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OUTDOORS
I saw the line move out from where it landed on the bank. I set the hook and had a beautiful snook explode into the air. He was extremely acrobatic and powerful. Since I was fishing alone, I had to net the fish myself. After several tries, I got him into the landing net. On the measure board, he was 24 1/4 inches. The snook limit in Texas is one fish between 24 to 28 inches. So, I had a legal keeper. It was my first snook to catch in Texas.
Snook are very tropical, so most of them swim in the warm waters of the Rio Grande Valley.
My wife Beth and I are living at River Ranch Resort on the Arroyo Colorado River. The park is a beautiful paradise especially for fishermen.
The Arroyo Colorado was a small stream running from Harlingen to the Intra Coastal Waterway in the Laguna Madre. Years ago, it was dredged to make a barge canal. Tugboats pushing barges plow the river every day.
Our park is on the Arroyo 25 miles upstream from the ICW. Fish out of the Laguna Madre come up the river, which is brackish at our park. Up stream it becomes fresher. So, an upstream fishing trip is good for channel catfish and other fresh water fish. But in most of the river you can catch speckled trout, redfish, founders, black drum, snook and an occasional tarpon.
Since I had never fished the Arroyo, I was on a big learning curve. I soon learned that trolling gold spoons would produce some good redfish and maybe, a snook. But I don’t like to troll. Most of the fishermen in the park catch mullet in their cast nets from the dock, anchor their boats and fish live bait mullet on the bottom. There are very few fish caught with lures. I am an old bass fisherman, so I was sure I could fish the banks of the river where trees overhang, and catch good fish. I know white heads. Mocking birds, king fishers, pelicans, doves and whistling ducks all add to the mix.
I’m expecting to see a Nylghai high up on the bank soon. Bob has seen several through the years. This big strange-looking antelope populates most of the King Ranch and now roam free along the Laguna Madre and much of South Texas. Many people consider them the best table eats of any deer or antelope.
I now have confidence that my bass fishing techniques will work for any of the saltwater fish in the river. Before the winter is over, I hope to catch a huge snook, a trout over 30 inches, a bull redfish and a wild leaping tarpon. Watch for pictures!
