Sabine Lake
GOOD. 74 degrees. Trout continue to be excellent on the North levee early in the morning with live shrimp under a popping cork, switching midday to 5 inch glo chartreuse jigs or crankbaits. Limits of trout on the flats on the north end of Pleasure Island on long drifts with live shrimp under a popping cork. Limits of slot redfish are good in the jetties on rock and shell with live shrimp under a popping cork. Redfish, bull redfish and trout are good in the Bessie Heights marsh rock piles, points and drops. The points and turnarounds are good for trout in 4-6 feet of water in the Neches River making long drifts with a quarter ounce jig heads. You will need to sift through many fish to find the keepers. Sheepshead and undersized drum showing up in the Bessie Heights marsh mixed in with the redfish biting on Carolina rig off the bottoms or live shrimp under a cork. Rain is in the forecast but the salinity continues to be good so fishing should continue to be good. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.
Bolivar
GOOD. 65 degrees. Fishing is on fire pulling in redfish and black drum off the jetties on live shrimp under a cork. Crabs can be caught off the rocks at the jetties. Bull croakers, small speckled trout in the jetties. The surf is good for redfish on the bay side and big black drum and bigger sized speckled trout live shrimp, or cut mullet. Report by Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp. Fishing patterns remain consistent. The surf is holding numbers of black drum, shark, and some big redfish on cut bait or live bait on the bottom. The gulfside of the North Jetty is holding limits of trout, redfish, sheepshead with an occasional bull redfish against the rocks with live shrimp with popping cork. The cuts leading in the bay from ICW holding redfish against shorelines by the rocks. Lots of black drum around Goat Island. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Trinity Bay
GOOD. 66 degrees. Birds working over schools of speckled trout near the mouth of the Trinity river. Better fish coming off the east/northeast shoreline by those wading with artificial lures. Still plenty of bull redfish roaming over the open bay. Look for birds on relatively calm days. Jack’s Pocket is good for trout and scattered redfish for those drifting with live shrimp and soft plastics. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
East Galveston Bay
FAIR. 68-75 degrees. Weather has limited action in the open bay. Waders having best luck along the shorelines. Look for larger trout to be caught near Frozen Point and Marsh Point as weather settles and cooler temperatures take hold. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Water clarity is good and we were able to fish near and off the shore reefs again this week for very good catches of trout, redfish, and a few black drum on our artificial lure trips in the 5-6 foot depth range. Once we find the active fish, they are normally only on a small section of the reef, which results in some fast and furious catching action. Birds working are feeding on shrimp and the trout and redfish are there to get an easy meal. We also targeted mud flats with scattered shell beds around pinch points with current and nervous bait, with great success in the 2.5-3 foot depth range. Shrimp imitation lures with Fish Smack popping corks, with 14-18 inch leaders are still producing the most bites for our anglers, resulting in great success on our chartered trips, as well as Deadly Dudley Terror Tails in Blue Moon Chartreuse on �¼ ounce jig head or live shrimp under a popping cork and 20- 24 inch leaders producing the most consistent bites. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC.
Galveston Bay
FAIR. 66 degrees. Upper end of Galveston bay has been the most productive. Good catches of speckled trout and redfish coming from hard bottom areas and along rocks near the Houston ship channel. Best bite on live shrimp. Birds working sporadically in the same area in open water. Soft plastic lures best when fishing the birds. Black drum bite remains strong on live shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The surf is red hot on fire from East Beach all the way to Surfside for speckled trout, redfish and an occasional shark on live bait. Sheepshead on popping cork with live shrimp, or on the bottom with live shrimp at the wells. The A-1 gas wells off the ship channel near Brothel Island are holding some nice trout with a chatterweight and croaker. Redfish at rocks by Brothel Island on popping cork with shrimp or gulp shrimp. The speckled trout are on shrimp and artificials. The South Jetty is holding some big redfish with a few nice slots, and sharks on the end. Gulf side of the jetties is on fire for speckled trout, sheepshead and redfish close to rocks on a popping cork with live bait free-lined shrimp, or Carolina rigged float with shrimp, or chatter weight and croaker. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
West Galveston Bay
FAIR. 68 degrees. Fair catches of speckled trout reported in protected areas. Waders are catching the larger fish. Once the wind settles, look for birds in the open bay. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. West Bay’s South Shore holding a lot of speckled trout and redfish for wade angler and those drift fishing around the coves and grass lines from Waterman’s to Bay Harbor using a chatterweight 12 inch fluorocarbon leader 3/0 k hook. Both sides of Bird Island holding fish Bird Island flats still holding good numbers of speckled trout, and good numbers of redfish for wade anglers. North shorelines between Carancahua Reef and Confederate Reef holding good trout and redfish with an occasional flounder drifting. The off pole A to D poles with a chatterweight, croaker or popping cork with shrimp. The rocks at the opening of Chocolate Bayou, holding some nice fish on both sides. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Houston
FAIR. Water slightly stained; 65 degrees; 0.22 feet above pool. Catfish are good on live or cut bait.Bass are good on wacky worms in 5-10 feet of water. Crappie are fair on submerged structures with minnows or crappie jigs.
