Upper Texas Coast

HotSPOTLight: Galveston Causeway Area

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LOCATION: Chocolate Bay
HOTSPOT: Chocolate Bay Shoreline
GPS: N 29 10.392, W 95 9.005
(29.1732, -95.1501)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Texas Tackle Factory soft plastics with either 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig heads
TIPS: Check out the oyster reef in the middle of the bay. There is a good shell reef that comes off the deep-water reef, 4-5 feet of water.

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LOCATION: Freeport
HOTSPOT: Swan Lake
GPS: N 28 58.098, W 95 16.446
(28.9683 -95.2741)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Corkies or Catch 2000
TIPS: In January the water gets a lot clearer and lower. You can do a lot of sight fishing for redfish.

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LOCATION: Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: Levee Flats
GPS: N 29 26.614, W 94 54.316
(29.4436 -94.9053)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Twitch baits
TIPS: Wade shallow early, drift late with suspending switch baits; dawn-midday.

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LOCATION: Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: Spillway Flats (San Leon)
GPS: N 29 30.501, W 94 57.002
(29.5084 -94.9500)

SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Shrimp, finger mullet
TIPS: Fish live shrimp or finger mullet, great night gigging under lights; dawn through morning, dusk and night.

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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
TIPS: Drift/anchor with moving tide, low wind; avoid midday, night.

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LOCATION: Galveston East Bay
HOTSPOT: Tide Gauge
GPS: N 29 28.179, W 94 41.941
(29.4697 -94.6990)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Kelly Wiggler soft plastics, shrimp
TIPS: Fish the drop-off on the west end.

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LOCATION: Galveston Trinity Bay
HOTSPOT: Camp House
GPS: N 29 40.478, W 94 42.609
(29.6746 -94.7102)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Topwaters
TIPS: This spot is made for the wade; fish early.

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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
TIPS: Fish shrimp 2-3 feet under popping cork, anchor or drift; dawn through afternoon.

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LOCATION: Galveston West Bay
HOTSPOT: Confederate Reef
GPS: N 29 15.755, W 94 55.177
(29.2626, -94.9196)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Texas Tackle Factory soft plastics with either 1/8 or 1/4 oz jig heads
TIPS: Fishing from the boat you will catch a lot of the smaller fish around Confederate Reef in West Bay, right in front of the Causeway, just drifting.

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LOCATION: West Galveston Bay
HOTSPOT: Offats Bayou
GPS: N 29 16.819, W 94 51.507
(29.2803, -94.8585)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with a 1/4 oz. jig head
TIPS: In January catches of numbers of fish probably will not happen, so concentrate on catching bigger fish.

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LOCATION: Galveston West Bay
HOTSPOT: Starvation Cove
GPS: N 29 14.221, W 94 56.409
(29.2370, -94.9402)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Corky or MirrOdine
TIPS: Wade fishing: You will have eight or ten days in the month that are favorable for catching quality trout in excess of 25 inches…three days preceding the new moon and three days preceding the full moon.

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LOCATION: Matagorda
HOTSPOT: Colorado River
GPS: N 28 40.542, W 95 58.08
(28.6757, -95.9680)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with a 1/4 oz. jig head
TIPS: Rivers, creeks and bayous will produce the most fish.

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LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay
HOTSPOT: Brown Cedar Flats
GPS: N 28 44.406, W 95 42.09
(28.7401 -95.7015)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Norton Sand Shad or Corkies
TIPS: Look for bait activity, maybe a couple of loons working. They will tell you where bait is.

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LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay
HOTSPOT: Tripod
GPS: N 28 40.147, W 95 54.813
(28.6691 -95.9136)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Shrimp, soft plastics
TIPS: Drift with live shrimp under popping cork or with soft plastics on a Carolina rig; dawn-morning, dusk-night.

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LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay
HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou
GPS: N 28 29.458, W 96 13.499
(28.4910 -96.2250)

SPECIES: Speckled trout
BEST BAITS: Topwaters and soft plastics
TIPS: Fish the grass beds early and maybe some of the little cuts that trickle through the grass beds.

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LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay
HOTSPOT: Greens Bayou
GPS: N 28 29.458, W 96 13.499
(28.4910 -96.2250)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Topwater Lures
TIPS: After a big front, try fishing on the low tide for redfish. They will come out of the back lakes in the little troughs running out of the peninsula.

