Hotspots March 2018: Saltwater

Hotspots March 2018: Freshwater
March 10, 2018
Coastal Focus: Lower Coast
March 13, 2018

UPPER TEXAS COAST

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay

HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef

GPS: N 29 28.471, W 94 43.251

(29.4745, -94.7209)

Hanna's Reef

Hanna’s Reef

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: MirrOlure Lil John

CONTACT: Capt. Mike Losoya

409-939-8311

captainmike@getbitgalveston.com

getbitgalveson.com

TIPS: Captain Losoya will be fishing over shallow dark mud close to deeper shell pads, reefs, and the north shore line if the wind comes up. They are usually holding up on mud early in the morning. Look for bait action.

 

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay

HOTSPOT: Deep Reef

GPS: N 29 30.802, W 94 40.581

(29.5134, -94.6764)

Deep Reef

Deep Reef

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: MirrOlure Lil John

CONTACT: Capt. Mike Losoya

409-939-8311

captainmike@getbitgalveston.com

getbitgalveson.com

TIPS: Favorite baits: 3- 3 1/2 inch, MirrOlure Lil John in Golden Bream and Water Melon Red Sparkle with 1/8 oz. jig head…They make an XL that is four or five inches, but I usually have problems with short strikes.

 

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay

HOTSPOT: North Shoreline

GPS: N 29 33.144, W 94 37.785

(29.5524, -94.6298)

North Shoreline

North Shoreline

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish

BEST BAITS: MirrOlure Lil John and Paul Brown Soft Dog

CONTACT: Capt. Mike Losoya

409-939-8311

captainmike@getbitgalveston.com

getbitgalveson.com

TIPS: For the redfish I work the shoreline, grasslines throwing the Paul Brown Soft Dog topwater.

 

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LOCATION: East Galveston Bay

HOTSPOT: Anahuac Shoreline

GPS: N 29 33.573, W 94 32.266

(29.5596, -94.5378)

Anahuac Shoreline

Anahuac Shoreline

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish

BEST BAITS: MirrOlure Lil John and Paul Brown Soft Dog

CONTACT: Capt. Mike Losoya

409-939-8311

captainmike@getbitgalveston.com

getbitgalveson.com

TIPS: I usually just bump a soft plastic along the bottom. They are still pretty lethargic in March.

 

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay

HOTSPOT: Tide Gauge

GPS: N 29 28.179, W 94 41.941

(29.4697, -94.6990)

Tide Guage

Tide Guage

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: MirrOdine XL soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio

281-788-4041

captainmike@getbitgalveston.com

getbitgalveson.com

TIPS: Favorite colors in soft plastics are Texas Chicken…any of the natural colors.

 

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay

HOTSPOT: Tire and Tong Reef

GPS: N 29 32.232, W 94 30.351

(29.5372, -94.5059)

Tire and Tong Reef

Tire and Tong Reef

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: MirrOdine XL soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio

281-788-4041

captainpaul@gofishgalveston.com

www.gofishgalveston.com

TIPS: Capt. Marcaccio likes a larger soft plastic when fishing for big trout. His choice is the Big Minnow XL by Texas Tackle Factory.

 

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay

HOTSPOT: Frozen Point

GPS: N 29 32.42, W 94 31.361

(29.5403, -94.5227)

Frozen Point

Frozen Point

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Topwater baits

CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio

281-788-4041

captainpaul@gofishgalveston.com

www.gofishgalveston.com

TIPS: I always downside my topwater baits in March, but in rougher water conditions I would suggest a bigger bait, such as a Super Spook…a little bigger rattle which might help the trout find the bait.

 

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LOCATION: Galveston West Bay

HOTSPOT: Starvation Cove

GPS: N 29 14.221, W 94 56.409

(29.2370, -94.9402)

Starvation Cove

Starvation Cove

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: MirrOdine XL soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio

281-788-4041

captainpaul@gofishgalveston.com

www.gofishgalveston.com

TIPS: Capt. Marcaccio advises to fish any of the coves in West Bay. Fish drains, north or south shoreline, where ever you see bait movement.

