Norman's Fishing Page
Normans Story
I have just arrived back from a sea fishing trip to Texas, USA. And yes, before you ask there is sea and beaches at Texas. Most people think of desert and cowboys when Texas is mentioned, but situated on the Gulf of Mexico it has the second longest coastline of any state in the USA (Alaska has the longest) but it does boast the longest barrier island in America.
Padre Island is over 200 miles long and most of it is accessible to four wheel drive vehicles 65 miles is controlled by the Texas national seashore, a small charge is made for vehicles driving along the shore. I was impressed that each vehicle was given a polythene sack with instructions to bring back more rubbish than you take. On returning a choice of 20 skips await the filled sacks.
Fishing this vast beach is unlike anything encountered before. Most vehicles are fitted with
GPS to pinpoint the many shipwrecks dotted along the coast and the deep channels that have been scoured out by hurricanes etc. I likened the fishing to driving on to the beach at Felixstowe making the first cast at Aldeburgh and finally settling for Yarmouth. No spot is fished for more than an hour even if the fishing is good the rods are set up on the front of the trucks so moving is quick and easy.
The range of fish available to be caught is vast and changing with the seasons.
Red Drum, a bit like a very fit Cod, but growing to over 40lb and speckled Sea Trout (are the most sought after from the beach.) The complete range of Sharks including Hammerhead, Mako, Tiger and Black Tips are often caught from the beach, although some anglers do kyak the baits out to deeper water for the larger species. Grouper, Tarpon, Snappers and even Flounders and Whiting are available. The Founders have mean teeth and grow well into double figures, and the Whiting are like our Grayling with a 2lb fish a good one but along with Pompano these make up the bulk of the catch that are taken for eating during the winter months.
Sport fishing is a major contributor to the economy of Texas and to the USA, a recent survey reckons that 70% of Texans own a fishing rod and that statistic includes women. Every angler must have a fishing licence this costs about $40.00 per year, this is not just another tax and the money collected is used to look after and improve the fishing. Massive amounts of fish are reared and released into the sea for the sport fishing industry. And with a 20-mile exclusion zone for most commercial fishing these efforts have had a noticeable effect.
Unlike our government, the Americans recognise the importance of angling. Nobody wants to upset 70% of the voters, because of this strong angling lobby; Gill netting (the world's biggest indiscriminate killer of fish and birds) was made illegal. Even so much was still taking place because of the difficulty in policing the law. A temporary stamp was included within the licence to pay for the fishery protection teams that eventually eradicated this method of fishing. As with our fishing industry a strong black market was formed for illegally caught fish so the protection teams targeted restaurants etc anyone found with fish that had not been purchased through legitimate sources found the fish confiscated and large fines imposed. Once the Gillnetting had ceased, licences to catch shrimps were purchased back from the fleets of boats that caught huge amounts of these, for the worlds markets. Without this major food source fish are not sustainable (as our anglers found out with the slaughter of sandells for fish meal the sea trout and Salmon have become close to extinction). The netting and commercial fishing is very strongly controlled as to not effect the sport fishing.
Anglers are also controlled with bag and size limits for most fish, called a slot, smaller and larger fish are to be returned with only 2 oversize red Drum to be taken per year 1 tag is included with the licence. If you use it they will replace it once in any year. Oversize fish must be tagged when stopped, we caught 2 oversize fish on the first day, with the best at 24lb its lovely to see these fish being returned unhurt to the sea, with only a photo for memories.
As an angler and tackle dealer for over 35 years I can appreciate the efforts that have taken place on behalf of anglers in Texas. Millions of tons of raw sewerage are not dumped into their seas every day their beaches are also not contaminated with angler's rubbish.
Fishery aircraft continually patrol the territorial waters and wardens patrol the beaches checking licences and catches, it's every American's given right to hunt and to fish, they don't abuse this right but they are proud of it, and will do whatever is needed to protect it.
Stock up before you go Visit our on-line fishing tackle website