PORT O’CONNOR

Reported by CAPT. KIM GOULDEN

Luring Late Summer Redfish

 

 

WHEN THE TEXAS HEAT SETTLES IN and the tides turn lazy, redfish along the middle coast kick into full gear. Late summer is prime time for sight-casting these bronze bruisers in skinny water, and the best part? You don’t need live bait to get it done. With the right lures, timing, and a bit of grit, summer redfish are more than ready to crush artificials.

Late Summer is prime time for catching redfish on a variety of artificial baits.

(Photo: KIM GOULDEN)

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Where to Look

Look to marsh drains, grassy flats, and pothole-filled back lakes. On early morning high tides, redfish flood the shoreline grass. As the day heats up and tides fall, they often slide off into deeper cuts or stage near shell patches. Pay close attention to signs—mullet jumping, wakes pushing, or bait nervously scattering. These are your breadcrumbs.

Timing is Everything

The best bite happens when the sun is low and the water is moving. Early mornings and late evenings offer cooler temps, lower light, and feeding fish. Incoming tides bring bait up into the flats, while outgoing tides funnel it out—both create natural ambush points. Pair those windows with a steady southeast wind and you’re in business.

Go-To Lures

1. Soft Plastics: Rigged on 1/16 or 1/8 oz jigheads, MirrOlure Lil’ John XLs are deadly. Twitch them through potholes and across grass flats. Natural colors work best in clear water; darker profiles shine in stained conditions.  Some glitter for flash when the sun’s overhead works well.

2. Topwaters: Nothing beats the thrill of a redfish violently blowing up a topwater. Walk-the-dog lures like the MirrOlure She Dog and MAS Custom Lures single-hook peanut in bone, white or chrome-blue are summertime staples. Fish them slowly with long pauses early, late and even midafternoon.  I’ve spent many a summer afternoon drawing redfish blowups in shallow water.  

3. Gold Spoons: Flashy, weedless, and classic. A steady retrieve through the grass imitates a fleeing baitfish and triggers reaction strikes. They’re ideal for covering water and drawing out ambush predators.

4. Weedless Jerkbaits: Perfect for thick grass or tight marsh pockets. Twitch-twitch-pause retrieves mimic injured bait and often draw aggressive hits. Use a light screw-lock hook for a clean presentation.

Wade Smart

Wade fishing gives you the stealth advantage. Redfish in shallow water are wary, and one bad footstep can blow your shot. Travel light rod, small tacklebox, pliers, and a fish bag (if you’re keeping a fish or two). Good polarized sunglasses are key for spotting fish and reading water depth.

Play It Forward

Redfish are tough, but they’re not limitless. Practice catch-photo-release when possible, handle fish with wet hands, and keep them in the water as much as you can. Respect the shoreline and leave it cleaner than you found it.

Final Cast

The middle Texas coast offers some of the best redfish action all year. Whether you’re poling a skiff, stalking a shoreline, or wading the flats, tie on a lure, trust your gut, and go find the redfish. They’re waiting—and they’re hungry.