Monday's forecast was held true. Rain developing to our southwest tracked across the island. This should begin to clear out early Tuesday with winds blowing in from the north. Forecast call for a series of small reinforcing fronts throughout the week.
If you didn't get out on the water Sunday, you missed a perfect opportunity. Monday's forecast calls for a nearly 100 percent chance of showers with possible thunderstorms.
This morning reminded me of a fishing trip that happened 25 years ago. It was around the same time, late January, only on this day, the air temperature was below freezing.
Capt. Mike Williams has kept detailed log books on Galveston's weather for more than 50 years. He mentioned that the coldest recorded temperature for the island was Jan. 18, 1930 when the mercury dropped to 8 degrees. So far during Williams' lifetime, the coldest recorded temperature was 14 degrees on Dec. 23, 1989.
Out of 200 or so attendees stretched over four public meetings, it was a 50/50 split on acceptance of the proposal as written. The CCA representative voted for the proposal as written.
Here we go again — another passing cold front, this time with a chance of wintry mix west and north of Houston. Coastal areas should see temperatures above the freezing mark. Mix this with strong north/northeast winds, and it's going to be cold.
Capt. Mike Williams chimed in this morning with a mention of a location that is often overlooked — the humps of Fleenor Flats. About halfway down the south jetty, as you round the eastern end of Galveston Island heading to the end of the south jetty, you will cross over Fleenor Flats.
I am sure that by now most everyone heard or saw the extremely low tide. Three things came together for this event to occur. Wind, tide and the full moon all lined up perfectly. By Tuesday morning, the low tide will only be a memory.
Sunday morning was a chilly one along the coast. Tides dropped just as I predicted. Bright clear blue skies with lots of sunshine warmed the air to the mid-50-degree mark. We'll see a continued warming trend for the next couple of days. Water levels should rise by Monday afternoon.
Tides will more likely drop to dangerous levels, so launching a boat could be a problem. These low tides should push any runoff from the northern end of Galveston Bay out towards the open water. That's the good news from this blow.
Many boats have been sitting idle for the past couple of months. Before you know it, though, the cold fronts will become less frequent, and the warming period between them, will lengthen. Then will will go out, try to start your boat, only to find out, that it will not run.
I mentioned in a previous column how the rains may affect certain areas of Galveston Bay. I am happy to say very little of the precipitation fell west of the area, and on the island. This correlates to continued good fishing in Chocolate and Bastrop bayous.
My hat's off to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Warden's Marine Theft Unit and their investigation into the theft of several watercraft from Texas. Twenty-seven stolen vessels and trailers have been recovered, and charges have been filed, along with the arrests of some suspects.
A nagging northeast wind Tuesday blew along the coast. There are a few places to hide, but not too many in Galveston Bay. This wind direction feels downright chilly on the open water. I finally received a few reports from Galveston to Matagorda bays.
I have not received any fishing reports, the past few days. I do have a couple tournament results from this past weekend.
A proposal calls for a slot limit of three fish 17-23 inches in length. The final decision will be voted on at the end of this month. The apathy I see from many anglers, along the upper coast, is concerning. Just because this doesn't directly impact Galveston Bay to Sabine Lake, doesn't lessen the importance of the proposal.
So far this winter, the coast has received hardly any measurable rainfall. When this happens, the rivers and bayous become salty. The fish, by habit, will move far upstream in these tributaries, sometimes many miles from the bay.
We are in for a wild ride with the weather the next few days. If any of you that follow this column have suggestions for a subject, I am open to receiving them. If not, I will rely on the Holy Spirit for inspiration.
Visibility was near 1-16th-of-a-mile before sunrise. Around mid-morning, the fog finally lifted. The weather pattern will be interesting during the next few days.
Perfection is the word I would use to sum up Wednesday's weather. Galveston Bay was slick, calm, a bit cool in the morning, but warmed up nicely by the afternoon. The catches were just as good as the weather.
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