Texas Gulf Coast INSHORE Fishing Report Week of August 23rd 2023

Sabine Lake

GOOD. 90 degrees. Sabine Lake and the Channel can be tough to fish with the southwest winds. Intracoastal Canal and Texaco Island is good for trout and redfish in 4-15 feet of water along the rocks and points with live shrimp under a popping cork or live croaker. Influx of flounder in the same areas. North Levy continues to be excellent in the morning for solid trout along the first or second pike with topwaters, live shrimp under a popping cork, or crankbaits. Nice flounder on Pleasure Island with live shrimp under a popping cork or Carolina rigs. Neches River to the Interstate 10 bridge holding nice redfish. Steady bite of redfish, flounder and trout on the rock piles, buoys, points and turnarounds using live shrimp popping cork 35 feet of water. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.

Bolivar

GOOD. 87 degrees. The surf is holding numbers of black drum, sharks, and some big redfish on cut bait or live on the bottom. The gulf side of the North Jetty is holding limits of sheepshead and trout against rocks with an occasional redfish early near the end with a popping cork and shrimp. The wreck has good numbers of trout early on free-lined shrimp or croaker close to rocks. Channel side holding some nice trout close to the rocks and big redfish on the bottom. Sharks are at the end of the jetty towards the gulf side. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.

Trinity Bay

GOOD. 89 degrees. Deeper shell pads holding decent numbers of speckled trout. shorelines producing speckled trout and redfish early. Rocks lining the ship channel are good for a few trout and better numbers of black drum and redfish. The best bite has been on live shrimp, followed by soft plastics. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

East Galveston Bay

FAIR. 89 degrees. Scattered catches of speckled trout and redfish over open bay reefs when winds allow. Best bite on soft plastics and live shrimp, and of course live croakers. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Water is stirred up again in a good portion of East Bay due to the west and southwest winds, the further east you venture the darker the water gets. Winds have been out of the west to southwest in the 8-10 mph range in the mornings, increasing to 12-18 mph as the day progresses, limiting off the shore reef tactics. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks have still been producing the most bites for our anglers, and Slammin Sammy Chartreuse Tail has worked well with ¼ ounce jig heads fished with or without a popping cork. Catches of our targeted species of keeper trout are down this week compared to the last couple of weeks. Redfish are still feeding around grass lines and schooling and if you find them you can catch them pretty quickly. On live bait trips, a popping cork with live shrimp and mullet have been getting a good deal of action, fished on a 24 inch leader. Please remember to drink plenty of water and utilize plenty of sunscreen, as we have ventured into the time of year when it gets extremely hot on the water, and it is critical you stay hydrated and do not get overheated or sunburned, as after 10 A.M, you really begin to feel the effects. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Little Hanna’s Still holding speckled trout early and an occasional flounder, or redfish. The drains are holding lots of fish early in the day. Yates Bayou drain is holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Siever’s Cut holding redfish near grass lines. Look for birds and slicks in Hanna’s, Deep Reef, Moody’s Reefs. Gas wells A1 to Eagle point are holding some trout biting live croaker. Goat Island is holding redfish, with the occasional speckled trout, under a popping cork with shrimp or Carolina rigged live mullet finger mullet. Look for birds, slicks, and restless bait. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.

Galveston Bay

FAIR. 90 degrees. Gas wells in the middle of the bay holding good numbers of speckled trout on live shrimp fished under popping corks. Black drum bite is fair for those fishing the bottom. Rock structure holding a few speckled trout, black drum, and sheepshead. Best bait has been live shrimp fished under popping corks. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. With the blue water moving closer again the piers should be back on for redfish, sharks, and jack crevalle. Todd’s Dump to Redfish Island holding some nice trout on croaker and strawberry with white artificials. The gas wells off the ship channel bordering Brothel Island are holding some nice speckled trout, and occasional redfish on croaker. The South Jetty holds some big redfish with a few nice slots. Some nice sharks can be found at the end. The Gulf side of the jetty is on fire for speckled trout, sheepshead, pompano and redfish close to rocks on popping cork with live bait free-lined shrimp, or Carolina rigged float with shrimp, or chatterweight and croaker. Channel side holding trout and redfish close to rocks with popping cork and live shrimp. The railroad bridge is holding redfish drum and a decent number of speckled trout early on live bait. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.

West Galveston Bay

GOOD. 89 degrees. Anglers fishing live shrimp catching mixed box of redfish, speckled trout and black drum. Waders throwing croakers catching decent numbers of speckled trout and a few redfish. Deeper shell holding speckled trout, best bite on live croakers. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. West Bay’s South Shore is holding a lot of speckled trout and redfish for wade anglers around the coves and grass lines from South Deer Island to San Luis Pass. Both sides of Bird Island and the flats continue to hold good numbers of speckled trout and redfish for wade anglers. North shorelines between Carancahua Reef and Confederate Reef holding good trout and redfish with the occasional flounder drifting, or off pole A to D with chatterweight and croaker or popping cork with Shrimp. The pass is holding some redfish and speckled trout using live bait. Seeing a few Tarpon surfaces between the pass and Jamaica Beach. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.

Houston

FAIR. Water slightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.42 feet below pool. Fishing patterns are similar with little change in hot Texas weather. Blue catfish are good on shad in the mouths of rivers. Crappie are fair on submerged structures in 10-20 feet of water with jigs tipped with minnows. Bass are fair with an early morning topwater bite, transitioning to deeper structure with crankbaits and Texas or Carolina rigged worms.

