Texas Gulf Coast INSHORE Fishing Report Week of January 18th 2023

Sabine Lake

GOOD. 60 degrees. Trout and a few redfish mixed in are biting along the shorelines in Sabine Lake keying on mullet. Drift over mud and shell, and off bayou points with red shad or morning glory 5 inch plastics. North and South Levy wall continues to fish well for speckled trout with a few redfish mixed in using shrimp under a popping cork, silver swimbaits, or glo chartreuse 5 inch baits with 1/16 ounce weighted hook sinking slow. North Levy is producing the best limits and some taken from the banks with chrome swimbaits, or the above mentioned bait. ICW holding redfish and trout in 4-6 feet of water. Black Bayou and East Pass are producing good numbers of trout and slot redfish. Redfish are on the flats keying on mullet in the Neches River. Live shrimp under a popping cork, or Carolina rigs off the bottom. Sheepshead and drum are biting live shrimp on Carolina rig off the bottom of cuts in 8-12 feet of water next to shell banks in Bessie Heights. Report by Captain Randy Foreman, Captain Randy’s Guide Service Sabine Lake. 

Bolivar

GOOD. 61 degrees. Fish 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 Siever Cut. Fish 12-18 inches under cork shrimp or burner shad. Between Stingaree’s and Rollover Pass redfish are in deeper marshes on popping cork with shrimp. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC. 

Trinity Bay

SLOW. 64 degrees. Scattered catches of speckled trout and redfish from the northwest shoreline of Trinity Bay, north to Burnett Bay. Best bite on live shrimp under popping corks. Sheepshead and black drum also being caught in the same area. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. 

East Galveston Bay

GOOD. 63 degrees. Waders catching scattered speckled trout and redfish on artificial lures. Anglers fishing the open bay reefs catching a few sand trout and black drum. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. The East Bay reefs are starting to see speckled trout action early with twitch bait, or split tails. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC. 

Galveston Bay

GOOD. 61 degrees. Plenty of undersized trout along the western shorelines near Eagle Point. Moses Lake floodgate producing catches of speckled trout, black drum and redfish. Anglers are fishing live shrimp on the bottom. A few scattered redfish inside Clear Lake. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The flounder season has been great with a push of flounder throughout the harbor after the last big front. Pelican Bridge holding flounder on both sides on the shores. Redfish, speckled trout and sheepshead are biting on shrimp under popping cork or free-lined near the jetty rocks. SWP holding speckled trout and sheepshead against rocks free-line shrimp or under a cork with shrimp. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC. 

West Galveston Bay

GOOD. 63 degrees. Anglers drifting open bay reefs catching scattered speckled trout on soft plastics and live shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Redfish and trout are holding in the cuts between North and South Deer Islands, and the openings between Greens and Carancahua Lake. Wading is producing catches in Fat Pat and Pigpen. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.

Houston

FAIR. Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.10 feet above pool. Crappie are in the river on structure in 5-10 feet of water biting jigs. Catfish are in 5-15 feet of water biting on cut bait. Bass are shallow on spinnerbaits or flipping laydowns and stumps. White bass are in the creeks chasing shad biting on slabs. 

Texas City

GOOD. 60 degrees. Some black drum coming off the Texas City Dike on live crabs. Galveston jetties holding sheepshead and keeper black drum, also a few speckled trout on live shrimp. Anglers using bottom rigs catching oversized black drum and redfish on live crab and cut mullet. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The rock barriers between Swan Lake and the dike are holding sheepshead on live shrimp, and trout on soft plastics in Texas roach or purple/chartreuse colors and imitation shad in Texas roach and gold glitter shrimp. Work artificials slower than normal because fish are slower when the water is cool. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC

Freeport

GOOD. 62 degrees. Fishing patterns are holding steady, and should continue after the front. Trout are good in the harbor and bays, using soft plastics or gulp under a popping cork. Redfish are good using soft plastics, gulp under a popping cork, live mullet or cut mullet in the cuts. Drum and sheepshead are good around cuts with oyster using live and dead shrimp. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures. 

East Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 62 degrees. Fishing conditions are slow for all species due to fog, wind and the tide schedule. The tide schedule is better next week so look for fishing to improve. Anglers are having some success drifting for trout. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service. 

West Matagorda Bay

SLOW. 62 degrees. Fishing conditions are slow for all species due to fog, wind and the tide schedule. The tide schedule is better next week, so look for fishing to improve. The Colorado River is off colored due to a release of water, look for the water to clear in the coming weeks. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service. 

Port O’Connor

GOOD. 62 degrees. Trout are good on the outside of the jetties with live shrimp, rootbeer colored artificial shrimp, magic grass soft plastics, and live shrimp. Redfish caught in numbers at the back of the jetties on sardines, and live shrimp. Sheepshead are plentiful everywhere using live or dead shrimp. Report by Captain Marty Medford, Captain Marty’s Fish of a Lifetime Guide Service. 

Rockport

GREAT. 60 degrees. Redfish are good in 4-6 feet of water on live mullet and soft plastics. Trout are good in 4-6 feet of water using soft plastics and topwaters. Drum are good in 2-4 feet of water on dead shrimp. Report provided by Damian Hubbs, Mathis Bait Co. 

Port Aransas

GOOD. 60 degrees. Jetties are fishing great for big sheepshead up 23 inches, redfish, and speckled sea trout on live shrimp. Aransas Bay holding numbers of redfish on crab flavored fish bites and shrimp. Redfish Bay is good for small trout and redfish with some slot redfish mixed in with shrimp under a popping cork. Bigger fish are coming on artificials. Catches of sheepshead at Station Street Pier on shrimp. Report by Captain Doug Stanford, Pirates of the Bay Fishing Charters. 

Corpus Christi

SLOW. 66 degrees. Fishing is slow for all species. Indian Point Pier is producing catches of drum on crab flavored fish bites. Report by Captain Doug Stanford, Pirates of the Bay Fishing Charters. 

Baffin Bay

SLOW. 63 degrees. Check the wind forecast before heading out. Nice limits of trout and redfish, numbers of sheepshead and few black drum on live shrimp under a popping cork on the East part of Baffin. Report by Gilbert Barrera, Baffin Bay Hunting and Fishing. 

Port Mansfield

GOOD. 62 degrees. Fishing has been good despite low water levels. That said, water levels should rise some, but fishing will remain consistent. Potholes have been holding good trout and redfish. A few flounder are also being caught along the way. KWigglers in the Wigalo has been very productive, with some big fish coming on the Mansfield Knockers. Report by Captain Wayne Davis, Hook Down Charters 

South Padre

GOOD. 66 degrees. Laguna Vista Cove holding mostly undersized speckled trout, but are fun to catch on artificials with Kelly Wigglers red with white tail most productive. Holly Beach and Airport Cove giving up a few redfish. With the right wind, drift the shoreline all the way to Cullen House. Coast Guard Stations, Mexiquita Flats, old causeway and the shorelines are good for sheepshead and black drum. Weather permitting jetties are good for redfish and sheepshead. Stay safe out there. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre. 

Port Isabel

GOOD. 66 degrees. Laguna Vista Cove holding mostly undersized speckled trout, but are fun to catch on artificials with Kelly Wigglers red with white tail most productive. Holly Beach and Airport Cove giving up a few redfish. With the right wind, drift the shoreline all the way to Cullen House. Coast Guard Stations, Mexiquita Flats, old causeway and the shorelines are good for sheepshead and black drum. Weather permitting jetties are good for redfish and sheepshead. Stay safe out there. Report by Captain Lou Austin, Austin Fishing South Padre.

Source: TPW