Spring Brings Fishing Action to a Slow Boil

Reported by CAPT. EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Email Eddie Hernandez at ContactUs@fishgame.com

WITH THE SPRING SEASON slowly but surely beginning to take hold of the Texas Gulf Coast, warmer air and water temperatures are gradually becoming the rule rather than the exception.

The arrival of the early spring months gives anglers across the state more and more opportunities for targeting trout, redfish and flounders. Those of us who fish the upper coast are no longer limited to the main lake or other areas north of the ship channel.

Through the grapevine we are hearing sporadic reports of nice stringers from the jetties and up and down the ship channel. On Sabine, the shoreline from Cheniere to the old jetties is some of the best real estate on the entire coast. Its bottom contour is made up of a perfect blend of sand, mud, shell and riprap which provides plenty of protection for baitfish.

Trout, redfish and flounders move onto the shallow shorelines in the channels of Galveston and Sabine in pursuit of the abundant forage. There they will stuff themselves full of mullet, shad, shrimp and crab. Keeping the boat in about seven feet of water and fan casting parallel with and toward the bank should present the most opportunity for strikes.

The early morning topwater bite is good and will continue to progress through early spring. If you fish the tail end of an incoming tide or a nice outgoing tide you should be in business.

Walking the Dog in two to five feet of water with big, loud topwater plugs such as She Dogs and Super Spooks should really get their attention. Soft plastics rigged with 1/4 ounce lead heads will also produce good results.

Trout, reds and flounders will feed aggressively when the spring tides push the green water into the channel and will gladly accept offerings such as H & H Cocahoe Minnows, Down South Lures, Assassins and Zoom Super Flukes. Great colors are limetreuse, glow, pumpkin and chartreuse.

High percentage areas in the bays should be on the protected shorelines if you’ve got some tidal help and decent water. Key on areas that are near the mouths of cuts, drains or bayous. Hungry trout and redfish will cruise these areas looking for an easy meal as the baitfish go with the flow of the tide.

Flounders will also stack up here and use various areas for ambush points. As big numbers of these tasty flat fish continue making their way back into the bays, the flounder bite should continue gaining momentum for the next few months.

Slowly dragging mud minnows or finger mullet has always been a great option, but curl tail grubs like Gulp Swimming Mullet and others tipped with fresh dead shrimp will also get serious results.

 

•  •  •

LOCATION: Bastrop Bay
HOTSPOT: Bastrop Bay Shell
GPS: N 29 6.0005, W 95 10.0045
(29.1000, -95.1667)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Norton Soft Plastics
SOURCE: Capt. Greg Brewer
832-435-3020
TIPS: A lot of times the redfish will start feeding in the afternoon as the glass minnows start moving in. It’s usually a big feed up to sundown.

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Anahuac Refuge Flats
GPS: N 29 33.804, W 94 32.374
(29.5634-94.5396)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Live and artificial redfish bait
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Wade near grass, casting to mullet pods and shad; Spring, Fall, avoid midday, night

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Anahuac Wildlife Refuge
GPS: N 29 33.573, W 94 32.266
(29.5596-94.5378)

SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Mud minnows, shrimp
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish shoreline, wade; dawn-afternoon

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Big Pasture Bayou
GPS: N 29 30.322, W 94 35.78
(29.5054-94.5963)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Live and artificial redfish bait
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Best with outgoing tide, drift back cove forward to mouth; avoid midday, night

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Hanna’s Reef
GPS: N 29 28.703, W 94 45.703
(29.4784-94.7617)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live and artificial trout bait
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Drift/anchor with moving tide, low wind; avoid midday, night

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Ving-et-un
GPS: N 29 32.92, W 94 46.419
(29.5487-94.7737)

SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Live mud minnows, soft plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Wade or drift slowly; avoid midday

LOCATION: Galveston Jetties
HOTSPOT: North Jetty
GPS: N 29 21.0045, W 94 43.0015
(29.3501, -94.7167)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics, Corkys or Topwaters
SOURCE: Capt. Mike Williams
713-256-9260
TIPS: The last 30 minutes of the day, any day, is the best time because most of the time that’s when the water is going to be the warmest.

