GULF COAST
with Wells Daily Fishing Forecast
Winter Bites in Port Mansfield by Nate Skinner .. 6 Time to head south to the Lower Laguna Madre .
Big Game - Little Cost by John N . Felsher .................. 7 An often maligned fish provides exciting action for everyone .
BIG Trout Takedown by David A . Brown ................... 10 Cold weather provides great opportunity for gator trout .
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 2018 . 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 . 42 No . 1
with Wells Daily Fishing Forecast
FEATURES
CONTENTS
JANUARY-F
-FEBRUARY-MARCH
WELLS DAILY FISHING FORECAST
2018
Winter Bites in Port Mansfield by Nate Skinner .. 6 Time to head south to the Lower Laguna Madre .
Big Game - Little Cost by John N . Felsher .................. 7 An often maligned fish provides exciting action for everyone .
BIG Trout Takedown by David A . Brown ................... 10 Cold weather provides great opportunity for gator trout .
DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Tackle Time - HOGIE Lures ........................................... 8 Rod & Reelin ’ - Triple Threat Beeliner Rig .................. 9 Gulf Coast Closeup - Fort Morgan Honey Holes ...... 11 Equipment Notebook - Rigging Sleeves ................... 12 The Bay Naturalist - Laughing Gulls & Liar Birds .. 28 Paddling Out - Winter Wear for Kayakers .................. 31 The Bait Hook - Old Dogs , New Tricks ...................... 34
DEPARTMENTS
Editor ' s Notes ................................................................................................ 5 Tackle Time ..................................... Colby Sorrells ................................... 8 Rod & Reelin ’ .................................. Patrick Lemire ................................... 9 Gulf Coast Closeup ......................... Vernon Summerlin .......................... 11 Equipment Notebook ...................... David Ayers .................................... 12 The Bay Naturalist .......................... John Hook ....................................... 28 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 . Nate Skinner with a big South Texas trout from the Lower Laguna Madre . Photo by Capt . Ruben Garza , Snookdude Charters .
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