Bolivar: GOOD. 67 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. 63 degrees. The back end of the bay is good for scattered reds and speckled trout on live shrimp and artificial lures. Marshes are good for redfish. Fish are moving north, with good catches of speckled trout from above I-10 in the San Jacinto river. Live shrimp and soft plastics are effective. Still plenty of fish between Fred Hartman Bridge and I-10. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Water clarity is good. Redfish are being caught well in the current and near drop-offs feeding heavily in the bottom using swimbaits, gulp curly tails and gulp shrimp. Trout are fantastic in current over rock flats and shell flats being caught on swim baits and shrimp imitation baits. Flounder are starting to really pick up on drains using swim baits and gulp baits. Drum are heavy on rock flats being caught on live or dead shrimp. Always wear your kill switch when underway. God is great! Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
East Galveston Bay: GOOD. 62 degrees. Back water drains and lakes producing speckled trout and redfish on hard plastic baits and soft plastic lures. Reefs are good for black drum and sheepshead. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Surface water temperature 62 degrees. The water clarity is excellent now for East Galveston Bay. 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 very slowly on the bottom over deeper shell with 1/4 ounce jig heads with WACky shad XL tails by Wac Attack, with Rollover Moon, securing the most bites. The redfish bite has been on fire around grass lines and in the shallow water areas where we see active bait using imitation shrimp lures and Deadly Dudley Rat tails under popping corks, with a 1-foot leader. As in previous weeks, if you do not see active bait in the area move on rather quickly if you are not getting any bites. 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 larger fish. Get out and make it happen with your family and friends. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Service, LLC.
Galveston Bay: SLOW. 64 degrees. Upper Galveston bay around Sylvan Beach good for speckled trout on soft plastics. Clear Lake produces scattered trout catches on live shrimp and soft plastics. A few redfish in both areas. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
West Galveston Bay: GOOD. 64 degrees. Drifting the dirty streaks in the open bay producing scattered catches of speckled trout. Those fishing in Chocolate and even Hall’s Bayou catching speckled trout, black drum, and redfish on soft plastics and live shrimp are effective. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
Houston: GOOD. Water normal stain; 60 degrees; 0.04 feet above pool. White bass are on fire just about everywhere in the lake eating to be ready for winter. The sandies are very active early mornings and late afternoons eating swimbaits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Largemouth bass are on docks and structure eating just about anything as well. Catfish are decent on the drop offs being caught with fresh caught shad. Crappie are deep and very tight to structure on the bottom being caught with minnows and small jigs but need to be enticed to bite a bit. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
Texas City: GOOD. 62 degrees. All eyes have turned to flounder. Good catches of flounder are coming from the Galveston channel, with the best bite on live shrimp and gulps. Fish up to 7 pounds have been caught. Those gigging at night are doing well. Still bull redfish and oversized black drum being caught off the dike and the Galveston jetties. 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 has been good in between fronts. Redfish and trout have been good working under the birds with plastic or gulp under a popping cork. In Bastrop Bay, Christmas Bay, Chocolate Bay, Salt Lake and Oyster Lake. Brazos River has been good with reds, trout, drum, sand trout with either live shrimp or fresh dead shrimp. Flounder have been good on gulp, new penny shrimp and live finger mullet. Report by Captain Jake Brown, Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures
East Matagorda Bay: GOOD. 55 degrees. Fishing patterns are holding steady with a consistent bite for trout in the The Colorado River with artificials, or live shrimp. Very little bird action. Redfish are good wade fishing or drifting with artificials. As the weather warms the redfish venture into the marsh and can be caught with artificials or cut mullet. On calm days the jetties are producing a few catches of drum and sheepshead. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
West Matagorda Bay: GOOD. 55 degrees. Fishing patterns are holding steady with a consistent bite for trout in the The Colorado River with artificials, or live shrimp. Very little bird action. Redfish are good in the sloughs and shallow water with cut bait. Report by Captain Charlie Paradoski, Captain Charlie Paradoski’s Guide Service.
