Gulf Coast Texas Fishing Report Week of January 15th, 2020

Sabine Lake

Overall conditions: Good. 63-64 degrees. Water conditions: Clear Sabine Lake brown. Visibility around three feet in most parts of the lake and slightly stained up both the Sabine and Neches Rivers. Speckled trout are most of the catchable. They are found in the northern reaches of Sabine Lake right now. Fish are either nearshore or farther out in the deeper parts of the lake holding near mud or mixed mud shell bottoms. There will be some schools of trout in the ICW or mouths of both rivers based on the proper salinity. We have not had too much rain of late so some trout could be several miles up the rivers. Best lures right now are Mirro Lure Corkys, Mirrodin, Catch 5, Catch 2000, Borboleta Lele, and Hot Rod. Always keep a rod rigged with a jig and soft plastic such as a Down South Lure or Mirro Lure Provoker. White is a good color on most days but when the sun is bright sometimes the more flash the better. Redfish can be found in the same general areas as trout right now. Mud shell or mud bottom is the best. The same lures that are working for trout will work for redfish. Some reds are liking fresh or frozen dead shrimp on a Carolina Rig or a lead head jig. Flounder are in ledges near deep water in the rivers or the deeper bayous. Best lures are a lead head jig and Gulp or live mud minnows. If using a jig and a soft plastic tip, attach a piece of dead shrimp for added attraction.

Trinity Bay

VERY GOOD. 61 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp and soft plastics around the causeway. Redfish are good in the marsh on live mullet, soft plastics, and shrimp and are along the shoreline. Sheepshead are very good on live shrimp.

East Galveston Bay

GOOD. 58 degrees. Flounder bite is good on live shrimp. Redfish and black drum are good in the channels and drop-offs on live baits. Speckled trout are good near Oyster Bayou. Catfish are good on cut bait.

West Galveston Bay

GOOD. 58-62 degrees. Redfish and Black drum are excellent near the south shoreline coves. Flounder are good on live shrimp. Speckled trout are excellent on shrimp under popping cork or fatboys in deeper water. Catfish are good on cut bait.

Texas City

VERY GOOD. 60-63 degrees. Redfish are very good on soft plastics or live mullet. Flounder is fair on live shrimp or minnow. Speckled trout are good on slow sinking mullet imitating plugs. Very early hours of the morning and late afternoon will be the pinnacle fishing times. Black drum are good on whole shad.

Freeport

GOOD. 59-61 degrees. Water clarity is excellent. Black drum are excellent. Redfish will be found during the mid-day/afternoon in shallow mudflats and are good on soft plastics or natural baits for the experienced and finger mullet or shrimp for the more inexperienced. Speckled trout bite are very good on mullet or pinfish. Sheepshead are good on shrimp and will be found around the jetties. Flounder are good around the San Luis Pass bridge and are good on mullet. Bull reds are fair at the mouth of the Brazos river on cut menhaden baits.

East Matagorda Bay

GOOD. 64 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp under popping cork and soft plastics around the north shore reefs. The bigger trout are on this side. Red fish are very good near the south shoreline on live mullet, soft plastics and topwater in the warmer, shallow water. Flounder are good on shrimp and will be under birds. Black drum are fair on soft plastics or blue crab.

West Matagorda Bay

GOOD. 64 degrees. Black drum are fair on blue crab or soft plastics. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp under popping cork and soft plastics along the flats around mullet. Redfish are good in the marsh on live mullet, soft plastics and topwater. The flounder bite is fair on down south plastic in red or white color. The southern shoreline still seems to be producing the best results.

Port O’Connor

GOOD. 61 degrees. Black drum are excellent on blue crab, shrimp, or soft plastics. Trout are good on a combination of live or fresh baits such as shrimp or crab in the shallow sand bars. They are also found at the dropoffs of the ICW and around seadrift flats and the lagoons. Redfish are excellent on live shrimp. Flounder are good at the end of the jetties on minnow. Sheepshead are excellent near the jetty on live shrimp.

Rockport

FAIR. 61-62 degrees. Redfish are fair due to cold temperatures- the ones you find will be in the shallow warmer water. Trout are fair drifting and wading over hard sand with shell pockets on live bait. Flounder are fair on live finger mullet. High winds and cold temperatures have made this past week very challenging.

Port Aransas

GOOD. 63 degrees. Flounder are fair on live mullet along the marsh. Redfish are good on shrimp, KWigglers paddle tail, and are found in schools. Speckled trout are decent on shrimp and top waters in the shallow water in the afternoon warmth. Black drum are fair on shrimp or soft plastics.

Corpus Christi

GOOD. 63 degrees. Redfish are good on cut mullet and shrimp around Bob Hall pier. Speckled Trout are good on Texas Rattler jigs near Ward Island. Flounder are good on minnow or squid or jig. Black Drum are fair on shrimp or crab on sinkers near piers and jetties and best around Laguna Madre.

Baffin Bay

GOOD. 64 degrees. Redfish are good in the sandflats on soft plastics. Topwater can work on warm sunny days in between cold fronts and on live bait following the mullet. Flounder are good on jigs or minnow. Speckled trout are good on shrimp in shallow water near sand. Slow sinking artificial lures are the best artificial choice for the wade fisherman.

Port Mansfield

GOOD. 66 degrees. Trout and reds are good on the flats in 3 to 5 ft most being smaller but keepers. Trout and reds are also good over swallow areas of mud bottom were you find better quality and using kwiggler paddle and willow tail gulp and live shrimp. Offshore is still good for snapper when weather permits.

South Padre

GOOD. 66-67 degrees. Redfish are good around mud boils on live shrimp. Speckled trout are good on the flats on cut mullet and are in shallower water in the warm afternoons and the muddy flats along the south bay. Black drum are good on shrimp or crab.

Port Isabel

GOOD. 64 degrees. Speckled trout are good in the shallow grass flats. Sheepshead are good on crab. Flounder are good on minnows. Jack Crevalle are good on live mullet. Redfish are good on shrimp and will be found in the sand flats in the southern end of Laguna Madre. Black drum are good on dead shrimp on a jig head, and they are schooling in deep waters and found near mud bottoms. Snook will be found in dense concentrations near the port.

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