Ed
Snyder / Outdoors - Rollover Pass, Texas
Outdoor
writer/photographer Ed Snyder is a native Texan from Harlingen with
over 25 years of outdoor media experience in the field of freshwater
and saltwater tournament angling and sports-fishing, with media
credentials with TOWA, SEOPA, and LOWA. Ed lives on the Bolivar
Peninsula and has written numerous stories about fishing and wildlife
in the area.
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Fishing The Night-Shift
The
quietness of the
Coleman Lantern is all but gone now, replaced by a more noisy, smelly,
and luminous age of high technology. Just pay a visit to Rollover Pass
on any given summery night and you’ll be greeted by a small
city of lights with its residents standing elbow to elbow casting into
pools of light in hopes of catching “whatever” is
biting.
Which, in most cases will involve speckled trout, the...
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The Running of the Bulls
– “Texas Style”
It’s not hard to spot the excitement of someone catching big
fish at Rollover Pass, just watch for long handled nets following
excited crowds of onlookers watching nervous anglers with bowed-over
rods. Oft-times, the big fish may be a large gator trout, doormat
flounder, or an oversize red fish, but during the months of
February-March at Rollover, it will more than likely be a HUGE 30 to 40
lb ...
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Of Smacks, Blues, and Skips
Speckled Trout, Redfish, and Flounder are the main attractions offered
here at Rollover Pass, but when the Smacks, Blues, and Skips come to
visit, try them out for the sport and variety that our Texas Coastal
waters provide for your saltwater adventures. Though these three
mentioned species are seasonal (mostly summer) trespassers to our Texas
Coastal areas, such as passes and piers, the... READ MORE
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Cynoscion Arenaris (Sand
Trout)
With a scientific name like Cynoscion arenarius, with arenarius meaning
“sandy”, you’d wonder why so many anglers
fish for such a critter. But Sand Trout is the tag by which Texas
coastal anglers know them. Marine Biologists refer to them as
“sand sea-trout”, but most Texans just call them
“sandies”. These spotless, silvery fish, cousins to
the spotted sea-trout (Speck) and Gulf Trout (Silver Trout), are a
favorite...
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Speckled Sea Trout
As a saltwater species the speckled sea trout is revered by Chefs and
sea food fanciers alike as being one of the tastiest species of fish
plated for its cuisine like qualities. But as a saltwater sport-fish
it’s highly regarded by sport anglers as being one of the
best scrappers in the surf. The spotted sea trout, alias Cynoscion
nebulosus, weakfish, or just plain speck, is probably one of the most
popular saltwater...
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Archosargus Probatocepha,
‘SHEEPSHEAD’
Archosargus probatocepha, alias Convict Fish, or just Sheepshead
belongs to the Family Sparidae, or PORGIES, are blackish silver in
color, with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black bars on its sides, but not
always the same on both sides. These hardy fish have conspicuous human
like teeth, including incisors, molars, and rounded grinders, that can
mangle or slice off fingers of unwary anglers. They have no...
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Spring Flounder
Frigid weather promised icy rains for the day, but some anglers were
rigging for flounder even though the cold winds of winter were still
upon us. One such angler, who’s garbed for the chill but
geared for flatfish, is Johnny Clovis of Fort Worth, TX. “I
see they’re catching cold water sea-trout across from me, he
stated, and I do like to catch and eat trout, BUT, he continued, I much
prefer to catch and eat...
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Red Drum vs Black Drum
Concerning the saltwater drum species found in Texas Coastal areas,
there is “some” confusion on the differences
betwixt the Red and Black Drum. Although they are of the same family,
they are markedly different in coloration, feeding and spawning habits,
as well as the value on which drum anglers prefer to catch. Both are
very hard fighters though, but with different traits when it comes
to...
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The Choices and Options of
Fishing
A treasure trove of fishing info can be had by just watching and
listening to other anglers at Rollover Pass on the whats, wheres, and
hows of fishing. Especially when major runs of fish, such as redfish,
speckled trout, or flounder occur. Techniques on how to fish live and
dead baits, or what types of artificial lures to use and how to use
them are important for honing your fishing skill levels...
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Rollover Gold
Small in size but HUGE in popularity the Micropogonias Undulates -or-
Golden Croaker, are cherished entree’s on family dinner
tables, but also have the ability to give anglers the hard fighting
qualities of larger fish. FAMILY FUN is the key word here folks when
enjoying Autumn’s annual run of golden croaker. A species of
the Drum family, croaker don’t reach the ponderous weights of
its cousins...
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Of Silvers, Sands, and
Specks
Rollover on Bolivar Peninsula, TX.
Speckled Trout are credibly the most popular game-fish in the Galveston
Bay system, and for good reason. They offer excellent fighting
qualities and fantabulous table fare when cooked properly. But the
Speckled sea trout, or speck, is only one of the three saltwater sea
trout species that swim within our Texas coastal waters for us to
enjoy. Of these three fish called sea trout...
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