Sabine Lake
FAIR. 54 degrees. Sabine Lake is stained after the recent cold fronts. Limits of redfish, drum and sheepshead in the Bessie Heights area and ditches leading into the marsh in 6-8 feet of water Carolina rigged live shrimp, or live shrimp with popping cork. Fish are on the Neches River on shell banks, points and drops. When the winds are blowing out the south the bite improves in the lake and ICW. North Levee wall producing nice trout early in the morning on Carolina rigged live shrimp or live shrimp under a popping cork. ICW holds limits of redfish, sheepshead and drum popping cork with live shrimp, or Carolina live shrimp off the bottom. ICW slot redfish 5 inch plastics ⅛ ounce jighead morning glory chartreuse. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.
Bolivar
FAIR. 44 degrees. Believe it or not, there have been catches of catfish, bass and redfish in East Bay due to the freshwater runoff. Surf producing catches of black drum, red drum, a few speckled trout and sporadic sheepshead. Surf at Bolivar flats producing catches of sand sharks and spinners. Report by North Jetty Bait Camp.
Trinity Bay
SLOW. 56 degrees. What had been steady action has come to a halt due to the freshwater runoff from the recent rains. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Major water event with San Jacinto and Trinity rivers dumping heavily. Redfish, being more durable, are bouncing back quickly around rocks and water movement being caught on swimbaits and gulp baits. Sheephead are in abundance around docks and pilings with barnacles free lining shrimp along with black drum. Trout will bounce back after returning to their fine waters monitoring the salinity levels. Flounder can be caught on drains dumping from muddy lakes on live shrimp and gulp baits. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
East Galveston Bay
FAIR. 50 degrees. Fishing has been slow due to freshwater runoff and the bay is off colored. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperature rose to 58 degrees, water clarity stained for the most part. Our success remains back in the marsh/bayou areas where one can get some protection from the Strong North wind and wave action. This Redfish bite has still been consistent in areas where good current flow has bait up against the shorelines/grass lines in 1 to 3 feet of water around oyster shells on Wac Attack Tails in Chartreuse, fished with 1/8 oz heads, as well as fished under a Fish Smack popping cork, with an 18” leader. The trout have preferred an eratic presentation with pauses, targeting deeper pockets close to channel bends/deeper drops with shell, triggering the most bites. The lighter the jig head the better, determined by the wind and current, and tails without paddles, performing the best. Water has warmed this week and the fish are more active compared to last week, we just need the winds to cease a little to allow us to fish more of our winter time areas. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC.
Galveston Bay
SLOW. 58 degrees. Lots of freshwater runoff in the bay. Few catches of black drums and redfish reported from deeper channels on live shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
West Galveston Bay
SLOW. 56 degrees. Fishing has been slow, although the water remains in good shape in the middle of the bay. Tides are low, but once they come back up, look for the fishing to pick up. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
Houston
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 58 degrees; 1.45 feet below pool. Lake Houston was in the minor flood category for a few days. White bass are bouncing back quickly in the northern creeks and hungry in the muddy water being caught in spins and jigs. Crappie are following a similar pattern being caught in small jigs in 14-16 feet of water. Catfish are everywhere in the main channels being caught with shad and stink bait. Largemouth bass will bounce back accordingly but with the full moon hitting at night. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
Texas City
SLOW. 54 degrees. The few anglers fishing off the end of the dike on the channel side are catching a few oversized black drums. Galveston jetties holding a few oversized black drums and some sheepshead. Live halved crab works best for drums, and live shrimp for the sheepshead. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
Freeport
SLOW. 58 degrees. Sheephead, drum, redfish and trout are good in the old river and old intracoastal. Bastrop Bay and Chocolate Bay are good for catches of trout and redfish using live shrimp, or 1/4-⅜ ounce jig heads. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures.
