Gulf Coast Region Week of July 17, 2024

Redfish Bay

GOOD. 90 degrees. Drum have schooled back up biting dead or live shrimp. Redfish bite has been nonexistent. Trout are good on piggie perch on rocks, reefs or deep water grass. Captain Aerich Oliver, Rockport Paradise Outfitters.

San Antonio Bay

SLOW. 88 degrees. We did not receive the high tides and amount of rain forecasted from Hurricane Beryl. The bay was muddy after the storm, expect the clarity to improve with time. Right after a storm fishing is typically good as fish feed on the bait that was pushed into the bay. Report Captain Lynn Smith, Back Bay Guide Service.

Sabine Lake

FAIR. 86 degrees. Inside of the jetties are producing nice catches of redfish and limits of trout early in the morning on popping cork with live shrimp and also Carolina rig. Drum catches with live shrimp. After Hurricane Beryl the triple tail moved into 14-30 feet of water off the beaches in the gulf. Many were under the legal limit, but we also had some very nice keepers. Speckled trout and redfish are at the rigs in 14-18 feet of water to 35 feet of water offshore with a ⅜ ounce jig heads with LSU short tail. Catches of trout wading the beach while wind was out of the north fishing towards the Cedars and mud flats. Look for birds to point out trout feeding on the shrimp along the beach. Very nice trout, and quite a few throwbacks over 20 inches, as well as sheepshead and drum on the reef on the South end of Sabine Lake. Target the reefs in 14 feet of water dragging ⅜ ounce jig heads with glow and sparkle soft plastics on the bottom on the incoming tide. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.

Bolivar

GOOD. 82 degrees. The fishing is Excellent! There are plenty of redfish, croakers along with sand trout, sheepshead, black drum, speckled trout, and crabs caught along the jetty with plenty of stingrays and sharks. Pompano and the occasional jack crevalle are still running. The surf is producing redfish and black drum, gafftop, lots of stingrays, and bigger sharks along the whole peninsula with high activity towards Gilchrist and High Island mainly. The sea weed remains sporadic in spots per normal. People are using all kinds of different things for bait this past week with awesome results. We are selling out of live bait on most days at the North Jetty Bait Camp with plenty in stock so call ahead to your favorite bait shop. Finger mullet has been a popular alternative. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.

Trinity Bay

SLOW. 87 degrees. Upper ship channel spoil islands holding a decent number of redfish, black drum, and sheepshead. A few speckled trout were also being caught. Live shrimp has worked best. Northwest corner of the bay, along the piers and shell reefs holding good numbers of trout. Anglers throwing soft plastic and shrimp are doing the best. Gas wells in the open water holding a few fish too. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Trinity Bay. After Hurricane Beryl the water clarity is good in the bay. Redfish are bouncing back biting live shrimp on a popping cork or free lining live shrimp. Hit the spillway, but be there early to get a good spot in the back corner. Aliese Wells are good for trout, but you need to be deep on the shell pad for the reef. Set up to cast in the mud, then drag the shrimp on the pad under the well. Sheepshead and drum are good with dead or live shrimp off the bottom of rocks in the main channel heavily with the tide. Good luck, watch the weather and wind and always wear your kill switch! Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.

East Galveston Bay

GOOD. 88 degrees. Calm conditions have allowed anglers to drift open bay reefs and catch speckled trout on live shrimp under popping corks and on soft plastics. Waders finding better fish in the Bolivar surf. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Plenty of various sized speckled trout, black drum, sheepshead, and redfish caught on live shrimp, croakers, and top water lures. Alligator gar abundant. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.

Galveston Bay

SLOW. 90 degrees. Good numbers of speckled trout early along the shorelines on live shrimp, croakers, and soft plastics. Black drum and sheepshead good on live shrimp fished on the bottom over deep shells and along the spoil islands. A few decent catches of speckled trout coming from gas wells in the open bay. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

West Galveston Bay

GOOD. 89 degrees. Lower Galveston bay is good for speckled trout, redfish, and a few black drum along the rocks near Texas City. Live shrimp has been best. Boater drifting west Galveston bay with live croaker picking up decent trout over deep shell. Those wading with croakers finding good trout and redfish, near deep guts along the shoreline. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

Houston

GOOD. Water normal stained; 92 degrees; 0.37 feet above pool. Largemouth bass have really bounced back on stumps and riprap early and later in the day. Fish are good in deep shade biting on dark worms and grubs. Use long lipped crankbaits in the morning, or swimbaits on an even retrieve in the water column they are in. Crappie are slowly getting hungry on structure in the main channels eating small jigs in 8–14 feet of water. White bass are good during the day on humps on the south end either vertical jigging Duck tracker slabs with Texan teasers, or trolling in 12-16 feet of water with small spoons. Catfish are plentiful jug lining with an 8 foot leader using fresh caught shad. Gar are plentiful in the creeks hitting red rattle traps. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.

