Sabine Lake
GOOD. 58 degrees. The forecasted norther will keep anglers off the lake due to cold temperatures and high winds. Best success will be fishing the Neches River while the blustery winds blow. Trout, redfish, flounder and very nice catfish can be caught off the rocks, points, shell banks and drops with Carolina rigs in 4-20 feet of water. Flounder are still in the system and moving around biting plastics tipped with shrimp. Marsh is holding limits of sheepshead and drum in 4-9 feet of water along the shell banks, points and ship turnarounds. Fish are deeper feeding on mud minnows and marsh minnows, so fish with live shrimp on a Carolina rig. The north end of Sabine Lake is good for slot trout or redfish drifting off Stewts Island, or wade fishing with topwaters and suspended baits off of points and shell banks. Pleasure Island Point North Levee continues to have an early morning bite for nice redfish, speckled trout and flounder on live shrimp on popping cork or Carolina rig. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.
Bolivar
GOOD. 60-65 degrees. Goat Island drains water runoff into the open water, holding redfish and trout on topwaters early and late, soft plastics later. Fish cuts through the intercoastal waterway from goat Island to rollover. Ytes Bayou drains holding redfish on soft plastics and live shrimp under popping cork. Report by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service.
Trinity Bay
GOOD. 57 degrees. Scattered trout being caught in Tabbs Bay in 6-7 feet of water using soft plastic lures. A few catches of sheepshead and black drum being taken on live shrimp further up along the Spoil Islands lining the ship channel. Trout bite is slow in this same area, but a few fish being caught on soft plastics. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The bite has changed after the recent rains. Redfish can be caught under the pelicans smashing swimbaits, or still hitting live shrimp under a popping cork. Trout are hugging the bottom in waterways that are not blown out by dirty water and starting to transition to a winter pattern finding dead ends in more clear water. Catches can be had using croaker, swimbaits and a few bites on live shrimp. Sheephead are on fire around docks and structures free lining shrimp with serum mixed in as well. Flounder are starting to mix in drains off of small lakes and bottleneck areas with current being caught on swim baits and a bit in live shrimp. Pay attention to tide charts and weather reports so you do not risk your safety or safety of the members onboard prior to heading out on a fishing adventure! Be safe, be prepared and have a float plan to accommodate everyone onboard your vessel, it could save lives. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
East Galveston Bay
FAIR. 54-60 degrees. Redfish dominate the catches up along grass shorelines and in deep bayous. Scattered trout from the same area. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperature is 54 degrees and the water clarity is average for this time of year. This week we have concentrated back in the marsh areas where we can get some protection from the wind and wave action, as well as find some pockets and areas with adequate water depth and slight temperature increases. The oversize redfish and speckled trout bite has been consistent in deeper cuts in 5-7 feet of water utilizing ¼ ounce jig heads with blue moon or chartreuse paddle tails. After the cold front and water temperature drop a slow presentation was preferred. Very slow movement of the lure dragging across the bottom, sometimes even deadsticking it, triggered the most strikes for our anglers. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Smith Point shoreline still holding redfish and trout on artificial twitch baits and soft plastic or shrimp under a popping cork. SeaWolf Park holding bull redfish and black drum on the pier. Trout on shrimp under popping cork at the concrete wall. Report by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service.
Galveston Bay
FAIR. 58 degrees. Winds and weather have kept most anglers pinned up to the shoreline. Overall the bite has been slow with a few catches of black drum and sheepshead reported. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The jetties holding sheepshead and speckled trout with shrimp under a popping cork or free line shrimp near the rocks. Trout fishing near drop off or deeper water. Swan Lake rock shoals holding sheepshead on popping cork with shrimp, trout with live shrimp or paddle tails. Report by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service.
West Galveston Bay
FAIR. 58 degrees. Scattered speckled trout being caught by those drifting with soft plastics. Waders picking up some decent fish along lower bay structures near drop offs. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Carancahua Lake and Green’s Lake are holding redfish and black drum on shrimp at the grass lines. And some redfish and trout inside on soft plastic. Watch the tides. South of cold pass waders still getting trout and redfish in deeper waters. Jones bay holding a few fish early on soft plastic. Report by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service.
Houston
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 58 degrees; 0.38 feet above pool. White bass returned to the main lake this week for a bit being caught on plastic swimbaits and spinning baits. With the frontal pattern returning this week it should be the final push to move them all north to spawn. Crappie are hugging tight to the bottom in 10-16 feet of water in East Fork and Luces Bayou. They are needing persuasion to entice the bites. Gar are plentiful in the creeks hitting rattle traps and spinning baits. Catfish are being caught in numbers on jug lines in the main waterways and the northern lake. Largemouth are needing extra persuasion but night fishing for largemouth has been producing numbers with plastics. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
Texas City
FAIR. 56 degrees. Slow catches reported this past week. A few bull redfish caught along the Galveston jetties and Galveston Channel. Still some flounder in the channel, but no big numbers. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The rock shoals near Dollar Reef are holding trout and redfish on soft plastics and shrimp. The rocks just across Texas city channel are holding nice trout on split tail soft plastic. The dike is holding Trout and redfish at night under lights. Bull redfish and big uglies are at the end of the dike. Report by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service.
