PORT O’CONNOR

Reported by CAPT. KIM GOULDEN

Fall/Winter Fishing in Our Sights

 

 

IT’S ALMOST HERE! WE’RE SO CLOSE!  

Fall/winter fishing is squarely in our sights.  Anglers up and down the Texas coast are dusting off waders and jackets to enjoy some of the best saltwater fishing of the year.  If you like fishing in the summer, you will love it during the upcoming months.

Cooling air and water temperatures will be a welcome relief to fish and anglers, alike.  Trout, redfish and flounder will begin to stay in shallow water longer, providing an extended window of opportunity for wade fishing with artificial lures.  Casting a MirrOlure Lil’ John XL on a light jig head at the back of sand pockets often pays off with a quick thump.  

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For flounder, slow your lure down, even slower, and bump it along the bottom.  Bonus points if done in the mouth of a drain.  

If you’re targeting trout, pinpoint what column of the water your strikes are occurring.  If you don’t get a response in the top of the water column or they’re not coming to the top to eat, adjust your presentation to the middle and adjust further to the bottom if needed.  Once they show you where and how they’re willing, rinse and repeat.  

Redfish are fun to target knee deep, especially when sight-casting opportunities develop.  If you see a school and can wait for them to move within casting range, this will increase odds at not spooking them.  Picking them off the edge of the pod or school will also help minimize spooking.

Here are my top five fall/winter artificial lures for inshore fishing:

1.  MirrOlure Lil’ John XL “Watermelon Red Glitter”.

2.  Texas Custom Lures Corky Fatboy Floater in “Boogey Man” and “Gringo”.

3.  Steve’s Lures Peanut with bucktail in any color you can catch in stock.

4.  Texas Custom Lures Double D Ascending Twitch Bait in “Bay Mistress” and “Pearl Harbor”.

5.   Paul Brown’s Soft-Dine XL in SDXL-128 and SDXL-09.

Whatever your target and favorite lure, remember to take it all in and enjoy every minute.  When you think about all the great times on the water, the amazing friends fishing has brought your way and the extraordinary scenery this sport provides, the fish are simply a bonus.  

As always, stay safe and be kind on the water whenever possible.  Tight lines!