 

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay

HOTSPOT: Snake Island Cove

GPS: N 29 9.565, W 95 2.215

(29.1594, -95.0369)

Snake Island Cove

Snake Island Cove

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: MirrOdine XL soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Paul Marcaccio

281-788-4041

captainpaul@gofishgalveston.com

www.gofishgalveston.com

TIPS: Capt. Marcaccio will be wade fishing targeting big trout. In drift fishing you tend to drift over the fish instead of staying on them.

Master Marine

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LOCATION: Matagorda

HOTSPOT: Colorado River at Selkirk Island

GPS: N 28 45.333, W 95 59.381

(28.7556, -95.9897)

Colorado River at Selkirk Island

Colorado River at Selkirk Island

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp or Gulp under a popping cork, or Down South soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Stan Sloan

832-693-4292

sloan529@gmail.com

fishfcc.com

TIPS: During March, if we get some cold weather, the trout and redfish will move up the Colorado River, said Capt. Sloan. Around Selkirk Island is a popular spot on the river to find fish.

 

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay

HOTSPOT: Raymond Landing Shoals

GPS: N 28 40.449, W 95 53.21

(28.6742, -95.8868)

Raymond Landing Shoals

Raymond Landing Shoals

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp or Gulp under a popping cork

CONTACT: Capt. Stan Sloan

832-693-4292

sloan529@gmail.com

fishfcc.com

TIPS: Capt. Sloan uses either live shrimp or Gulp under a popping cork, Down South soft plastic shrimp tails. Favorite colors on the shrimp tails are Texas Roach and plum/chartreuse. White for some reason works really well at any time of the year.

 

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LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay

HOTSPOT: Old Gulf Cut

GPS: N 28 42.919, W 95 53.21

(28.7153, -95.8868)

Old Gulf Cut

Old Gulf Cut

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp or Gulp under a popping cork, or Down South soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Stan Sloan

832-693-4292

sloan529@gmail.com

fishfcc.com

TIPS: If Capt. Sloan is fishing over shell, he uses a 1/16 oz. jig head, worked real slow.

 

Southwest International In-Water Boat Show

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LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay

HOTSPOT: Boiler Bayou

GPS: N 28 38.685, W 95 54.067

(28.6448, -95.9011)

Boiler Bayou

Boiler Bayou

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp or Gulp under a popping cork, or Down South soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Stan Sloan

832-693-4292

sloan529@gmail.com

fishfcc.com

TIPS: Sometimes in March the spring migration of shrimp is taking place, and the birds will be working over the shrimp. He then switches to a 3/8 oz. jig head.

 

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay

HOTSPOT: Tripod

GPS: N 28 40.147, W 95 54.813

(28.6691, -95.9136)

Tripod

Tripod

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp or Gulp under a popping cork, or Down South soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Stan Sloan

832-693-4292

sloan529@gmail.com

fishfcc.com

TIPS: You catch the little trout up on the top, but if you get past them you will find big redfish hanging out under them.

 

LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay

HOTSPOT: Twin Island Reef

GPS: N 28 38.828, W 96 2.425

(28.6471, -96.0404)

Twin Island Reef

Twin Island Reef

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp or Gulp under a popping cork, or Down South soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Stan Sloan

832-693-4292

sloan529@gmail.com

fishfcc.com

TIPS: Whenever we get a big flooding rain it will push all the bait fish out of the river into West Matagorda Bay.

 

LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay

HOTSPOT: Shell Island Reef

GPS: N 28 37.788, W 96 3.903

(28.6298, -96.0651)

Shell Island Reef

Shell Island Reef

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp or Gulp under a popping cork, or Down South soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Stan Sloan

832-693-4292

sloan529@gmail.com

fishfcc.com

TIPS: Wherever the freshwater ends and saltwater starts is where all the bait will be and the trout and redfish.

 

LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay

HOTSPOT: Culver’s Cut

GPS: N 28 39.349, W 96 0.509

(28.6558, -96.0085)

Culver’s Cut

Culver’s Cut

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live shrimp or Gulp under a popping cork, or Down South soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Stan Sloan

832-693-4292

sloan529@gmail.com

fishfcc.com

TIPS: If that happens, I will be fishing the south shoreline, drifting instead of wade fishing.