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Camp House
GPS: N 29 46.171, W 94 45.232
(29.7695-94.7539)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Suspending twitch baits
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Wade shallow early, drift later morning.

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Halfway Reef
GPS: N 29 33.406, W 94 58.207
(29.5568-94.9701)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Live shrimp
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish shrimp 2-3 feet under popping cork, anchor or drift; dawn through afternoon

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Lone Oak Cove
GPS: N 29 36.702, W 94 42.892
(29.6117-94.7149)

SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Live mud minnows, soft plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Wade or drift slowly; avoid midday

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Trinity Bay Wreck
GPS: N 29 40.871, W 94 45.409
(29.6812-94.7568)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live croaker, shrimp
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish the rocks, best with tides; all day

LOCATION: Galveston West Bay
HOTSPOT: Carancahua Cove
GPS: N 29 12.3312, W 94 58.6619
(29.2055, -94.9777)

SPECIES: Speckled trout
BEST BAITS: 5” soft plastics baits
SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio
281-788-4041
TIPS: The shorter paddle tail baits don’t work at this time of the year.

LOCATION: Matagorda Bay
HOTSPOT: Middle Ground
GPS: N 28 31.727, W 96 11.620
(28.528777, -96.193661)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnow or Lit’l Fishie
SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz
281-450-4037
TIPS: Concentrate on the guts coming out of the peninsula while throwing 1/8-ounce lead head or a weedless gold spoon.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay
HOTSPOT: Cleveland Reef
GPS: N 28 39.8329, W 95 51.7009
(28.6639, -95.8617)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Smaller Corky soft body
SOURCE: Capt. Van Critendon
361-648-1886
TIPS: Favorite colors are pink and pearl.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay
HOTSPOT: Kilbride Reef
GPS: N 28 43.416, W 95 49.992
(28.7236, -95.8332)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics
SOURCE: Capt. Van Critendon
361-648-1886
TIPS: Freeline a soft plastic with a jig head. On others we will use a popping cork with about an 18-inch leader under the cork.

LOCATION: Palacios
HOTSPOT: South Shoreline
GPS: N 28 33.0649, W 96 8.7769
(28.5511, -96.1463)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Smaller Corky soft body
SOURCE: Capt. Van Critendon
361-648-1886
TIPS: Favorite Corky colors are pink and pearl.

LOCATION: Sabine Lake
HOTSPOT: Blacks Bayou
GPS: N 29 59.866, W 93 45.1819
(29.9978, -93.7530)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Corky, Corky Devil
SOURCE: Capt. Bill Watkins
409-673-9211
TIPS: If the water temps drop below 50 degrees, shift from soft plastics to the Corky.

•  •  •

A Dose of Daylight Spurs Spring Specks

SAN ANTONIO BAY AREA

Reported by CAPT. CHRIS MARTIN

Email Chris Martin at bayflats@gmail.com

Visit Online: BayFlatsLogde.com

 

THE SPRING PATTERN for Texas speckled trout begins in March and April, but is dependent on water temperatures and sunlight.

Conditions that spur the spring pattern include water temps in the 60s and a little more daylight with each passing day. Different weather scenarios, such as cold fronts, can also have an influence on the spring pattern.

As a frontal passage blows across the coast, water levels drop, temperatures cool, water clarity darkens, and clear skies follow. These frontal changes cause the trout to react accordingly.

One key thing you should pay close attention to is light conditions. The amount of light present in the water is a huge influence on how the fish eat, especially for speckled trout.

Overcast Skies

There are probably any number of speculations why some may say that speckled trout prefer overcast skies. Not knowing what all those are, here are just a few for you to think about.

