Seadrift, TX. Sight Casting/Wading Report

This past week has been some ups and downs. Good sight casting conditions turned ugly as SE winds came out of nowhere. But, I don’t want to talk bad about it because it brought some much needed water back into the bay. We did manage to find shelter in some back marsh ponds and creeks, even managed a sight casting a couple nice flounder sneaking down the edges. The wade fishing scene is starting to improve with the rise in water. Starting off early in the pre-dawn hours we made a couple stops on some shell where we managed a mixed bite of keeper size trout, some big reef redfish, and a couple solid summertime trout.

Most of our trout wading came on soft plastics in a variety of colors from chicken of the c to strawberry wine, mostly in the Down South Lures models. The reef redfish couldn’t resist the topwaters, as that was the safest thing to throw being they were up against the edge of the reef. We had a few other trouty blow ups, but only one really wanted it.

As the water leveled off the later part of the week, we noticed some of the reds were already starting to make their move. We saw most of our fish at the ends of creeks that dumped onto a shallow sand flat or pond. This is where most of the bait was stacked up so it makes perfect sense. Funny how they know these water level changes and how to adjust. All our fish were released in great shape and I would like to thank all the clients for putting forth this effort to help the bays recover.

On a side note, we do have August 10&11th open if anybody is interested in sight casting. The winds look like they are really going to cooperate.

Captain Nathan Beabout

(210) 452-9680

N&M Sportsman’s Adventures

www.nmsportsmansadventures.com

AB Kennels

www.abkennels.com

Capt. Nathan’s Sight Casting Client List; Seadrift, TX.

Folks see these days when we sight cast reds, and say man your so lucky to have caught the weather so nice on that trip. But, I will let you in on a little secret, it was planned. The way most of my sight casting trip works is off a client list. These clients love to sight cast, and for that we look at dates open on my fishing calendar and days of low winds. When these two things come together I simply text the people on the client list, and whoever responds they can do it, the date is theirs.

If you have ever wanted to try sight casting, or have done it and are hooked, simply text or private message me on here with your name and number, and i will put it on my client list for those perfect days. Sure I understand that not every time I text about a good weather day is coming up, that you can go. But every now and then it will work out, you will have great weather and a fun day of fishing, I promise. Sight Casting can be done year around, and when the weather is right, it is an experience you won’t want to miss out on.

Typically we can make that call on a good day of sight casting, 3-6 days in advance. Again, if interested shoot me your info and be the person on the other end of the fight in these photos. Thanks

Captain Nathan Beabout

(210) 452-9680

N&M Sportsman’s Adventures

www.nmsportsmansadventures.com

AB Kennels

www.abkennels.com

Bennett SLT10 Self-Leveling Tab System Review

We added a pair of Bennett self-leveling 10″ trim tabs to our Gulf Coast Classic 18 and could not be more pleased with the performance! One of the best investments ever at only $123. They have made a dramatic improvement in our hole shot while fishing the flats.

Like most boats, our Gulf Coast will run on plane shallower than its draft. That frequently leads to a bit of apprehension as we slow to a stop – will we still be floating? Kind of tough to gauge the depth at speed when you can clearly see the bottom is only about a foot deep. The follow up question is, can we get out of here?

Our Gulf Coast tends to squat quite a bit as it takes off. We raise the jack plate all the way up, trim the motor in tight, and punch it. This immediately causes the bow to rise, the stern to sink, and the motor digs into the bottom. Sometimes we can get out by easing off the throttle, and then trying to surf the follow up wave. That extra 2″ of lift can make all the difference. Other times, we can “spin” or “snake” our way onto plane. Sadly, other times we are forced to idle out a ways before we can get up.

Amazingly, the Bennett tabs have proven to be a revelation. It took a while to mount the starboard tab because we debated endlessly where to place it. In reality, there was only one good spot but it is crazy how you go down the rabbit hole of moving it 1/8″ one way or another. Probably spent an hour on the starboard tab and five minutes on the port tab. A cordless drill, screwdriver, and 3M 4200 is all you need.

Bennett SLT10 Self-Leveling Tab System
Bennett SLT10 Self-Leveling Tab System

First trip out we were coming out of the marina and I goosed it. I wasn’t entirely impressed by any improvement to be honest but I chalked it up to being in the deeper water. Second test, we were in about knee deep water, and again I wasn’t that impressed. It seemed like the prop was catching lots of air and the hole shot was so-so. Jack plate all the way up, motor trimmed in tight, same as always. To be fair, the bow rise was greatly reduced but we were kind of sluggish taking off.

