Second Duck Split On Deck & Bay Fishing On Fire

The marsh has been telling on itself lately. Rafts of birds trading back and forth over the ponds, a little more chatter at first light, and just enough north breeze to get a man’s hopes up. That only means one thing down here on the middle coast – we’re closing in on the second split of duck season, and it’s lining up about as pretty as you could ask for.
While the shotguns are cooling off, the bay rods sure aren’t. We’ve been making good on some solid fishing, and the transition into the second split looks like it’s going to give us a strong one-two punch: hot blinds at sunrise and bent rods by lunchtime.

Second Split Shaping Up
The first split gave us a good read on what’s going on up the flyway. We’ve already seen a mixed bag of:
• Gadwall
• Widgeon
• Teal
• Redheads and pintails working the back water

The big story going into the second split is numbers and new birds. Every little front has been stacking a few more ducks in the marsh, and as we get deeper into December, we generally see better consistency and more variety. That’s when the seasoned birds that passed us in October start back-filling our country.
Water levels and salinity are in a workable window for us. When we’ve got that right mix – not blown out but not flooded out – those back lakes and potholes we hunt really come alive. Add a north breeze and some gray skies and it’s just classic Seadrift duck hunting.
If you like:

• Working decoying birds over shallow marsh
• Short boat rides
• Hunting out of dry, brushed-in blinds

…then this second split is your kind of party.

Bay Fishing: Strong Before, During & After Fronts
While we’re watching the skies, the bays have been doing their part. The transition to cooler water has tightened up the bite and pushed fish into more predictable patterns.
We’ve been seeing:
• Solid redfish working shorelines, drains, and scattered shell
• Trout hanging on edges and deeper guts on the right weather
• Black drum and occasional sheepshead for folks wanting some bonus fillets
This time of year, playing the fronts is the whole game.
• Pre-front: Good feeds with fish pushing shallow and getting aggressive.
• Post-front: Slide into deeper, more protected water and let plastics or shrimp do the talking.
We’re mixing it up with:
• Live bait for folks wanting steady action and meat in the box
• Plastics and topwater’s when conditions let us get sporty with it
• Airboat and wade fishing options when folks want to get off the beaten path

If you’ve been waiting on “the right time” to chase a box of reds or a mess of trout, you’re staring at it.

Cast & Blast: Best of Both Worlds
The second split is where our cast & blast packages really shine.
A typical day looks like this:
1. Pre-dawn: Hot coffee at the lodge, then slide out to the blinds under a sky full of stars.
2. Morning hunt: Work ducks through the morning flight, pick up decoys, grab some pictures and birds for the rack.
3. Midday reset: Back to the lodge for brunch and a quick regroup.
4. Afternoon fishing: Hit the bay for redfish and trout, back in time to clean fish and birds while the sun goes down.

Back at the lodge, the grills and fryers come out, the stories get a little more dramatic, and we get you dialed in for the next day’s plan depending on the weather.

Lodging, Meals & The “Full-Service” Part
Castaway Lodge isn’t a “throw your sleeping bag on the couch” operation. We’re set up to handle:
• Corporate groups
• Family trips
• Buddy hunts
• Last-minute, “I gotta get out of the office” getaways
You can expect:
• Clean, comfortable rooms
• Hot, home-style meals (you won’t leave hungry)
• Game and fish cleaning included
• A crew of guides and staff that treat your trip like it matters – because it does

All you really need to bring is your clothes, your toiletries, and whatever you like to drink. We’ll help you sort licenses, stamps, gun requirements, and packing lists when you book.

Dates, Openings & How To Get Here
As we roll into the second split of duck season, prime dates tend to disappear quick – especially around weekends and any strong front showing on the forecast. If your calendar has a little daylight in it, now’s the time to lock something down.
We’re right here on the Middle Texas coast in Seadrift, an easy drive from:
• Houston
• San Antonio
• Austin
• Corpus Christi

Ready to Make a Run at It?
If the idea of:
• Ducks cupped up over the decoys at first light
• Redfish thumping on corks and plastics in the afternoon
• And easing back into a hot meal and a soft bed at the end of the day
sounds like your kind of schedule, we’d be proud to have you down.

Reach out through SeadriftBayFishing.com or give us a shout at Castaway Lodge and we’ll get you lined out on dates, options, and what to expect.

On behalf of all of us here, I’m Capt. Chris Nobles –
we’ll keep the coffee hot, the boats fueled, and a spot in the blind with your name on it.