April 12, 2024
Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Volume 20, Issue 16
Jake City Some North Zone hunters finding longbeards By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News A good south breeze was blowing as the North Zone turkey season opened April 1. That morning, runand-gun specialist Bruce Klingman fidgeted around his hunting camp waiting for the sky to break. “I don’t like to get out too early,” he said. “I like the birds to have a chance to fly down before I start hunting.” He drove his classic Jeep down to the bottom of his Shackelford County lease and stopped about a half-mile away from where he wanted to hunt. When he got to the spot in a pecan orchard, about a dozen hogs busted out on all sides, making a ton of noise. None too happy with the distractions, he made some turkey calls. Surprisingly, he got a hard gobble and within a few minutes, the blue
Micah Godwin landed this swordfish estimated at about 160 pounds while fishing out of Port Aransas. Photo by Capt. Blake Buell.
Deep water consistent
head of a male turkey could be seen coming through grass. Unfortunately, it was a jake, as were two more birds that were right behind him. Klingman laughed and called again, making them gobble right in front of him. “Let’s move,” he said. About 800 yards away, he had another call returned. This time, he decided to make a quick move toward the sound of the gobble. As he moved swiftly through the wet grass, he made several calls – each with a return gobble as the bird was coming to him as fast as he was going to it. A few minutes later, four more jakes emerged. Klingman called again, forcing them to gobble, and laughed. The jakes were 12 feet away. The rest of opening morning was pretty much the same. Klingman called in 13 birds, all jakes. Again, he made them gobble in front of him and laughed. “I guess I set my calls to jakes this year,” he said as he walked back to Please turn to page 7
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News The windows of opportunity for recreational anglers, charter boats, and party boats to safely navigate the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico have been few and far between recently. When short periods of calm seas have prevailed, catches of swordfish, tuna, wahoo, grouper, state water red snapper, vermilion snapper, and more have been consistent. Charter boat captain for Come and Take It Sport Fishing out of Port Aransas, Capt. Blake Buell, said the offshore action has been good when he’s been able to venture out into the Gulf. He said rock piles in about 55 feet of water within state waters south of Port A have Please turn to page 15
Scott Davis extends what friends call his “Santa beard” with a beard from his mature tom. Right, Davis and Cole Faris saw plenty of jakes, but harvested some big toms in Stonewall County. Photos by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Hybrids, stripers and sandies steady By Nate Skinner
Spring conditions and changing weather haven’t deterred the striped bass, hybrids and white bass from biting. Anglers and guides have managed to consistently stay hooked up as winds and temperatures have been varying from day to day.
Casey Laughlin, of Chums on the Water on Lake Tawakoni, said the hybrid striper action has been hit-or-miss lately, while the white bass bite has been consistent. “Every time we get a a cold front, the hybrids seem to get a little finicky,” Laughlin said. “Once the weather stabilizes, they have been easier to catch.”
The white bass have been holding tight to the bottom off ledges and main lake points in 18-25 feet of water. “Once you get a school fired up and start catching fish, the white bass will begin to pull up off of the bottom,” Laughlin said. “If I find a school tight to the bottom and can’t get them to start feeding pretty quickly, I will move on Please turn to page 17
Freshwater Fishing Report . . Page 10 Game Warden Blotter . . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 16 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 19 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 23
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Amanda Laughlin landed this hybrid striper while casting a swimbait under the birds on Lake Tawakoni. Photo by Casey Laughlin.
HUNTING
FISHING
Snows, specks see changes (P. 4)
Trout tags start Sept. 1 (P. 8)
Conservation Order to end.
One 28-plus inch fish per season.
Rollins honored (P. 5)
Coffee and flies (P. 8)
Quail HOF named after researcher.
New shop offers classes, cocktails.