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Nov 22, 2009 PACK Sea Wolf Park Trip Report

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Ken J

Posts: 98

11/23/2009 5:11 AM

PACK moved the annual flounder trip to Sea Wolf Park from Saturday's nasty weather to Sunday's couldn't-be-better weather. Two groups of PACK participants arriving at 6:00 a.m. failed to hook up for Shipley Donuts (whose owners/flounder fishermen Eric and Ron report fisherman aren't in buying donuts in the morning with the reduced limits) from opposite ends of the parking lot. All got to the water. Ken Jennings, with Eric Arentsen, Guy, and Geoffrey Morales, went over the rocks near the fishing pier. As trip leader, I, Dick McGonigle, with Lisa Bell and Joseph Ochoa walked out of the park gate and turned right to water further back in the pocket along the Houston Ship Channel and west of the park. The water was VERY off color from the SE storm and the norther over the last 2 days. Lisa was startled stepping on a big one that bucked - then 2 more. Lots of fresh flounder holes were stepped in but only one was caught with another on for awhile. Outside of the off color water, things were perfect - outgoing tide and 62 degree water in the last half of November at Sea Wolf Park.

We could see only a rare flounder caught and decided to join the exodus of flounder fisherman to fish across the road along the Galveston Ship Channel south of the park. Careful entry over the rocks by the gate near the submarine works best, unless a 300 yard walk down the road to turn left thru the swamp is preferred. End of an outgoing tide, perfect smooth, green water and light breezes - and everyone on the waterfront caught some nice fish. I got 5 cookie cutter 18's, kept 2, and Lisa got 4, keeping a 20" beast she almost had to "wrassle to the mat" to land, and a fat 16 incher. The whole waterfront marvelled at an illegal stringer of 5 come out of the water like nothing was wrong. Gulp curly tails (mine were chartreuse), live finger mullet and shad hooked with a tout and tail all seemed to work equally well.

Joseph and Ken's group left mid morning with no action in the murky water - with the exception of Eric losing a good one at the net. Shortly thereafter we left late arrival, flounder guru and friend of PACK, Jack Parkinson fishing by the sub. Jack reported he waded south all the way to the Thomas Jefferson pier where he was inundated with nonstop 20" action with the noon beginning of the incoming tide. As we left the water at 10:30 it was amazing how the water on the other side of the road had cleared before the noon tide switch. We watched a good flounder come from a wader near the pier, and a bull red on cut mullet came in from the rocks on the east side of the park.

After Jack brought his 2 20's by Virginia Point to show off, I called for reports from others I had not yet heard from. Joseph Ochoa and Geoffrey Morales left the muddy water empty handed with total confidence in the possibilities later this week from watching and talking to the regulars. Doss Caruthers took his yak out in the bluster of Saturday, and as in house counsel for BP had to work today - he's going out later this week. But Lisa got bumped out for big fish by member and Corpus Christi teacher-on-break, Miguel Aceves. Miguel got a room in Galveston and fished the Galveston ferry landing, limiting Saturday and today's catch at 7 pounds and 5 pounds! He's going to fish the park the next couple days and is hoping to mqke the party - Congrats Miguel!

The run typically ends when the water reaches 55 or 56 degrees, and we probably have a couple more weeks with many of the biggest yet to show up. It was a beautiful day with more to come. People seemed fine with the temporary limit of 2 flatfish. So HAPPY THANKSGIVING (we're some lucky so and so's) and see you on the water.

DICK McGONIGLE, trip leader