HotSPOTLight: UPPER TEXAS COAST

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LOCATION: Campbell Bayou
HOTSPOT: Sand Island
GPS: N 29 20.3141, W 94 54.0286
(29.3386, -94.9005)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics
SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio
281-788-4041
gofishgalveston.com
TIPS: Drifting Campbell’s Bayou can produce trout in the 16-17 inch trout. Look for bird action.

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Big Pasture & Yates Bayou
GPS: N 29 29.55, W 94 36.011
(29.4925-94.6002)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Live shrimp
SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio
281-788-4041
gofishgalveston.com
TIPS: Fish grass shoreline, around bayou mouth; dawn-morning, dusk

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Deep Reef
GPS: N 29 30.802, W 94 40.581
(29.5134-94.6764)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics
SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio
281-788-4041
gofishgalveston.com
TIPS: As you approach an area that is holding multiple boats, use your trolling motor to ease in. When using your big motor, try to use idle speed only to not create a wake.

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Ladies Pass
GPS: N 29 28.471, W 94 43.251
(29.4745-94.7209)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Kelly Wiggler soft plastics, shrimp
SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio
281-788-4041
gofishgalveston.com
TIPS: Key on slicks in bait

LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Middle Reef
GPS: N 29 30.202, W 94 39.42
(29.5034-94.6570)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live and artificial trout bait
SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio
281-788-4041
gofishgalveston.com
TIPS: Work slicks, fish reef edges and depth changes; dawn-afternoon

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: April Fool Reef
GPS: N 29 29.077, W 94 54.773
(29.4846-94.9129)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, croaker
SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio
281-788-4041
gofishgalveston.com
TIPS: Work reef top and edges, drift; dawn-midday, dusk

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Channel Marker 44
GPS: N 29 35.22, W 94 55.806
(29.5870-94.9301)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Croakers, Kelly Wiggler Soft plastics
SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio
281-788-4041
gofishgalveston.com
TIPS: Watch for ship wakes; fish early

LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Exxon C Lease Wells
GPS: N 29 40.446, W 94 45.579
(29.6741-94.7597)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under 5” under popping cork
SOURCE: Capt. Paul Marcaccio
281-788-4041
gofishgalveston.com
TIPS: Fish moving tide; dawn through afternoon

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay
HOTSPOT: Catchall Basin Flats
GPS: N 28 43.7719, W 95 45.562
(28.7295-95.7594)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Weedless Gold Spoon
SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz
281-450-4087
matagordafishing.com
TIPS: On the deeper edges of the grass flats there will be still decent numbers of redfish feeding, not visible, but grouped up, slicking along a drop-off.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay
HOTSPOT: East End Reef
GPS: N 28 45.0419, W 95 40.2119
(28.7507, -95.6702)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics with either 1/2 or 3/8 oz jig head
SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz
281-450-4087
matagordafishing.com
TIPS: Slicks …a lot of people will pull up on a slick and fish right in the middle of it. How you fish it depends on what it looks like. If it has a lot of ripples in it, and it’s not getting and bigger, it’s probably and older slick. Those fish could be 200-300 yards upwind.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay
HOTSPOT: Kain Cove
GPS: N 28 40.3249, W 95 50.43
(28.6721, -95.8405)

SPECIES: Speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Sea Shad soft plastic
SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz
281-450-4087
matagordafishing.com
TIPS: August is a good time to sight cast for giant trout in shallow water.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay
HOTSPOT: Oyster Farm
GPS: N 28 41.47, W 95 48.5209
(28.6912-95.8087)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Weedless Gold Spoon
SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz
281-450-4087
matagordafishing.com
TIPS: In August anglers will always see lots of schooling redfish…one of the best months for shallow water fishing.

LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay
HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou
GPS: N 28 29.727, W 96 14.148
(28.495455, -96.235802)

SPECIES: Speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Topwaters and soft plastics
SOURCE: Capt. Tommy Countz
281-450-4087
matagordafishing.com
TIPS: Fish the grass beds early and maybe some of the little cuts that trickle through the grass beds.

LOCATION: Sabine Lake
HOTSPOT: Flats
GPS: N 29 56.404, W 93 50.919
(29.9401-93.8487)

SPECIES: Speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: By August anglers should be able to find trout in just about anywhere. Look for bird action.

LOCATION: Sabine Lake
HOTSPOT: Jetties
GPS: N 29 38.6029, W 93 49.584
(29.6434-93.8264)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: 3 inch Swimming Shad soft plastic
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish the channel side of the jetties when there is slow moving water. Fish the Gulf side on fast moving water.

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HotSPOTLight: MIDDLE TEXAS COAST

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LOCATION: Aransas Bay
HOTSPOT: North Mud Island
GPS: N 27 56.78, W 97 1.54
(27.9463, -97.0257)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Shrimp Tails
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Use soft plastics on the deep side of the islands, 4 to 8 feet deep. Topwaters will work in the early morning.

LOCATION: Ayers Bay
HOTSPOT: Ayers Reef
GPS: N 28 10.434, W 96 50.3659
(28.1739-96.8394)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder
BEST BAITS: Live Croaker
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Look for shell piles and work the edges from a boat. Trout, redfish, and an occasional flounder can be caught. The trout are the easiest to catch using a croaker freelined.

