Gulf Coast Region Week of September 11, 2024

Redfish Bay

FAIR. 85 degrees. Morning has been good for redfish with a productive bite on live mullet and chunks of crab in the morning. Target windblown shorelines to find redfish. Very few catches of drums. Captain Aerich Oliver, Rockport Paradise Outfitters.

San Antonio Bay

GOOD. 86 degrees. The tides are about 1.5 feet high due to the storm. Trout and redfish continue to be caught in the back lakes while the tide is high. Be safe and keep an eye on weather reports. Report Captain Lynn Smith, Back Bay Guide Service.

Sabine Lake

GOOD. 85 degrees. Higher tides from Hurricane Francine, and the coming full moon are contributing to increased salinity in Sabine Lake. More salinity on the south shoreline. Speckled trout are good early morning on the south revetment wall with live shrimp with a popping cork. Then cast silver or white crankbaits when the sun rises for catches of trout and redfish. North Levy wall is producing catches with live bait on a popping cork. Even when the sun is up the fish are thick biting on the same pattern. Plastics tipped with shrimp will land some limits of flounder on both the south and north revetment wall. Pleasure Island Point and ICW live shrimp popping cork for nice trout in the morning in 4-12 feet of water. After the sun rises, use a Carolina rigged live shrimp on bulkheads and rock piles and shell flats for a mixed bag of redfish, speckled trout and flounder. Texaco Island basin for flounder with plastics tipped with shrimp. Nice trout can be caught in the same area. Some sightings of redfish mid to the north end which is normal for this time of year. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.

Bolivar

EXCELLENT. 83 degrees. Get ready for another week of Excellent fishing! Water temperatures are cooling after the storm clouds and tides. The jetty has been producing limits of trout and big bull redfish. Small flounder have been visible on the low tides and are starting to move in for the fall. Post-storm fishing will be some of the best. The surf is producing limits of speckled trout, bull redfish and black drum. The stingrays and bigger sharks are still running along the whole peninsula. Anglers are using all kinds of different bait with awesome results. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.

Trinity Bay

SLOW. 80 degrees. This cool snap will have the fish on the move towards the back bays along the Houston ship channel. Look for trout over hard shell bottom, with black drum and redfish along the spoil islands. Best bite is on live shrimp. Birds should begin to work over schools of speckled trout. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Save the Coast Guard a trip and pay attention to the weather. If your vessel does not take chop well, stay on protected shorelines and have batteries fully charged if you are using a trolling motor. Redfish are on rocks and rocky flats being caught on live shrimp under a popping cork and WAC Assassin’s WACky shrimp rigged weedless ⅛ ounce. Trout are coming back being caught in rocks very close to deep water. Sheepshead and drum are mixed in with redfish. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.

East Galveston Bay

GOOD. 82 degrees. The Intracoastal Canal should produce a few black drum, scattered speckled trout and some flounder. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Rising waters from the tides and out of the winds produced plenty of speckled trout, redfish, and black drum using live shrimp and/or finger mullet. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp. Surface water temperature 84 degrees. The water clarity is still stirred up in East Galveston Bay, with clearer saltier water as you get west of Stingaree with a distinct line as you venture closer over towards Galveston. This week we have endured strong north to northeast winds, which have forced us to pick and choose the areas where we can fish effectively. We have spent most of our fishing time on protected shorelines in the intracoastal finding trout, redfish, black drum and flounder, around structures with good tide movement. We have utilized imitation shrimp lures under popping corks, as well as 1/4 ounce jig heads with tails by WacAttack fished slowly. Fish Bites also performed very well when fished under a popping cork. The crowds are thinning now that Labor Day has passed, and fishing should continue to be very good, with less fishing pressure and cooler temps on the way, so get your friends and family and get out on the water. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Service, LLC.

Galveston Bay

SLOW. 79 degrees. Protected spoil islands have been good for black drum, speckled trout and the occasional redfish. Water temperature drop should have some fish along the western shoreline of the bay. Open water redfish bite will begin with the cooler water temps. Best bite on live shrimp and soft plastics. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

West Galveston Bay

GOOD. 80 degrees. Far west side of San Luis Pass will be the anglers best bet, but fishing is fair for trout and redfish. Look for flounder along the shoreline near drains and guts. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

Houston

GOOD. Water normal stain; 88 degrees; 0.03 feet above pool. Water clarity is muddy on the north end coming down from the rivers. Largemouth bass are good on small grubs Texas rigged. Catfish are abundant on live perch and fresh caught dead shad with the larger ones being caught in jug lines and trout lines. Crappie have been affected with the muddy water but are still tight to structure in 8-14 feet of water. Crappie are biting small jigs and minnows, you just have to be patient. White bass are on the south end starting to get a bite, and still slow to show up at night. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.