 

LOCATION: Sabine Lake

HOTSPOT: East Pass 29

GPS: N 29 59.027, W 93 46.582

(29.9838, -93.7764)

East Pass 29

East Pass 29

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Topwaters and soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins

409-673-9211

9782018@sbcglobal.net

www.fishsabinelake.net

TIPS: Capt. Watkins starts his day with a topwater bait and then switches off to soft plastics as the sun comes up. He says colors is that important on the soft plastics. More important is the action of the bait.

 

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MIDDLE TEXAS COAST

LOCATION: Port Aransas

HOTSPOT: Upper Estes Flats

GPS: N 27 57.058, W 97 5.331

(27.9510, -97.0889)

Upper Estes Flats

Upper Estes Flats

SPECIES: Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live or dead cut bait

CONTACT: Capt. Len Jones

361-779-9144

lenjonesguideservice.com

TIPS: Some kind of dead bait, live or dead shrimp is usually pretty good in March.

 

LOCATION: Port Aransas

HOTSPOT: South Bay

GPS: N 27 53.459, W 97 5.789

(27.8910, -97.0965)

South Bay

South Bay

SPECIES: Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live or dead cut bait

CONTACT: Capt. Len Jones

361-779-9144

lenjonesguideservice.com

TIPS: Estes Flats, Dagger Island, South Bay … any of the flats will usually produce redfish.

 

LOCATION: Port Aransas

HOTSPOT: Dagger Flats

GPS: N 27 49.754, W 97 10.61

(27.8292, -97.1768)

Dagger Flats

Dagger Flats

SPECIES: Redfish

BEST BAITS: Live or dead cut bait

CONTACT: Capt. Len Jones

361-779-9144

lenjonesguideservice.com

TIPS: Capt. Jones is fishing on the bottom. He doesn’t use any weight with live bait…let them swim around.

 

LOCATION: Port Aransas

HOTSPOT: Mustang Point/Ship Channel

GPS: N 27 51.007, W 97 3.772

(27.8501, -97.0629)

Mustang Point/Ship Channel

Mustang Point/Ship Channel

SPECIES: Black Drum

BEST BAITS: Live or dead cut bait

CONTACT: Capt. Len Jones

361-779-9144

lenjonesguideservice.com

TIPS: Capt. Jones is fishing for redfish off the point and then black drum in the Ship Channel

 

LOWER TEXAS COAST

LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado

HOTSPOT: Peyton’s Bay

GPS: N 26 25.948, W 97 22.269

(26.4325, -97.3712)

Peyton’s Bay

Peyton’s Bay

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Skitter Walk topwater

CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado

956-357-1301

josephpradoprado@yahoo.com

TIPS: I like to throw a white or pink Skitter Walk because they make good noise. Tequila Gold in a Norton Bull Minnow is a good color for trout.

 

LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado

HOTSPOT: Rattlesnake Bay

GPS: N 26 19.199, W 97 20.400

(26.3199, -97.3399)

Rattlesnake Bay

Rattlesnake Bay

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnow

CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado

956-357-1301

josephpradoprado@yahoo.com

TIPS: Capt. Prado said he likes to wade shorelines with muddy bottoms because the fish are trying to warm up.

 

LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado

HOTSPOT: Green Island

GPS: N 26 23.212, W 97 19.305

(26.3869, -97.3218)

Green Island

Green Island

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnow

CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado

956-357-1301

josephpradoprado@yahoo.com

TIPS: Throw a Norton Bull Minnow, weedless, and work the lure real slow through the grass.

 

LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado

HOTSPOT: Caballo Island

GPS: N 26 17.162, W 97 18.308

(26.2860, -97.3051)

Caballo Island

Caballo Island

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Saltwater Assassin soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado

956-357-1301

josephpradoprado@yahoo.com

TIPS: The size of the lure changes from January through March…they get bigger, said Capt. Prado. He likes the Big Minnow XL.