During summertime, for example, water temps rise to an extreme, which is uncomfortable for the trout. The hot summer sun warms the water and the trout become less active, and they go through slack eating periods. In this instance, overcast skies provide shade and cover from the sun, thereby providing cooler water temps. All this often results in a greater trout bite that lasts longer during overcast conditions.

During fall, winter, and spring, overcast skies mean something entirely different to the speckled trout. This time of the year overcast skies signal the approach of a cold front. Many will have you believe the fish can feel the difference between high and low air pressure.

Others will say the fish really can’t feel any difference in pressure. The fish can, however, tell when ambient light dims because of overcast skies prior to a front. This signals it’s time to eat.

The third speculation is that overcast skies allow the trout to see their prey easier. Sounds crazy, right? But think about it. It’s easy to understand how a bright sky might make feeding difficult for the trout.

Bright sunlight glaring down through clear water makes it extremely difficult for the trout to see any prey above them. Overcast skies make it much easier for trout to pick out their food source, which means a prolonged feeding period.

Location

You can find an easier springtime trout bite in low-light conditions. This is when the trout feed more actively, especially in locations with clear water.

Big trout will have ridden out the coldest parts of winter in deep channels or large basins providing deep water. They feed on other fish, so after a cold front, they’ll be found wherever the mullet stage. Typically, these feeding areas will be a shoreline or some other prime real estate near deep water.

Along our Texas coast, such shorelines are often tapering mud flats adjacent to deep water. Large trout will stay deep overnight, then follow mullet to the shallows as the water warms from the sun.

Any number of big trout can be found in these same areas. If you catch one, don’t give up on the location. Work it over good before moving on. Chances are good there are more big trout right there where you found the first one.

Best Bet

Big March and April trout have been caught on days not suitable for fishing—cold, wet, and miserable. As discussed, the available food source for these trout just coming out of winter is mullet. To stay alive, the mullet will seek muddy, shallow water because it warms the quickest after cold nighttime temps.

You can drift these shallows, but most trophy trout enthusiasts prefer wading. You’ll need to be quiet, and you’ll need to cast as far as possible. When you’re tossing baits in the shallows, you might not want to use a lure with a rattle. These big trout didn’t get big by chance, and they are spooked easily.

Any of the MirrOlure floating Paul Brown baits will be good choices in these conditions. A good rule of thumb is to throw bright colors in clear water, and dark colors in muddy water. If you’re fishing in muddy conditions, try a top water bait such as a Super Spook or She Dog.

Be aggressive with your hookset, and don’t let up on the drag until you have the situation under control. Use a rod that can toss big trout lures a long distance, but one that is subtle enough to telegraph the slightest bump.

 

 

•  •  •

ROCKPORT AREA

Reported by CAPT. MAC GABLE

Email Mac Gable at captmac@macattackguideservice.com

Or Visit Online: macattackguideservice.com

 

“WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU makes you stronger.”

“Hard times don’t last, tough people do.”

These are phrases I often heard growing up. “Most problems can be fixed with a little elbow grease and patience,” was another that echoed through my head as I looked out across Lynn Channel.

No this isn’t a secret water way in Texas, but a deep gorge in Southeast Alaska. My wife and I, being frequent visitors to the Frozen North state, found ourselves in a small cabin 30 miles deep in the Haines, Alaska State Forest.

Although it was not the plan, it became our refuge to wait out the craziness of the pandemic, the riots and the ongoing saga of the 2020 election. With Hurricane Harvey forever etched in our minds and hearts, we often wondered why such calamities happen. We got our answer, never imagining we’d be living a feeling of déjà vu. In December we found ourselves in the throes of another community disaster.

Snow often blankets Southeast Alaska. It did so in late November in Haines, giving way to the global warming trends now affecting our planet the first few days in December. More than 10 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours, creating flooding and landslides the likes of which this community had never seen. As I looked out on a mountain called Mt. Riley, a 600-foot gash was cut from the top of the mountain to the Lynn Channel shoreline. The slide hit the channel with such force it created a tidal wave, wreaking havoc in its wake. Many homes were affected and much like Harvey, the horrible question was “Where did the homes and people go that were wiped off the face of the earth?”. Many were thought to be missing. In the end two people lost their lives, forever buried in the deep sediment of Mt. Riley.

