Red snapper season starts today

Today is the opening of the 2010 red snapper season in federal waters. This is the shortest season yet, with a closure set for July 24.

The early birds to their favorite snapper holes may find that the stocks they surveyed a few weeks ago may have depleted in numbers, as commercial fishermen are said to be accelerating their quotas early.

One reason cited for the early harvest of the fish is a concern about competition from commercial fishermen from states with fishing grounds closed because of the oil spill.

Still, with the stingy two-fish limit for recreational anglers, there should be plenty of quality red snapper to go around.

I must remind offshore anglers there is now a requirement to use nonstainless steel circle hooks when fishing for red snapper and other reef fish. Additionally, boats fishing for red snapper need to have a venting device and hook release aboard. Most offshore sportsmen have that equipment on board and have been using it long before the regulation went into effect.

Now, let’s take a look at what is happening around the bays, surf and jetties.

Overall, it appears the prolific trout action last week has slowed. Trout are being caught, but apparently not in the numbers surrounding the full moon phase.

Other varieties of fish, however, are taking up the slack.

Capt. Mike Williams, Tarpon Express Guide Service, fished tarpon alley just off Galveston Sunday and spotted several pods of tarpon in the 60-pound range.

Although none of the silver kings were boated, he did manage a number of kings, jackfish and blacktip sharks. Williams said the water was in excellent shape.

Capt. Rick, of Splendora, fished the Heald Bank area with a party of four last Saturday and landed four kings to 48 pounds, Spanish mackerel and three sow snapper that were released. Rick feels the Heald Bank will be a real hot spot this summer.

Jason Reuter, Aunt Margie’s Bait Camp, reported a nice catch of fish by Devline Smallwood and Demetrius Holloway. Included on their stringer were 10 sand trout, 10 gafftop, four whiting and a 3-foot sandbar shark.

Troy Smith and his son, Dakota, from Dallas, fished the Bolivar area and Galveston Ship Channel on Sunday and landed 50 sand trout to three pounds. Their catch treated a full house of Dallasites to a wonderful fish fry.

Shirley Pike, Fat Boy’s Bait and Tackle, reported a 5-pound, 9-ounce trout taken at the concrete ship Selma by Bob Eason, of Huffman.

Whiting, croaker and crab are coming from the pier next to her bait camp, while Jones Lake is producing reds on cut mullet and live shrimp, and the causeway is supplying action on trout by anglers using lures and live shrimp.

To get your catch in the Reel Report, phone Capt. Joe Kent at 409-683-5273, or send an e-mail to reel.report(at)galvnews.com. There’s no charge for this service.