Bolivar: GOOD. 70 degrees. The surf is starting to hold some black drum, pompano, small shark and occasional redfish. The North Jetty surf side holding sheepshead and trout against rocks look for bait. Redfish in the channel on Carolina rigged mullet, shad, and crab. The end holds nice schools of trout and sheepshead. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Trinity Bay: SLOW. 68 degrees. There has been an increased amount of water flowing downstream from the San Jacinto and Trinity Rivers, so the upper end of Trinity bay and northern end of Galveston Bay is off-colored. Scattered catches of speckled trout and black drum and an occasional redfish are being caught off live shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
East Galveston Bay: GOOD. 70 degrees. Nagging strong to moderate northeast winds have limited the open bay reef fishing. Those fishing along the protected shorelines and back marshes catching scattered redfish and speckled trout. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter. This week we fished a number of areas in the marsh, as well as quite a few drains on a stout incoming tide. Water temperatures in East Galveston Bay were in the low 70s, and we had winds that were for the most part, 10-20 mph out of the North to North East. Water clarity is good up around Stingaree Marina to Elm Grove and once you get past Big Pasture Bayou and East, the water gets darker. The redfish caught were up along the grass lines and around pinch points of drains. These areas also produced Black Drum, and Flounder, with the majority of fish coming on Live Shrimp, under a popping cork with an 18 -30” leader. We also caught several fish in the same areas on ¼ ounce jig heads and artificial tails, with White Ice achieving the most consistent bites. Most of Speckled Trout came on artificials bounced off shell beds on protected shorelines, and in channel bends, depending upon the time of day we were fishing, and the top water bite is beginning to heat up in the early mornings. Mosquitos were not as bad this week, but the Gnats were brutal when we were fishing areas up in the marsh. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Services, LLC. Yates Bayou (Drain) holding redfish against grass line on popping cork and shrimp. Then Hanna’s is great early on same bait or twitching artificials. Look for birds and slicks, and moving bait. Pepper Grove Cove to Moody’s Pass holding fish. Smith Point to Moody National Wildlife. Redfish look for schools and birds. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Galveston Bay: GOOD. 68 degrees. Fishing has not been consistent while the winds are blustering. Scattered reports of speckled trout and redfish coming from protected areas like Moses Lake and Dickinson Bay. Black drum being caught along rocky areas on the east side of the ship channel. Even a few redfish from the same area. Live shrimp accounting for the catches. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The South Jetty still holding Trout, sheepshead and redfish close to rocks free-lined shrimp, or Carolina rigged float with live shrimp or soft plastic. SWP Holding redfish from Pier and from rocks. Sheepshead in front of the concrete Seawall. The drains out of Swan Lake and Campbell’s Slough holding sheepshead with an occasional Redfish. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
West Galveston Bay: GOOD. 71 degrees. Anglers using live shrimp around the Causeway bridge catching a mixed bag of black drum, redfish, and speckled trout. Waders are fishing with live croaker or soft plastic lures. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Greens lake holding redfish against grass lines and by sandy shores early. ICW holding fish through greens cut and Carancahua cut holding trout and redfish with the amount of wind wind we are getting. Mecom Reef will have fish on it early up by rocks with artificial or live bait free-line or under cork. You’ll need to find protected waters with bait moving around as the winds pick up. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Houston: FAIR. Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.88 feet above pool. Water runoff has lowered the water temperature. Catfish are biting in 15-20 feet of water on shad. Some catfish are staying close to bulkheads waiting for the shad spawn to resume. Crappie are good in 8-16 feet of water in open water fishing black and chartreuse or blue and white jigs off the bottom. Structures are holding smaller fish. Bass have pushed out to 6-10 feet of water using chatterbaits, or Texas rigged worms. White bass are good under the lights at night with rattletraps and double rigged jigs. Report by Jason Machala, JM Fishing Guide Service.
Texas City: GOOD. 69 degrees. Better numbers of bull redfish being taken off the Galveston jetty rocks on fresh dead shad and blue crab. Still catches of oversized black drum, along with sheepshead, puppy drum, and a few speckled trout for those anglers using live shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The Dike is holding bull redfish along the rocks with scattered drum and flounder. Dickinson Bayou, holding some redfish and drum on popping cork and shrimp or soft plastics. The Rock shoals south of the dike holding fish on popping cork with live shrimp. Millers Point holding a few trout and occasional Redfish. Look for slicks and birds this time of year. Report provided by Captain Raymond Wheatley, Tail Spotter Guide Service LLC.
Freeport: GOOD. 70 degrees. Fishing patterns are starting to move from mud and shell to the spring pattern on the rocks and sand. Check the wind forecast before heading out. Spanish mackerel, pompano, sheepshead and big redfish at the jetties with live shrimp. Sheepshead are spawning anywhere with moving water, so target the pass, river, and jetties. Redfish are in the river, back lakes, river and bays with live shrimp under a popping cork or soft plastics in new penny, chartreuse, Texas roach or red/white. Flounder are showing up in the bays mixed in with trout and redfish. River holding flounder and trout. Few catches of trout in the surf mixed in with jack crevalle and sharks. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures.
East Matagorda Bay: SLOW. 70 degrees. Wade fishing is producing the best catches, but when the winds allow drift. Shrimp is starting to show up and birds are working the shorelines in the afternoons. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
West Matagorda Bay: SLOW. 70 degrees. When high winds are present fish in The Colorado River and Diversionary Canal. When the winds allow fish the reefs for redfish, drum and sheepshead. Shrimp is starting to show up and birds are working the shorelines in the afternoons. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
