Sabine Lake
FAIR. 58 degrees. Bessie Heights Marshes continue to offer anglers a reprieve from the wind while reeling in limits of redfish, sheepshead or drum in the ditches and points off the Neches River. Sabine Lake and Neches River is fresh on the north end, so target fish on the south end focusing on the points and drops. There is good salinity in the deep water of the Intracoastal Canal. Nice speckled trout, redfish, sheepshead and drum can be caught. Freshwater runoff will put the best fishing in the ICW and Sabine Ship Channel going into the gulf. Target shell bottom, mud or muscle flat bottoms with 5 inch morning glory chartreuse artificials or Carolina rigged live shrimp. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake.
Bolivar
GOOD. 50 degrees. We have gotten Reports of black drum, redfish, few speckled trout, and whiting with some occasional sheepshead at the north jetty on shrimp. Some anglers using fiddler crabs for the sheepshead. Bay temperatures are hovering around 50 degrees still and salinity levels around the bay increasing. It was so fresh in parts that people were catching fresh brackish water fish like catfish, bass, and tilapia around the tributary bayous and lakes that flow into the bay. Report by North Jetty Bait Camp. The ditch has some redfish, with an occasional nice trout, against the grass sides biting popping cork or artificial. Fish the deeper ends of the reefs, or wind protected cuts with popping cork and shrimp. The jetty holding sheepshead and trout on live shrimp close to rocks. Yates Sloughs holding redfish on grass lines close to Sievers Cut fish 12-18 inches under a popping cork with shrimp, or burner shad in black or dark green. Report by Captain Raymond Wheatly, Tail Spotter Guide Service.
Trinity Bay
SLOW. 58 degrees. Few reports while the bay is freshwater. Best chances will be to fish along the northwest and western shoreline around Dow’s Reef. Bays along the upper ship channel should begin to clear on each incoming tide. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Water clarity is coming back and so is the fishing. Redfish are being caught shallow with water flow on live shrimp under a popping cork and weedless imitation shad. There have been some trout caught in Baytown drift fishing with live shrimp and popping corks so that’s good news. Drum and sheepshead are mixed in with the redfish. Flounder are being caught on the same tactics as red fish as well. Be safe, be smart and watch the weather. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
East Galveston Bay
FAIR. 56-58 degrees. The bay continues to be fresh due to the recent runoff. Best bet will be to fish along deeper bayou drains for redfish. Trout catches are slow. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. Surface water temperature up to 63 degrees, water clarity stained for the most part, with a couple areas with better clarity in the marsh and back lakes. Success remains back in the marsh and bayou areas where anglers can get some protection from the strong wind and wave action. This redfish bite remains consistent in areas where good current flow has bait up against the shorelines and grass lines in 1-3 feet of water around oyster shells on Wac Attack Tails in Chartreuse, fished with 1/8 ounce heads, as well as weightless presentations. The trout were grouped up this week, targeting deeper pockets close to flats with shells, triggering the most bites. The lighter the jig head the better, determined by the wind and current, and tails without paddles, performing the best. We just need the winds to cease a little to allow us to fish more of our wintertime areas that continue to be blown out, week after week with the continual fronts pushing through. Fishing should continue to get more consistent as we push into Spring. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. The sloughs in Yates Bayou are holding redfish on grass lines near Sievers Cut using shrimp 12-18 inches under a cork, or burner shad in black or dark green. Smith Point holding redfish and trout. Deep Reef to Fat Pat is holding fish under birds on twitch baits and soft plastics. Lil Hanna’s has some fish on deeper sides of reefs. The East bay reefs are starting to see more action with specks early then artificials twitch baits, or split tails. Report by Captain Raymond Wheatly, Tail Spotter Guide Service.
Galveston Bay
SLOW. 58 degrees. Protected shorelines along the west side of the bay are best for speckled trout, but not in any big numbers. A few redfish, black drum, and sheepshead being caught on live shrimp fished on the bottom near deep shell reefs. Open bay is still off-colored. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
West Galveston Bay
SLOW. 58 degrees. Speckled trout, with a few redfish, are best fishing deeper shell drop offs using soft plastics and hard baits. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Look for sloughs off of the ICW holding fish in the calmer water. The sloughs leading to Greens Lake, Carancahua Lake and Chocolate Bayou holding redfish and trout on popping cork and shrimp or topwater baits early, then work soft plastics slowly. Jones Bay and the Diversionary Canal are holding some redfish and trout on popping cork with shrimp. The Mecum’s Reef drop-off holding a few fish early in the day. Report by Captain Raymond Wheatly, Tail Spotter Guide Service.
