Bolivar: GOOD. 64 degrees. Water levels are swapping back-and-forth this week with the north winds pushing the tide out, and the incoming tide is clear. 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. The surf is producing numbers of redfish, black drum, the occasional speckled trout and crabs along the whole peninsula with more activity towards Gilchrist, High Island mainly. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.
Trinity Bay: SLOW. 62 degrees. The northern end of the bay is good for speckled trout and redfish on soft plastics and live shrimp under popping corks. On the west side, ship channel spoil islands continue to be good for black drum, sheepshead, and redfish. Speckled trout being caught further up the channel over hard shells. Best bite on live shrimp fished under popping corks. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Trout are in the current, rocks, oysters with relatively deep water nearby. As soon as the sun comes up the trout bite turns on. Paddle tails and shrimp imitations seem to be the ticket right now. The WACky Shad XL in the peppered pumpkin color is the go to choice right now married with a 2/0, ¼ ounce jig head. Redfish are hitting the flats at a rapid pace with the recent fronts. Be looking for birds working and circling on shallow flats has been key for us. We are catching them mixed in with trout as well using paddle tails. Heat catches of flounder on paddle tails are being landed with the season opening on December 15. Always wear your kill switch and pay attention to the weather and remember, God is great! Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
East Galveston Bay: GOOD. 58 degrees. Waders picking up a few quality speckled trout from the back shorelines of the bay. Best on hard and soft plastic baits. A few fish coming from those drifting the reefs with live shrimp and soft plastics. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. A few more slot-sized speckled trout are showing up, black drum, and redfish being caught on live shrimp 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 Pass. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp. The water clarity is good now for East Galveston Bay. This past week we had less than ideal weather and strong winds on most days and fished low outgoing tides. The trout bite has remained steady, catching good numbers and some oversize fish as well on our artificial only trips. The ticket the past few days has been fishing right on the bottom, very slowly, over deeper shell with 1/4 ounce jig heads with WACky shad XL tails by Wac Attack, in lighter colors, securing the most bites. The redfish bite has been on fire around grass lines and in the shallow water areas back in the marsh. We are still using Imitation shrimp lures & tails under popping corks, with a 1-foot leader to secure the most bites. As in previous weeks, if you do not see active bait in the area you are targeting, move on rather quickly. Do not let the less than ideal weather keep you off the water, as this time of year brings some of the best fishing conditions for bigger fish, with fewer fishers on the water, so get out and make it happen with your family and friends. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Service, LLC.
Galveston Bay: SLOW. 59 degrees. West shoreline structure, piers and shell reefs are good for speckled trout on soft plastics and live shrimp. The Sylvan Beach area seems to be the hot spot. Redfish numbers at times are good. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
West Galveston Bay: GOOD. 63 degrees. A few good trout catches in shallow water near marsh and drains. Drifting the open bay reefs, anglers are catching scattered trout, the occasional redfish, and sand trout of soft plastic lures. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
Houston: GOOD. Water normal stain; 60 degrees; 0.05 feet below pool. Water clarity is good with the exception of Luces Bayou. Largemouth bass are tight to the shorelines close to cypress trees on warmer days, then seem to be a bit deeper on docks and structure on the colder days. Grubs rigged with 3/16 ounce weights seem to be the best and crawfish color is a great choice. White bass are great timing on the south end, vertical jigging and using deep diving crank baits and spins in drop offs. Crappie are decent in east and west fork holding tight to structure around 14 feet of water. Catfish are plentiful and catch the best if you bait a hole then fish out a few hours later with fresh caught shad. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
Texas City: GOOD. 61 degrees. Same old report with bull redfish and black drum catches off the Texas City Dike and the Galveston jetties on live halved crab and cut mullet. Flounder fishery reopens December 15 with a five fish limit, 15 inch minimum. 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. Wade fishing has been sporadic, but great during the incoming tides. Along the dike has been productive from the beginning to the end still. Live shrimp and finger mullet have been the best baits. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.
Freeport: GOOD. 62 degrees. Fishing patterns are consistent with the best bite between fronts. Redfish and trout have been good working under the birds with plastic or popping cork with gulp. In Bastrop Bay, Christmas Bay, Chocolate Bay, Salt Lake and Oyster Lake. The Brazos River has been good with reddish, trout, drum, sand trout, and croakers with either live shrimp or fresh dead shrimp. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures
East Matagorda Bay: GOOD. 55 degrees. The Colorado River is full of trout, with a few redfish, hitting artificials, or live shrimp. Shrimp are falling out of the marsh with some bird activity. Redfish are good on days with light wind drifting with artificials. Few anglers targeting drums, although on calm days the jetties are producing catches of drum and sheepshead. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
West Matagorda Bay: GOOD. 55 degrees. The Colorado River is full of trout, with a few redfish, hitting artificials, or live shrimp. Shrimp are falling out of the marsh with some bird activity. Redfish are good in the sloughs and shallow water with cut bait. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