I had recently been recruited to work a few days at a local Sport Shop, owned by the newly elected mayor because he heard about my background and thought I’d be a natural fit. Having just retired, I really wasn’t interested in working again, especially on the other side of a retail counter, but the mayor was persistent, and I reluctantly agreed.

Lisa and I cried heart felt tears as we saw the fear and the confusion in the eyes of our neighbors, the same we’d experienced just a few years before in Rockport. Our instincts kicked in. We had been there and knew how to help.

As it turned out there were many slides in the area that day. The small Alaskan community was cut off from fuel oil and was running for who knew how long on a backup generator for emergency electricity.

The slides cut off the ferries and barges that were the lifeline of this community. Water mains were severed. Although help was on the way, one night in the far north where temperatures can drop below zero could put many lives in definite danger.

The new mayor, doing his best, stated he didn’t have all the right answers.

“Sometimes there are no right answers,” I told him, “but what is needed is leadership. Even if it’s not the perfect answer, the community will rally and make it the right answer.

“You are the leader this town needs. Go back to the basics—food, water, and warmth. It’s all any of us truly need in the short term, day to day.”

“No, minute to minute is more like it,” he replied.

What Lisa and I could give was hope, knowing there is a tomorrow. Those lost did not perish for no reason. Much like Rockport, the community was split on many (mostly political) issues. However—just like Rockport—those differences were put aside, and people rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

The outdoor men and women were the first to step up; what was a hunting and fishing hobby was being called upon to sustain life, and they delivered big time. Food was plentiful. Help from as far away as, yes, Texas was offered.

This Texan could not be prouder of the Lone Star State. Mostly I listened as folks came into the Sport Shop just to talk. I could share our story and tell them not only would Haines bounce back, but the community as a whole would be better and stronger than ever before.

Much like this old salt, they one day would understand why it happened—to help our fellow man and woman, wherever that may be. This article is dedicated to those lost in the recent landslides and floods in our sister state of the far north, Alaska.

March and April are the months most anglers wait for. The access to bait, which has been rare all winter, can suddenly appear these two months, mostly in April, but over the last several years March has seen the availability of shrimp increase. A good tactic is to use live bait to locate the bite, then switch to soft plastics, which can be phenomenal.

Copano Bay: The mouth of Mission Bay is a go-to spot for black drum and some keeper reds. I like live shrimp under a popping cork. Adjacent Shell Bank Reef is a good spot for trout using a bubble cork and an imitation Berkley shrimp.

St. Charles Bay: Indian Head Point is a good spot for trout. This area is a good wade spot with mixed sand and mud. Free-lined live shrimp are the ticket in new penny jerk shad. On high tide, Bergentine Creek is a good spot for reds. Finger mullet works best on a light Carolina rig.

If live mullet is not available, use cut mullet.

Aransas Bay: Half Moon Reef is a good spot for trout using a rattle cork and live shrimp. This area has some deep edges, and I like to start deep then work my way closer to the reef. Drifts down Traylor Island or via trolling motor is good for trout and reds. This area is a natural fish pass.

The key here is patience. One can drift for half a mile and not get a bite, then within a 50-yard stretch, limit out. If croaker is available, this is a good spot to use them, otherwise use live shrimp free-lined.

Carlos Bay: On colder days, Carlos Trench is a good spot for trout. I use shrimp on a free line weighted with a few split shots to get the bait down in the current.

Mesquite Bay: The shoreline of Big Brundrett Lake is a good spot for reds and a few flounders using live shrimp jigged across the bottom. Reds will knock the rod out of your hand here; flounders will usually give you a slight tap. If you don’t set the hook, they often ingest the bait and bury up in the sand, leading some to believe they are hung up. If this happens draw the line tight and twang the line like a guitar string. Usually, the flounder will turn loose and attempt to swim off.

