RAIN AND THE EXPECTATION of cooler temperatures make for a solid combination this week. Conditions are good across the board, with Freeport standing out as Very Good. Those seeking to head to Freeport should keep in mind that the best fishing will be in the deeper waters, where the water temperature will be slightly cooler than the mid-to-upper 80s throughout much of the area.
Sabine Lake: Overall conditions: GOOD. 87-88 degrees. Water clarity; Stained. Speckled trout fishing has been good on live shrimp and topwater baits. The fish have been holding over shell and keying in on schools of mullet and shad. Redfish are great over near the Betsy Heights marsh on mullet or shrimp.
Trinity Bay: GOOD. 86-87 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish have been good around structure and reefs on live shrimp under a popping cork. Flounder is fair on minnow around rocks. The north and northwest shoreline is a great area year-round due to the generating station. The cooling canal flows into the north side. Work the structure and watch for what’s under the birds.
East Galveston Bay: GOOD. 88 degrees. It’s been rough with high winds and dangerous tides. The hurricane has left some bait shops closed. The conditions should start improving towards the end of this week. Offats Bayou has produced some decent fish in the first hours of the day.
West Galveston Bay: GOOD. 88 degrees. It’s been rough with high winds and dangerous tides. The hurricane has left some bait shops closed. The conditions should start improving towards the end of this week. Offats Bayou has produced some decent fish in the first hours of the day.
Texas City: GOOD. 87-88 degrees. Bull reds are showing up around the dike in decent numbers, so use cut mullet. Redfish and speckled trout are good along the shoreline on shrimp under a popping cork and soft plastics. Flounder are fair on minnow around the rocks. Black drum are good on blue crab around deep structure. Sheepshead are fair around the rocks on mullet or minnows.
Freeport: VERY GOOD. 87 degrees. Most of the fish are going to be in the deeper waters where the cool water is. Speckled trout are good around San Luis Pass on shrimp, MirrOlures, and soft plastics. Redfish, Black Drum and Sheepshead are fair on live shrimp under popping cork around the reefs.
East Matagorda Bay: GOOD. 87 degrees. Drifting the big mudflats is the best method on this side. Live shrimp under a popping cork is the best bait for redfish and speckled trout.
West Matagorda Bay: GOOD. 87 degrees. Wade fishing for redfish has been great using topwaters and plastics. We got a lot of guts running through these beds that are deeper with slightly cooler water. Trout often use these guts to move from deeper water into the flats or from the flats to deeper water.
Port O’Connor: GOOD. 89 degrees. Speckled trout are near the ICW and are in deep water transition and love cut mullet. Redfish have been good on shrimp under a popping cork. Black drum are good on crab around deep structure. Concentrate on flats that are close to deep water, throw topwaters in the morning.