Texas City
FAIR. 68 degrees. It has been a rough week of weather along the coast. Big black drum and the occasional bull redfish can be taken from the Texas City Dike on mullet and crab. Galveston jetties producing good numbers of sheepshead. Bull redfish are good, along with a few slot sized fish and keeper black drum. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The rock shoals in front of Swan Lake producing some speckled trout under popping cork with shrimp. Trout in the guts between the shoals. The shoreline across from the right side of the dike behind the barges holding nice trout and flounder with artificial or live bait. Mosquito Island holding trout with an occasional redfish on artificial bone color working the best. Moses Lake is holding some redfish near the gun range, and rocks in front of the deep hole passed the three islands. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Freeport
GOOD. 70 degrees. Birds have been working over trout and redfish while they feed on shrimp in the mornings and evenings. Live shrimp under a four horseman pop n corks been working well or gulp with 1/16 ounce jig head. The redfish in the surf are good on live or cut mullet. Jetties are good for catches of trout, redfish and sheepshead. The river is good for catches of trout, redfish, drum, and big croaker with live shrimp. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures.
East Matagorda Bay
GOOD. 65-70 degrees. Fishing forecast looks good as we head into a weekend on the upswing to the full moon, and on the back end of a cold front. The cooler water temperature will have shrimp coming out of the marshes. The bite has been early in the morning ending around 9 A.M. before it picks up in the afternoon. Birds continue to lead the way to redfish for wade and boat anglers using artificial lures or mullet. Both the east and west ends are good for trout. The drum bite has slowed. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
West Matagorda Bay
GOOD. 65-70 degrees. Fishing forecast looks good as we head into a weekend on the upswing to the full moon, and on the back end of a cold front. The cooler water temperature will have shrimp coming out of the marshes. The bite has been early in the morning ending around 9 A.M. before it picks up in the afternoon. Birds are working, leading the way to redfish biting artificial lures, or mullet. Nice catches of redfish in the back lakes and bayous as well. Trout are biting on the east end of the bay. The drum bite has slowed. The Colorado River is producing nice catches of trout with some birds working the river as well. The nastier the weather the better fishing becomes in the river. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
Port O’Connor
FAIR. 66 degrees. Windy weather has created tough fishing conditions. Slot redfish are good on the inside and outside of both jetties using dead shrimp or Spanish sardines. Bull redfish are good from the back of jetties to Bird Island biting blue crab and Spanish sardines. Trout bite has been nonexistent. Sheepshead bite is improving on live or dead shrimp and fish bites all over the jetties. Pompano and Mangrove snapper are biting live shrimp at the back of the jetties near Honey Hole and Alcatraz. Drum are fair on in the flare of the jetties on dead shrimp. Sharks are still in the jetties, but the forecasted norther should push them out. Report by Captain Marty Medford, Captain Marty’s Fish of a Lifetime Guide Service.
Rockport
GOOD. 62 degrees. Prefront fishing have been great, the 2-3 days post front are slow. Redfish will be plentiful in the marsh and around the islands in 1-2 feet of water. Gulp, gold spoons, and topwaters have been working well. Trout have been good on soft plastics in 2-4 feet of water over mud and shell. Drum have been good in the back lake inlets on dead shrimp. Report provided by Captain Damian Hubbs, Top Gun Outfitters.
Port Aransas
FAIR. 65 degrees. Fishing patterns continue as the cold fronts roll through. Redfish and drum continue to be in deeper pockets of water in Aransas Bay. Tempt the fish to bite by throwing shrimp into the pockets. Sheepshead deeper jetty rocks with live shrimp. Report by Captain Doug Stanford, Pirates of the Bay Fishing Charters.
Corpus Christi
FAIR. 65 degrees. Fishing conditions continue to be tough while while the winds persist. Try fishing in East Flats where the waters should be cleaner for black drum and redfish using mullet, shrimp or mud minnows. Report by Captain Doug Stanford, Pirates of the Bay Fishing Charters.
Baffin Bay
GREAT. 65 degrees. Conditions have been unpredictable as usual for this time of year. Low pressure systems have been moving into Baffin which typically leads to some great fishing activity. Knee to waist deep water has been most favorable. When choosing an area to wade, baitfish and birds are great indicators this time of year to help guide you to where the fish are at. If it is calm enough, read the water and watch the surface closely, watch the bait, look for slicks, swirls and frantically moving baitfish. If you do not notice any of these things in the area move to another unit you find it. Fan out your casts and thoroughly work throughout the area, if you get a bite, plant your feet and throw back in the same area. Top waters of any color, pink or lime green paddle tails and dark rat tail plastics have been producing great quality fish. Stay confident and consistent this time of year, it will surely lead to a personal best fish or a couple to take home for dinner. Stay safe and warm out on the water and as always, tight lines!! Report by Captain Reanna DeLaCruz, Captain Reanna’s Baffin Bay Adventures. Black drum and slot redfish are good with live shrimp over shallow rocks in Baffin. Report by Gilbert Barrera, Baffin Bay Hunting and Fishing.
Port Mansfield
FAIR. 55-60 degrees. Trout were a little lethargic due to the colder temperatures, but catches are still possible. Redfish have been a little more aggressive taking soft plastics and slow sinking jerk baits. Most fish came near potholes. Looking forward to some topwater action as the water warms. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters.
South Padre
GOOD. 75 degrees. The forecast should improve heading into the weekend. Jetties should be good for redfish and some mangrove snapper. Sheepshead and occasional trout at the Old Causeway free shrimping. If the weather warms, look for trout and redfish drifting on gas well flats with popping cork and live shrimp in late morning and afternoon. Stay safe out there! Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.
Port Isabel
GOOD. 75 degrees. The forecast should improve heading into the weekend. Jetties should be good for redfish and some mangrove snapper. Sheepshead and occasional trout at the Old Causeway free shrimping. If the weather warms, look for trout and redfish drifting on gas well flats with popping cork and live shrimp in late morning and afternoon. Stay safe out there! Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.
Source: TPW