Freeport
GOOD. 60 degrees. Trout and redfish are good working the deep oyster reefs in Bastrop, Christmas, and Chocolate Bay with gulp shrimp, live shrimp, or �¼ ounce jighead on soft plastics. Catching drum, sheephead, trout and redfish in the Brazos River and Bernard River using live shrimp. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures.
East Matagorda Bay
FAIR. 58 degrees. January and February are typically great fishing months, but anglers will have to fish between high pressure days. High pressure has slowed the trout bite. Best days to fish are those with winds out of the south. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
West Matagorda Bay
FAIR. 58 degrees. January and February are typically great fishing months, but anglers will have to fish between high pressure days. High pressure has slowed the trout bite. Redfish can be caught drifting with artificials. Fishing is good in the Colorado River or diversionary canal when the tides are low. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
Port O’Connor
FAIR. 58 degrees. Redfish can be found halfway down the South Jetty biting Spanish sardines and dead shrimp. Drum are inside of both jetties on dead shrimp. Oversized drum in the flair of the jetty on dead shrimp and blue crab. Trout are slow due to cold weather and murky water. Sheephead are biting throughout the jetties on dead or live shrimp. Bull redfish are biting near Alcatraz Island on Spanish sardines. Report by Captain Marty Medford, Captain Marty’s Fish of a Lifetime Guide Service.
Rockport
GOOD. 57 degrees. Rockport has been great but the weather will be tough over the next week. Trout have been good on channel drop offs on soft plastics. Redfish have been good around the spoil islands on gold spoons, soft plastics, and cut bait. Drum have been fair on mud/sand flats on dead shrimp. Report provided by Captain Damian Hubbs, Top Gun Outfitters. Trout, redfish and pompano are excellent at the jetties on live shrimp. Redfish and black drum are excellent in flats, guts and edges using live shrimp. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.
Port Aransas
GOOD. 57 degrees. Trout, redfish and pompano are excellent at the jetties on live shrimp. Redfish and black drum are excellent in flats, guts and edges using live shrimp. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.
Corpus Christi
GOOD. 60 degrees. Cold front and gusty winds in the forecast. Very little water in the bay flats pushing the fish to deeper channels. Redfish are biting cut mullet. Oversized drum at the jetties. Drums are biting dead shrimp. Report by Captain Aerich Oliver, Rockport Paradise Outfitters.
Baffin Bay
GOOD. 60 degrees. The bite has been seemingly slow in Baffin Bay, with the fluctuating water levels and high barometric pressure, it’s been some tougher than usual fishing conditions. This calls for some deliberate fishing, fishing with a purpose, and really paying attention to all the little details. Pelicans floating in an area, swirls, V-wakes, baitfish quickly jumping out of the water are all indications that there is something below the surface taking place. These aspects will help you when the conditions do not line up for a stellar day on Baffin, becoming aware of how to approach these challenges will help make you a better overall angler. Rod tip up high, twitch-twitch and fall is the most productive way to persuade a bite in these picky eaters, with MirrOlure MirrOdines, Paul Brown and Custom Corky Softdines. MirrorLure Little John XLs have been great with a 1/32 ounce hook, let it fall to the bottom and dust off the bottom real quick. Most importantly, stay confident in what you are throwing, do not leave the fish to go find the fish, if you get a bite it’s confirmation that there is fish in the area. Plant your feet and worth the area thoroughly, it will surely lead to your personal best fish or a couple to take home! Stay safe out on the water, and as always tight lines! Report by Captain Reanna DeLaCruz, Captain Reanna’s Baffin Bay Adventures.
Port Mansfield
SLOW. 57 degrees. Fishing was good recently for trout and redfish in the shallows. However, strong winds have moved in which will cause muddy water conditions. Fish can still be caught using big paddle tails and loud topwaters. As the winds lay and water clears, consider targeting isolated grass beds and small potholes using Ball Tails and Wigalo’s and Mansfield Knockers. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters.
South Padre
GOOD. 60 degrees. Fishing is good when the winds allow. Speckled trout are good on the edge of Intracoastal, Gas Well Flats and south of the Causeway. Small black drums are all over the east side of the bay in small schools with live shrimp or small pieces of cut finger mullet fished with a bottom rig. Redfish are here and there but best west of the Zipline. Sheepshead continues to be good at the Old Causeway. Stay safe out there! Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.
Port Isabel
GOOD. 60 degrees. Fishing is good when the winds allow. Speckled trout are good on the edge of Intracoastal, Gas Well Flats and south of the Causeway. Small black drums are all over the east side of the bay in small schools with live shrimp or small pieces of cut finger mullet fished with a bottom rig. Redfish are here and there but best west of the Zipline. Sheepshead continues to be good at the Old Causeway. Stay safe out there! Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.
Source: TPW