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 use 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.