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

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder
BEST BAITS: Paul Brown Devil Eyes and Chicken-on-a-Chain soft plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Fish the Devil Eye in a chrome with a chartreuse tail and a 1/4-ounce jig head.

LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay
HOTSPOT: Shamrock Cove
GPS: N 27 45.369, W 97 9.733
(27.7562-97.1622)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Crab
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Redfish are going to be thick around Shamrock Island especially with all the rain we have had this spring. They will be looking for new crabs, new areas to feed in the shallows.

LOCATION: Mesquite Bay
HOTSPOT: Cedar Bayou
GPS: N 28 4.3309, W 96 50.832
(28.0722-96.8472)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder
BEST BAITS: Live Croaker
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Close to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge, use live croaker over shell and mud where the edges drop off.

LOCATION: Redfish Bay
HOTSPOT: Bird Island
GPS: N 27 56.035, W 97 5.119
(27.9339-97.0853)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Flappin Shad soft plastic by Gambler
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Nice and easy, slow, and easy, pump straight up, and let it drop down. Let the tail do all he action. You will get most of your bites as the lure drops.

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay
HOTSPOT: Chicken Foot Reef
GPS: N 28 15.832, W 96 46.8889
(28.2639, -96.7815)

SPECIES: Speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Live croaker
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Croaker rigging … Keep the bait looking as natural as possible using a 5/0 hook, moving to a 6/0 hook later as the month progresses.

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay
HOTSPOT: Panther Point
GPS: N 28 14.95, W 96 42.5819
(28.2492, -96.7097)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder
BEST BAITS: Live Croaker
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Let the croaker sink to the bottom. Give it a few seconds, crank the reel a few turns, and move it around. Pop it a few more times. Once you feel the bump, let him run for second, then set the hook.

LOCATION: San Antonio Bay
HOTSPOT: Shell Reef
GPS: N 28 12.9319, W 96 47.155
(28.2155, -96.7859)

SPECIES: Speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Live croaker or live piggy perch
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: As August progresses, switch to live piggy perch.

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: King Ranch Shoreline
GPS: N 27 29.134, W 97 21.1079
(27.4856, -97.3518)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Topwaters
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Topwaters produce early in the morning. Silver, chartreuse, pink work under clear skies; Natural colors, a black or mullet color work better on cloudy days.

LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: Pita Island
GPS: N 27 36.169, W 97 17.1989
(27.6028-97.2867)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live Croaker or Live Shrimp
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: The month of July is a great time to fish around the island using live croaker.

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HotSPOTLight: LOWER TEXAS COAST

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LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Between ICW Spoils
GPS: N 27 17.392, W 97 24.51
(27.2899, -97.4085)

SPECIES: Founder
BEST BAITS: Mud minnows, best w moving tide or west, south, or southwest wind; dawn-morning, dusk-night
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Mud minnows, best with moving tide or west, south, or southeast wind; dawn-morning, dusk-night

LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: East of Palms
GPS: N 27 19.116, W 97 23.609
(27.3186, -97.3935)

SPECIES: Founder
BEST BAITS: Finger mullet, best w moving tide or west, south, or southwest wind; dawn-morning, dusk-night
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Finger mullet, best w moving tide or west, south, or southeast wind; dawn-morning, dusk-night

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: Color Change
GPS: N 26 10.429, W 97 12.7589
(26.1738, -97.2127)

SPECIES: Speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Live shrimp, ballyhoo; topwaters early, soft plastics in white/chartreuse, glow/chartreuse, red/chartreuse.
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Look for the “trout green” water.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: El Realto Bay
GPS: N 26 15.354, W 97 18.4649
(26.2559, -97.3078)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live Croaker
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: The deeper water further south, 3-4 feet deep. Also the water has more color, greener.

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: Long Bar
GPS: N 26 8.592, W 97 14.2249
(26.1432, -97.2371)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live Croaker
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: In July, you should be fishing further south with live croaker, always looking for the big trout.

LOCATION: Middle Ground
HOTSPOT: Mouth to Gladys’ Hole
GPS: N 26 48.691, W 97 28.592
(26.8115, -97.4765)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: White/red plastics
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Drift soft bottom along ICW

LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: Community Bar
GPS: N 26 35.144, W 97 25.644
(26.5857, -97.4274)

SPECIES: Speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Soft plastics in red/white, limetreuse, pearl/chartreuse.
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Use soft plastics around the edges of the Bar for trout and redfish. Fish slowly in deeper water.

LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: Gladys’ Hole
GPS: N 26 48.723, W 97 29.4769
(26.8121, -97.4913)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live Croaker
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: When you put a chatter weight and a live croaker together you have a win-win situation.

LOCATION: South Bay
HOTSPOT: Grass Flats
GPS: N 26 1.399, W 97 10.5606
(26.0233, -97.1760)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Skeeter Walker, Super Spook, or Corky
SOURCE: Texas Lakes & Bays Fishing Atlas
Fishgame.com/fishandgamegear
TIPS: Use topwater lures, but not broken backs.

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