Ayers Bay: The area close to Second Chain Island is a good spot for reds using finger mullet free-lined. Let the mullet swim, and don’t reel in until you get a bite. This is a heavy shell area, and you can break off. The shoreline close to Ayers Point is a good wade for trout using a rattle cork and shrimp or free-lined croaker. Fish deeper than you think here and cast 360 degrees, moving slowly.

Bank Bite: In late March and April wades off Goose Island shoreline can produce some nice trout and reds. This area can be accessed via the park entrance off Park Road 13. It is paid access. The area holds some good fish, especially on late north wind days. I like a mixture of live shrimp and finger mullet. This area is good for bank anglers as well, using a light Carolina rig

•  •  •

CORPUS CHRISTI AREA

Reported by CAPT. JOEY FARRAH

Email Joey Farah at jfarah@gmail.com

 

THE WINDS OF CHANGE from winter to spring will roar through many a day in March, here in the Corpus Christi area of the Coastal Bend. High winds will open up opportunities for fishermen to land big boxes of black drum and redfish.

Live shrimp will be available at most marinas and bait camps, and are your best bet for tight lines. Look towards the ICW, or Intracoastal canal for great action from an anchored boat. Fishing both the leeward and windward sides of the channel can be productive.

On the leeward side, quietly slide the boat up into the shallows carefully avoid disturbing the bottom, and anchor. Cast out toward deeper water then let the bait roll against the edge of the drop off with the current. Along the windy side, one must anchor out deep and cast to the current swept edge.

Look for abnormal changes in the channel and sandy spots along the drop off. Carolina rigs with OWNER #4 to #6 circle hooks, using a 1/4- to 3/4-ounce slide weight is your best set up. I use 30- to 40-pound mono leader.

Live shrimp works best. At times peeling live shrimp, threading it on the hook, then adding another shrimp hooked in the head produces a presentation that cannot be passed up.

Drifting the flats on windy days can be as fun as a rock and roll concert, and as rough! When the winds are pushing the boat along, boat noise is hidden in the waves and live shrimp under a popping cork stands as a Texas Fishing Tradition.

Match your drop to the depth of the water, keeping the bait just above the bottom. Different styles, cork sounds, length of drop, and colored beads may make a difference, so experiment. Deploying a drift sock or even a bucket on a rope can slow your drift down and make it easier to fish. Make grid patterns with your drifts searching for groups of gamefish. Avoid running the boat through the fishing area.

Live shrimp fishing in March and April is at its best. Target the shallow rock piles and oyster reefs of Baffin Bay and Nueces Bay for insane action.

The spring topwater bite is on fire as well as the use of soft plastics along the Coastal Bend’s bay systems. March holds a few calm days and weather patterns will improve greatly in April. These are the times to hunt massive sow trout with lures.

The Laguna Madre has miles of flats three to five inches deep. Probe the mixed sand pockets along the King Ranch shoreline. The spoil islands south of Bird Island will keep you in a great soft plastic bite for trout and redfish.

Color patterns may vary but throwing the three-inch DOA Cal Shad on a 1/4-ounce jig head will produce gamefish all month long. The topwater bite will be at a peak in April as we will be landing some of the biggest trout of the year in the land cut.

Using the trolling motor along the edge of the channel here produces insane explosions from spawning speckled trout. The south shore of Baffin Bay is a legendary place for wade fishermen to hunt the largest trout in the state with topwater plugs.

Come down to the Coastal Bend for a wide range of public access fishing as well. The Indian Point pier and Portland Causeway is a great place to start. Nighttime bottom fishing on the pier is a sure thing for black drum, and trout under the lights on live shrimp and soft plastic lures.