Houston
GOOD. Water slightly stained; 58 degrees; 0.03 feet below pool. Lake water was dropped for projected inflow from the north. Clarity has improved. White bass in the creeks are picking up and should be very hot within a couple weeks being caught in small jig heads and rooster tails. Crappie are scattered on the bottom and should start grouping up very soon being caught on hand tied jigs in 6-14 feet of water. Largemouth bass are starting to bounce back working shorelines with grubs and weightless worms. Catfish are being caught on jug lines with an 8 foot leader with fresh shad. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
Texas City
SLOW. 56 degrees. Few anglers catching oversized black drum fishing from the rocks off the Texas City Dike. Galveston beachfront piers reporting a few catches of oversized black drum. Wahoo bite is really good offshore during periods of calm seas. State water snapper bite is good, but conditions need to be right. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The Dike is holding redfish and trout along the rocks with scattered drum and flounder. Dickinson Bayou is holding some redfish and drum on popping cork and shrimp or soft plastics. The rock shoals south of the dike are holding fish on popping cork with live shrimp. Sheepshead with an occasional trout and redfish at the entry to Campbell’s Bayou. Report by Captain Raymond Wheatly, Tail Spotter Guide Service.
Freeport
SLOW. 58 degrees. Fishing patterns are similar as the bay stabilizes after the influx of freshwater runoff. Sheepshead, drum, redfish and trout are good in the old river and old intracoastal. Bastrop Bay and Chocolate Bay are good for catches of trout and redfish using live shrimp, or 1/4 – 3/8 ounce jig heads. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures.
East Matagorda Bay
FAIR. 58 degrees. Redfish and trout are best drifting between fronts when the winds are out of the south. The warming trend in the forecast should improve the bite. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
West Matagorda Bay
FAIR. 58 degrees. The warming trend in the forecast should improve the bite. Fish between fronts after the high pressure moves over for redfish and trout. Influx of freshwater in the bay, so best success will be out of the freshwater line targeting mid bay reefs for trout and redfish.The Colorado River is on the rise again and off color, so it will take a few weeks for fishing to improve. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
Port O’Connor
FAIR. 58 degrees. Oversized redfish inside and outside the end of the jetties on Spanish sardines. Redfish are halfway down the jetties on dead shrimp or Spanish sardines. Large drum are spawning with catches up to 60-70 pounds in the flare of the jetties and near Bird Island on blue crab. Report by Captain Marty Medford, Captain Marty’s Fish of a Lifetime Guide Service.
Rockport
GOOD. 60 degrees. Sheepshead are moving into the jetties. Good size trout being caught on live shrimp along the jetty rocks. Redfish are good on cut mullet and live shrimp. Redfish and black drum are great on the flats when tides are low fishing the drains and guts on shrimp and mullet. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.
Port Aransas
FAIR. 60 degrees. Sheepshead are moving into the jetties. Good size trout being caught on live shrimp along the jetty rocks. Redfish are good on cut mullet and live shrimp. Redfish and black drum are great on the flats when tides are low fishing the drains and guts on shrimp and mullet. Report by Captain Kenny Kramer, Kramer Fishing Charters.
Corpus Christi
GOOD. 61 degrees. Changing weather has slowed the bite with the water going from stained due to high winds to clear with the winds are light. Redfish and black drum can be caught with dead shrimp. Some undersized sheepshead are starting to show up in Port Aransas around the Fina docks and jetties. Report by Captain Aerich Oliver, Rockport Paradise Outfitters.
Baffin Bay
SLOW. 53 degrees. High winds and extremely low water levels this week. Water temperature has warmed up, water levels have dropped and baitfish activity has increased. Fishing up real shallow water with these low water levels in warmer water has been productive. Knee to mid thigh deep, along guts, drop-offs, scattered sand pockets and grass beds are structures that typically hold the most slots to oversized fish. Lures of choice have been darker hues for the off colored stained water that is here in Baffin. MirrOlure Little John XL in purple and Custom Corky’s in bright or dark hues as well. Throwing these baits in areas with signs such as bait swirls or bait jumping, pelicans diving, or slicks will surely lead to a successful wade. Stay confident and consistent in your routine and it will pay off! Stay safe out on the water, keep what you need and release the rest. As always, tight lines! Report by Captain Reanna DeLaCruz, Captain Reanna’s Baffin Bay Adventures.
Port Mansfield
FAIR. 60-65 degrees. Fishing has been good this last week for redfish and trout. Most have been coming on Mansfield Knockers and small twitch baits in about two feet of water. Water levels came up about 6 inches which has fish higher on the flats. Water temperature remain around 60-65 degrees which is perfect for big trout. This should continue until we get another front. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters.
South Padre
FAIR. 67 degrees. Water is cold. Plenty of speckled trout, but most are caught in deeper water. Best bet is in Shipwreck Channel, Cullins Channel and Houseboat Channel at North end of Three Islands. Better fish coming on artificial but live shrimp is also good. Sheepshead are still at The Old Causeway and jetties but spawning about over. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.
Port Isabel
FAIR. 67 degrees. Water is cold. Plenty of speckled trout, but most are caught in deeper water. Best bet is in Shipwreck Channel, Cullins Channel and Houseboat Channel at North end of Three Islands. Better fish coming on artificial but live shrimp is also good. Sheepshead are still at The Old Causeway and jetties but spawning about over. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.
Source: TPW