East Matagorda Bay
SLOW. 58 degrees. The weather is finally improving and with winds out of the south expect the bite to improve. Best success drifting the west end of the bay for trout, redfish, with the occasional drum. When the winds are light three may be a bite for wade anglers in the afternoon. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
West Matagorda Bay
SLOW. 58 degrees. The east end of the bay is fresh due to the influx of freshwater runoff from The Colorado River and Diversionary Canal. The weather is finally improving and with winds out of the south expect the bite to improve. Best success will be out of the freshwater line targeting mid bay reefs for trout and redfish. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
Port O’Connor
SLOW. 58 degrees. Trout are biting at the outside of the jetties on live shrimp and dirty tequila soft plastics. Sheepshead are biting throughout the jetties on live shrimp. Slot redfish are at the end of the north jetty biting Spanish sardines and dead shrimp. Bull redfish are biting at the back of the jetties in Alcatraz on Spanish sardines. Very few catches of drums. Report by Captain Marty Medford, Captain Marty’s Fish of a Lifetime Guide Service.
Rockport
SLOW. 51 degrees. The bite has slowed due to the cold front. Target trout on channel drop offs on soft plastics. Redfish should be near the spoil islands on gold spoons, soft plastics, and cut bait. Drum have been fair on mud or sand flats on dead shrimp. Report provided by Captain Damian Hubbs, Top Gun Outfitters. Best bite is in the jetties right now while bay fish are lethargic from cold water temperatures. Redfish are good on cut mullet and shrimp. Sheepshead are good on shrimp free lined against rocks. Trout are good on live shrimp and plastics along the rocks. A few redfish can be caught in the bay on cut mullet and live shrimp. Fishing deeper cuts and channels with plastics have been good for trout and redfish. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.
Port Aransas
FAIR. 50 degrees. Best bite is in the jetties right now while bay fish are lethargic from cold water temperatures. Redfish are good on cut mullet and shrimp. Sheepshead are good on shrimp free lined against rocks. Trout are good on live shrimp and plastics along the rocks. A few redfish can be caught in the bay on cut mullet and live shrimp. Fishing deeper cuts and channels with plastics have been good for trout and redfish Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.
Corpus Christi
GOOD. 55 degrees. While the tides are low redfish, black drum and trout are stacked in the shallow water along the edges of flats sunning and feeding. The bite is best later in the afternoon when the winds are blowing and the water is turned. Fish are biting dead shrimp. Report by Captain Aerich Oliver, Rockport Paradise Outfitters.
Baffin Bay
SLOW. 53 degrees. The bite has increasingly become more active with fair weather conditions bringing some great opportunities to get on the water. Baitfish are finding their way shallow into warmer water, so expect bigger fish to follow. Parallel guts, scattered grass beds and grass lines have been great productive structures. Be sure to target areas with some signs of life, baitfish jumping or flashing just beneath the surface. Slicks, ospreys and pelicans floating on the water or diving. Once you identify these signs, make a game plan and stick to it, dissect the area and once you get bit, plant yourself and fish it thoroughly. MirrOlure Little John XL on a Texas Custom Lure 1/16 ounce jig head, Texas Custom Lure Double D in copper and Custom Corky lures in dark colors have all been producing fantastic fish. Stay safe out on the water, keep what you need and release the rest & as always tight lines! Report by Captain Reanna DeLaCruz, Captain Reanna’s Baffin Bay Adventures. Conditions are cold with low tides. Before the front fish were deep biting live shrimp. Report by Captain Gilbert Barrera, Baffin Bay Hunting and Fishing.
Port Mansfield
SLOW. 53 degrees. This week fishing conditions are shaping up nicely with stable weather. Fish are holding in about 2 feet of water in potholes. Small twitch baits and Wigalo’s have been effective when the sun is bright. When cloud cover moves in topwaters have been great if water temperatures are above 60 degrees. Both trout and redfish are fat and plump. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters.
South Padre
FAIR. 60 degrees. Weather forecast heading into the weekend is shaping up nicely with cool nights and warm days. Still a lot of sheepshead being caught free shrimping live shrimp at the Old Causeway and south jetties. Still some trout in deep water, try fishing the intracoastal at Three Islands. A few flounder at the mouth of Arroyo Colorado. Redfish are on the Gas Well flats and South Bay. Stay safe out there! Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.
Port Isabel
FAIR. 60 degrees. Weather forecast heading into the weekend is shaping up nicely with cool nights and warm days. Still a lot of sheepshead being caught free shrimping live shrimp at the Old Causeway and south jetties. Still some trout in deep water, try fishing the intracoastal at Three Islands. A few flounder at the mouth of Arroyo Colorado. Redfish are on the Gas Well flats and South Bay. Stay safe out there! Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.
Source: TPW