Gulf Coast Region Week of January 21, 2026

Redfish Bay

GOOD. 60 degrees. High winds and rain in the weekend forecast. Redfish limits have been pretty easy to come by due to the low waters. Finding a few drums here and there. Redfish and drum are both biting dead shrimp. Trout have been elusive lately on lures. Report by Captain Aerich Oliver, Rockport Paradise Outfitters.

San Antonio Bay

GOOD. 55 degrees. The tide came up some, but the tide will fall out again after the north wind in the weekend forecast. Prior to the front the bite should be good on the flats. Once the north wind blows the water off the flats the fish will drop into the deeper water. Continue to fish in protected water for trout, redfish, and flounder with live shrimp. Report by Captain Lynn Smith, Back Bay Guide Service.

Sabine Lake

GOOD. 55 degrees. Water has dropped out of the marshes bringing the bait into the lake and bringing in the bull redfish. Bull redfish and trout midlake under the birds. During the Arctic front focus fishing efforts in the Neche River for catches of speckled trout, redfish and flounder. Fish the points, drops and inside the turnarounds, and up in the cuts coming out of the marshes with live shrimp Carolina rigged, or under a popping cork. Nice catches of channel catfish north towards Beaumont on the sand flats and the points in the drops in 12-25 feet of water with Carolina rigged live mullet and shrimp. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy's Guide Service Sabine Lake.

Bolivar

FAIR. 55 degrees. This week should be another wild week to fish the Galveston Bay Area. Plenty of weather changes throughout the week and changing winds with three to four tide days back and forth daily. Check the forecast before you head out or call ahead to your favorite bait shop. Water temperatures are fluctuating with the weather changes. Anglers are still catching plenty of redfish and fewer trout in the surf, jetty, bay-side canals and east bay using finger mullet and mud minnows. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.

Trinity Bay

GOOD. 60 degrees. Speckled trout are being found in deep drains and along drop-offs leading into the main bay, particularly where marshes empty out. Trout are also holding along ship channel drop-offs and have moved up into the San Jacinto River near major depth changes. Anglers are targeting trout successfully with WAC Attack lures in darker colors, along with flukes rigged on 1/4-ounce to 1/8-ounce jig heads, depending on tide flow. A few oversize trout are being caught, mixed in with solid limits. Now is an excellent time to get out and target trout. Redfish are holding tight to rock groins along both the east and west shorelines of Trinity Bay, as well as in the Houston Ship Channel near the Blue Atoll area. They are being caught on live shrimp and imitation shrimp under Redemption Outdoor Gear popping corks. When redfish are hugging the bottom, anglers are also finding success using ⅜ ounce weedless jig heads with 3/0 hooks rigged with Gulp. Flounder are still present in the drains and can be caught by freelining live shrimp or by using Gulp on weedless hooks. Sheepshead activity has slowed somewhat, but black drum remain prevalent over reefs, shoals, and spoil areas throughout the main bay. Drums are being caught using live shrimp or imitation shrimp under popping corks with approximately a three-foot leader. As always, monitor the weather closely, pay attention to wind conditions, wear your kill switch, and navigate safely on the water. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing. Coldest temps of the winter forecasted for this coming weekend. Small window of opportunity for the anglers on Friday and maybe early Saturday morning. Fair trout, good numbers of drum and big sheepshead and the occasional slot reddish on live shrimp at Tabbs, Scott, Burnet Bay. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

East Galveston Bay

GOOD. 51 degrees. The water clarity is good this week for East Galveston Bay. This past week we had more fronts push through again, as well as super low water levels in the bay system, which is typical for this time of the year. Fish the falling tides in the morning for solid fish and some oversize fish as well. The ticket is to focus on transition zones and drop-offs and fish super slow with 1/4 ounce jigheads with white and chartreuse paddle tails, or suspending hard baits. Watch the major and minor fish times for the best bite. The redfish bite has been consistent around drains and in the very shallow water areas back in the marsh. Use imitation shrimp lures and tails under popping corks with a 1-foot leader to trigger bites, as well as weightless FishBite Paddle Tails over super shallow water. 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. Be mindful of the tides, and precise in your navigational skills, as you can really get yourself in a bind if fishing mornings with these low tides this time of the year. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC.