Third test, knee deep water or shallower, but this time I bumped the jack plate down just slightly. Like a half-second bump, maybe lowered the motor less than an inch. Hit WOT and wow! The boat jumped up and forward like out of a slingshot! Stayed flat, bow flat, stern didn’t squat, and it just leaped onto plane. Amazing difference. I found the sweet spot for our rig.

My brother took the wheel and experienced the same sensation. Night and day improvement in hole shot performance.

The Bennett SLT10 Self-Leveling Tab System is highly approved!

Bennett SLT10 Self-Leveling Tab System
Bennett SLT10 Self-Leveling Tab System

Seadrift, TX. Wade Fishing

This past week was much of the same action as last week. This is to be expected this time of year as conditions stay relatively the same. Our biggest challenge during these hotter periods is knowing when to be where. Feed periods, tidal movement and bait activity help us key in on bigger fish.

Our bait selection this week with the higher winds was DSL’s victorious secret, chicken of the c, and plum/chart. Early in the mornings before the big winds, we did have some pretty aggressive topwater action. In the San Antonio Bay system, when the wind shifts from ESE to SSE and S, it causes bay waters to shift from the south side over to the north side. When this happens the bay gets stirred up and water goes more sandy brown than green. This color change along with cloudy, partly cloudy, or sunny skies plays a role in our bait selection.

With the future forecast holding much of the same winds next week, I would suspect we will reload the boxes with the same tackle. Although we had some hot air temps already, the better trout have seemed to hold up shallow longer than expected. But, by 11-12pm the bite would tapper off, instead of the hard thumps from earlier in the morning it was just that hung up in grass feeling, with a head shake. It is hard to do, but most successful way to land these types of fish is to just start cranking, catch up to them and get tight.

On a side note, we have been able to enjoy God’s work leaving out in the morning, and witnessing something called a planet parade. Before sunrise in the East sky you can see 4 planets in a line. from right to left it’s Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn. At least that’s what the article I read about it said. Pretty cool getting to see things like this in the pre-dawn hours.

Captain Nathan Beabout

(210) 452-9680

N&M Sportsman’s Adventures

www.nmsportsmansadventures.com

AB Kennels

www.abkennels.com

Review: J.B. Dillon Chambers Boots

J.B. Dillon Chambers full quill ostrich boot review. Great boots at a fair price!

Living in Texas, I have purchased my fair share of boots through the years. Through experience, I have come to rely on certain brands for specific functions. Specifically, Lucchese dress boots, Ariat (with rubber soles) for general ranch work and light hunting, Wolverine for serious hunting, and Red Wing work boots. J.B. Dillon now joins my list of preferred cowboy boots!

I have been wearing the J.B. Dillon Chambers full quill ostrich boots for several months now. They are exceptionally comfortable and easy to wear all day. And they look fantastic in Chestnut!

One question I get asked, is “How do they compare to Tecovas?” This is a fair question as I would consider them competitors working the same space.

Continue reading “Review: J.B. Dillon Chambers Boots”

Seadrift Sight Casting Report

Fun and laid back day sight casting with the Coker brothers, we had plenty of redfish action! Weather was good to us with light SE winds and sunny skies.

Down South Lures white ice super model was the ticket today.

Call us for open dates May-July.

Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell:(210)452-9680
nmsportsmansadventures.com

Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell: (210) 452-9680
N&M Sportsman’s Adventures
nmsportsmansadventures.com
AB Kennels
abkennels.com

Top Water Trout in Seadrift!

Knowing that the winds were going to rip mid morning, we made a plan to leave the dock around 5:30 and hopefully get in a few hours of calmer conditions. And wouldn’t you know it, our plan came together. Finding rafts of finger mullet and some nervous ballyhoo on an oyster reef we decided to give it a try armed with blue/chrome spook jrs. and bone she dogs we began to blanket the reef.

Not 30 yards into the wade we were hooked up with a couple nice 20-22″ trout. For the next 2 hours I don’t think we moved more than 50 yards and were blessed with trout after trout from 18-23″. These fish were crushing our topwaters like it was their last meal. With the cool morning, these fish were knee deep to thigh deep on the reef. We did try a variety of lures, from soft plastics to Double D’s. We caught a few fish on these baits, but the hits didn’t seem to be as hard as the topwaters suggested. More of a tick or that hung up feeling with a slight head shake, so we decided to tie the topwaters back on and have some fun.

