Clear Creek August 27, 2012

[DelSol]

Been eyeballing this area for the last year. Finally decided to hit it up today. Didn't know what kind of water it was so brought saltwater and freshwater gear. Started with the freshwater lures and caught a couple of sunfishes, a baby gafftop and an alligator gar. Switched to the saltwater gear and a bigger lure and caught a 22" red, five freshwater catfish with the largest going 21.5" and hooked several skipjacks but landed only two.
Will be going back to this spot soon















What kinda catfish are these?






This one had a broken tail...

[Saltwatersickness]

Looks like you had a good time out there. That red looks sharp. Congrats

[jeffw114]

Nice report, wide variety of fish caught... Those cats look like some nice eater sized blue cats.

[Dfusion]

That's what I would call a fun day on the water!

[DelSol]

blue cats.

Thanks for the id

Can anyone put names to those sunfish?

[robsjive]

Look like pumpkinseed sunfish. At least the one on the left is.

[Yak-scales]

I would be careful about eating anything that comes out if Clear Creek. There are a lot if fish in it, but there are consumption warning signs all up and down the creek... I CAR everyhting I catch in Clear Creek.

[penubly]

That looks close to my neck of the woods. I live about 200 yards from the Bay Area bride over Clear Creek. I'm going to buy a kayak in the next few months and it is great to know there are fish to be caught that close to home.

I'm sure you know, but just in case - Clear Creek was contaminated with Dioxin, among other things, many years ago.

The advisory page from the Galveston Bay foundation (http://galvbay.org/advocacy_seafood.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) advises against eating any fish caught in Clear Creek.

[Fargo]

Nice job with the pictures DelSol

going on a weekday probably cut down on the jet skis and power boats

Fargo

[engineer]

The problem with Clear Creek is that it collects large amounts of runoff. As the saying goes, the solution to pollution is dilution. Clear Creek is not large enough to dilute contaminants and it collects all the chemical runoff from surrounding neighborhoods, roads and industries. Unfortunately the same concept applies to many bayou systems. You can't find any freshwater system that doesn't have some kind of consumption warning for this reason.

I personally catch and release every fish I catch in freshwater.

Regardless, looks like a really fun place to fish with tons of variety.

[JaimeInTexas]

I hate to pile on but better help you make an informed decision. I am sure that run-off is an issue but the Brio Superfund site is the real problem:

http://www.ask.com/wiki/Brio_Superfund_site" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.theenergylibrary.com/node/11479" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/nar792.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.ultimateclearlake.com/storie ... ite-update" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[DelSol]

Brio Superfund site is the real problem:

I remember driving by the neighborhood next to it and seeing street lights and house lights on, but no people or cars. It gave you an eerie feeling. It has since been demolished but I remember that every time I drive by the area. Always nice to know a company's negligence can still effect us all the years later.

And I do C&R

[JaimeInTexas]

Yep. It was our own, real, micro post-apocalyptic neighborhood.

[M T Stringer]

Nice catches, lots of variety there.

San Jac South should re-name their mascot to "The Toxic Avengers"

...loved that movie as a kid.

[JaimeInTexas]

[lsu1975]

I remember reports of birds dropping from the sky when they flew over the Brio waste pit.

[Fargo]

I thought Clear Creek emptied into Clear Lake, I guess I had by creeks crossed

[JaimeInTexas]

Yes, Clear Creek empties into Clear Lake. Talking about misnomers!!!!!

[Jack B Yak]

I was wondering if any saltwater fish got up in that area. Is that the Challenger 7 launch? Did you paddle more towards clear lake to get the redfish? Thanks for the report!

[M T Stringer]

Yes, Clear Creek empties into Clear Lake. Talking about misnomers!!!!!

Once upon a time it was clear. Grass flats and everything...

[4 Barrel Rambler]

X2 on all of the pollution in Clear Creek. Lots of fish, wouldn't eat any of them. It's scary that I used to swim in the creek in the late 70's. I'm surprised I don't glow at night.

By the way...if you're paddling by the Challenger 7 park, be extremely careful as the wakeboard/ski jerks will run you over and then flip you off afterwards.

[mpg2yahoo]

X2 on all of the pollution in Clear Creek. Lots of fish, wouldn't eat any of them. It's scary that I used to swim in the creek in the late 70's. I'm surprised I don't glow at night.

By the way...if you're paddling by the Challenger 7 park, be extremely careful as the wakeboard/ski jerks will run you over and then flip you off afterwards.

That is the main reason I don't do Clear Creek and adjacent areas. They can come out really fast and don't even see you until the last moment. They are not going to slow down and let the man in the water if they are doing wakeboard/ski. Also, watch for cottonmouth snakes. I have seen many while fishing the Bay Area Park.

[LSUhomer]

Has DelSol confirmed if he launched from the Challenger 7 site? So the best time to fish that area, assuming that is the correct spot, is to fish during the week?