Well, I'm here in Port Isabel for the winter so I may as well give you my reports.
I fished the shrimp docks most of the day today. Used Fishbites, shrimp flavored. Caught nothing but Hardhead catfish...17 of them from 1 foot long to 19 inches. They kept me pretty busy and made my day even if I did put them all back. I love those circle hooks!! All the cats were hooked in the lip.

Glad you had an active day, sorry it wasn't any nice keeper fish.

I definitely like circles better also.

Went fishing this morning till noon at the shrimping docks. Caught 9 beautiful big catfish. I need to start saving them and will the next time I go fishin' after I get a 5 gal. bucket to put 'em in. I know...you don't eat hardheads, but I do and I think they taste just grand and don't shrink up like freshwater ones do because they contain less fat. Of course, I cut out all the red meat under the skin when cleaning and soak 'em overnite in water in the fridge.
I won't get much meat from each fish because you can't fillet from the neck like usual...you have to begin the fillet after the top fin and on to the tail. Delicious deep fried!! Try 'em...or not.

I've never seen a hard head much more than 8 or 10 inches long. I think what you are referring to as hard heads are actually Gaff-tops. They have a very long top fin, and are very good eating. Their bone structure is not the same as a channel cat, and they are very slimy when you clean them.

Here is a Gafftop, since I use an electric knife, I am usually able to fillet to about the neck area, give or take. My wife doesn't like catfish of any kind so I don't keep them unless I'm cleaning them for somebody else.

Hard head pictures are hard to find around my place, I don't do much with them, except toss them back.



I'm pretty sure the our Fishing Lady, knows her fish, but was looking for an excuse to show off another fish picture. lol.

I fished from 11 to 1:15 today at the shrimp docks and caught 15 catfish (hardheads) from 12" to 17" all on shrimp Fishbites fished on the bottom with a double drop. Had to throw back at least 7-8 that were under 12". (to me under 12" is too small to fillet). Got almost a gallon baggie full of fillets. Right now they are soaking in cold water in the fridge and tomorrow I will cut out all the red meat that is found under the skin.

Hardheads are pretty good fighters on light tackle. As long as folks are careful handling them, they can save the day when the other fish are not biting.

They are the one fish I would not care to ever hook again...

Glad to see you are back in Texas fishing again Fish lady! I hope to see you catching something other than hardheads soon though!

Me too! Wish this wind would settle down a little bit and the wave height would go lower so I could go to the jetty or the surf. We don't have a 4 wheel drive vehicle to drive on the sand in bad weather so.... But the jetty is sounding much better in the next few days!

Guess what we had for dinner...deep fried catfish nuggets and potato salad! Um, ummm good!!

I have set up a trip with Capt. Andrew for Monday morning. Really looking forward to getting out with him. Probably will not be taking a puter with me on the trip. Plan on being at SPI for a week. Will take lots of pictures and post up a report when I get back home.

I'm really looking forward to reading your report and seeing those pics!! Tight lines are in order.

Today we went to South Padre Island to fish on the surf. Took Beach Access #5. We don't have 4 wheel drive so we were concerned as to how the beach was to drive on. Well, no worries mate! The sand is packed almost to the dunes due to the high tides. Luckily for us the tide was going out and there was lots of room to pass anyone coming or going. Went north about .7 mile and parked. Got our gear set up and before we could set the rod in it's holder the tip is bending. Two Whiting at a time!! Again and again and again. The fish went crazy until the tide started to come in and the bite abruptly stopped. It was time to go home and watch the NASCAR race.
At the cleaning station we counted the fish and the total for about an hour and half was 23 Whiting and 1 big Croaker. I don't know how many we threw back because they were too small including a Pompano.

Hi Fishlady.
Sounds like you had a great day in the surf. Still using fishbites?

I just wondered if you noticed any small mullets running near shore that I can catch with my cast net for bait or should I stop and buy some?

KM