All Hail 2024!

We at TSFMag want to wish all our readers the happiest and most prosperous of New Years! Lots of things come to mind as a new year rolls in; some folks concoct elaborate lists of New Year’s resolutions. Why, I have no clue, because they almost all end up being forgotten in a few weeks.

I can, however, recommend a great resolution for this year, and that would be to make plans to fish somewhere on the Texas coast you have never tried before. Personally, I have set my sights on Sabine Lake. For whatever reason, and despite numerous invitations, I have yet to wet a line in these border waters. Oh, I’ve been all over Louisiana; why I never visited Sabine on the way over there is nothing to be proud of, and I plan to fix that.

So, which bay system will you resolve to fish this year? Have you been to the Lower Laguna? South Padre Island or Port Isabel could be the perfect setting for a family vacation. If you think it’s too far to drag your boat, hire a guide to take you and the kids for a half day, then spend the afternoon on Texas’ most beautiful beaches. There’s tons of things to do down there.

What about Baffin? Wouldn’t it be cool to land your personal best trout from one of those rock-studded shorelines? There was a time when fishing there was too remote for many to consider. No more! It’s hardly more than an hour boat ride nowadays from Corpus Christi, and there’s certainly plenty of family fun to be had there.

Your own list of new places to fish this year could be long or short; the point I’m trying to make is that you just need to do it. And make it a family trip. The kids will love you for it.

Moving along, even though it might seem I’ve been beating this to death, but…what may well be your last chance in a long time to help shape the future of Texas’ spotted seatrout fishery will become reality in a few weeks. The TPWD commission will meet January 24-25, 2024. In their meetings this past November they instructed Coastal Fisheries staff to hold public meetings in early January to inform the public of their intent to revise seatrout regulations to include a three fish bag limit with retention slot of 15-20-inches. I encourage all who are able to attend one of these meetings and provide input. You can also participate via email or their comment portal…either way your voice needs to be heard.

January is a great fishing month; be sure to take a youngster!