It is hard to believe once again that another year has almost come and gone. I am hoping that all of you are enjoying Christmas with loved ones and friends.

I turned 68 in December and this week while fishing, its great here in Rockport by the way, tried to reflect on my fishing career. I am by no means finished with this adventure that many call a business. I am enjoying good health, despite being tired at days end and for some reason my clientele continues to grow. Truth is, it has to continue to grow as many of my clients have reached an age where wade fishing is a much tougher gig than ever before. I totally understand this, but I am not ready to turn in my waders for a drifting sock and trolling motor just yet. Yes, that day is coming I know but we will try to keep the old man at bay for as long as possible.

Our trout and red fish stocks in the ARANSAS BAY complex are growing. Especially the trout populations. With the new regulations on trout, if Mother Nature will spare us a fishing killing freeze for a few more years we could possibly see a return to some larger trout in our fishery, resulting in excellent trout fishing. Yesterday we released at least 30 to 35 trout from 17 to 22-inches and at least 30 upper slot red fish. I know, that is excellent fishing for not just Rockport but many places along the entire Gulf Coast. Granted, only a few trout pushing the 4-pound class on this particular day but still a banner day. Winter fishing pressure has been less over the past 5 years due to the numbers of trout lost in the 2021 FREEZE event and this alone has aided in the recovery of our trout fishery. I am hopeful that Mother Nature is kind to us over the next two months but as it has been said. "You can't control Mother Nature".

I will be fishing in Port Mansfield less this year as I am booked through January the 3rd here in Rockport. I will be returning to Rockport each week and will be fishing here as well in our back bays looking for some of the best trout Rockport has to offer that time of year. Pay attention to my ON-LINE CALENDAR for days that could open up once my Port Mansfield days each week are completed.

WATKINS LANDING continues to be at full capacity but don't hesitate to get on our WAITING LIST as we do have a few monthly tenants so there could be a unit open at any time. Monthly rates are 235.00 at the moment.

The JAY WATKINS FISHING SEMINARS were sold out every event this year so thanks to my loyal followers that continue to want to improve their fishing knowledge and skills. Watch the ON-LINE CALENDAR for 2026 dates that I will be posting after the 1st of the year.

Huge thanks to ALL of my sponsors for another year of supporting. Sponsors are MERCCURY MARINE, CHRIS'S MARINE, MIRROLURE, CUSTOM CORKY, TEXAS CUSTOM'S, 6TH SENSE, WATERLAND, LONE STAR MARINE, SOUTHERLY FISHING GEAR, COASTLINE TRAILERS, TEXAS SALTWATER MAGAZINE, AQUA TRACTION, OSPREY PREMIUM MONO LEADER, HENRI RODS and ROCKPORT TACKLE TOWN.

If you have not tried the NEW TEXAS CUSTOMS JAY WATKINS SERIES of DOUBLE D'S, JIG HEADS and our NEWESST SOFT PLASTIC LINE, stop in at any of your favorite tackle stores and pick some up. I feel we make some of the best products on the market. All of our jig heads and soft plastics are made in Texas or Mississippi, and I am proud of that.

I hope to see many of you in 2026 either next to me on a wade, on the water or around the docks sometime.

NEW TEXAS CUSTOM'S JAY WATKINS SERIES SOFT PLASTICS will be available in one of your favorite tackle stores on Tuesday DECEMBER the 2ND. We have a tremendous line-up of colors for both clear and dirty water conditions. The baits are beautiful, and I have proven to myself that the baits truly work. I am excited to see what all of you think and get some photos of you with your catch. Text comments and photos to 361 463 1074 or 361 463 6191.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY and FRIENDS.

As of this BLOG update we have received over 3-inches of rain in Rockport this morning. Looking like it is clearing a bit right now but more on the way according to the local forecast. Man, we needed this rain big time. Arctic blast headed our way for the 2/3 of December that is forecasting temperatures near freezing at this time for 1 overnight period. This same type of weather pattern was in place last December and it created some really good Trophy trout fishing and definitely kicked off our trophy trout season.

CUSTOM CORKY, TEXAS CUSTOM'S and 6TH SENSE will have all your winter trout fishing needs. Great line up from these companies from the CUSRTOM CORKY FAT BOY and SOFT DINE SERIES to the TEXAS CUSTOM'S DOUBLE D's, JAY WATKINS SERIES JIG HEADS and coming to your favorite tackle stores in December, the NEW TEXAS CUSTOM'S JAY WATKINS SERIES SOFT PLASTICS in 21 custom colors. Be sure to have plenty of MIRROLURE LIL JOHNS AND LIL JOHN XL's on hand as well. 6th SENSE and SALTY 6 will also be offering the 6th SENSE PARTY PADDLE and NEW 7"SHINDO SARDINE patterns in some special colors. 6th SENSE is offering NEW WATERLAND CO sunglasses in some NEW Frame and Lense colors WILL also become available to some of your favorite local dealers. With trophy trout season upon us, remember to have plenty of OSPREY PREMIUM leader material on hand. Don't forget that winter is fixing to be truly upon us, so wet wading is our and wader time is here. The NEW SOUTHERLY Z waders are in Tackle stores as well as SOUTHERLY'S wading boots, layering, fleece and wading jackets. Preparing for harsh winter weather conditions require servicing your boat.motor,trailer, trolling motor/batteries are ALL in good working order. CHRIS'S MARINE, LONE STAR LITHIUM BATTERIES and BACK BAY BOAT WORKS are only a phone call away from keeping you on the water.

