The historic pass is once again open and is providing the incredible fishing it has been known for.
-Nate Skinner

“We’re headed to the bayou.” That’s the answer I received from Captain Nathan Beabout after jumping aboard his 25 foot Majek and asking what our game plan was when faced with less-than-ideal conditions. Minutes later we were throttle down in the gray light of dawn. With a stiff southern breeze gusting into our faces, we quickly put Seadrift in our back pocket and tucked in behind some shallow islands offering protection from a rough San Antonio Bay. I didn’t get the initial feeling that this was going to be one of those magical days on the water.
Finally we reached the shallow flats shielded by Matagorda Island and our trek to the south became a little easier. With every few hundred yards, the water seemed to get a little “fishier.” We spotted scattered slicks and pods of mullet along the shoreline. The closer we got to Cedar Bayou the less concerned I was about the stout winds and off colored water. By the time we entered the mouth of the bayou in Mesquite Bay, it was evident “catching” was in our near future.
Beabout beached the bow of his boat on the eastern edge of the bayou and we hopped onto Matagorda Island to walk along the sand dunes towards the Gulf.
“The surf? Really? In 20 mile per hour winds?” I thought. But Beabout scampered across the sand like a kid on a playground, and I hastened my stride to keep up. He was on a mission and I would soon know why.

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