Texas City

GOOD. 87 degrees. The Texas City Dike is closed due to damage sustained from Hurricane Beryl. Galveston jetties have been good for speckled trout, a few slot redfish, black drum, and sheepshead on live shrimp. The surf has been on fire for speckled trout. Near catches of big sharks have been on the increase since the storms passing. Snapper fishing still good some 60 miles offshore of Galveston. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The Dike remains closed for clean-up and repairs. People are fishing along the levee towards Moses Lake tidal gate. Anglers are still catching plenty of speckled trout, redfish, and flounder every day with some occasional black drum, sheepshead, sand trout, and gafftop. Live shrimp and finger mullet have been the best baits. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.

Freeport

GOOD. 88 degrees. Fishing been good in the surf on trout and redfish in the morning on topwaters and down south lures. Bastrop Bay, Chocolate Bay, Christmas Bay have been steady under the birds with trout and redfish. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures.

East Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 84 degrees. Conditions on the bay are looking good after Hurricane Beryl, and bait camps are holding bait. Southwest winds slow the bite, but we are on the upswing to a full moon so fishing will be good. Lots of trout in the system with many catches of oversized trout. Drum are good drifting the reefs on the west end of the bay. Redfish bite is better in the afternoon than in the morning. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

West Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 84 degrees. Conditions on the bay are looking good after Hurricane Beryl, and bait camps are holding bait. Southwest winds slow the bite, but we are on the upswing to a full moon so fishing will be good. Lots of trout in the system with many catches of oversized trout. Catches of drum are good drifting the reefs. Redfish bite is better in the afternoon than in the morning. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

Port O'Connor

GOOD. 90 degrees. Trout are biting around Alcatraz Island on live croaker or shrimp off the bottom. Slot redfish are biting Spanish sardines and blue crab on the outside of the South Jetty, and inside of the North Jetty. Few catches of drum halfway down the inside of the South Jetty on dead shrimp. Sharks are biting throughout the jetties. Report by Captain Marty Medford, Captain Marty’s Fish of a Lifetime Guide Service.

Rockport

GOOD. 84 degrees. Trout are great on croaker along grass and rocks in 3-4 feet of water with a popping cork and shrimp have been producing in flats while drifting. Redfish have been good on shrimp and cut skipjack or mullet in flats. Black drum are great on live or dead shrimp and fish bites in drains and sand pockets and along oyster beds. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.

Port Aransas

GOOD. 84 degrees. Redfish are good on shrimp and cut bait. Trout are good with croaker or shrimp free lined along rocks. Surf fishing has been producing good reds and trout in the first and second gut with an occasional shark. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.

Corpus Christi

GOOD. 90 degrees. Drum have schooled back up biting dead or live shrimp. Redfish bite has been nonexistent. Trout are good on piggie perch on rocks, reefs or deep water grass. Report by Captain Aerich Oliver, Rockport Paradise Outfitters.

Baffin Bay

GOOD. 90 degrees. Tide is low, so watch for exposed rocks. Big trout are good in the back of the bay in the white sand with pink and silver and bone and silver topwater plugs. Trout are getting ready to spawn in the full moon. Great signs of a healthy fishery. Redfish are good schooling shorelines and spoil islands hitting gold spoons. Waves of flounders in the bay are good with a heavy lead head with a flamingo gulp. Fish in 5-6 feet of water in the channels midday. Captain Cliff Webb.

Port Mansfield

GOOD. 92 degrees. Fishing is good for redfish and trout. Best action has been early in the morning in very shallow water for the reds. Calm conditions in the mornings have us tossing Mansfield Knockers in and near flickering bait. Later in the day we are moving out a little deeper and closer to the intracoastal for good solid trout. Most of these are coming on BTS rigged on a 1/4oz jig head. A few Flounder are also coming to hand while fishing for trout. Best colors have been strawberry- cool tip and Pollo Loco. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters. Low pressure moved into the area and brought some rainfall early in the week and before the weekend. This brought our air and water temperatures down a tad, and stirred up the baitfish in our estuaries and other areas. Redfish were bunched up in schools where bait was thick and speckled trout followed with. Grass beds/scattered potholes are holding small profile menhaden and shrimp. Lures of choice have been MirrOlure Little John XLs, DownSouth lures, Custom Corky Softdines and Texas Custom Lures Double Ds in everything from white/bone to purple/deep blue. Identifying schools of bait is important when looking to have a successful wade. Baitfish, slicks, pelicans floating or diving are all positive indicators that bigger fish are in the area! Stay safe and courteous of other wade fishermen and boaters while on the water, and as always tight lines! Report by Captain Reanna DeLaCruz, Captain Reanna’s Baffin Bay Adventures.

South Padre

GOOD. 90 degrees. Trout are abundant on the Gas Well Flats and the west side of Unnecessary Island with live shrimp. The Intercoastal at Three Islands has turned on for trout, flounder and redfish. Eating size black drum in small schools coming off the sand on the Eastside. Mangrove snapper excellent at jetties and end of Brownsville Channel. Stay safe out there! Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre

Port Isabel

GOOD. 90 degrees. Trout are abundant on the Gas Well Flats and the west side of Unnecessary Island with live shrimp. The Intercoastal at Three Islands has turned on for trout, flounder and redfish. Eating size black drum in small schools coming off the sand on the Eastside. Mangrove snapper excellent at jetties and end of Brownsville Channel. Stay safe out there! Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre

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