Texas City

FAIR. 89 degrees. Offshore catches remain good for big red snapper, amberjack, even a few ling and dorado. Anglers fishing around the dike catching some speckled trout and redfish on live shrimp. Galveston jetties producing mixed catches of speckled trout, black drum, and slot reds. Those using heavy tackle are finding sharks and bull redfish. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The Dike has trout at the end close to rocks on popping cork with live shrimp. The shoreline on the right side of the dike is holding nice trout for wade anglers. Mosquito Island to Halfmoon Shoal holding some nice trout with artificials, popping cork with shrimp or free-lined croaker. The rock Shoals south west of the Dike are holding trout and redfish on live croaker, shrimp, or artificials. The rocks on both sides of the barges to the right of the Texas City Dike holding some nice fish early. Campbells Reef to Virginia Point is starting to hold trout under the birds drifting croaker or live shrimp under a popping cork. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.

Freeport

GOOD. 86 degrees. The bays in Bastrop, Christmas and the west end of Galveston Bay are good for trout, redfish and some flounder drifting in the morning using live shrimp with popping corks. Trout and redfish are good in the guts wade fishing with croaker. The Brazos and San Bernard are producing catches of trout, redfish and flounder early in the mornings and late in the evening. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures.

East Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 89 degrees. Fishing is improving as fish feed heavily in anticipation for the forecasted weather change. Trout are good in the surf wading with croaker or artificials. Drifting midbay with reefs will land catches of redfish, drum, croaker and trout. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

West Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 89 degrees. Fishing is improving as fish feed heavily in anticipation for the forecasted weather change. Catches of trout and redfish wade fishing the northern shoreline. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

Port O’Connor

GOOD. 87 degrees. Kingfish are in the middle of the jetties biting ribbon fish. Oversized drum are at the end of the jetties on dead shrimp. Trout are good early in the morning in the surf and the back of the jetties using live croaker. Sharks are all over biting everything. Report by Captain Marty Medford, Captain Marty’s Fish of a Lifetime Guide Service.

Rockport

GREAT. 88 degrees. Consistent weather makes for consistent fishing patterns. Redfish are great in 1-4 feet of water on paddle tails and topwaters. Live and cut bait have been doing great in sand pockets. Trout are great early morning moving deeper as the sun rises. 2-4 feet of water over grass and mixed sand pockets targeting bait heavy areas. Down south lures, mirrolures, and live bait have been doing well. Drum are scattered along wind blown shorelines in the marsh. Dead shrimp is working best. Report provided by Captain Damian Hubbs, Top Gun Outfitters.

Port Aransas

GOOD. 89 degrees. Before the storm the fish were at the jetties, after the storm the water level is up two feet. Redfish will be shallow in the flats and newly flooded grass feeding on fiddler crabs. Popping cork with a live shrimp on a short feeder. Redfish are at the ends of the jetties in 10-35 feet of water on cut mullet or live finger mullet. Report by Captain Doug Stanford, Pirates of the Bay Fishing Charters.

Corpus Christi

GOOD. 89 degrees. Water level is high after the storm scattering the fish. Fish in Nueces Bay where freshwater is coming in for redfish, trout and many other species with live shrimp. Report by Captain Doug Stanford, Pirates of the Bay Fishing Charters.

Baffin Bay

GOOD. 86-95 degrees. Fishing continues to be great in Baffin Bay with conditions remaining similar as the last couple of months with low tides, high pressure and hot water temperatures. We are expecting higher tides and rainfall after the forecasted weather system which should improve the estuaries in Baffin Bay. Baitfish are shallow early in the morning, and so are the speckled trout. Topwaters in the early morning has yet to disappoint for catches of trout. Mid morning redfish are schooling with catches landed on broken back Corky’s and Paul Brown Soft-Dines all morning long. Fish are knee to waist deep water along guts running parallel to the shoreline and drop offs. Stay safe and hydrated out on the water and as always tight lines! Report by Captain Reanna DeLaCruz, Captain Reanna’s Baffin Bay Adventures. Nice catches of redfish and trout along the tide gauge bar early in the morning using croaker. Hopefully the recent rainfall will freshen the water. Drum are shallow in sand pockets. Redfish are along the grass edge. Trout are mostly hanging in areas where bait can be seen breaking the water. Report by Gilbert Barrera, Baffin Bay Hunting and Fishing.

Port Mansfield

SLOW. 88-91 degrees. Fishing is improving despite low water and high heat, especially when the winds are down. Still using smaller profile baits such as the BTS junior and we have been concentrating on potholes near thick grass. Topwaters have been good early. Trout are mostly ranging in the 15-18 inch range. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters.

South Padre

GOOD. 87 degrees. Fishing is excellent with numbers of black drum at the channel in South bay and old causeway. Speckled trout and redfish are in the Intracoastal at Three Islands biting cut mullet, and dead or live shrimp. Flounder can be found on the edges of Arroyo. Red snapper are the reefs, and Kingfish in the jetties. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.

Port Isabel

GOOD. 87 degrees. Fishing is excellent with numbers of black drum at the channel in South bay and old causeway. Speckled trout and redfish are in the Intracoastal at Three Islands biting cut mullet, and dead or live shrimp. Flounder can be found on the edges of Arroyo. Red snapper are the reefs, and Kingfish in the jetties. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.

Source: TPW