HOTSPOTS: Saltwater – July 2018

UPPER TEXAS COAST

LOCATION: Sabine Lake
HOTSPOT: Stewt’s Island
GPS: N 29 58.159, W 93 50.782
(29.9693, -93.8464)

Stewt’s Island

SPECIES: Shark, Tarpon
BEST BAITS: Shad
CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams
713-256-9260
www.galvestonsharkfishing.com
TIPS: “When you think of sharks, people think about 500 lbs. or bigger. We target smaller sharks, 40-150 lbs., something a young teen could catch.” Capt. Williams

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay
HOTSPOT: Drull’s Lump
GPS: N 28 42.354, W 95 49.765
(28.7059, -95.8294)

Drull’s Lump

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Popping Cork with live shrimp or Gulp
CONTACT: Capt. Kendal Kersh
979-248-1871
TIPS: Capt. Kersh is concentrating on deep shell in 5-6 feet of water, drifting, throwing a popping cork with live shrimp, soft plastic, or Gulp.

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay
HOTSPOT: Mid Bay Reefs
GPS: N 28 40.921, W 95 53.137
(28.6820, -95.8856)

Mid Bay Reefs

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Popping Cork with live shrimp or Gulp
CONTACT: Capt. Kendal Kersh
979-248-1871
TIPS: “Use a 2-to-3-foot leader under the popping cork. Some of the fish may be on the bottom, but when they get to actively feeding they will come up a foot or two off the bottom to eat.” Capt. Kersh

LOCATION: East Matagorda Bay
HOTSPOT: Long Reef
GPS: N 28 40.388, W 95 53.09
(28.6731, -95.8848)

Long Reef

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Popping Cork with live shrimp or Gulp
CONTACT: Capt. Kendal Kersh
979-248-1871
TIPS: Capt. Kersh likes the Guide’s Choice Popping Corks. “They are a lot more durable than most other corks. They have an epoxy finish on the bottom of the cork next to where the weight hits it.” Capt. Kersh

LOCATION: West Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: Campbell’s Bayou
GPS: N 29 21.063, W 94 53.276
(29.3511, -94.8879)

Campbell’s Bayou

SPECIES: Shark, Tarpon
BEST BAITS: Shad
CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams
713-256-9260
www.galvestonsharkfishing.com
TIPS: “Besides shark, we also catch tarpon, ling and kingfish. All the shark trips we make, the water we fish, you can see land. A lot of people don’t like to go offshore if they can’t see land.” Capt. Williams

LOCATION: West Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: Beach Front
GPS: N 29 5.719, W 95 5.883
(29.0953, -95.0981)

Beachfront

SPECIES: Shark, Tarpon
BEST BAITS: Shad
CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams
713-256-9260
www.galvestonsharkfishing
TIPS: “We are fishing in state waters, within nine miles nautical miles, before you get out to the rigs.” Capt. Williams

LOCATION: West Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: Beach Front West
GPS: N 29 6.305, W 95 4.919
(29.1051, -95.0820)

Beachfront West

SPECIES: Shark, Tarpon
BEST BAITS: Shad
CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams
713-256-9260
www.galvestonsharkfishing.com
TIPS: “We use large shad, about the size of your hand, the same bait we use for tarpon. Drop it into the water and you’re liable to catch anything.” Capt. Williams

LOCATION: West Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: San Luis Pass
GPS: N 29 4.851, W 95 6.776
(29.0809, -95.1129)

San Luis Pass

SPECIES: Shark, Tarpon
BEST BAITS: Shad
CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams
713-256-9260
www.galvestonsharkfishing.com
TIPS: “We target the near shore shrimp boats, ones you can see from the beach. Sharks love feeding on the chum that shrimpers throw overboard.” Capt. Williams

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay
HOTSPOT: Cottons Bayou
GPS: N 28 30.552, W 96 12.453
(28.5092, -96.2076)

Cottons Bayou

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with 1/8 jig head
CONTACT: Capt. Kendal Kersh
979-248-1871
TIPS: “I’ve gotten to where I don’t switch colors on the soft plastics very much.” His favorite color is the Magic Grass by Down South Lures.