Galveston Bay

GOOD. 59 degrees. Coldest temps of the winter forecasted for this coming weekend. Small window of opportunity for the anglers on Friday and maybe early Saturday morning. In Galveston Bay there are slow catches of trout and redfish, but sheepshead being caught around old pier piling and hard shell bottom on live shrimp. Offshore catches of grouper, vermilion snapper, blackfin snapper, and wahoo being caught out deep, bottom fishing and of course trolling for those wahoo. At the Galveston jetties the bite is fair for bull redfish and oversized black drum. Sheepshead are showing up along the rocks and structure in and around the Galveston harbor. Live crab best for reds and drum, shrimp for the sheepshead. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

West Galveston Bay

GOOD. 57 degrees. Coldest temps of the winter forecasted for this coming weekend. Small window of opportunity for the anglers on Friday and maybe early Saturday morning. Boat anglers drifting over shell and mud mix with soft plastics catching trout, redfish, and a few flounder. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

Houston

GOOD. Water clear; 59 degrees; 0.11 feet above pool. Lake Houston is in excellent condition and fishing has been on fire, with crappie and white bass being caught at a rapid pace and anglers consistently filling quality boxes. Crappie are producing well in the East Fork and Lucious Bayou on small hand-tied jigs, soft plastics, and live minnows, while white bass are actively feeding throughout the system, especially around Jesse H. Jones Park, where Rooster Tails, Road Runners, curly-tail grubs, and tandem rigs worked along the bottom have been most effective. Largemouth bass fishing remains solid, with healthier, larger fish being caught on deep drop-offs, under docks, along ledges, and secondary points using grubs, Texas-rigged worms, and crankbaits. Catfish action is fair, with the best bite along the main channel bends on punch bait fished on the bottom. Always wear your kill switch and be safe! Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.

Texas City

GOOD. 60 degrees. This week should be another wild week to fish the Galveston Bay Area. Plenty of weather changes throughout the week and changing winds with three to four tide days back and forth daily. Check the forecast before you head out or call ahead to your favorite bait shop. Water temperatures are fluctuating with the weather changes. Anglers are still catching lots of big bull redfish, black drum, speckled trout in pockets, fewer keeper flounder with a lot of small males still prevalent, sheepshead and puppy drum as well. More whiting have started to be caught. The dredge boat is still pumping from the TC Channel to the north beach side of the dike. Live shrimp and finger mullet have been the best baits. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.

Freeport

FAIR. 58 degrees. Oyster Creeks, Bastrop Bayou, Chocolate Bayou, Halls Bayou and anywhere along the ICW where it is draining has been producing redfish, trout, drum, sheephead and few flounder. Use live shrimp under a popping cork, or 1/4-3/8 ounce jig head either using paddle tail or gulp shrimp working it slow on the bottom. The Brazos and San Bernard River been good using live or dead shrimp or throwing 1/4-3/8 ounce jig with paddle tails or gulp shrimp fishing slow on the bottom catching redfish, drums, speckled trout, sand trout and few flounder water. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures.

East Matagorda Bay

GOOD. 55 degrees. Check the weather forecast before heading out this weekend. Trout and redfish are good with better success drifting than wading while the tides are low. Trout are good with artificials, and redfish are good with cut mullet. The Colorado River is best at night in the lights for trout and redfish. Fishing throughout the day in the river may improve while the tides are low. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski's Guide Service.

West Matagorda Bay

GOOD. 55 degrees. Check the weather forecast before heading out this weekend. Redfish are good in the bayous and cuts while the low tides persist. Trout and redfish are good with better success drifting than wading while the tides are low. Trout are good with artificials, and redfish are good with cut mullet. The Colorado River is best at night in the lights for trout and redfish. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski's Guide Service.

Port O'Connor

GOOD. 60 degrees. Trout are good on the outside of both jetties with live shrimp. Oversized and slot redfish are good in 20-25 feet of water near Honey Hole on blue crab or dead shrimp. Slot redfish are at the end of the north jetty Spanish sardines or live shrimp. Drum are biting at the end of the north jetty with dead shrimp. Sheepshead are biting throughout the jetties with live shrimp. Report by Captain Marty Medford, Captain Marty's Fish of a Lifetime Guide Service.

Rockport

GOOD: 63 degrees. With lower winter tides and cooler water temperatures fishing has been on fire in drains and guts in flats on live or dead shrimp. Trout are good on live shrimp and soft plastics in flats with mud bottom and along channel edges. Redfish have been great on shrimp, mullet, and perch in guts and channel edges when water drops out with lower tides. Black drum are great on live or dead shrimp and fish bites in guts and holes in flats and along channel edges. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.