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LOCATION: Sabine Lake
HOTSPOT: Island Reefs
GPS: N 29 45.106, W 93 53.307
(29.7518 -93.8885)

SPECIES: Black Drum
BEST BAITS: Shrimp, crab
TIPS: Carolina rig shrimp or crab, fish the bottom; morning through midday.

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LOCATION: Sabine Lake
HOTSPOT: Old River Cove
GPS: N 29 59.036, W 93 50.909
(29.9839 -93.8485)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Spoons, soft plastics
TIPS: Texas Red Killers or gold spoons are your best bets here.

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LOCATION: Surfside
HOTSPOT: Brazos River
GPS: N 28 56.456, W 95 21.444
(28.9409 -95.3574)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics with a 1/4 oz. jig head
TIPS: The Brazos River in Freeport, around the Chemical Plant is a “well-kept secret.” A lot of trout come from out of the river in the colder months.

 

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Middle Texas Coast

HotSPOTlight: Redfish Bay

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LOCATION: Copano Bay
HOTSPOT: James’ Bend
GPS: N 28 2.453, W 97 9.341
(28.0409 -97.1557)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Jighead
TIPS: Drift with 1/8 oz jig head under cork; morning through dusk.

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LOCATION: Copano Bay
HOTSPOT: Rattlesnake Point
GPS: N 28 3.631, W 97 7.749
(28.0605 -97.1292)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Gold spoons, mullet, crab
TIPS: Watch for schooling wakes; dawn through afternoon.

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LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay
HOTSPOT: Laguna Madre ICS
GPS: N 27 40.8529, W 97 13.672
(27.6809, -97.2279)

SPECIES: Black Drum
BEST BAITS: Dead or live shrimp
TIPS: The Drum will be the edges of the drop-offs, 3-10 feet of water.

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LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay
HOTSPOT: Nueces Bay East Shoreline
GPS: N 27 51.894, W 97 21.132
(27.8649 -97.3522)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastics
TIPS: Gulp New Penney and any other soft plastic in purple are effective colors.

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LOCATION: Espirito Santo Bay
HOTSPOT: Lighthouse Cove
GPS: N 28 20.883, W 96 26.334
(28.3481 -96.4389)

SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Mud minnows, shrimp
TIPS: Anchor and fish near the pilings; avoid midday, afternoon.

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LOCATION: Espirito Santo Bay
HOTSPOT: Dewberry Island
GPS: N 28 23.962, W 96 28.957
(28.3994 -96.4826)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Croaker, MirrOLures
TIPS: Fish sand pockets with live croaker or bone/white MirrOLures; avoid midday, night.

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LOCATION: Espirito Santo Bay
HOTSPOT: Midway Reef
GPS: N 28 21.154, W 96 31.513
(28.3526 -96.5252)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Shrimp
TIPS: Fish shrimp shallow to deep, trout strike as the bait falls; morning through midday.

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LOCATION: Espiritu Santo Bay
HOTSPOT: Pats Bay
GPS: N 28 15.787, W 96 37.382
(28.2631, -96.6230)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Cut crab, Carolina Rigged
TIPS: In January, fish the back lakes for redfish over mud and shell.

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LOCATION: Mesquite Bay
HOTSPOT: Cedar Bayou
GPS: N 28 6.708, W 96 49.812
(28.1118 -96.8302)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Down South & Kelley Wiggler soft plastics
TIPS: Fish like the round body of Down South soft plastics, and the willow tail of Kelley Wigglers that’s dipped in Garlic.

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LOCATION: Port Aransas
HOTSPOT: Morris & Cummins Cut
GPS: N 27 53.2851, W 97 6.661
(27.8881 -97.1110)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Berkley Gulp shrimp
TIPS: If you get a sunny day and can do a lot of sight casting, the redfish will come up and lay on the sand. Use a salt/pepper color.

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LOCATION: Port Aransas
HOTSPOT: Mud Island
GPS: N 27 56.635, W 97 1.266
(27.9439 -97.0211)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Paddle Tails or live shrimp
TIPS: January and February are almost identical as far as spots and baits. A big difference is there is no reason to be on the water at the crack of dawn. The fish are cold too. A lot of action starts about 10 a.m.