I am excited about receiving some colder weather patterns. I love winter fishing no doubt.

I am waiting on weather here at WATKINS LANDING this morning and thought it a good time to update the blog section of my site. Fishing this summer was tough in ROCKPORT due to drought conditions, extreme fishing pressure and super-heated water temperatures. The heat: air temps and water temps, go with drought conditions. To date, Rockport is over 14-inches below its normal annual rainfall. We managed to catch fish all summer but there was a 3-to-4-week period of a super tough bite for me. We have seen a tremendous number of small trout and in the grand scheme of things, this is great. It reveals a successful spawn every year since the 2021 freeze, and I believe a growing speckled trout spawning biomass. It has only been 4 1/2 years since the freeze. It takes speckled trout on the Middle Texas Coast 3 1/2 years to reach 15-inches. Lose 50 plus percent of the populations and it is going to take at least 5 to 6 years to see significant changes. WE ARE SEEING THESE CHANGES. With the passages of the first couple of cool fronts, I did see an uptick in the trout bite in both numbers and quality. A handful of fish in the 24 to 26-inch class already but as we get closer to truly cold-water conditions this number will increase no doubt. With the opening of Duck season and all the other hunting opportunities in Texas now in full swing, the bays are less crowded. This is especially true during the weekdays. Weekends will always produce higher fishing pressure no matter where you decide to fish.

I have already had a few good days on the CUSTOM CORKY Fat Boys and SOFT DINES as well as the TEXAS CUSTOMS DOUBLE D series. Texas Custom's has the NEW JAY WATKINS SERIES SOFT PLASTIC ready to ship to dealers across the state by the end of next week I believe. Super excited about our new soft plastic. I have been testing this series since last June. Testing is never over just so you know. We will continue to try and produce the best products for our loyal following.

I am also working with6th SENSE and a few products on their SALTY 6 line of lures. I love the PARTY PADDLE, and everyone knows that I am not a paddle tail type of guys. New Shindo series is going to allow us to go hunting for truly big ones when conditions warrant. At this stage in my guiding/fishing career, I feel it is important to keep an open mind and be prepared to step out of the box and try new things. Growth in our fishing mentality demands this.

I hope to see some of you on the water, maybe my boat and the docks this winter.

I have had a few weeks off due to having cataract surgery and then Lense replacement surgery. Healing up pretty good I think now. Today I woke up seeing more clearly than I have since the first surgery on the 15th. I can definitely see things more clearly and feels like I won't have to have any kind of prescription or even readers at this time. Once my right eye catches up with my left one, we should be good.

Our fishing has been tough in early September in the quality trout department. Reds save a day here and there but I seldom concentrate on reds, so I have even struggled a bit in that department. We got almost 4 inches of rain in some parts of Rockport last week and this brings great relief to the area. Slightly cooler nights and mornings so Fall is on its way. With cooler temperatures, fishing will improve for us here in Rockport.

This coming Friday, October the 3rd I host my FALL FISHING SEMINAR at WATKINS LANDING from 6pm till 9pm. Full house right now but there are always 1 or 2 that call and have to cancel. Text me 361 463 1074 if you want me to put you on a short notice waiting list. Cost is 225.00 but we have a light meal, nice tackle packs and some great giveaways. Someone will win a custom Henri Rod or a 1/2-day fishing trip with me. It will be one or the other. Also, some cool artwork to giveaways as well.

Texas Custom DOUBLE D, MIRROLURE LIL JOHN or LIL JOHN XL, 6TH SENSE PARTY PADDLE and SHINDO lures are the main lures I will be through over the next few month's

Summer is in full swing in Rockport. Weekends are totally nuts but great for the local economy. Monday through Thursday is fairly light in boat traffic but Friday through Saturday and 1/2 a day on Sunday are stupid busy, again great for the local fishing retailers and bait shops. I have not fished weekends for a few years and now I am thinking about not fishing on Friday during June through about September the 15th. Already booked just about every Friday already way out so won't do that this year but definitely on the "think about list" for 2026.

