COASTAL FORECAST: Galveston – June 2019

COASTAL FORECAST: Matagorda – June 2019
May 24, 2019
COASTAL FORECAST: Sabine – June 2019
May 24, 2019

A June Night Is A Fine Night For A Fish Bite!

JUNE BRINGS THE BEGINNING of our REAL summer on the Texas coast, even though we will have earlier “warm spells” in most years.

With June the temperature and weather patterns of summer become established. This means lots of sun, and daytime temperatures from warm to very hot. Although most tropical storms wait until later in the summer to visit us, June is a prime time to start watching and preparing for them.

Fishing is about as good as it gets, with daytime temps not being as deadly hot as they may be in a couple of more months.

Our bays in the Galveston-Freeport area will be filled with bait, from baitfish species such as mullet and “mud minnows” to shrimp. These will attract gamefish such as sand and speckled trout, redfish, and croakers—along with more exotic visitors from the Gulf at times.

Spanish mackerels are fairly common inside the passes, and the surf will see more of them, and also an occasional king mackerel. Sharks of various sizes, from “ankle biters” to monsters will be found close to the gulf beaches, especially at night. Tarpon catches are not uncommon, and many more are hooked and lost than landed.

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For those looking mostly to get their rods seriously bent, Jack crevalles will feed voraciously on mullet in the surf at times. When this happens, look for bull reds and stingrays, among other species, to be following the action, feeding on dead and injured mullet the jacks “missed.”

Farther out, even the close rigs and rocks will see gulf trout and some red snapper in residence. Smaller grouper might also be in the mix. Large schools of hungry bluefish will herd baitfish toward the beach, and skipjacks will be following. Flounders are found both in the bays and near-shore Gulf.

Surf fishing can be good for many and varied species, but specs are the big draw now. When the trout are in, they will eagerly attack silver spoons and plastic tails, as well as top water lures and sinking plugs at times.

Even when feeding activity is not aggressive and obvious, trolling a Russel Lure along the outside edge of the third bar can keep anglers busy with hungry jacks. The occasional king will join the catch.

“Long rod” surf anglers baiting with a live mullet might get action from species ranging from reds and jacks to tarpon and big sharks—all while casting from the beach (or close to it). I have greatly enjoyed catching Spanish mackerels and skipjacks on ultralight spinning gear while waiting for a “run” on larger gear.

All things considered, June is a great month for the Texas coastal angler.

 

Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@fishgame.com

 

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