< Previous90 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 HOOKED MARSH MADNESS In autumn, the action moves to shallow back lakes where baitfish swarm story and photos by CAPT. NATE SKINNER W ith the ninth month of the year upon us, summertime is quickly coming to an end. Temperatures might not be very indicative of that right now, but soon, cooler breezes will arrive with fall cold fronts. As we await the arrival of more moderate conditions, life below the surface of our estuarine waters already has started its autumn transition. And this transition begins in the marsh. The shallow waters of back lakes and marshes are teeming with action in September. Mullet, shad and other baitfish swarm these protected areas. Shrimp, blue crabs and other crustaceans follow suit. So, it’s no secret why hordes of redfish are stacked up in the marshes this time of year. The table is set before them, and they will take advantage of this until frontal systems push tide levels out, causing their buffet of food options to vacate the shallows. In addition to redfish, speckled trout and flounder can be found feeding in the marshes, alongside black drum and sheepshead. The sheer amount of redfish, however, may make catching these other species a little more difficult. In the Galveston Bay complex, some of the most produc- tive stretches of back bay marshes are in Swan Lake, Greens Lake, along Bolivar Peninsula and inside of Baffle Point. Areas off Chocolate and Bastrop bayous also are good op- tions, as well as many of the satellite lakes farther south that surround the Brazos and San Bernard River watersheds. On the north side of Sabine Lake, the marsh fishing op- tions off the Neches and Sabine rivers are plentiful as well. The key to catching fish in the marsh is locating their food. The highest concentrations of redfish and other species are going to be wherever the largest quantities of baitfish and crustaceans are.Points and broken shorelines are key areas to focus on when scouring the marshes and back lakes for hungry fish.92 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 HOOKED That said, anglers should try to avoid wasting their time along stretches of water that are void of any activity. If you’re not seeing swarms of mullet, shad or shrimp across the surface, then you should probably keep covering water until you find an area with more life. Two key structures should be focused on while scouring the marshes and back lakes in search of fish, and those are points and oyster shell. Anywhere there’s a point jutting out of the main bank or shoreline is a potential hotspot. Redfish and other species use the water surrounding points as a staging area to strike, and just about any point in a back lake that’s been holding fish is worth casting around. Likewise, some of the best places in the marsh to catch piles of fish surround small oys- ter shell reefs. These reefs may be as small as your dinner table. They attract baitfish and crus- taceans, and predatory species like redfish use them as ambush points to attack their prey. Other features in the marsh worth focusing on include broken banks or shorelines and islands. These areas tend to hold more fish than long, unbroken and straight banks or shorelines, because they allow for a stronger, increased flow of water around them. When exploring a new back lake or marsh for the first time, anglers can be more efficient by fishing only areas with the features mentioned above. With today’s technology, you can come up with a pro- ductive game plan to do this before you ever hit the water by exploring the area you are planning to target using satel- lite images on Google Earth or Google Maps. The imagery will show you exactly where the shallowest areas are, where any shell reefs may lie, and where the most points, broken shorelines and islands can be found. When you’re actually on the water, you’ll already have an idea of where to start your search for redfish and other species. This practice will save you a lot of time and will increase your productivity. September means it’s time to get to the marsh for plenty of rod-bending action. (Opposite) Shallow running crankbaits, such as the Bill Lewis SB-57, are dynamite for redfish when fished over areas with heavy oyster shell in the marsh. Capt. Nate Skinner shows off a hefty, upper slot red that he fooled on the SB-57 in a Galveston Bay back lake. COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 93 409-632-0388 • www.artistboat.org Eco-Art Kayak Adventures Awarded Best Guided Water Tour Paddle your cares away as you transform your mindset from everyday humdrum to Coastal Adventure with a tour led by artist and scientists. Ages 7 and older Tours are held Saturdays & Sunday from March until December annually on Galveston Island Edward & Helen Oppenheimer Bird Observatory Join us for Unique Coastal Experiences. Open 7 days a week year-round Visit a truly peaceful awe-inspiring place and experience the last of the great wilds on Galveston Island Wildlife viewing platform and 1/2 mile trail 13102 Stewart Road, Galveston, TX 77554 My favorite bait presentations while fishing the marsh include topwater baits, shallow-run- ning crankbaits, spinnerbaits and gold spoons. The majority of the time, I will stick with a topwater plug. However, spinnerbaits and gold spoons are great for sight casting or for simply covering water, and a shallow diving crankbait is dynamite in areas with a lot of shell. The best part about fishing the marsh is that just about any shallow-draft craft can get you there. Kayaks, jon boats, shallow-draft bay boats and mud boats all are excellent options. And some areas are even ac- cessible to those limited to their vehicle and their own two legs. Public access to many back lake areas provide land-based anglers with the opportunity to find a nearby parking spot, where they can then walk and wade into the marsh. The shallows are full of excitement right now, and your next memorable day on the water awaits. All you have to do is get to the marsh. 