Saltwater Weekly Fishing Report Week of January 15, 2025

Redfish Bay

FAIR. 55 degrees. The water has dropped out so redfishing and drum are good on dead shrimp. Report by Captain Aerich Oliver, Rockport Paradise Outfitters.

San Antonio Bay

GOOD. 52 degrees. Prefrontal fishing should be good before the forecasted cold front hits this weekend. The front should drop water out of the bay. There are some good trout and redfish being caught on live shrimp and sheepshead on dead shrimp. Report Captain Lynn Smith, Back Bay Guide Service.

Sabine Lake

GOOD. 55 degrees. Neches River turnaround drops and points are good for sheepshead, and limits of drum and redfish with Carolina rigs and live shrimp. Some fish can be caught on the edge of points with live shrimp under a popping cork. Channel catfish can be caught mixed in. Sabine Lake is good for limits of speckled trout on the north Pleasure Island wall near the bank casting 3-5 inch glow chartreuse plastics and dragging along the bottom. Speckled trout can be caught drifting off the mouth of the bayou over the shell in 4-6 feet of water. The winds pick up in the afternoon so get out early. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.

Bolivar

GOOD. 60 degrees. It is going to be another week of hit-or-miss fishing due to the weather changing back and forth. Two tide days early in the week turning to four tide changes during the later week when the temperatures climb back into the 60s with some wind gusts and possible rain. Fishing is fair to excellent. Water temperature is staying in the lower 60s. Water levels change back-and-forth per usual for the winter. Anglers are catching numbers of redfish everywhere. A few more nice speckled trout are still being caught along with sand trout, black drum, redfish, occasional sheepshead, and crabs caught along the jetty. The flounder are still there but mixed sizes from small 6-8 inch to 25-26 inches. The surf is producing lots of redfish and black drums, occasional speckled trout and a few sharks along the whole peninsula with more activity towards Gilchrist and High Island mainly. People are using all kinds of different things for bait this past week with varying results either limiting out or not catching much. Check your weather app for barometer changes. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.

Trinity Bay

SLOW. 52 degrees. Weather remains raw, bitter, and cold, but a slight warming trend is on tap before the next front. Some areas of the bay system received a little over 2 inches of rain. Back lakes and bayous might be off-colored. Best bets for speckled trout would be to fish locations adjacent and parallel to deep water. The lower part of Chocolate and Bastrop Bayous are good choices. The deep shell in west Galveston Bay has been producing some decent trout on soft plastics. Sylvan Beach shoreline action has been steady. Upper bays past the Fred Hartman Bridge are good for drum, sheepshead, redfish, and speckled trout, mostly on live shrimp. Galveston jetties seeing better numbers of over sized black drum on live halved crab. Bull redfish are still biting on the same bait and cut mullet. Sheepshead numbers are up on live shrimp fished tight to the rocks. Galveston Bay around Eagle Point is fair for trout, a few black drum and sheepshead. Windy conditions limit the fishable area. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The recent water release from the Trinity River ran a lot of redfish south and with the recent front, the target area will be the reds in the main bay and main bay shorelines. More rain on the way with estimated 2-3 inches, so the south pattern will most likely stick for a bit. Recent northwest winds most likely dumped the remaining shrimp in the bay and mixed with the fresh water, they most likely headed south as well. Trout were just getting right on the drains prior to last Sunday with the lochs opening up. The spillway and north shoreline should be where it’s at this week and up to Baytown. Trout are hitting WAC Attacks Shad XL in the peppered pumpkin color and gulp baits rigged with �¼ ounce jig heads and also using ⅜ ounce in the current. Redfish are hammering gulp in the rocks with current in about 1-2 feet of water if you can find an area like this. It seems the last few weeks the redfish are going as far north as they can in an area that is always protected from wind and with bait and with good current. Drum and sheepshead are on about any rock shoreline using live and dead bait under a popping cork. Always wear your kill switch and God is great! Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.

