Bolivar: GOOD. 67 degrees. It is going to be another week of some wild weather changes. Check the daily forecast or call your favorite bait shop. Only two tide changes all week, changing back to 3/4 tides next week with best times for fishing in the afternoons on incoming tides. Fishing is fair to good. Water temperature warmed up last week and will cool a little with the cold weather days. Water levels are changing back and forth per usual for the winter extremes. Anglers are catching redfish all over, and nice speckled trout , sand trout, black drum, redfish, the occasional sheepshead, and crabs are being caught along the jetty. The flounder are still there but of mixed sizes. The surf is producing lots of redfish, huge black drum, occasional speckled trout and a few sharks along the whole peninsula with more activity towards Gilchrist and High Island. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.
Trinity Bay: FAIR. 61 degrees. Northern end of Trinity receiving a dose of freshwater. East shoreline seeing some scattered trout and reds. best action still in the northwest area of the bay, Tabbs Bay, Scott Bay, and Burnett Bay holding speckled trout, black drum, redfish, and sheepshead. Best bite on live shrimp. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. There is one particular area holding salt water, but the algae is all in the water column so it is hard to fish. Great time to catch blue catfish. As the release rate decreases, at this time it is 25,400 cfs, the salt water will return. The current salinity CFU around umbrella point is 5-7 and 3-5 at Smith Point with the middle of Trinity Bay by A1 a bit more salty than that. Seems like the rigs may be the best bet for the current salinity that is being offered. Redfish and trout are great along the west shoreline by Eagle Point and even up to Morgan’s point being caught on WAC Attack’s Shad XL in the peppered pumpkin color and the WACky Fluke also in the peppered pumpkin color. Drum and sheepshead are tight to the shorelines and on reefs. With the recent temperature changes, fish may drop a bit deeper with mud bottoms. Usually, taking 3 days after a hard front to return to normal late winter patterns. Always wear your kill switch and remember to plan your trips based on weather conditions. Start warm and be prepared. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
East Galveston Bay:GOOD. 60 degrees. The warming trend has been good for fishing. Reefs near shorelines have been fair for speckled trout on soft plastics. Wade anglers are picking up a few better quality fish. Live bait anglers doing well on black drum in the intracoastal and over shell reefs. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Slot-sized speckled trout are showing up in the deep areas along with 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. Surface water temperature went back down to 58 degrees from 69 last week. The water clarity is average for East Galveston Bay. In honor of Valentine’s Day, we have thrown the Salt Strong F.R.E.D. The Jerk in Pink and it has allowed us to crush the trout. Please watch the major and minor fish times, as again this past week, that has been when the bite really turned on, as well as when the water temperatures rose with the sun out. Remember the fish still have to eat in the colder water, although not as often, so be very methodical in your presentation, and fish areas where you have confidence in. Active bait in the area is important, so if you do not see bait or signs of life, do not spend a whole lot of time in the area. As the water heats up during the day, some of the fish are moving out to mud flats to feed, so keep that in mind as well. The redfish bite was not as good for us this week, around drains and in the very shallow water areas back in the marsh. We are still using Imitation shrimp lures & tails under popping corks, with a 1-foot leader to trigger bites, as well as weightless Deadly Dudley Rat Tails, and WacAttack Flukes. Remember, time of year brings some of the best opportunities for bigger fish, with fewer fishers on the water, and bigger fish on the prowl, so get out and make it happen with your family and friends. The Corky bite also is in full swing, as well as suspending hard jerk baits, so if you like throwing artificials these are great bait to throw, as well as walking topwater baits, as well as slow falling jerk baits, when the conditions are lining up. Report by Captain Jeff Brandon, Get the Net Guide Service, LLC.
Galveston Bay: SLOW. 57 degrees. Most catches consist of black drum and sheepshead on live shrimp. A few trout can be caught along with the occasional slot redfish. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
West Galveston Bay: GOOD. 62 degrees. Some good trout being caught by those wading with artificial baits. Live bait anglers catching a few speckled trout, but better numbers of redfish being caught along the structure. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing.
GOOD. Water normal stain; 55 degrees; 0.90 feet below pool. Water levels have dropped significantly for inspection of the spillway. When navigating the waters, please be careful as obstructions that are usually not prevalent can be detrimental to navigation. Largemouth bass are tight to the shorelines and in structure in shallow water but with the temperatures dropping, may go deep for a bit until it warms up. Crappie are in 8 feet of water on structure and eating small jigs good. White bass are in the rivers and creeks eating well on spins and road runner jigs. Report by Captain Zackary Scott, Zack Attack Fishing.
Texas City: GOOD. 59 degrees. Overall a slow week of catches. Oversized black drum catches off the dike and Galveston jetties on live halved crab. Anglers throwing live shrimp around the jetties catching fair numbers of sheepshead. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Anglers are catching plenty of speckled trout, redfish, and black drum with the occasional sand trout, gafftop and big croakers mixed in. Wade fishing has been sporadic, but great during the afternoon incoming tide. Along the dike has been productive from the beginning to the end still. Live shrimp and finger mullet have been the best baits. To entice a massive black drum to bite bait up some crab. We have a couple more weeks until the annual crab trap clean-up. Report by Captain Shane Rilat, North Jetty Bait Camp.