It’s funny how particular they can seem to be some days, but I guess if it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it. Our bite tappered off around 10am when the wind starting to pick up and the water quickly started turning to mud.

Since it was just one client, who at the age of 74 can hang in there with the best of them, we decided to make a few trolls down some leeward shorelines for some redfish. He took me to school on the redfish, catching 5 and loosing 2 before I got bit. After a couple trolls we decided to call it a day as we knew the winds were only going to get worse. Such an enjoyable time with a great friend! All our trout 20″ or better were released to fight another day.

Give us a call or send us a text to get in on the action. We have plenty of availability with all that is going on in the country for May-July. Hope to see y’all soon.

Captain Nathan Beabout

(210) 452-9680

N&M Sportsman’s Adventures

www.nmsportsmansadventures.com

AB Kennels

www.abkennels.com

Capt. Nathan Beabout

Cell: (210) 452-9680

N&M Sportsman’s Adventures

nmsportsmansadventures.com

AB Kennels

abkennels.com

Seadrift Redfish Sight Casting Report

We were blessed to have some of the same fish from yesterday show up again today.

The cloud cover made it a little hard until mid morning, but with cleaner water and lower winds, the reds couldn’t resist the ‘ol DSL red/white and a black spoon.

Most of the fish were holding in 2-4 foot of water, and would rush into the bank to crush grass shrimp and crabs. Your reaction time had to be quick today or they would fall back deep out of sight.

Give is a call for availability for May-July, whether it’s sight casting or wading. Let’s go fishin’!

Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell:(210)452-9680
nmsportsmansadventures.com

Seadrift, TX. Trout Fishing Report

Well when you try new areas and old areas you haven’t hit in a year, sometimes it’s a grind.

A good friend and I went out today for a little scouting/fun fish. We were in search of a big trout or two, but ended up with a handful of solid trout and a red.

A couple areas will be revisited because of the mass quantities of baitfish. Today’s conditions might not have shown the full potential of these areas.

The fish we did catch were crushing topwaters and Double D’s, and were all released for another day.

Plenty of open dates for May/June. Give us a call for your next wading or sight casting trip!

Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell:(210)452-9680
nmsportsmansadventures.com

Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell: (210) 452-9680
N&M Sportsman’s Adventures
nmsportsmansadventures.com
AB Kennels
abkennels.com

Top Water Trout Action!

Don’t know how to put today into words!
Knee to waist deep shell/mud with DSL chicken of the c, topwaters, and custom Softdine XL’s.

They released every fish today, just a great day on the water in Seadrift, TX.

Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell:(210)452-9680
nmsportsmansadventures.com

Capt. Nathan Beabout
Cell: (210) 452-9680
N&M Sportsman’s Adventures
nmsportsmansadventures.com
AB Kennels
abkennels.com

Chasing Port Mansfield Trophy Trout!

Great start to our Port Mansfield, TX Trophy Trout Season. Although the weather did not cooperate, we managed to find some solid trout mixed in with some heavy redfish.

Under the calm conditions we worked One Knocker topwaters and weedless DSL white ice in knee to thigh deep gin clear water. Spreading out and barely walking, fan casting all around and especially at small rafts of bait proved to be most effective.

We saw several larger trout in the area, and I know that with even just a little wind it could have been possible. Folks if you haven’t been to the Lower Laguna, you are missing the trip of a lifetime.

Our only dates left are:
Dec. 31-Jan 3
Jan 14-16

Three day minimum booking required, catch and release on all trout and reds. We are simply down there to seek out your personal best.

Capt. Nathan Beabout Cell: (210) 452-9680
N&M Sportsman’s Adventures
nmsportsmansadventures.com
AB Kennels
abkennels.com

Seadrift Trout and Redfish

Good trout bite this morning until about 10am throwing plum/chart DSL’s. Then it slowed, luckily we had some redfish on a reef that wanted to play.

We made a couple more wades striking out on trout, but by 12:30 we managed a steady trout bite. Had to do some walking in the afternoon, but managed a good stringer. Our afternoon bite was on a variety of DSL baits, blue moon, pumpkinseed, and color x. Most all the fish were caught in thigh deep sandy green water.

Capt. Nathan Beabout

Cell:(210)452-9680

nmsportsmansadventures.com