HAVING AVOIDED THE DUAL THREATS of Tropical Storm Marco and Hurricane Laura, the water looks good for area anglers as the calendar turns into September. Water temps remain in the upper 80s, with forecasts good throughout the area. Freeport is exceptionally solid, as speckled trout and redfish are running strong. Those who want to stay close can take advantage of the favorable conditions in Texas City.
Sabine Lake: Overall conditions: GOOD. 88-89 degrees. Water clarity; Stained. Speckled trout fishing is good on live shrimp and topwater baits. The fish have been holding over shell and keying in on schools of mullet and shad. Redfish are still good in the lake’s main area when using live shrimp, under a popping cork, kwiggler, or gulp. Conditions have shifted dramatically during the week as the area is currently feeling the effects of Hurricane Laura, which is projected to hit land late Wednesday night, or early Thursday morning.
Trinity Bay: GOOD. 86-87 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish have been good around structure and reefs on live shrimp under a popping cork. Flounder is fair on minnow around rocks. The north and northwest shoreline is a great area year-round due to the generating station. The cooling canal flows into the north side. Work the structure and watch for what’s under the birds.
East Galveston Bay: GOOD. 86-87 degrees. Fishing the mudflats, oyster reefs, and drains with live shrimp are best spots for Speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. Black drum are good around vegetation or structure on blue crab. Conditions have shifted dramatically during the week as the area is currently feeling the effects of Hurricane Laura, which is projected to hit land late Wednesday night, or early Thursday morning.
West Galveston Bay: GOOD. 87-88 degrees. Flounder, redfish, and speckled trout has been excellent around the jetties on live shrimp. Topwaters in the morning and then soft plastics later in the day. Conditions have shifted dramatically during the week as the area is currently feeling the effects of Hurricane Laura, which is projected to hit land late Wednesday night, or early Thursday morning.
Texas City: GOOD. 87-88 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are good along the shoreline on shrimp under a popping cork and soft plastics. Flounder are good on minnow around the rocks. Black drum are good on blue crab along vegetation. Sheepshead are fair around the rocks on mullet or minnows.
Freeport: VERY GOOD. 86 degrees. San Luis Pass is under a hurricane warning but should be clear for the next few days. Speckled trout are good around San Luis Pass on shrimp, MirrOlures, and soft plastics. Redfish, Black drum, and sheepshead are good on live shrimp under popping cork around the reefs.
East Matagorda Bay: GOOD. 86 degrees. Drifting the big mudflats is the best method on this side. Live shrimp under a popping cork is the best bait for redfish and speckled trout.
West Matagorda Bay: GOOD. 86 degrees. Unchanged. Wading the grass flats is the best method. Look for bait activity as a clue as to where the fish will be. We got a lot of guts running through these beds that are deeper with slightly cooler water. Trout often use these guts to move from deeper water into the flats or from the flats to deeper water. Use topwaters in the morning. If no luck, then switch to soft plastics.
Port O’Connor: GOOD. 89 degrees. Speckled trout are steady in numbers along the shoreline and near the ICW and good on croaker or shrimp. Redfish have been good on shrimp under a popping cork. Black drum are good on crab around structure or vegetation. Concentrate on flats that are close to deep water, throw topwaters in the morning.
