The swells coming in off the Gulf of Mexico were spaced out at about 30-second intervals -- and that's about how long it took for us to hook up with one bull red after another at the end of the south Port O'Connor jetty.

"I'm about worn out," said Chris Davis as he slipped the net under a red of roughly 35 pounds that I'd just reeled to the boat. "Let's pull up the anchor and move down the rocks about 100 yards, and see if the trout are biting.

I cranked the big Yamaha outboard and eased forward as Davis hauled the anchor rope; the current moved us down the jetties. Once we were over our spot, he slipped the anchor. The line came tight and the stern of the 22-foot Pathfinder was upcurrent of a place we called "the Rock."

We lobbed live shrimp into the blue-green water; the current moved the baits over the rock, which sits in 16 feet of water about 10 yards off the jetties. We were rigged up with slip-corks, so that our baits were suspended just over the tip of the submerged rock.

Then, both corks went down almost in unison, and we were into solid jetty trout in the 2 1/2- to 3-pound class. We caught two limits of trout and never moved from that one spot! And the best part about that day of nonstop action on both trout and reds? There were virtually no other boats to horn in on our action.

I've fished out of Port O'Connor for over three decades, and I can say from experience that this is truly the sportfishing jewel of the entire Texas Gulf Coast. Why? That's simple. Fishing for trout and reds, the two most popular sportfish along the Gulf Coast, is as good as it gets here year 'round, but especially during May. Fly-fishing on the clear-water flats is outstanding year 'round. If deep-water action is what you prefer, then head to the jetties, or fish the shell pads around the rigs. There are islands to wade. And the many passes that lead from one area to another are where you can find reds and trout feeding on shrimp, mullet and shad.

Port O'Connor is on the Middle Texas Coast about 2 1/2 hours from Houston and San Antonio. Apart from the great numbers of fish, what makes this area so attractive to anglers is the great scenery. The gin-clear flats stretch for miles. You can beach your boat on one of the many islands and make a day of fishing, hiking and camping. There are miles of kayak trails to paddle.

Pass Cavallo lies at the opening of Matagorda Island. Running close to 30 miles, the beach along Matagorda Island is completely undeveloped. You can wade it or fish from a boat. For the most part, the best fishing out of POC is with a boat. There is limited wade-fishing along the town beach and jetties. That's where you'll also find a fishing pier.

In short, POC is a paradise for the light-tackle angler and the flyfisherman. And as the currents warm during the month of May, the fishing for trout and reds is outstanding. The many islands spread out from the town of Port O'Connor to the eastern tip of Matagorda Island offer more flats action than you can imagine.

The best way to access the islands is via the narrow and snaking pass that leads to Barroom Bay. From there you can cut through Big Bayou and head to Bayucos Island, and from there you can run through the pass to Saluria Bayou and on out to Grass Island and Farwell Island. That's a lot of territory to cover in one day, but that should give you an idea of how much prime real estate there is to fish at POC.

I've fished out of Port O'Connor for over three decades, and I can say from experience that this is truly the sportfishing jewel of the entire Texas Gulf Coast.