Wade the shallows along the back side of Padre Island starting at the Bird Island boat ramp inside the Padre Island National Seashore. March and April bring a festival of coastal fishing here. Head down for a visit and Get Wet!

 

•  •  •

LOCATION: Aransas Bay
HOTSPOT: Mack Reef
GPS: N 28 5.2279, W 96 58.6309
(28.0871, -96.9772)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with a 1/16 oz jig head
SOURCE: Capt. Billie Kocian
361-688-8859
TIPS: The trout should be working over shell reefs in the bay. Color choice is determined by water quality.

LOCATION: Copano Bay
HOTSPOT: Copano Reef
GPS: N 28 6.0117, W 97 6.0067
(28.1002, -97.1001)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp
SOURCE: Capt. Garrett Frazier
409-354-3865
TIPS: With the cut perch head you have a good chance of picking up one or two nice size trout, just casting it along the bank where redfish like to concentrate.

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay
HOTSPOT: Ingleside Cove
GPS: N 27 50.3179, W 97 13.816
(27.8386, -97.2303)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Cut and live mullet
SOURCE: Capt. Jack McPartland
361-290-6302
TIPS: Let the cut bait sit until a redfish decides to take it. Use a weight only to keep the live mullet from out of the pocket.

LOCATION: Mesquite Bay
HOTSPOT: Cedar Bayou Flats
GPS: N 28 7.0052, W 96 49.0053
(28.1168, -96.8168)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp
SOURCE: Capt. Garrett Frazier
409-354-3865
TIPS: Cedar Bayou provides a pretty good wade fishing spot. The redfish are starting to migrate back into the bays, and usually we will catch some good limits wading the surf at Cedar Bayou.

LOCATION: Port Aransas
HOTSPOT: Estes Flats
GPS: N 27 56.541, W 97 5.944
(27.9424, -97.0991)

SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Gigging
SOURCE: Capt. Jack McPartland
361-290-6302
TIPS: At this time of the year, almost any shoreline on a channel should be holding flounder.

LOCATION: Port Aransas
HOTSPOT: Lydia Ann
GPS: N 27 52.218, W 97 2.883
(27.8703, -97.0481)

SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Gigging
SOURCE: Capt. Jack McPartland
361-290-6302
TIPS: Tidal movement and moon phases can affect when to start gigging.

LOCATION: Port Aransas
HOTSPOT: Outside Mud Island
GPS: N 27 56.0139, W 97 1.0036
(27.9336, -97.0167)

SPECIES: Black Drum
BEST BAITS: Cut menhaden and cut perch head, dead shrimp
SOURCE: Capt. Garrett Frazier
409-354-3865
TIPS: Rigging: a 4/0 offset croaker hook…a drop rig. If you are fishing with live bait, just hook it in the tail. Perch heads, hook it through the top part of the skull. When using menhaden, make sure it’s fresh…slime on it.

LOCATION: Port Lavaca
HOTSPOT: Cadual Reef
GPS: N 28 38.107, W 96 19.594
(28.6351, -96.3266)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: DOA Soft Plastics
SOURCE: Capt. Van Critendon
361-648-1886
TIPS: Look for structure…reefs out in the middle of the bay, spoil banks.

•  •  •

Fish Baffin Now and Prepare to Be Amazed

BAFFIN BAY

Reported by CAPT. GERAD MERRITT

Email Gerad Merritt at GeradMerritt@gmail.com

Visit Online: ParadiseGuideServices.com

FISHING BAFFIN BAY in March and April can be amazing. The water temperature is starting to rise, and the fish are in a healthy, heavier condition as they begin to transition from a winter to a spring environment.

Although there are many techniques to try, these have produced the most fish for me during this season. You can begin by walking through grass flats and finding the sandy pockets to work your lure in. It is important to remember; sight casting and shallow water fishing are more about encounters.

It is critical to keep your lure in the water as much as possible. When one or two fish see your lure and don’t strike, it is time to change the color options. One of my favorite choices is a simple silver or gold spoon. In my opinion, top waters can be exciting and lead to endless possibilities with the number of lure selections available to anglers today.

