GULF COAST
with Wells Daily Fishing Forecast
Eastern Gulf Flounder Fun by David A . Brown ... 6 Intentionally targeting flounder puts fine filets on the table .
Western Gulf Flounder Run by Danno Wise ........ 7 South Texas is due a record breaking flounder season .
Chasing the Birds by John N . Felsher ........................... 10 Want more trout action ? Just follow the birds .
It ’ s Topwater Time by Nate Skinner .............................. 12 Fall is here and time to get noisy with surface floaters .
Harold Wells
GULF COAST
FISHERMAN
www . gulffishing . com
GARY RALSTON Publisher / Editor
DEPARTMENT EDITORS David Ayers Jeff Herman • John Hook Patrick Lemire • Jim Martin Colby Sorrells
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS David A . Brown John N . Felsher Capt . Nate Skinner Vernon Summerlin
Capt . Mike Thompson Capt . Danno Wise
Production / Design Janna Ralston
Advertising Jennifer Schulte jennifer @ gulffishing . com advertising @ gulffishing . com GCF Advertising P . O . Box 8 , Port Lavaca , Texas 77979 Phone / Fax : ( 361 ) 552-8864
Administration Gary Ralston • Editor Janna Ralston • Production / Design Jennifer Schulte • Advertising Staff • Circulation
GULF COAST FISHERMAN ( ISSN 0164-3746 ) is published quarterly by Harold Wells Gulf Coast Fisherman , Inc ., 211 Oakglen Dr ., Port Lavaca , Texas 77979 . Phone ( 361 ) 552-8864 . Copyright 2017 . Single copy at $ 4.50 . Subscription is $ 21.00 for one year ( 4 issues ); $ 28.00 for two years ( 8 issues ); and , $ 40.00 for three years ( 12 issues ). Periodical postage paid at Port Lavaca , Texas and at additional mailing offices .
Address correspondence concerning subscription or address changes to Gulf Coast Fisherman , P . O . Box 8 , Port Lavaca , Texas 77979 ( 361 ) 552-8864 .
Unsolicited contributions are welcomed , but will not be acknowledged or returned unless accompanied by stamped , self-addressed envelope . Articles , photos , artwork , and other material should be addressed to the Editor . We can not be responsible for unsolicited material . The contents of this magazine may not be reprinted without written permission .
Advertising rates on request . Standard commissions to accredited advertising agencies . Send new product information to Gulf Coast Fisherman , P . O . Box 8 , Port Lavaca , Texas 77979 . Advertising Sales Office , Gulf Coast Fisherman , 211 Oakglen Dr ., Port Lavaca , Texas 77979 . Phone / Fax ( 361 ) 552-8864 . POSTMASTER : Send P . O . D . Form 3579 to : Gulf Coast Fisherman , P . O . Box 8 , Port Lavaca , TX 77979 .
Vol . 41 No . 4
with Wells Daily Fishing Forecast
FEATURES
CONTENTS
CTOBER - NOVEMBER - D O CTOBER - NOVEMBER - DECEMBER
WELLS DAILY FISHING FORECAST
2017
Eastern Gulf Flounder Fun by David A . Brown ... 6 Intentionally targeting flounder puts fine filets on the table .
Western Gulf Flounder Run by Danno Wise ........ 7 South Texas is due a record breaking flounder season .
Chasing the Birds by John N . Felsher ........................... 10 Want more trout action ? Just follow the birds .
It ’ s Topwater Time by Nate Skinner .............................. 12 Fall is here and time to get noisy with surface floaters .
DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Tackle Time - That Little Edge ....................................... 8 Rod & Reelin ’ - The Bent on Treble .............................. 9 Gulf Coast Closeup - Louisiana ’ s Northshore ........... 11 The Bay Naturalist - Fish Cleaning Science ............. 28 Equipment Notebook - Bilge Pump Notes ............... 29 Paddling Out - Going Deep ......................................... 31 The Bait Hook - Fishing Friends Forever .................... 34 DEPARTMENTS
Editor ' s Notes ................................................................................................ 5 Tackle Time ..................................... Colby Sorrells ................................... 8 Rod & Reelin ’ .................................. Patrick Lemire ................................... 9 Gulf Coast Closeup ......................... Vernon Summerlin .......................... 11 The Bay Naturalist .......................... John Hook ....................................... 28 Equipment Notebook ...................... David Ayers .................................... 29 Product Review ................................ Staff ................................................. 30 Paddling Out .................................... Jeff Herman ..................................... 31 The Bait Hook .................................. Jim Martin ....................................... 34
Astronomical Data ........................................................................................ 2 Introduction to Fishing Forecast ............................................................... 13 West Gulf Daily Forecast ........................................................................... 15 North Gulf Daily Forecast ......................................................................... 19 Florida Gulf Daily Forecast ....................................................................... 23 Advance Plannng Calendars ...................................................................... 26 Offshore Fishing Forecast .......................................................................... 27
Cover : Capt . Bobby Abruscato shows off a speckled trout caught while chasing the birds near Bayou LaBatre , AL . Photo by John N . Felsher
4 G U L F C O A S T F I S H E R M A N W W W . G U L F F I S H I N G . C O M
Harold Wells
GULF COAST
FISHERMAN
www.gulffishing.com
GARY RALSTON
Publisher/Editor
DEPARTMENT EDITORS
David Ayers
Jeff Herman • John Hook
Patrick Lemire • Jim Martin
Colby Sorrells
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
David A. Brown
John N. Felsher
Capt. Nate Skinner
Vernon Summerlin
Capt. Mike Thompson
Capt. Danno Wise
with Wells Daily Fishing Forecast
Vol. 41 No. 4
O CTOBER - N OVEMBER - D ECEMBER
C ONTENT S
2017
FEATURES
Eastern Gulf Flounder Fun
by David A. Brown ... 6
Intentionally targeting flounder puts fine filets on the table.
Western Gulf Flounder Run by Danno Wise ........ 7
South Texas is due a record breaking flounder season.
Chasing the Birds
Production/Design
Janna Ralston
Advertising
Jennifer Schulte
[email protected]
[email protected]
GCF Advertising
P.O. Box 8, Port Lavaca, Texas 77979
Phone/Fax: (361) 552-8864
Administration
Gary Ralston • Editor
Janna Ralston • Production/Design
Jennifer Schulte • Advertising
Staff • Circulation
by John N. Felsher ........................... 10
Want more trout action? Just follow the birds.
It’s Topwater Time
by Nate Skinner .............................. 12
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