April 10, 2026
Texas’ Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Volume 22, Issue 16
Filling the box Galveston Bay complex tough, but rewarding anglers By Cory Byrnes
For Lone Star Outdoor News
The 2026 alligator hunt in deep South Texas has resulted in a new record since the reptile was added to the game species list on national wildlife refuges. The 12.1-foot monster was caught on the last day of a two-day hunt held in early April. Justin Shafer and Steve Murphy caught the gator with a hook and line in a place called Alligator Pond at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. The pair of hunters went to the area about 8 a.m. Sunday and noticed the line was down. “We got the big one,” Murphy said. “It’s probably a 10- or a 12-footer.” They wrestled with the gator for
Despite strong winds, anglers are still finding a way to bring in fish on Galveston Bay. There are many places you can go within the Galveston Bay system to get out of the wind. The fishing in North Galveston and Trinity bays has been off and on as of late because of the tough weather conditions, according to Capt. David Rappelet with Bow to Stern Fishing Tours. “There are multiple challenges we are having right now. We have had wind, fluctuating water levels, rain, high salinity, and the fish migration has changed again this year,” he said. “It’s kind of good in some ways because now we are having a huge fluctuation of large trout moving back in like we did before. We are catching trout, reds, black drum, bull reds, and sheepshead and stuff like that. Reds have been the primary target right now.” He and his clients have been targeting rock walls with reefs and sandy bottoms. “There are some open reefs that are producing trout and reds,” Rappelet said. “The majority of easy catch will be around the rock structures and sandbars.” On an incoming tide, he targets 2- to 4-feet of water, and on an outgoing tide, he is looking for drop-offs between 2 and 15-feet of depth. “Any time the water is moving, I can put people on fish,” Rappelet said. “I exclusively use dead bait. My nickname is ‘Dead Bait Dave’ because I only use fresh dead bait.” He rigs his bait under a cork or with
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Steve Murphy and Justin Shafer stand next to the 12-plus foot alligator they took on a recent hunt on the Laguna Atascosa NWR. Photo by LANWR.
Monster in the marsh Spring gator hunt yields new record
By Tony Vindell
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Anglers are finding redfish back in coastal bay marshes on the south side of the Galveston Bay complex, out of the wind. Photo by Clay Sheward.
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Two for one Bass guide catches two 13 pounders in one day By Nate Skinner
Lawrence Lee caught two huge bass in the same day in late March on J.B. Thomas Reservoir. Photos from Lawrence Lee.
Bass fishing guide Lawrence Lee etched his name in the Texas’ trophy bass history books at the end of March when he successfully hooked
Grip & Grin . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 10 Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18
According to TPWD, this is the first time in the 40-year history of the program that two bass weighing 13 pounds or more have been caught on the same day by the same angler, and also the first time a single angler has registered three 13-pound bass in one season. Lee said he hit the lake early in the morning before sunrise and was fishPlease turn to page 11
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For Lone Star Outdoor News
and landed two largemouth bass weighing more than 13 pounds on the same day. This was just a little over two weeks after he caught another fish tipping the scales to 13-plus pounds. All three fish came from J.B. Thomas Reservoir and were entered and donated by Lee to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s trophy bass hatchery program.
HUNTING
FISHING
Hunting with hawk and hound (P. 4)
Drum beats (P. 6)
An ancient art in the modern world.
Inshore waters producing fish.
Sleep in (P. 4)
Devils playground (P. 6)
Toms easier to hunt mid-morning on.
Kayak fishing on the Devils River.