Port Aransas

GOOD. 63 degrees. With lower winter tides and cooler water temperatures fishing has been on fire in drains and guts in flats on live or dead shrimp. Sheepshead have been good on live shrimp. Redfish have been good on live shrimp cut mullet on the north and south jetty. Oversized redfish have been great on cut crab and cut mullet. Trout are good, and pompano are fair with shrimp free lined along rocks. Black drum have also been good on live shrimp. Redfish, pompano and trout have been good in the surf using live shrimp, shrimp bites and cut mullet. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.

Corpus Christi

SLOW. 60 degrees. While water temperature remains in the 60s pompano can be caught. Target pompano in clear water with ideal winds from the south. Fish during the low tide to cast to bigger fish. During the full moon the best bite is after 11 a.m. Black drum, redfish and trout are in the surf. Report by Nick Meyer, YouTube at NickAway.

Baffin Bay

GOOD. 64 degrees. Cold weather has set in and the fish are not quite on the same page as the rest of us yet, but it is more productive on Baffin Bay. With super cold weather coming in this weekend, they will fall down into the deepest points of the bay to survive. Several days after this big cold front, they will emerge very hungry so get ready as soon as the weather breaks. Position yourself near the deepest water and fish the drop-off with suspending baits in darker colors like Dark Vader, Crown Royal and Boogey Man. Good luck and see you on the water! Report by Captain Sally Black.

Port Mansfield

GOOD. 50 degrees. Water temperatures are in the low 50s and tides are low. Fish are hitting KWigglers Ball Tail Shad’s in Naked Margarita and plum and chartreuse. Once the water warmed to the upper 50s both trout and redfish were taking Mansfield Knockers while slowly working them over big potholes in 2 feet of water. As water warms this week fish have become more active resulting in better topwater action. This will change next week as we have another cold front headed this way. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters. Cooler temperatures should promote some positive activity below the surface this coming week. Full sunny days can make for some pleasant afternoons as the water temperature warms up. Fish seek warmth so target shallow water around thick frass mats late in the day. Baitfish and smaller profile fish are also leaning towards this trend as well and of course the bigger fish follow with. Lures of choice are twitch baits, and soft plastics in natural colors with purple, brown, green or red have been producing exceptionally well. Stay safe, warm and courteous of others out on the waterways. Try to practice conservation by keeping only what you need. As always, tight lines! Report by Captain Reanna DeLaCruz, Captain Reanna’s Baffin Bay Adventures.

South Padre

GOOD. 60 degrees. When water temperatures dipped into the mid 50s fish repositioned to the flats in 3-4 feet of water adjacent to channels and along the ICW. Conditions have improved rapidly on the backside of the front with water warming back up into the mid 60s. Fish will progress onto the flats further away from deeper channels as the water warms. Follow bait activity into these areas. Switching to 16th ounce jig heads seems to entice more bites. In 3-4 feet of water corky style baits have also been producing larger trout and a few oversized redfish. Gulp in new copper penny under a popping cork remains a solid choice as well. Wintertime surf fishing remains a solid choice for shore bound anglers with pompano and whiting action remaining solid. Another large cold front blooms on the horizon for next weekend, so look for a repeat of conditions as the week progresses. Report by Captain Glenn Harrison, Double Mermaid Outdoors. Mid-January sight-fishing with soft plastics is currently yielding excellent results, with an abundance of redfish and black drum schools present in the bay, accompanied by favorable warm weather conditions. Many larger fish were released. Report Captain Cliff Fleming, Crystal Flats Guide Service.

Port Isabel

GOOD. 60 degrees. When water temperatures dipped into the mid 50s fish repositioned to the flats in 3-4 feet of water adjacent to channels and along the ICW. Conditions have improved rapidly on the backside of the front with water warming back up into the mid 60s. Fish will progress onto the flats further away from deeper channels as the water warms. Follow bait activity into these areas. Switching to 16th ounce jig heads seems to entice more bites. In 3-4 feet of water corky style baits have also been producing larger trout and a few oversized redfish. Gulp in new copper penny under a popping cork remains a solid choice as well. Wintertime surf fishing remains a solid choice for shore bound anglers with pompano and whiting action remaining solid. Another large cold front blooms on the horizon for next weekend, so look for a repeat of conditions as the week progresses. Report by Captain Glenn Harrison, Double Mermaid Outdoors. Mid-January sight-fishing with soft plastics is currently yielding excellent results, with an abundance of redfish and black drum schools present in the bay, accompanied by favorable warm weather conditions. Many larger fish were released. Report Captain Cliff Fleming, Crystal Flats Guide Service.

« Fishing Report Search