Texas City

GOOD. 80 degrees. Windy week, so look towards the Galveston jetties to produce catches of bull redfish and a few oversized drums. Lower bay should be fair for speckled trout and redfish along the rocks with live shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Great fishing conditions before the storms arrive mid-week and should be even better when it clears up. Anglers are catching plenty of speckled trout, redfish, and a few nice 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. 85 degrees. With the heavy winds and high tides this week, the bite has been moderate to fair for trout, redfish and drum. Fish the cuts and back lakes using shrimp under a popping cork. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures

East Matagorda Bay

GOOD. 85 degrees. September and October are big redfish months. Fishing is very good but, as always, weather dependent. Redfish and drum can be targeted on shell reefs with artificials, live shrimp or croaker. These reefs will fill with trout when the weather cools. Deeper shell reefs in 5-6 feet of water shell reefs are difficult to fish when the winds are high, but when the weather cooperates these reefs are holding fish. As the water temperature cools in the 70s the artificial bite will be king. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

West Matagorda Bay

GOOD. 85 degrees. September and October are big redfish months. Fishing is very good but, as always, weather dependent. Redfish and drum can be targeted on shell reefs with artificials, live shrimp or croaker. These reefs will fill with trout when the weather cools. As the water temperature cools in the 70s the artificial bite will be king. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

Port O'Connor

GOOD. 85 degrees. Slot drums are good on the outside of the south jetty on dead shrimp. Slot redfish are good in the apron of the jetties on Spanish sardines. Trout can be caught in the washouts during incoming tides with live shrimp or live croaker. Bull redfish are starting to show between the jetties and Bird Island on blue crab. 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 shell in 3-4 feet of water, or drifting with a popping cork and shrimp on the flats. Redfish are great on shrimp, piggy perch and cut skipjack or mullet on the flats and sand pockets. Black drum are fair on live or dead shrimp and fish bites in drains, 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. A few pompano continue to show up. Trout are good with croaker or shrimp free lined along rocks. King fish are starting to show up a little at jetties. Free lining ribbon fish or using a silver spoon surf fishing has been producing good redfish and trout in first and second gut with an occasional shark. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.

Corpus Christi

FAIR. 85 degrees. Morning has been good for redfish with a productive bite on live mullet and chunks of crab in the morning. Target windblown shorelines to find redfish. Very few catches of drums. Report by Captain Aerich Oliver, Rockport Paradise Outfitters.

Baffin Bay

GOOD. 86 degrees. Late summer fishing can be touch and go. High water levels have made it challenging to hone in on areas where fish are holding. Hurricane surge water has come into Baffin Bay and will be slow to leave due to the upcoming equinox about three weeks away. Falling water temperatures will help convince the fish to feed, so look for bait and target the usual productive places. This is just the beginning of moving away from summer patterns and moving into fall fishing so pay attention to all of the signals that mother nature provides. Birds and bait are two of the most important things to watch. Topwaters, Double D’s and Texas Custom soft dine XLs will all be in play as well as straight tail and paddle tail plastics. Changing conditions at this time of year will keep us all on our toes so really pay attention to water level and water temperature, as well as everything discussed above. Report by Captain Sally Black. Fishing has been great here in Baffin Bay, with some nice changes in the weather, including low pressure, high water levels and minor cold fronts. This has brought some great opportunities on the water. Redfish are schooled up and speckled trout are up shallow, mainly where there is baitfish. Look for pelicans diving, hovering or floating over an area of water to find the baitfish. Focus on these areas and fish it deliberately and patiently because it will surely pay off. Lures of choice have been MirrOlure Little John XLs, Texas Custom Lure Double D’s and Custom Corky Softdines in mainly dark colors but don’t be afraid to throw different colors. Stay safe and courteous of others on the water, as always tight lines! Report by Captain Reanna DeLaCruz, Captain Reanna’s Baffin Bay Adventures.

Port Mansfield

FAIR. 86 degrees. High winds and higher water levels have the fish spread out, but we are still catching good redfish and a few good trout. The flats are good in about 2 feet of water tossing Mansfield Knockers over scattered grass beds. A little deeper KWigglers BTS and 4 inch paddle tails are working well. Best colors are Barts Sand Ninja and Pollo Loco. Once this weather passes this weekend should be great. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters.

South Padre

FAIR. 82 degrees. Expect heavy winds leading into the weekend and muddy water. A few redfish and trout can be caught drifting on the Gas Well Flats. Stay safe out there. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.

Port Isabel

FAIR. 82 degrees. Expect heavy winds leading into the weekend and muddy water. A few redfish and trout can be caught drifting on the Gas Well Flats. Stay safe out there. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.

« Fishing Report Search