East Galveston Bay

GOOD. 51 degrees. Weather remains raw, bitter, and cold, but a slight warming trend is on tap before the next front. Some areas of the bay system received a little over 2 inches of rain. Back lakes and bayous might be off-colored. Best bets for speckled trout would be to fish locations adjacent and parallel to deep water. The lower part of Chocolate and Bastrop Bayous are good choices. The deep shell in west Galveston Bay has been producing some decent trout on soft plastics. Sylvan Beach shoreline action has been steady. Upper bays past the Fred Hartman Bridge are good for drum, sheepshead, redfish, and speckled trout, mostly on live shrimp. Galveston jetties seeing better numbers of over sized black drum on live halved crab. Bull redfish are still biting on the same bait and cut mullet. Sheepshead numbers are up on live shrimp fished tight to the rocks. Galveston Bay around Eagle Point is fair for trout, a few black drum and sheepshead. Windy conditions limit the fishable area. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. East Bay and inter-coastal waterway: More slot-sized speckled trout are showing up in the deep areas along with black drum, and redfish. Fish can be caught on live shrimp and finger mullet. There are still a few reports of good fishing by Frenchtown Road, Siever’s cut, and near the boat ramp by Rollover per Captain Jack Blume. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp. The water clarity is all over the board for East Galveston Bay, depending on where you are at in the bay system. This past week we had a cold front with Strong North Winds push through once again that dropped the water temperatures, as well as water levels in the bay system. On our morning trips we have fished falling tides, catching some solid fish and some oversize fish as well. The ticket the past few days has been fishing slowly right on the bottom over deeper shells and mud with various size jig heads with Salt & Pepper WACky shad XL tails by Wac Attack, securing the most bites. Please watch the major and minor fish times, as this past week, that has been when the bite really turned on for us. Remember the fish still have to eat, although not as often, so be very methodical in your presentation, and fish areas where you have confidence in. The redfish bite has been consistent around drains and in the very shallow water areas back in the marsh. We are still using Imitation shrimp lures and tails under popping corks, with a 1-foot leader to trigger bites, as well as weightless Deadly Dudley Rat Tails. This time of year brings some of the best opportunities for bigger fish, with fewer fishers on the water, and bigger fish on the prowl, so get out and make it happen with your family and friends. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Service, LLC.

Galveston Bay

SLOW. 52 degrees. Weather remains raw, bitter, and cold, but a slight warming trend is on tap before the next front. Some areas of the bay system received a little over 2 inches of rain. Back lakes and bayous might be off-colored. Best bets for speckled trout would be to fish locations adjacent and parallel to deep water. The lower part of Chocolate and Bastrop Bayous are good choices. The deep shell in west Galveston Bay has been producing some decent trout on soft plastics. Sylvan Beach shoreline action has been steady. Upper bays past the Fred Hartman Bridge are good for drum, sheepshead, redfish, and speckled trout, mostly on live shrimp. Galveston jetties seeing better numbers of over sized black drum on live halved crab. Bull redfish are still biting on the same bait and cut mullet. Sheepshead numbers are up on live shrimp fished tight to the rocks. Galveston Bay around Eagle Point is fair for trout, a few black drum and sheepshead. Windy conditions limit the fishable area. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

West Galveston Bay

GOOD. 52 degrees. Weather remains raw, bitter, and cold, but a slight warming trend is on tap before the next front. Some areas of the bay system received a little over 2 inches of rain. Back lakes and bayous might be off-colored. Best bets for speckled trout would be to fish locations adjacent and parallel to deep water. The lower part of Chocolate and Bastrop Bayous are good choices. The deep shell in west Galveston Bay has been producing some decent trout on soft plastics. Sylvan Beach shoreline action has been steady. Upper bays past the Fred Hartman Bridge are good for drum, sheepshead, redfish, and speckled trout, mostly on live shrimp. Galveston jetties seeing better numbers of over sized black drum on live halved crab. Bull redfish are still biting on the same bait and cut mullet. Sheepshead numbers are up on live shrimp fished tight to the rocks. Galveston Bay around Eagle Point is fair for trout, a few black drum and sheepshead. Windy conditions limit the fishable area. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

Texas City

GOOD. 52 degrees. Weather remains raw, bitter, and cold, but a slight warming trend is on tap before the next front. Some areas of the bay system received a little over 2 inches of rain. Back lakes and bayous might be off-colored. Best bets for speckled trout would be to fish locations adjacent and parallel to deep water. The lower part of Chocolate and Bastrop Bayous are good choices. The deep shell in west Galveston Bay has been producing some decent trout on soft plastics. Sylvan Beach shoreline action has been steady. Upper bays past the Fred Hartman Bridge are good for drum, sheepshead, redfish, and speckled trout, mostly on live shrimp. Galveston jetties seeing better numbers of over sized black drum on live halved crab. Bull redfish are still biting on the same bait and cut mullet. Sheepshead numbers are up on live shrimp fished tight to the rocks. Galveston Bay around Eagle Point is fair for trout, a few black drum and sheepshead. Windy conditions limit the fishable area. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Fishing is good to excellent! Water temperatures are in the upper 50s. Anglers are catching numbers of speckled trout, redfish, and black drum with the occasional sand trout, gafftop and big croakers. Wade fishing has been sporadic but great on the incoming tides in the afternoons. Along the dike has been productive. Live shrimp and finger mullet have been the best baits unless you want to use crab to try and catch one of the massive golden-hued black drums that are coming in from the gulf. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.

