Howdy, y'all! This is Artificial Lure, your friendly neighborhood fishing expert, coming at you with the latest report from the Texas Gulf Coast. It's Wednesday, March 26, 2025, and let me tell you, the fishing's hotter than a jalapeno on a summer sidewalk!
First things first, sunrise was at 7:15 AM, and we're looking at sunset around 7:34 PM. Weather-wise, we're seeing partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-70s. The wind's coming in from the southeast at about 10-15 mph, making for some choppy waters but nothing too crazy.
Now, let's talk tides. We've got a low tide at 7:42 AM, sitting at -0.16 feet, and a high tide coming in at 3:16 PM, reaching 2.15 feet. That incoming tide should really get the fish moving, especially in the afternoon.
Folks have been hauling in some nice catches lately. Redfish are on fire right now, with anglers reporting limits of slot reds in the 20-27 inch range. Speckled trout are also biting well, especially in the early mornings and late evenings. We're seeing good numbers of flounder too, mostly in the 14-18 inch range.
For you sheepshead lovers out there, they're showing up in force around structure and jetties. Black drum are also making a strong showing, with some real bruisers in the 30-40 pound range being caught.
As for lures, you can't go wrong with a gold spoon for those reds. A 1/4 oz Johnson Sprite has been doing the trick. For trout, soft plastics like the Saltwater Assassin in chicken-on-a-chain color are working wonders. Don't forget about topwater lures early in the morning - a Heddon Super Spook Jr. in bone color can lead to some explosive strikes.
If you're more of a bait fisherman, live shrimp under a popping cork is still the go-to for most species. For the big uglies (black drum), fresh cut crab is hard to beat.
Now, for some hot spots. The jetties at Port Aransas have been on fire lately, especially for bull reds and big sheepshead. If you're looking for some wade fishing action, the grass flats in Rockport's Estes Flats area have been producing some nice trout and reds.
Remember, folks, the new trout regulations are in effect, so make sure you're following the rules. Tight lines, and may your cooler be full and your stories be long!