Bolivar: GOOD. 72 degrees. Water temperature is dropping finally in the lower 70s, and should continue to drop with the forecasted weather changes. Water levels swapping back-and-forth this week with the north winds pushing the tide out. Anglers are still catching plenty of redfish everywhere. The big croakers are still being caught along with a few more sand trout, black drum, redfish, speckled trout, and crabs caught along the jetty with a few small stingrays and sharks. Remember, flounder are catch and release only through December 14th. The surf is producing lots of redfish and black drum, the occasional speckled trout and bigger sharks along the whole peninsula with more activity towards Gilchrist, High Island mainly. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.
Trinity Bay: SLOW. 68 degrees. Lots of trout in various areas with those wading the east shoreline finding better quality fish. West shoreline producing fair action on trout, but better numbers of redfish being caught along the old pier pilings. Upper ship channel bays are good for trout, redfish, black drum, and sheepshead on live shrimp under popping corks. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Water clarity is good. Trout are on fire. You can find great trout when you find shrimp on a flat with guts in it by a shoreline being caught well with WAC Attack Lures using the WACky Shad XL in the prepared pumpkin color. Redfish are of rocky flats with current and on reefs in 5 feet of water eating swimbaits rigged weedless. Drum and sheepshead are mixed in with the redfish on rock lines eating live shrimp under a popping cork. Wear your kill switch at all times and be safe. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
East Galveston Bay: GOOD. 68 degrees. Waders are beginning to catch some quality speckled trout on hard plastic baits. Redfish mixed in with them and still some flounder near the mouths of deep bayous and drains. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Slot sized speckled trout, black drum, and redfish are being caught on live shrimp, croakers, and finger mullet. We are still getting a few reports of good fishing by Frenchtown Road, Siever’s Cut, and near the boat ramp by rollover. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp. Surface water temperature 65 degrees. The water clarity is about average now for East Galveston Bay. This past week we had a couple of fronts push through that dropped the water temperatures, as well as water levels in the bay system. On our morning trips we have fished falling tides, and the trout bite has continued to get better, catching good numbers and some oversize fish as well. The ticket the past few days has been fishing right on the bottom over deep shell with 1/4 ounce jig heads with light color tails by Wac Attack, securing the most bites. The redfish are still up around grass lines and in the shallow water areas in the marsh. We are still using Imitation shrimp lures and tails under popping corks, with a one foot leader, but the jig head or tails have been the winner this week. As in previous weeks, if you don’t see active bait, move on rather quickly. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Service, LLC.
Galveston Bay: SLOW. 67 degrees. Western shoreline holding good numbers of trout and a few black drum with the occasional redfish. Spoil islands fair for trout, but bull reds are roaming near the rocks. The bull redfish are also beginning to school up in the open bay, look for working birds. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
West Galveston Bay: GOOD. 68 degrees. Far west end of the bay, in Chocolate bayou and bay is good for speckled trout on shell reefs and working flocks of birds. Scattered reds along the bayou shorelines and grass lined shorelines. Those fishing the upper end of the bay are finding speckled trout on shell throwing soft plastics. Those fishing wit shrimp are also landing some drum and sheepshead. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
Houston: GOOD. Water normal stain; 70 degrees; 0.62 feet below pool. Water is stained, but clearing in the south end. Largemouth bass are on cypress trees and structures in 4-5 feet biting worms and grubs. Catfish are plentiful being caught in fresh caught shad on bulkheads and jug lining with an 8-10 feet leader. Crappie are decent on brush piles in 8-14 feet of water with hand tied jig heads in East fork. White bass are rearing heat on swim baits, rooster tails and trolling humps with a 20 foot diver with a #12 pet spoons in 12 feet of water. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
Texas City: GOOD. 67 degrees. Good catches of bull redfish continue to be had off the dike and the Galveston jetties. Best on cut mullet and live halved crabs. Galveston channel producing flounder, as anglers eagerly await the reopening of the fishery. Red snapper are plentiful in state and offshore waters when conditions allow.Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Anglers are still catching plenty of speckled trout, redfish, and black drum with the occasional sand trout, gafftop and big croaker. Successful wade fishing around Mosquito Island and inside the Moses Lake Tidal Gate in the late afternoons. Along the dike has been productive from the beginning to the end. Live shrimp and finger mullet have been the best baits. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.
Freeport: GOOD. 69 degrees. Birds have been working over trout and redfish feeding on shrimp in the mornings and in the evenings in Chocolate Bay, Bastrop Bay, and upper West Galveston Bay live shrimp under a four horseman pop n corks have been working well or gulp with 1/16 ounce jig head. The old river been good with trout, redfish, sheepshead and mangroves snapper. The river has been good for trout, redfish, drum, sand trout and big croaker using either live or dead shrimp. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures
East Matagorda Bay: GOOD. 69 degrees. Trout can be caught wading or drifting. Very few redfish catches in the bay while fish are still in the marshes with the shrimp. Some catches of redfish in shallow water with cut bait. Black drums are plentiful along shell reefs. While flounder season is closed, the fish are abundant for catch and release. There is an abundance of shrimp in The Colorado River, so trout and redfish catches are good. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
West Matagorda Bay: GOOD. 69 degrees. Redfish can be caught in the back lakes. Redfish are as shallow as possible. Trout are good midbay. Black drums are plentiful along shell reefs. While flounder season is closed, the fish are abundant for catch and release. There is an abundance of shrimp in The Colorado River, so trout and redfish catches are good. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
