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From Port Mansfield to East Matagorda Bay
“You want to head down to Mansfield for a few days?” Two hours after my buddy said the words we were loaded up rolling southbound. Without even the slightest clue where we were going to sleep, thoughts of arm-length trout danced in our heads.
Port Mansfield looked like a ghost town. It didn’t appear the same compared to my summer visits. It became apparent we were in the heart of Sportsmen’s paradise when we witnessed Boone and Crocket bucks busting racks in the middle of town and wild nilgai covering the country side.
While driving through town looking for a place to stay, a 12 point buck boasting two drop tines caught our eye. Without many affordable options, we resorted to an empty, little blue motel on the corner that offered hospitality 30 bucks each for the night.
With the first sight of dawn in the distance, we launched my fourteen and half foot, Chiquita scooter in Port Mansfield’s harbor without the first sight of another fisherman.
Within five minutes, the boat was anchored. Two casts later, Garrett set the hook on a solid speckled trout using a pearl Corky Fatboy. The morning was silent except for the abundant trout and redfish that shuddered saltwater at the surface. Mid morning arrived and stringers full of bounty proved fishing was better than expected.
A nap and quick lunch prepared us for an afternoon expedition for trophy specks. Immediately upon arrival at our morning trout hole, my buddy hammered fish in waist deep water using the same slow-sinking Corky. I waded shallow onto a shin deep flat where I noticed two does moving fast down the shoreline from a pursuing buck.
My attention was brought back to the fishing when an explosive blowup submerged my Super Spook. A 28 inch yellow mouth arrived at my side. Garrett quickly left the consistent keepers he located in waist deep water and joined me in the shallows to soon release a 25 incher of his own.
An evening of sharing fish tales and tactics with local guide, Captain Mike Mcbride and his wife Captain Tricia was equally enjoyable. Captain Mike joined us in the morning to release countless specks to 23 inches.
Friday found me back in East Matagorda Bay wading thick mud for trophies. A pink and white Super Spook failed to better my expectations for what I thought would be just another winter grind. Mid-wade, my buddy shouted and a glance revealed immense headshakes and stripping line. With the moon falling faster towards the horizon, a thirty and a quarter inch trout, Garrett’s personal best, surrendered. Another two hours later, a 28, three 25’s and a handful of 23-24 inchers were caught and quickly released. A combination of chartreuse backed, white bellied, green sided Corky Fatboys provided the attacks. Needless to say, my new Boga Grip fresh from the racks of Fishing Tackle Unlimited was broke in that day. Just when we thought the week couldn’t get any better, releases of a 26, two 25’s, and quality redfish during the following morning ended my fishing for the week.
I have begun to add Jason Brown's new line of soft plastic lures to my tackle box! The high quality and attracting look of the eyes offer excellent hopes for great numbers of specks and reds. I look forward to tossing the Brown Devil Eyes throughout the rest of winter, across the flats in spring, and over the grass flats I'll be fishing this summer.
From Port Mansfield to East Matagorda Bay, it was truly an excellent week of fishing to call an end to an awesome Christmas break.
-Kyle Tomek
kyletomek@hotmail.com
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