94 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 The Knights of Momus held its annual King’s Affair on July 30 at the 1880 Garten Verein in Galveston. The Mardi Gras krewe announced its 2023 duchesses and past kings. The theme this year was A Knight’s Affair. Guests donned their loveliest white attire to dance the evening away. Appetizers and libations flowed freely. Photos by Carla Peoples KNIGHTS OF MOMUS KING’S AFFAIR PARTY PICS PICTURED: 1. Johnny and Nicki Smecca with Kim, Trent and Fred Raschke. 2. Diane and Fred Burns with Dancie and Jim Ware. 3. Jackie and Marty Fluke with Hayley and Jason Hardcastle. 4. Kevin and Erin Teichman. 5. Jessica and Hal Rochkind. 6. Mary Margaret Buzbee, Frances Moody Buzbee, Tony Buzbee and Liz Buzbee. 7. Austin Botello, Allie Aldape, Matthew and Michele Hay. 8. Armin and Gail Cantini with Judy Breitenbach and Jerry Feld. 9. Larry and Karen Gillaspia. 10. Ken and Elizabeth Theut. 1 2 3 4 5 678 9 10 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 95 STUDIO & GALLERY LLC GAYLE and REX REYNOLDS Oil & Watercolors • Pottery • Sculptures • Wooden Dories • Adirondack 1302 21st Street at Avenue M Open Thursday - Friday - Saturday 409.762.1925 • www.GalvestonWatersEdge.com “A Grand Galveston House” by Gayle Reynolds K a r a t C r ea ti o n s J e w e l r y Bonnie Baty • Georgia Barzilay 811 6th Street • Texas City • 409-945-9999 The BEST food… … is eaten with your fingers!96 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 The bryan Museum in Galveston hosted a special opening reception July 22 for its Of birds and Texas exhibition. Museum members and invited guests enjoyed complimentary drinks, light hors d’oeuvres and views of the newest gallery exhibition featuring 40 framed lithographs of watercolors by two of Texas’ most distinguished artists in ornithological renderings — Stuart and Scott Gentling. The exhibit is open through Oct. 16. Photos by Carla Peoples THE BRYAN MUSEUM EXHIBITION OPENING PARTY PICS PICTURED: 1. Bets Anderson and Sandra Sullivan. 2. Barbara and Jonathan Frank. 3. Susannah Brown, D’Lisa Johnston and John Johnston. 4. Stacey Naschke Cole, Mary Jo Naschke and Marcie Blangiardo. 5. David and Kristin Finklea. 6. Tony Alves and Julie Ann Brown. 7. Pam and Bob Leibrock. 8. Brynn and Garrett Gray. 9. Ellen Whaley, Blair Alexander and Kristi Guilbeaux. 12 3 65 4 9 87 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 97 2115 Strand | Open Daily 409.762.7400 Strand Brass No Harsh Chemicals • Skin Nourishing Plant Oil Handmade in the USA The City of Texas City is hosting Touch a Truck October 22, 2022 on 6th Street from 10 am - 4 pm This event allows children of all ages to touch and explore different types of vehicles. +PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY +AERIAL/DRONE IMAGERY +STAGING CONSULTATION +MARKET VALUATION Find Your Galveston LIST WITH THE BEST! We represent Galveston’s best & brightest properties. In addition to our bold marketing strategies, we provide the following complimentary services for every listing: TheGalvestonRealtor.com 2417 Strand Street • Galveston TX 409.354.6456 Brian@TomsGalvestonRealEstate.com THE GALVESTON REALTOR98 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 At its July mixer, the Galveston regional Chamber of Commerce honored The Galveston County Daily News — Texas’ oldest newspaper and the chamber’s oldest member. More than 150 guests attended the event on July 21 hosted by The Lasker Inn b&b and event Venue. In addition to celebrating the newspaper’s 180th anniversary, the event recognized the young professionals voted to The Daily News 40 Under 40 Class of 2022. Photos by Carla Peoples DAILY NEWS 180 CHAMBER MIXER PARTY PICS PICTURED: 1. Ca-Lishea Woods, Debby Stanton, William Winkler, The Daily News Editor Michael A. Smith, Coast Monthly Editor Laura Elder and Armin Cantini. 2. Kelsey, Robbie, Lisa and Caitlin Carnes, a 40 Under 40 honoree. 3. Brenda Lee, center, with 40 Under 40 honorees Jeremy Brown and J.R. Shaw. 4. Bill Hopkins and Kay Davis. 5. The Daily News Publisher Leonard Woolsey and his wife, Maryrine. 6. Madilyn Pyles, Jill Chapman, Maureen Beans, Kristi Neal, Laura Lee, Vonda Tackett and Nancy Foreman. 7. Carrie Bennett, Joel Swisher, 40 Under 40 honoree Letrina Swisher and Virginia Walker. 8. 40 Under 40 honorees Mackenzie Finklea and Aja Cormier with Ashley Hart. 9. Linda Denson and Chantelle Cormier. 10. 40 Under 40 honoree Jeff Ossenkop and Heidi Calhoun. 12 543 67 1098 COASTMONTHLY.COM | SepTeMber 2022 99 Relax.... We Have You Covered!! Family Owned And Operated Homeowners • Rental • Auto Commercial & Industrial We Insure It All!! 601 9th Avenue North, Suite #200, Texas City 281.910.4128 (O & C) 832.866.1666 (C) www.facebook.com/MainlandinsuranceagencyNext >