Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
September 9, 2022
Volume 19, Issue 2
Predictably unpredictable
Fish on the move
Chad Marler shows a bass he caught while fishing a deep, offshore stretch of water on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Photo from Chad Marler.
Anglers covering water for bass, crappie, stripers By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Summertime patterns seem to be lingering for a variety of species, as things slowly transition into fall. Depending on what body of water they have been fishing, anglers have been catching crappie, white bass, largemouth bass and stripers. Nearly all of the species have been spread out, and covering water has been the key. On Lake Palestine, guide Duwayne Benson said the crappie have been stacked up and suspended around brush piles and timber, anywhere from 5 to 15 feet below the surface. “Recently there have been more fish concentrating along the timber rather than on the brush piles,” Benson said. “They really are suspended up in the water column, regardless of how deep the water is.”
In one of Texas’ most anticipated annual traditions, dove hunters headed to the field on Sept. 1, with mixed results. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Dove opener good for some, others scratching their heads By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News The opener of dove season didn’t pan out as expected for many hunters. Season previews suggested looking for water, but in much of the state, water came naturally before (and after) Sept. 1. The rains caused birds to scatter and move, as usual. For some, the birds came into their hunting areas. For others, they left. “They were coming into the pond
to water, but now they can drink anywhere,” said bronco71 on the Texas Hunting Forum. Excellent reports came from the Panhandle, especially near Lubbock. At Dust Devil Outfitters, a large group of hunters in a milo field managed 350 birds. Red Eye Outfitters, also in Lubbock, reported a good start to the season as well. Near Wichita Falls, Joe Spurgin said there were plenty of whitewings to keep hunters busy. “We finished up in time for breakfast,” he said. Comanche County missed out on the heavy rains, but got a few inches before the opener, causing the birds
that were around to leave. Hunters bided time shooting skeet in the shade. Reports from Haskell area hunters and outfitters indicated more birds moved into the area after the rains and cool front. Outfitter Justin Hill said his bird numbers were on the rise, and Guy on the Texas Hunting Forum shared photos of his limit claiming he “scratched out” on opening morning. “Just trying to stay out of the mud,” he said. To the south and east near Throckmorton, the birds left one of the popular fields just before opening day. A few days earlier, more than 1,000 birds were hitting the wheat field. Then they were gone.
Please turn to page 19
Please turn to page 19
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Catching longliners By Craig Nyhus
Texas game wardens, aboard the Capt. Murchison, seized 45,000 feet of longline gear from illegal fishermen coming into U.S. waters from Mexico. Photo by Erich Schlegel, for Lone Star Outdoor News. Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10 Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 18 Saltwater Fishing Report . . Page 24 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 26 Datebook . . . . . . . . . Page 26
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
Lone Star Outdoor News Photographer Erich Schlegel accompanied Texas game wardens on the patrol boat Captain Murchison out of Port Isabel on Aug. 25. The crew found and hauled in miles of illegal longlines set by Mexican
fishermen, along with more than 250 red snapper. Capt. Wesley Groth heads the Marine Tactical Operations Group comprised of five full-time wardens. “Our main mission is to focus on illegal commercial fishing, port security and border security,” Groth Please turn to page 11
HUNTING
FISHING
New surveillance zone (P. 4)
King from the sand (P. 8)
Duval County area impacted.
Angler lands from the beach.
Mountain lion debate (P. 4)
Oyster license buyback (P. 8)
Working group to be formed.
Plans to start program.