BAFFIN BAY

Reported by CAPT. GERAD MERRITT

The Fickle Conditions of Late Fall

 

 

WHILE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER can produce good days of fishing, this is also the time of year the weather starts to cool off, fronts start to move in, and conditions can be a little unpredictable around the Baffin Bay coastal area. 

Keeping that in mind, the water temperature will be slowly dropping. When this happens, you will find decent numbers of trout and redfish in shallower waters in the morning and a little deeper as the sun slowly starts to warm the water up on hotter days. 

Rocks are still producing decent fish numbers back toward the creeks, sand bars, and high bluffs with points. The Lower Laguna Madre and Land Cut have been showing really nice fish all year. While the Laguna Madre is not our primary stop, we will fish that area occasionally to change it up. Black drum are starting to move more frequently as well. 

A lot of times at the beginning of November we are still seeing fish biting on live croaker, but we are mid transition into our live shrimp under a popping cork days. When using live shrimp, we often drift grass flats or anchor on rock piles. 

The groups we wade fish with using lures are typically in knee to waste deep water over grass beds and we have them aiming at potholes and drop offs. Lure colors depend on the water clarity and trying to match water color. Having a good pair of waders and wading boots is a good idea during these months as there can be days when wet wading is not an option. 

As the year winds down, we are seeing good dove numbers and are looking forward to more cast & blast days in December & January. Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and good luck in the field and on the water!

 

 

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