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LOCATION: Port Aransas
HOTSPOT: Mustang Point/Ship Channel
GPS: N 27 49.444, W 97 8.2109
(27.8241, -97.1369)

SPECIES: Flounder
BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp
TIPS: Look for holes and depressions in the flats. It’s not going to be a real deep hole, but it will be a little bit deeper than the rest of the flat.

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LOCATION: Port Aransas
HOTSPOT: Quarantine Shoreline
GPS: N 27 54.468, W 97 3.5159
(27.9078 -97.0586)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout and Redfish
BEST BAITS: Soft Plastic Paddle Tails or live shrimp
TIPS: The fish will be really lethargic, especially on the flats until the sun gets up and warms everything up.

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LOCATION: Port O’Connor
HOTSPOT: Bird Lake
GPS: N 28 24.01, W 96 24.992
(28.4002 -96.4165)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Sardines or shrimp
TIPS: Use live bait, either sardines or shrimp. Rig it as a bottom dropper, a 1 1/2 oz. sinker about 12 inches and a #4 Kahle hook, fishing close to the bottom. Put it in the water and let it sit.

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LOCATION: San Antonio Bay
HOTSPOT: Guadalupe Bay East Shore
GPS: N 28 24.803, W 96 45.342
(28.4134 -96.7557)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout & Redfish
BEST BAITS: Live Shrimp under a popping Cork
TIPS: When wading, concentrate around Panther, south of Panter and Cedar Bayou.

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LOCATION: Upper Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: King Ranch Shoreline
GPS: N 27 29.130, W 97 20.913
(27.4855 -97.3485)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Slow Sinking Artificial Baits
TIPS: The color of the lure depends on whether it’s sunny or cloudy. Early in the morning, use a brighter color. Pink is a good color.

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Lower Texas Coast

HotSPOTLight: South Bay

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LOCATION: Arroyo Colorado
HOTSPOT: Marker 9 to Marker 4
GPS: N 26 20.734, W 97 18.73
(26.3456 -97.3122)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Topwaters, gold spoons
TIPS: Drift shallow potholes, fish closer at low tide; avoid afternoon.

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LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Kleberg Point Rocks, South
GPS: N 27 16.371, W 97 36.636
(27.2729 -97.6106)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Shrimp
TIPS: Drift live shrimp under cork very slowly of top of rocks; dawn through morning, dusk.

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LOCATION: Baffin Bay
HOTSPOT: Penescal
GPS: N 27 15.672, W 97 25.29
(27.2612, -97.4215)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Topwaters
TIPS: Wade under a full moon, large trout action; night.

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LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: Airport Cove
GPS: N 26 10.226, W 97 18.012
(26.1704 -97.3002)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Red/black topwaters, live bait
TIPS: Wade the mouth on an outgoing tide; dawn through midday.

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LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: Long Bar
GPS: N 26 8.902, W 97 14.352
(26.1484 -97.2392)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Shrimp, pinfish, plastics
TIPS: Drift the area with live shrimp, pinfish, red/white plastics; dawn through dusk.

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LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre
HOTSPOT: Nine Mile Hole
GPS: N 27 5.159, W 97 24.621
(27.0860, -97.4104)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Slow Sinking Artificial Baits
TIPS: If you use a real light color in the morning. The fish are looking up and the light color sticks out.

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LOCATION: Middle Ground
HOTSPOT: Century Point
GPS: N 26 37.983, W 97 26.148
(26.6331, -97.4358)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Topwaters, plastics, shrimp
TIPS: Drift the break with topwaters, soft plastics or live shrimp.

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LOCATION: Middle Ground
HOTSPOT: East Side of Spoil Islands
GPS: N 26 47.049, W 97 27.561
(26.7842, -97.4594)

SPECIES: Redfish
BEST BAITS: Gold spoons, live shrimp
TIPS: Fish hug the east shoreline at high tide.

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LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: Butchers Island
GPS: N 26 38.1019, W 97 23.149
(26.6350, -97.3858)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Corkies
TIPS: Beginning in February it’s time again to be looking for that trophy trout.

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LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: Dubbs Island
GPS: N 26 43.2409, W 97 25.6
(26.7207, -97.4267)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Corkies
TIPS: Wading is the only way to go if you are trying for that bite of a lifetime.

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LOCATION: Port Mansfield
HOTSPOT: The Saucer Center
GPS: N 26 28.852, W 97 22.093
(26.4809, -97.3682)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout
BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under cork
TIPS: Fish color changes and potholes; dawn through midday.