Fishing for me was tougher this week than I expected it to be. A couple of days of just terrible bite and lots of small fish. Even the Dolphin were not around me this week, probably means I was in the wrong place, or I was in the right place at maybe the wrong time. Water temperatures are reaching the 86-to-87-degree mark in some area of the flats by the noon hour so it's already hot and going to get hotter by the day. We have had some rain, and any is welcome this time of year. More sharks this year than I have seen in many years. Not bother us but definitely seeing them on a daily basis. Gong early is the key right now seems to be the ticket on the best trout bite. However, my best trout, are coming later in the morning and even closer to the noon hour. Had a 27 1/2-inch fish this week and 3 over 25/26 1/2. Two were skinny fish and one of the 26 1/2-inch fish was a toad for her length.

I am throwing mostly all soft plastic ( Mirrolure LIL JOHN XL, 5" PROVOKERS and the NEW 6th SENSE PARTY PADDLE) right now, but I never do not have a Double D in my wading box. 2 weeks or more ago that is all they better trout wanted, the past two weeks that has not been the case.

Leader Maintenace is very important this time of year due to HOT WATER, HEAVY TURTLE GRASS as well as FLOATING grass that wears on the strength of your leader. Retie often and look and feel up and down your leader line after every fish. I use OSPREY PREMIUM LEADER material in 20 POUND MONO. Some use 17 pound and have great luck with that as well.

Alright, hope to see some of you around the dock or on my boat.

Our summer is in crazy mode in Rockport with all the schools out now and many wanting the Rockport experience. No doubt in my mind that Rockport Texas is the jewel of the Texas coast and can boast that it had the best to offer visitors wanting a waterfront community experience. H.E.B., ALL our restaurant's, fast food establishments, boat launches, dry stack storage and of course ROCKPORT TACKLE TOWN are jam packed most every day and especially on the weekends. I expect to see crowds increase through the July 4th weekend and then we will start to see a slow down until the Labor Day weekend. I primarily fish during the weekdays so crowds although increased are still less than Friday through mid-day on Sunday.

Trout fishing is consistent and red fish still really good on most days if you are strictly targeting red fish. We seem to have a good population of 2 to 3 1/2-pound trout, despite 82-degree water. Some 4-to-5-pound fish here and there and the occasional 6 plus. No 7 plus pound fish for me since I got home from Mansfield in April. Trout fishing to our South in Baffin is good as well and there, anglers are enjoying some larger trout from time to time I am hearing.

I continue to be very busy, and I am thankful for that. The air and water temperatures will continue to rise, and our days will become shorter in the fishing department. I t will be about getting out there in the gray light and getting the job done before 11pm if you are looking to catch trout. Reds are a little different and can actually be caught throughout the day and even better during periods of FALLING tides that coincide with rapidly rising water temperatures. In my younger days, I would often run a trout trip in the morning and then run clients interested in catching red fish in the late afternoon hours. This days of running doubles are over but I am not opposed to running late afternoon trips during low tide periods for red fish.

I hope to see many of you around the docks or on my boat over the next 3 months. Be safe and as always, keep only the fish you want for a meal or two and release the rest. KEEP LESS, FISH MORE.

Heavy rainfall has delayed our departure for the past two mornings. We definitely need the rain so no complaints on my end. The early morning rains cool the surface water temperatures slightly, but every bit helps this time of year. Water temperature in the bay is starting the day at around 79 degrees and by days end we are looking at 82 degrees in the flats and along the barrier island shorelines. Summer heat is just around the corner, and we have already seen so signs of it being a very hot summer.

Our fishing continues to show signs of much improvement in our trout populations. This week I have had a few clients catch legit 5 to 5 1/2-pound fish and I have even seen a few trout in the shallows that look to be larger. Dolphin and more sharks than normal are still something we have to deal with on a daily basis. Yesterday was not bad in that department and I honestly can't tell you why these changes from time to time, but I am thankful when they decide to let us catch and release the trout.

I am still mainly throwing MIRROLURE LIL JOHN XL's, 5" PROVOKERS, 6TH SENSE PARTY PADDLE and TEXAS CUSTOM DOUBLE D's. I have had a few clients catch some nice trout to 4 to 5 pounds on Mirrolure Top Dog Jr and She Dogs. Golden Bream and PISTACHIO or CROWN ROYAL have been my best color choices in the LIL JOHN XL and DOUBLE D categories and then with the 6th SENSE PARTY PADDLE the Spanish Bone and Chartreuse Pearl have worked great over the shallow grass flats for both trout and reds. Rockport Tackle Town has a good supply of ALL of these name brand lures in stock. I will be at TACKLE TOWN with Texas Customs and Custom Corky owner Lowell Odon on Saturday the May 31st from 11am until 2pm so if you are in town stop by and see me.

Summer books are open online now and my 2025 Fall and Winter dates are filling faster than expected so if you are interested in learning better ways find and catch more fish, reserve your dates today.