Cold Days on the Rocks

So we’ve had some winter weather but nothing too drastic. Wintertime fishing patterns have become fairly well established and the month of February holds plenty of opportunity for anglers that are willing to brave some wind and occasional chilly days. Most are looking to hang a trout of a lifetime and right now is a perfect time to do so. However, if you are into catching big fish, I’m talking really big fish, your nearest jetty is a prime place to hang into a monster.

When most Texas fishermen think of jetty fishing their thoughts run toward calm summer mornings throwing topwaters or live shrimp under popping corks along the rocks and catching mostly schooling trout and a few reds. This is no doubt one of the best times to be there and I am sure that we all have memories of days with steady action that seemed almost unreal. I certainly do, and in fact I even have a painting from famous Texas artist David Drinkard where he portrays a summer day of fishing on the Sabine Jetties.

Summertime may be great on the rocks but what is rarely ever talked about is fishing them during the winter and other cooler months. No, you are not likely to box limits of trout during this time but when conditions are right, the bull reds will move in and can make for another type of memorable day.

Looking for bull reds on the rocks during winter can become rather tedious at times. The problem with it is that there are a lot of rocks and not so many signs of bull reds being present. However, there are a few things that I have learned that will increase your chances of finding them.

One of the major factors for finding and catching bull reds on the rocks during winter is having the right tide. To be truthful, this is one of the few times of the year that I really pay attention to the tides. I have found that the incoming tide seems to really make all the difference and will sometimes put these fish in a frenzy. I believe that a good portion of this is because of warmer water being delivered through the jetties from the gulf. The other important factor is bait being swept along with the fast-moving incoming flow. Days with stronger incoming flows naturally work the best. Once you get the water moving you will want to focus on areas where the water is flowing strongest across the rocks. This can either come from low points in the rocks or cracks and crevices that connect the gulf side to the inlet. Regardless of location, anglers should target the areas with the strongest flow.

I like to keep lure selection as simple as possible. I will keep a 6th Sense crankbait on one rod; usually one that runs to a depth of 2- to 4-feet. From my experience 6th Sense has the strongest hooks right out of the box compared to any other brand of crankbait, and landing redfish of 40-plus-inches reliably certainly calls for strong hooks. Also, crankbaits are very good for bouncing off rocks and not getting hung up.

On a second rod I will typically have a 4” GULP Shrimp (white), Texas-rigged with a 5/0 offset worm hook and 1/2-ounce bullet weight. This presentation allows me to hide the tip of my hook in the bait and keeps hangups to a minimum.

The name of the game is to be in the rocks as much as possible without getting hung up. If you are worrying about losing your lure you probably aren’t casting close enough. Don’t worry though, these presentations usually do a good job of preventing hangups. The way I prefer to target the rocks is to make plenty of casts into the current while continually moving forward. Cover lots of water!

Once you get a bite and land a fish, mark the location on your GPS-Depth Finder or make a mental note if a landmark you can return to is available along the wall. Quite often we find that these fish will congregate along certain features or stretches of rocks and returning to the spot can yield more bites. However, be aware that there are times that one bite will quickly turn into two or more, and the next thing you know you are completely worn out.

When everything comes together on the rocks the fishing can be just stupid good. I recall one evening a few years ago that I met my buddies out there and I was alone in my boat. I trolled maybe 50 yards before I caught my first fish, and then caught at least 20 more on as many casts. The best part was they were all 30” and up. It will completely wear you out at times but can also be so much fun!

Winter has finally settled in and warmer days are not too far ahead. When the weather is right the fishing can be spectacular if you are willing to get out there and go. If you do, please be mindful of the weather and stay dry while out on the water. Never pass the chance to swing by your local rocks and see if you can’t find some bigger fish to put in the boat.