LOCATION: West Matagorda Bay
HOTSPOT: Greens
GPS: N 28 29.738, W 96 13.565
(28.4956, -96.2261)

Greens Bayou

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with 1/8 jig head
CONTACT: Capt. Kendal Kersh
979-248-1871
TIPS: Capt. Kersh describes Magic Grass as a translucent green with a chartreuse tail.

MIDDLE TEXAS COAST

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay
HOTSPOT: Chicken Foot Reef
GPS: N 28 16.204, W 96 46.813
(28.2701, -96.7802)

Chicken Foot Reef

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or soft plastics
CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung
979-997-2244
TIPS: “You will feel it go down to the bottom. Give it a few seconds on the bottom, crank my reel a few turns, and move it again. Pop it a few more times.” Capt. Freudensprung

LOCATION: Carlos Bay
HOTSPOT: Cedar Reef
GPS: N 28 8.251, W 96 53.049
(28.1375, -96.8842)

Cedar Reef

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or soft plastics
CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung
979-997-2244
TIPS: Fifteen minutes is the limit he stays on a spot unless he is fishing a point and there is tidal movement. “Look for bait action, especially mullet, flipping out of the water.” Capt. Freudensprung

LOCATION: Mesquite Bay
HOTSPOT: Cedar Bayou
GPS: N 28 6.851, W 96 50.433
(28.1142, -96.8406)

Cedar Bayou

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or soft plastics
CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung
979-997-2244
TIPS: Croaker size should be around 3 – 3 1/2 inches. “Use a #5 Mustad Ultra Point hook.” Capt. Freudensprung

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay
HOTSPOT: Panther Point
GPS: N 28 12.951, W 96 42.016
(28.2159, -96.7003)

Panther Point

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or soft plastics
CONTACT: Capt. Billy Freudensprung
979-997-2244
TIPS: “Once you feel that bump, let him run with it for a second, then set the hook…pretty much almost like a flounder bite.” Capt. Freudensprung

LOWER TEXAS COAST

LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Rocks at 4
GPS: N 27 16.599, W 97 25.003
(27.2767, -97.4167)

Rocks at 4

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics or Live Croaker
CONTACT: Capt. Gilbert Esquivel
361-522-8496
TIPS: Capt. Esquivel will be fishing rock structures in mid-morning and shoreline early mornings, using soft plastics or live croaker.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Cat Head
GPS: N 27 18.382, W 97 26.263
(27.3064, -97.4377)

Cat Head

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics or Live Croaker
CONTACT: Capt. Gilbert Esquivel
361-522-8496
TIPS: In soft plastics he likes Gamblers and Down South lures. Favorite color is red/white tail

LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Badlands South
GPS: N 27 17.152, W 97 25.053
(27.2859, -97.4176)

Badlands South

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics or Live Croaker
CONTACT: Capt. Gilbert Esquivel
361-522-8496
TIPS: “I like to use a 1/16 oz. jig head because I can move the lure a lot slower and get more action into it.” Capt. Esquivel

LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Neubauer Rocks
GPS: N 27 18.134, W 97 39.07
(27.3022, -97.6512)

Neubauer Rocks

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics or Live Croaker
CONTACT: Capt. Gilbert Esquivel
361-522-8496
TIPS: “Morning Glory is another good color if the red/white isn’t working. If the water is off color, a black/white or yellow tail is my next choice.” Capt. Esquivel

LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Sloughs Rocks
GPS: N 27 18.651, W 97 33.465
(27.3109, -97.5578)

Sloughs Rocks

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics or Live Croaker
CONTACT: Capt. Gilbert Esquivel
361-522-8496
TIPS: “If using live croaker, within a few seconds after hitting the water around the rocks, the trout will take the bait. Most of the trout are small.” Capt. Esquivel

LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: Beachfront
GPS: N 26 42.437, W 97 19.312
(26.7073, -97.3219)

Port Mansfield Beachfront

SPECIES: Shark, Tarpon
BEST BAITS: Shad
CONTACT: Capt. Mike Williams
713-256-9260
www.galvestonsharkfishing.com
TIPS: Terminal rig for shark is 50 lb. monofilament, heavy duty black swivel, and then nine feet of 150 lb. test monofilament leader tied to a 15/0 circle hook.