Fishing Report: Port Mansfield TX - August 2011

Fishing still continues to be awesome in Port Mansfield, and even further south.  August has many of us wondering why the big trout are still around and why we are still catching them on a regular basis.  August had us with at least 10 trout over 28 inches confirmed and all but one were released.  We had many more over the 25 inch class and one 31 ¼ incher that made the big fish mark for August.  

The tides are low, winds are down and the fish have been easy to target for the most part.  As of lately if I’m not in ankle deep water looking for big fish and sight casting I’m out on a ledge or point fishing SLOW on the bottom or over isolated grass beds.  The fish have simply just “picked” up the lure and when you move your rod you feel a weight, which is usually a fish and most of the time it’s a nice trout.  Not to mention the occasional flounder.  

As a matter of fact on a recent trip with a good friend and local guide we had the opportunity of sharing a trip with a group of DEA guys.  We had nine flounder in the boat, in addition to the ones I personally released.  (90% of the time I release flounder hoping the “Flounder Gods” will shine on me during a tournament as they are typically the “money” fish of any tournament)

Reds have still been hit or miss and quite frankly mostly miss, but if you work hard you’ll get a few.   I’ve been throwing Kelley Wigglers Ball Tail Shads in the Sand, and new Moonbeam color in clear water and Plum Blue Metal Flake/Chart tip in green or semi-off colored water.  I’m sold on our 1/8 oz black nickel 2/0 hook especially for the Ball Tails and we are in the process of a 1/8 oz 30 degree 3/0 black nickel hook that will be deadly with the 4 inch paddle tail.  We’ve fished a few proto types and they are holding up well in testing.  

I will mention the 4 inch paddle tail has been producing really well on both flounder and big trout, Carolina Pumpkinseed/Chartreuse and good old Red (Strawberry) and White seem to be good choices.  

September we should finally find the reds on a more regular basis and trout fishing should get better, even though that will be hard to believe.  After it starts to cool down we’ll start seeing the fish come up from the ledges and deeper water and we’ll find them in more typically “thigh” deep water.  

Thanks for all the support of Kelley Wigglers, we couldn’t do it without all of you believing in the product.   

Capt. Wayne Davis 

Hook Down Charters

www.kelleywigglers.com