for identification.
“It’s very difficult to tell the difference between a Florida bass and
one of our native bass,” Bounds noted, “but if a fisherman will notify
us of his trophy catch, we will send a biologist to identify it.”
The Big Fish Awards are given to fishermen who catch one of 15
eligible species of fish, as long as that fish is heavier than the
minimum weight set for that species.
The species and minimum weights are: spotted seatrout, seven
pounds; redfish (from the Gulf) 25 pounds, (from the bay) 10
pounds; black drum, 35 pounds; southern flounder, six pounds;
largemouth bass, seven pounds; crappie, three pounds; white
bass, three pounds; striped bass, 15 pounds; striped/white bass
hybrid, six pounds; channel catfish, 12 pounds; blue catfish, 35
pounds; flathead catfish, 50 pounds; walleye, six pounds; and rain
bow and brown trout, two pounds.
Application forms may be obtained by writing to Big Fish Award
Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School
Road, Austin, TX, 78744.
mmMiiy aoout taking up the sport, may
ing where to try their luck in 1979.
Although fishing success in a state as large as
Texas depends on a myriad of factors, here are
some general tips on the state’s major fresh and
saltwater sport fishes, and where to find them.
FRESHWATER
Freshwater fishermen in Texas have plenty to
look forward to in 1979, not only from the traditional
native species such as largemouth bass, but also
from the rapidly growing non-native fish stock.
Stockings of the Florida largemouth strain have re
sulted in a number of catches of 10-plus-pounders,
and there is widespread speculation that the 35-
year-old state record of 13 pounds, eight ounces will
fall some time in 1979.
But don’t look for the new record to come out of
traditional hotspots Sam Rayburn of Toledo Bend.
These two lakes are still nationally prominent for
bass fishing, but now they appear to be good pro
ducers of medium-sized fish rather than the trophy
variety.
Instead, get out a Texas map and find some
smaller lakes like Blundell, Palestine, Murvaul, Lake
O’ the Pines, Conroe, Calaveras, Monticello, Welsh,
Braunig or Medina. These are the true trophy bass
hotspots, and one reason these smaller impound
ments are producing ever-larger lunkers is the
Florida bass introduction program. Both “pure”
Floridas and hybrid native/Florida bass are turning
up in these small lakes in the eight- to 10-pound
range, and Texas fishery experts feel that the
state’s trophy bass picture is on the verge of a
“California”-type boom, with the Floridas’ superior
growing ability helping rewrite the record book.
A state record also is anticipated for smallmouth
bass, which have been stocked in a number of lakes
and rivers. The record is currently “open,” awaiting
a fish of at least four pounds to qualify for the record
book. The record fish will probably come from Lake
Meredith in the Panhandle, the Guadalupe River
below Canyon Reservoir near San Antonio, or from
Canyon reservoir itself.
Striped bass fishing has truly exploded in Texas,
with heavy strings being taken consistently from
lakes Texoma, Whitney, Spence, Toledo Bend and
Amistad. The current state record striper of 30
pounds, six ounces was taken from Toledo Bend,
but a bigger one doubtless will be caught in 1979,
and it could come from any of the above-mentioned
lakes.
are taking hold in Texas. Lake Meredith has pro
duced two state records over 10 pounds, and a
number of other lakes are producing “keeper” wal
leye after a relatively recent stocking program.
These include Canyon, Lake Nasworthy near San
Angelo, Stillhouse Hollow and Belton in Central
Texas, Ray Hubbard near Dallas and Sam Rayburn
in East Texas.
Springtime fishermen in Texas should try the
white bass fishing in the Trinity River above Lake
Livingston and the Colorado River above Buchanan
Reservoir during the annual spawning run, and also
tailrace areas below the “Highland Lakes" chain
which includes lakes Buchanan, Inks, Marble Falls,
LBJ amd Travis. The Brazos River system around
Lake Granbury and Lake Whitney is also good.
Catfish fishing is good throughout Texas, but in
particular anglers who go to Toledo Bend or Sam
Rayburn after bass would do well to do some cat
fishing as well since those are two of the best catfish
lakes. Lake Livingston and Lake Corpus Christ! also
score high as catfish holes.
SALTWATER
Bay fishing for the two most popular species —
speckled trout and redfish — has been on the de
cline in recent years, but 1979 may see an upswing,
particularly for reds.
All the major bays should have a good population
of five- to seven-pound reds by this spring. Fall is
the best time to pursue the Gulf Coast redfish, how
ever, because of less wind and clearer water.
For trout, Galveston Bay appears to be picking up
in catches of small trout, but Aransas, Matagorda
and San Antonio bays are showing low populations.
Trout fishing is a year-round activity on the Texas
coast.
One bright spot is the flounder situation, which is
looking great coastwide. The top flounder spots may
be Port Mansfield and Port O’Connor. Flounder fish
ing is best from the warm months through the early
heavy “northers” in November and December.
Offshore, billfish appear to have declined in the
past decade, although more broadbilled swordfish
were brought in during 1978 than usual. This is at
tributed more to increased pressure and improved
fishing techniques, namely night fishing with illumi
nated lures.
Kingfishing should be good out of Port Aransas
and Port Arthur, from the 50-mile line outward, and
reef fishing also is consistently good around oil rigs,
with amberjack and jewfish being the top species.
Snapper fishing will be fair to good from all indica-
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