Another great option is live bait. During this season, the fish are feeding on live shrimp, and they will soon switch to croaker. Using live shrimp under a popping cork can be an excellent indicator of any fish around.

Game fish, including black drum, do not discriminate against live shrimp, so each catch might be a surprise. Due to the use of the popping cork, your live shrimp may not stay as lively and active and may die after several casts. Although the shrimp may have expired, you can continue to work it under the popping cork as long as you are mindful and do not jerk the shrimp off. 

When I use live shrimp in Baffin Bay, I still tend to work drop-offs and rocks. The fish are slowly moving to more prominent structures, and you have to decipher what structures and part of the bay the fish are feeding in for that particular day. If you don’t know precisely where a drop-off is and don’t want to troll over it, you can pole around and find it.

Another option that I have used in the past is casting out with a weight and feel for it to hit the bottom or structure. Try fishing shallow to deep, and then deep to shallow, to get a sense whether or not the fish are moving to the shallow flats or coming out of them.

With these techniques and time of year, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to catch a wide variety of saltwater fish that inhabit our bay system. I highly encourage anglers of all ages to get outdoors. You never really know what might await you on the other end of that hook.

 

•  •  •

LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado
HOTSPOT: East of Green Island
GPS: N 26 23.5379, W 97 19.465
(26.3923, -97.3244)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: 3-inch Berkley Gulp under a popping cork
SOURCE: Capt. Joel Ramos
956-626-5143
TIPS: If the water is too flat, I don’t spook the fish. Toss the cork out and barely pop it.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Black Bluff
GPS: N 27 13.7029, W 97 31.8829
(27.2284, -97.5314)

SPECIES: Speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Corky Fat Boy
SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz
281-450-4037
TIPS: If the wind is out of the south, go over to the Kennedy side and work Los Coralles, Black Bluff and South Rocks.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Cayo de Gruello Bay
GPS: N 27 20.686, W 97 40.6602
(27.3448, -97.6777)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Eels soft plastics with a 1/8 jig head
SOURCE: Capt. John Little
361-816-9114
TIPS: If you wade, use soft plastics, working the grass and sand spots and up along the rocks. Stay in the back of de Gruello to get away from all the boat traffic.

LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Center Reef
GPS: N 27 16.206, W 97 34.362
(27.2701, -97.5727)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics in dark patterns, Corkys
SOURCE: Captain Joey Farah
361-442-8145
TIPS: Trout prefer to forage around areas that can provide cover. Fish the deeper edges of the reef with soft plastics and Corkys.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: Fishing Shacks
GPS: N 26 26.4756, W 97 20.591
(26.4413, -97.3432)

SPECIES: Black Drum
BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp, Fresh Shrimp.
SOURCE: LG Outfitters
956-371-0220
TIPS: Anchor up near a set of pilings marks where a shack used to be, or where on may still be standing, and toss a live shrimp or fresh shrimp out on a fish finder or split-shot rig towards the edge of the ICW. If the current is pulling hard, you may want to go with the heavier weight of the former.

LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: Green Island
GPS: N 26 30.0049, W 97 24.0035
(26.5001, -97.4001)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Spook Junior
SOURCE: Capt. Mitch Richmond
956-944-4000
TIPS: Fish the Spook Jr. with a slow walk-the-dog, extended pause retrieve, maybe four or five walks, and then an extended pause, then walk it again. Don’t keep it moving all the time.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: Horse Island
GPS: N 26 20.3539, W 97 20.2489
(26.3392, -97.3375)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: 3-inch Berkley Gulp under a popping cork
Contact: Capt. Joel Ramos
956-626-5143
TIPS: Ramos likes to use a three-inch Berkley Gulp in different colors, along with a 1/16 oz. jig head under a popping cork, or without the popping cork. The 1/16 oz. jig head keeps the bait in the water column longer.

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