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Ft. Anahuac PACK Trip Report
October 9, 2010
By Bill Berry
Eleven Pack anglers joined together for a second annual PACK trip to Ft. Anahuac (gator capitol of the world). We all arrived at first light with the tide having just reversed course to begin working toward low tide. Winds where gusting from 0 to 5 mph and tide falling, how could it get any better? Well it did!
We all launched and headed into three directions to challenge the Ft. Anahuac Reds. Soon the breeze went to 1-5 mph and sun started getting high on our backs and life was good at 80+ degrees and low humidity. Most anglers went to fish the marshes about 1 to 1 and 1/2 miles away while a couple anglers went south into the bay and another few towards the islands. Many of us had a long distance sight of each other which makes Ft. Anahuac a good launch point because the fishing starts at launch site.
Rick Kinsey, Jason Makepeace, Ron Romeis, and Bobby Clark., headed to areas deep inside the marshes. All the rest of us (Adrain, Terri Morgan, Michael Enshoff, Chris Busch, Calvin Rennels, Larry Samek, and I fished the flats, islands, and North shore. The best success was east and north side of marsh and along the North shore line. Rick, Jason, and Bobby got into big Reds in shallow water with some sight casting. They had a hard time getting out without very sore arms from pulling them in. I think Ron hurt his arm pulling in Hard Heads and sight casting to Reds! Reports from this crew were they caught and released many large Reds per person. Sportsmanship was at it’s best, as between all of them only 3 Reds were brought in for dining. It was so good for them that I would not be surprised to hear they may have returned on Sunday to finish the work?
The flat leading into the marsh was thick with reds and Adrain picked up his limit. Water depth 6” – 18”. My two reds were caught east of the south island, but measured 18 inches and released to grow up, along with a quick release at the yak of a platter sized flounder. Michael picked up a speckled trout and flounder from the flats.
Hard Luck Award goes to Chris Busch, who realized he had an under size Red on the stringer and released it. Then things went down hill because he forgot to retie his stringer and a Founder and Red swam away together on the stringer with float never to be seen again.
By 3 o’clock we were off the water and headed home after a wonderful PACK day trip. Most were happy and said they would like to come back to do battle again. One angler was disgruntled about having to pull his yak 100 yards through mud due to low tide. I choose not to name him, but Ron will return to do battle with the mighty Ft. Anahuac Reds. No reported gator sightings.