Texas Gulf Coast INSHORE Fishing Report Week of August 2nd 2023

Sabine Lake

GOOD. 90 degrees. Beautiful weather for fishing. The intracoastal canal and jetties continue to produce limits of trout early in the morning on topwaters then switching to soft plastics. Short rigs under the birds along the beach are good for trout. No reports of triple tail. Sabine Channel rock piles are good for trout and redfish with live shrimp under popping cork. North Levy continues to be a hotspot for nice catches of trout. Topwater early in the day switching to a popping cork with live shrimp along the first and second pike or along the road. North Point of Pleasure Island is good for trout drifting the flats with live shrimp under a popping cork. Beautiful weather for fishing. Sabine Lake is good for redfish and trout on points and drops leading out of the bayous making long drifts over oyster shells and mussel flats with quarter ounce jigs with five inch plastics. 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. Bay wells have been productive for speckled trout on live croaker and live shrimp. Some trout being caught on the lower east side of Trinity Bay over shell reefs, Best on live shrimp or soft plastics. Schools of bull redfish roaming in the upper part of the bay. Birds will pinpoint their location. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.

East Galveston Bay

FAIR. 89 degrees. Speckled trout catches have been better over shell reefs when the wind allows. Best bite on live natural baits and soft plastic lures. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temps 88 degrees, water looking great in East Bay, with the winds finally giving us a break. Winds have been out of the South in the 5 -7 mph in the mornings, which has allowed us to fish anywhere we choose. We have been starting out over shell beds, close to drains where we find bait pods. When we find no bait, we make a handful of casts and move on. As the day progresses we have ventured out to the reefs in the middle of the Bay, and fish till mid-morning. This has really increased our catching this week, including Trout, Redfish, Flounder, and Sand Trout. Shrimp imitation lures under popping corks have still been producing the most bites for our anglers, and Blue Moon has worked well with ¼ ounce jig heads, in the upper portion of the water column. We only found a few birds working this week, but the Fish are still chasing and feeding on shrimp, so if you can find them the action can be fast and furious. On our live bait trips, live croaker has worked well in helping us pull in some giant bull redfish. Please remember to drink plenty of water and bring 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 10am, 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 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. 89 degrees. Gas wells continue to be productive for speckled trout on live shrimp, when the wind allows. Some anglers doing well with live croaker fished on the bottom. Rock groins produce black drum and sheepshead, along with the occasional red. Best bite on live shrimp. 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 holding some big redfish with a few nice slots. Some nice sharks can be found at the end. 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. Water clarity is improving. Good catches of speckled trout for those wade fishing with live croaker near San Luis Pass and in west Galveston Bay. A few trout are being caught by those drifting deep shells with live shrimp or croakers. Causeway and rocks lining the shoreline towards Texas City producing scattered catches of trout, redfish, and black drum on live shrimp. 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 surface between the pass and Jamaica Beach. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.

Houston

FAIR. Water slightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.12 feet below pool. 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. 87 degrees. Best bite off the dike is at night on live natural baits for speckled trout. Galveston jetties is fair for speckled trout in live shrimp and croakers. Few keeper size black drum and redfish. Nearshore shrimp boats holding plenty of sharks. Some kingfish are also showing behind the shrimp boats. Snapper fishing remains solid, with a few big ling being caught as well. Some good catches of dolphin fish being found under floating debris. 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. Bastrop and Christmas Bay and the west end of Galveston Bay are good for trout, redfish and flounder in the morning drifting live shrimp under a popping cork. Trout and redfish are good wade fishing with croakers in about 3 feet of water in guts. The beachfront is good early for trout and redfish in the morning using live bait, topwaters and soft plastic. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures.

East Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 85 degrees. Drifting the west end of East Bay will produce a few catches of redfish. The low tides have brought the redfish out into the bay. Most reliable bite will be drifting with live shrimp and artificials for redfish, drum, croaker and the occasional trout, or wading with croaker for trout. Bait camps are holding plenty of bait. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

West Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 85 degrees. Scattered catches of trout and redfish due to the weather. Tides are low, but drifting shallow water can produce redfish on cut mullet. Most reliable bite will be drifting with live shrimp and artificials for redfish, drum, croaker and the occasional trout, or wading with croaker for trout. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.

Port O’Connor

GOOD. 80 degrees. Black drum are good halfway in the jetties 20-30 feet deep with dead shrimp. Bull redfish are slow to fair from the back of the jetties to Bird Island on Spanish sardines or blue crab. Very few catches of slot redfish. Trout are good in the surf 5-10 miles north and south of jetties using live croaker and artificials. 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. Bull redfish are good at the jetties on live or cut mullet. Shrimp will catch anything from hardtails, triple tails, king fish, and tarpon. Trout are in 8-10 feet of water along the Portland shoreline with croaker. Report by Captain Doug Stanford, Pirates of the Bay Fishing Charters.

Corpus Christi

GOOD. 89 degrees. Good numbers of trout on big shrimp, or free lining croaker at the wells. Catches of black drum, trout, redfish and mangrove snapper in shaded areas of the Old Causeway on shrimp. Report by Captain Doug Stanford, Pirates of the Bay Fishing Charters.

Baffin Bay

GOOD. 88-94 degrees. It has been a remarkable week for fishing here in Baffin Bay. Weather patterns have remained consistent with hot temperatures, southeast winds and barometric pressure rising later in the day. Redfish are schooling along guts, and feeding on bottom. You can also find them hiding in sand pockets or cruising a grass flat. The speckled trout bite has been phenomenal. First thing in the morning you can find them shallow and they will move into deeper water as the temperatures rise. Topwater bite is aggressive early in the morning for trout and redfish. Paul Brown Softdines continue to produce solid fish, and even Fat Boy Corky’s! Mirrolure Little John or a purple and chartreuse jig for redfish up in the grass flats. Continue to stay safe out on the water and as always tight lines! Report by Captain Reanna DeLaCruz, Captain Reanna’s Baffin Bay Adventures. Fishing has been good for drum and redfish using live shrimp or Carolina rigs. The fish have been in very shallow water along the grass and sand pockets. Really all you need is fish bites. The Meadows are full of drum and redfish. Report by Gilbert Barrera, Baffin Bay Hunting and Fishing.

Port Mansfield

SLOW. 88-91 degrees. Fishing has improved quite a bit since our winds have settled down. Water levels remain low and most good fish have been in about 2-3 foot of water. Quite a few small trout with some keepers mixed in and most have been taking small plastics. You can still catch em on topwaters if floating grass isn’t a problem. Flounder are good on BTS juniors fishing near the bottom over sand and big potholes. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters.

South Padre

GOOD. 87 degrees. The weather is beautiful with very light winds from the southeast. Fishing is good with limits of black drum, with a few redfish mixed in at Three Islands in the intracoastal, and the small channels in South Bay. Trout are good at night under the lights. Red Snapper are fair to good at the reefs. Still a few king mackerel trolling. Stay Safe out there. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.

Port Isabel

GOOD. 87 degrees. The weather is beautiful with very light winds from the southeast. Fishing is good with limits of black drum, with a few redfish mixed in at Three Islands in the intracoastal, and the small channels in South Bay. Trout are good at night under the lights. Red Snapper are fair to good at the reefs. Still a few king mackerel trolling. Stay Safe out there. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.

Source TPW