 

LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado

HOTSPOT: Bird Island

Bird Island

Bird Island

GPS: N 26 21.494, W 97 19.233

(26.3582, -97.3206)

SPECIES: Redfish

BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp under a popping cork

CONTACT: Capt. Joseph Prado

956-357-1301

josephpradoprado@yahoo.com

TIPS: If the trout action is slow, try using Gulp under a popping cork in deeper green water. Capt. Prado says they have caught a lot of good redfish this way.

 

LOCATION: Baffin Bay

HOTSPOT: The Badlands

GPS: N 27 18.228, W 97 24.338

(27.3038, -97.4056)

The Badlands

The Badlands

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Topwaters, Corkies, soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Javi Castillo

361-815-4865

captainjavicastillo@yahoo.com

TIPS: March is big trophy trout time along the Texas coast. Baffin Bay has always been a rewarder for the angler willing to get out of the boat and wade fish.

 

LOCATION: Baffin Bay

HOTSPOT: The Badlands South

GPS: N 27 17.152, W 97 25.053

(27.2859, -97.4176)

The Badlands South

The Badlands South

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Topwaters, Corkies, soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Javi Castillo

361-815-4865

captainjavicastillo@yahoo.com

TIPS: Capt. Castillo number one spot is anywhere around the Badlands, although he says he might venture over to Yarborough, Lost Slough and the Land Cut.

 

LOCATION: Baffin Bay

HOTSPOT: Green 9

GPS: N 27 15.942, W 97 27.401

(27.2657, -97.4567)

Green 9

Green 9

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Topwaters, Corkies, soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Javi Castillo

361-815-4865

captainjavicastillo@yahoo.com

TIPS: Big trout don’t get big by being dumb. I generally get my clients out in a line, and we walk down 80-100 yards away from the boat before we start casting.

 

LOCATION: Baffin Bay

HOTSPOT: Tide Gauge Bar

GPS: N 27 18.388, W 97 27.54

(27.3065, -97.4590)

Tide Gauge Bar

Tide Gauge Bar

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Topwaters, Corkies, soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Javi Castillo

361-815-4865

captainjavicastillo@yahoo.com

TIPS: Capt. Castillo and his clients are wading water between a foot to three feet deep. If I’m past my waist in water I’m fishing too deep.

 

LOCATION: Baffin Bay

HOTSPOT: Rocks at 4

GPS: N 27 16.599, W 97 25.003

(27.2767, -97.4167)

Rocks at 4

Rocks at 4

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Topwaters, Corkies, soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Javi Castillo

361-815-4865

captainjavicastillo@yahoo.com

TIPS: He starts his day off by throwing topwaters, then shifting to Corkies as the sun comes up, and finishes with soft plastics.

 

LOCATION: Baffin Bay

HOTSPOT: North of Carrallos Shoreline

GPS: N 27 15.162, W 97 29.177

(27.2527, -97.4863)

North of Carrallos Shoreline

North of Carrallos Shoreline

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Topwaters, Corkies, soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Javi Castillo

361-815-4865

captainjavicastillo@yahoo.com

TIPS: His favorite colors for topwaters are pink/chrome, Halloween and bone.

 

LOCATION: Baffin Bay

HOTSPOT: Black Bluff Barr

GPS: N 27 14.166, W 97 31.067

(27.2361, -97.5178)

Black Bluff Bar

Black Bluff Bar

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Topwaters, Corkies, soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Javi Castillo

361-815-4865

captainjavicastillo@yahoo.com

TIPS: Fan cast … starting at your right and moving to your left, take 10 steps, and start over again.

 

LOCATION: Cayo del Grullo

HOTSPOT: Neubauer Point Rock

GPS: N 27 18.134, W 97 39.07

(27.3022, -97.6512)

Neubauer Point Rock

Neubauer Point Rock

SPECIES: Speckled Trout

BEST BAITS: Topwaters, Corkies, soft plastics

CONTACT: Capt. Javi Castillo

361-815-4865

captainjavicastillo@yahoo.com

TIPS: If you don’t have a white color bait in your tackle bag, then you’re doing something wrong.

 

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