Freeport

GOOD. 50 degrees. Fishing is good between fronts. Target deep reefs over mud in Chocolate Bay, Bastrop Bay and Drum Bay for trout and redfish with few drum and sheepshead in the mix. Throwing shrimp under a pop in cork, gulp and down south lures with �¼-3/8 ounce jig has been the ticket. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures

East Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 44 degrees. Few anglers on the water due to the cold weather and the tides are low. The Colorado River is off-colored and should take a week to clear. Some waders are attempting to catch trout along the shorelines. A few anglers targeting redfish in the Diversionary Canal with bait. Fishing should be good on Friday before the forecasted cold front. Drift the deeper water in East Bay for trout and redfish with artificials. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

West Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 44 degrees. Few anglers on the water due to the cold weather and the tides are low. The Colorado River is off-colored and should take a week to clear. A few anglers targeting redfish in the Diversionary Canal with bait. Fishing should be good on Friday before the forecasted cold front. Drift the deeper water for trout and redfish with artificials. Some redfish anglers are wade fishing. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

Port O'Connor

GOOD. 55 degrees. Good numbers of trout can be caught on the outside of the south jetty with live shrimp. Redfish are on the inside of both jetties with blue crab or Spanish sardines. Black drums are biting at the ends of both jetties with dead shrimp. Report by Captain Marty Medford, Captain Marty’s Fish of a Lifetime Guide Service.

Rockport

GOOD. 55 degrees. Tides have been super low this week. Trout are good drifting flats and in drains with live shrimp and your favorite soft plastics. Redfish have been great on shrimp or cut mullet in flats fishing drains and guts. Black drum are great on live or dead shrimp and fish bites in drains, guts and along oyster beds. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.

Port Aransas

GOOD. 55 degrees. Redfish have been great on live shrimp and cut mullet on the north and south jetty. Oversized redfish have been good on cut crab and mullet. Trout are good with shrimp free lined along rocks. Black drums are fair on shrimp. Sheepshead are good using shrimp along rocks and structures. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.

Corpus Christi

FAIR. 55 degrees. The water has dropped out so redfishing and drum are good on dead shrimp. Report by Captain Aerich Oliver, Rockport Paradise Outfitters.

Baffin Bay

GOOD. 55 degrees. Even a moderate warm up or some sunshine will help to entice cold fish to feed! Big trout are hanging near deeper edges and drop offs. Pay close attention to any mullet jumping. When the water is cold, that really means something. Even a mullet does not want to expend extra energy to jump, unless it thinks there’s a predator about! Now is the time to fish larger profile lures like Texas Customs Corky Fatboys. When big trout do eat, they eat big. Work the lure slowly near the bottom. Even Coastal Brew 6” Darts are big enough, especially when there’s a warm up or when the sun comes out. Use these on light jig heads for a natural action. Keep warm and bring extra clothes just in case you get wet. Good luck and I’ll see you on the water! Report by Captain Sally Black.

Port Mansfield

GOOD. 55 degrees. Prefrontal fishing is good but slows when cold front and windy conditions appear. This weekend looks good and fish will be staged in warm water. Plastics have been the game and best baits have been the Ball Tail Shad working it low in the water column. Since the water has been cold for the last 10 days the redfish and trout have been extremely heavy. Potholes are key at the moment. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters.

South Padre

GOOD. 53 degrees. It has been cold and the forecast has rain through the weekend. There is a tremendous amount of fish in the bay. Birds are working the bay feeding on the shrimp moving into the bay. Trout are good with live shrimp. Redfish are spotty to fair at the jetties with cut mullet. Many oversized redfish. End of the Brownsville Channel free shrimping for Mangrove Snapper. Stay safe there. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.

Port Isabel

GOOD. 53 degrees. It has been cold and the forecast has rain through the weekend. There is a tremendous amount of fish in the bay. Birds are working the bay feeding on the shrimp moving into the bay. Trout are good with live shrimp. Redfish are spotty to fair at the jetties with cut mullet. Many oversized redfish. End of the Brownsville Channel free shrimping for Mangrove Snapper. Stay safe there. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.

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