BLISStering Chaos

As we turn the calendar from 2024 to 2025, anglers begin a new annual campaign. In the coming weeks we're likely to endure the coldest and most bitter conditions of the year. Typically, January mornings start out brisk; some days the air feels cold enough to chill us to the bones.

Some outdoor enthusiasts have changed their focus to hunting deer and ducks, but for anglers who aren't bothered by the cold, this season fills us with a sense of adventure. Brutal, harsh conditions pump us full of excitement. The bleak elements bring a unique brand of beauty to our adventures and create scenarios which have rich potential for rewards.

Cooler surf temperatures potentially provide some fast action, particular for species highly regarded for their quality as table fare. Redfish, both slot and oversize, black drum and pompano inhabit the winter surf in great numbers. This seasonal change also brings in our largest wintertime predator—the sandbar shark.

When and if north winds get strong enough and turn the temperatures blisteringly cold, the trophy trout game kicks in on the back side of the barrier islands. With my charter schedule more relaxed during winter I'm able to enjoy some adventures on my own. Whether I'm stalking pompano from the beachfront sand or wading chest-deep in frigid inshore waters, I find a way to catch some thrills during the year's coldest month.

The tasty Florida pompano definitely capture the attention of many winter anglers that frequent the Texas surf. While not the largest fish in the sea, our pomps rank high on the list of most tasty. On some bluebird winter days the pompano run the coastline shallows in incredible numbers.

Since the state places no regulations on this species it's quite possible some days to fill an ice chest with fresh fish. Simply making long casts with peeled shrimp and/or Fish-Bites into the deeper guts usually proves effective for targeting them. On the more remarkable days, small groups of us have landed more than a hundred.

There are many ways to cook and preserve pompano. Many people like to smoke the fillets and vacuum seal them for freezing. I also wrap them in bacon and broil them whole in the oven. The succulent white flesh of a pompano reacts well to many cooking methods and a variety of seasonings. In deference to this oceanic treasure, we should all harvest responsibly, keeping only what we really need and using all that we keep.

Another tasty fish also adapts well to the cold temperatures in the surf. It seems the lower the mercury drops, the more active the black drum become. Drum of all sizes will be quick to suck down a shrimp, which makes them easy to target.The cold also stirs the appetite of red drum that can often be very abundant in the shallows along the Texas beachfronts during winter.

Red drum can be seen cruising the surf in great numbers this time of year, presenting us with the chance to encounter the largest bulls we'll see all year. On the best days, we get into numbers of oversized redfish, measuring more than 40 inches in length, and we fight them until our arms ache. I prefer using a large half-whiting for bait when targeting the bulls. A large mullet would also be ideal, but until February 1st, the use of mullet longer than 12 inches cannot be used as bait. I typically cast my mullet and/or whiting baits out impaled on 9/0 hooks. My leader of choice is the Catchsharks.com Drum Master leader.

The wintertime Texas surf can also provide productive shark fishing opportunity. Come December, many of our toothy creatures have moved farther out to sea, but when they go, our sandbar sharks move right in. Sandbars can be likened to blacktips on steroids. They have a menacing set of jaws similar to the famous bull shark, but with a broad, triangular dorsal fin. These sharks max out at roughly seven and a half feet, though a few larger ones have been caught.

While smaller than the majestic tiger shark, these predators are feisty and energetic. On the sand they can be extremely animated and flexible , so they must be handled with extreme caution. Deploying a fresh bait beyond the second or third breaker provides the best chance for an encounter with one of these frisky monster, who love to eat whiting, pompano and sheepshead.Importantly, Sandbar sharks are federally protected and therefore must all be released.

When surf temp dips in the mid-50s or colder, the bulk of the fish move to deeper water, slowing the action along the beachfront. On these occasions, fishing in the bays is a better idea. On some of the coldest days of the year, I launch my kayak to fish various spots where deep water lies close to shorelines. I sometimes beach the kayak and spend up to ten hours a day wading in pursuit of trophy trout. Few thrills compare with hooking and landing 30-inch specks in cold water.

This time of year, while most folks stay home cuddled in a cozy bed, I catch my Texas slam many times over. With a restless soul and an adventurous nature, I feel most at home when I'm trying to catch something. I've been this way for as long as I can remember.The Texas saltwater fishing scene is a true gem. Statewide, we have wildly disparate seasons and habitats.

Our brutally hot, humid, triple-digit summer days present a particular set of fishing opportunities.Then, the cold winter bliss changes things significantly, offering other fishing opportunities to pursue. After mighty cold fronts push through, the calm that follows provides some of the best fishing of all. My winter beach charters are an absolute blast for anglers of all ages. Anyone interested in fighting an acrobatic Sandbar shark or getting a photo with a giant bull red before a healthy release should book a trip soon.