By Ed Snyder/Outdoors
Turning to see what was “whooshing” up behind me proved to be a nasty surprise, with my wide open mouth gulping the wash of a cresting five foot wave. Choking, coughing, and sneezing briny waters from my nose, mouth, and ears back to whence it came, I made a quick mental note; “DO NOT turn into incoming waves with open mouth agape!”

It’s a cool spring morning and I’m wade-fishing almost purr-fect sandy/green surf down the beach from Rollover Pass, TX. This is after a storm drenched our area with runoff flushing out Galveston East Bay.

When this happens the speckled trout either head for deeper holes or spread out along the beachfront to avoid the freshwater backwash. This is the time for wade-anglers to don their surf-booties and head for the beach to take advantage of what often becomes an outstanding fishing opportunity. 

I call it “Surf-walking”, which is how you balance yourself in between bobbled and jostled currents from the wave action caused by surf and tide movements. It’s “kinda-sorta” like crab-walking as you learn to maintain your balance between the surf pulling you one second then suddenly lifting you up the next before washing over you. And in betwixt all this “washateria” activity you try to maintain an upright position while you cast and crank trying to catch a fish.

It’s fairly easy to spot “saltier” fishing waters as it’ll be sandy/green or clear blue/green, with freshwater run-offs showing a brownish color. Take note that freshwater is lighter than saltwater so the specks will often hold under freshwater within the deeper saltwater troughs (guts) that is between the 2nd and 3rd sand-bars off the beach. Just watch for where schools of bait-fish are moving or where sea birds are feeding over them, and the trout shouldn’t be far off. Your “pocket-tackle” should be Mirror Lures, silver or gold spoons, saltwater assassins, and artificial shrimp tails (touts). (Pocket-tackle; a small zip-lock plastic bag with tackle that will fit into your shirt pocket) 

It’s an absolute joy when “surf walking” the Rollover Pass beachfront during the months of June/July as several species of inshore fish, such as Speckled Trout, Red-fish, Skip-Jack (Lady-fish) Pompano, and Spanish Mackerel, are plentiful in the surf for you to play with. 

Your best angling opportunities will be found by wading out to the second sandbar and fishing within the trough between the second and third bar. I’ve had wild experiences with large pods of bull reds swirling all around me while feeding on schools of menhaden, large schools of speckled trout hitting everything I had, including my fingers when left trailing in the surf, and even one notable incident with a 100 lb class tarpon bumping into me while chasing a large mullet, which scared the “bleep” out of me. A bit frightening, but extremely exciting as I managed a hook-up, getting one of its signature “tail walks”, before busting my line.

The perk here is being able to drive the beachfront in your family vehicle to locate fishable zones for setting up base-camp to spend a leisure day of “surf-walking” the beach under a warm Spring sun.

I’ve seen several wade anglers fishing the Gulf in only shorts, this I do not recommend for two reason- SHARKS and JELLY FISH!! – Your bare legs often draw attention from the bait fish that may gather around your bare legs, such as piggy perch. The toothy denizens of the shark species LOVE to eat what ever gathers around your legs, and IF your legs are in the way…………Well!!!

So I recommend wearing pants, especially the type sold by Academy Outdoors. These outdoor pants and shirts are very comfortable as well as light and dry out very quickly when exiting the surf.

As for shirts, definitely wear a shirt to protect you from the sun AND jelly fish. In Texas coastal waters are several species of jelly’s that can cause you discomfort and pain. But one particular species, the Portuguese Man-O-War, are very dangerous, enough so that its sting can put you in the hospital!

The best fishing tackle is (bar none) the casting outfit. A good casting reel of at least 6 ball bearings spooled with either mono-filament -or- braided line. Mono at 17lb test or braid at 30lb test with a diameter of 6lb test. Mount this reel on a 7 or 7 ½ ft graphite medium light action rod and you’re set.

MirrOlures, Spoons, or Saltwater Assassin soft plastics rigged to ¼ – or- 3/8oz jig heads are all deadly for specks and reds. Live bait anglers fishing shrimp, shad, croaker, or finger mullet either free-lined or on a popping cork can also do well in the surf.

When the specks and reds are feeding in the surf the action can become very intense for anglers where they might forget their footing. One VERY important thing to do when entering the bay or surf is to SLIDE your feet across the bottom to avoid stepping on Mr Stingray.

These critters are normally fairly docile but will react in the only way they can when stomped on by us humans, and that is by whipping its tail to insert its stinger into our ankle or leg. And believe me, an angler who’s been stuck twice by these stingers, once in the ankle and again in the hand, it’s a very big “OUCH” as the pain is almost unbearable!! Just getting hit once was enough for me to began sliding my feet to avoid another encounter. But, on managing to catch a small ray I attempted to dislodge the hook to avoid killing it and the ray quickly whipped that stinger into the palm of my hand. “OUCH!!

My ankle wound called for a surgical procedure to remove the two inch barb, with my hand wound only requiring a pair of pliers to remove the tiny barb, then soaking my hand in the hottest water I could stand to ease the pain and dissolve the poison. But even the small rays stinger caused great pain and discomfort. So, beware waders, SLIDE YOUR FEET!!

There is something about wading into the warm embrace of the surf to cast and hopefully catch some fish. Some anglers practice a catch and release policy keeping only one for the table. While others tether up legal limits for their show and tell back home. Whichever you choose to enjoy will give you flashback memories of your adventure.

There are all kinds of critters in the surf that live there and you are in their domain! So my final advice to you would be to “buddy up” with a fellow wade angler for safeties sake. This one advice could save your life. Case in point, I was wading with my brother in Tampa Bay Florida when a 6ft Bull shark decided to mess with me. My brother was able to fend the big shark off after it knocked me silly.

So, be safe, buddy up, Slide your feet, and keep your mouth SHUT when turning into a cresting wave!

Ed Snyder/Outdoors
Rollover Pass, TX.
May 26, 2014