For decades Texas largest bay has been offering anglers a diverse list of options of places to fish.
-Story and Photography by Nate Skinner

The veteran guide cut his teeth fishing these waters, just as many had done before. Names like Rudy Grigar and A.C. Becker Jr. are forever etched in the brine in which the fiberglass “v” that we clung to was now plowing through. I tightened my grip on the rail of the console, as my white knuckles began to numb against the stinging cold spray and unforgiving northeast wind. Beautiful weather and comfortable conditions were not the reason for our outing this day. Instead, our fleece clad bodies stuffed into waders and sealed by Gore-Tex jackets were a product of high hopes for quality fish.

“Surely he’s on a good bite wherever we’re going,” I thought, as a longing for the comfort of the warm house began to kick in. Finally we backed down to an idle, and eased up to a shoreline. I took my time gathering my rod and wading gear, trying to thaw out before bailing out of the boat. My counterpart however, was already thigh deep in the salt just moments after the power-pole punched into the muddy, shell bottom.

His next statement hastened my pace, and I quickly forgot how cold I was. “They’re here, right off the edge of the reef like they were yesterday,” explained Captain Tim Young, turning circles in the water as he reached for a heavy trout thrashing at the surface. Putting flesh to scale, he smiled as he released the beast. “When all else fails and conditions get tough, it’s nice to rely on the old patterns,” he chuckled. “Nobody fishes the way we used to anymore, but the same tricks still work. You’ve got to love it!”

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