Gulf of Mexico, Texas Fishing Report Today

**Welcome back to another Gulf Coast fishing report with Artificial Lure––your personal expert in Texas salt and freshwater. Today is Friday, October 3, 2025, and boy, are we kicking off October with a bang!**

**Tides & Weather**

Sunrise today was at 7:14 am and we’re looking at sunset just after 7:02 pm—prime time to be on the water. For Texas City, the morning high tide rolled in early at 4:04 am (1.75 feet), with low tide around 9:55 am (1.48 feet), and another high tide about 1:08 pm. This evening’s low tide will bottom out just before 9:00 pm, so structure and creek mouths draining out should be stacked up with fish looking for an easy meal. Weather-wise, the Gulf Coast is still running hot and humid, with scattered coastal showers possible—classic fall pattern when a quick shower can turn on a redfish bite or push baitfish up against the shore.

**Fish Activity**

Redfish and speckled trout remain the main targets inshore, with plenty of action on grass flats and oyster reefs right now. Tripletail are showing up under floating debris, especially with live shrimp on a popping cork—these fish are serious fun to sight-cast when you find them. Out in the near Gulf, the Coast Guard has been busy intercepting Mexican lanchas fishing for red snapper north of the Maritime Boundary Line (according to recent Coast Guard press releases), which tells us there’s still good offshore action, especially around the federal marker buoys. Inshore, the recent catches I’m hearing about include solid reds in the slot, trout to 24 inches, and plenty of juvenile black drum on the flats. White trout are also starting to show up in the 15–17 inch range, so don’t be surprised if you pick up a few while targeting trout and reds.

**Best Baits & Lures**

Topwater plugs and soft plastics are shining right now—think Super Spook, Skitter Walk, or even a Corky Devil for trout. For reds, a root beer or gold spoon, or a soft plastic paddle tail rigged weedless is getting hammered. Early mornings and late afternoons are prime for topwater, then flip over to a weightless fluke or a weedless swim bait as the sun gets up. For tripletail, a live shrimp under a popping cork is tough to beat. Offshore, red snapper are still holding on structure, and while federal regs keep most of us on the beach, it’s good to know they’re out there. For freshwater anglers sneaking out to Sam Rayburn or Toledo Bend, topwater frogs and Senkos are working shallow with crankbaits on points, and jigs or Carolina rigs are producing on ledges as temps hold in the mid-80s.

**Hot Spots**

**Sabine Lake:** Early and late, work the grass beds on the Louisiana side for big trout and reds.

**Galveston Bay Complex:** The backside of the north jetty, or any of the oyster reefs around Twin Islands, are holding solid fish—especially on those falling and incoming tides.

**Surfside:** Wade the guts and guts for reds on spoons and soft plastics—don’t overlook those deep holes after a shower.

**Matagorda

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This is Artificial Lure with your October 1st, 2025 Gulf of Mexico Texas coast fishing report. Sunrise hit at 7:13 this morning and we’re looking at sunset dropping right at 7:03 tonight. Tides along the Texas City basin show a big high at 4 AM, rolling down to low tide by 8 PM, so we’ve got a solid stretch of moving water through daylight hours—just what we want for inshore activity according to Tide-Forecast.com.

Weather is that classic early October mix: a light south breeze, morning temps in the low 70s, with highs pushing 85. Humidity is still hanging around from last week’s front, but water clarity remains solid from Corpus up through Galveston. You might catch a short shower or two, but nothing to keep you off the water.

Fish activity is buzzing this week—big pods of baitfish, mostly mullet and shad, have been pushing up shallow, and every predator from redfish to trout has taken notice. Kayak folks reported packs of pinfish and even skipjack chasing their plastics, a clear sign that larger gamefish are in the area shadowing the bait (Coastal Angler Magazine).

The most consistent catches have been slot reds and solid speckled trout, with occasional flounder mixed in around structure. Over near Aransas Pass, Captain Kenny Kramer dialed folks into a hot bite around the Mesquite Bay area. Wade anglers and folks working the drains at high water are hauling in reds using quarter-ounce jigheads with white or chartreuse paddle tails, and topwater spooks in bone or silver have been getting those ferocious topwater takes at first and last light (Texas Fishing Tips).

If you’re drifting or working deeper cuts, shrimp lures fished slow and deep have outfished live bait, especially where skip casting under mangroves and docks is possible. The Prawn USA and similar shrimp imitators held just into the strike zone can trigger fish that won’t touch natural bait or classic soft plastics (Salt Strong). For artificial purists, a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce white swim jig with a paddle tail or matching trailer is deadly—reel it fast, bang it through cover, and brace for a strike. Squarebill crankbaits and pencil poppers are also working well over grass and shell, especially with the water cooling off and fish feeding up for the fall push (SI on Sports Illustrated).

Recent tournament and guide reports put inshore red counts in the double digits per boat in Matagorda and Sabine, with trout and the occasional doormat flounder to boot (Waycross Journal-Herald). The Matagorda marshes up to San Luis Pass and West Bay are absolute hot spots right now. If you want to cover water and find active fish, the mid-bay reefs and shell pads at Christmas Bay and Confederate Reef are reliable every fall.

Best natural bait this week is still live finger mullet or shrimp under a popping cork, but don’t sleep on cut menhaden for redfish around the deeper guts.

If you’re after a big sow trout, focus on the deeper oyster reefs as the tide falls this evening—there’s been some bruisers r

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Howdy anglers, Artificial Lure reporting in for your Gulf of Mexico, Texas, fishing update on this fine Sunday, September 28, 2025.

Today’s sunrise along the Texas Gulf Coast was right around 7:12am, with sunset expected at 7:09pm—giving us almost a full 12 hours to wet a line. The tides are moving slow today, with a low tidal coefficient; that means light current and subtle transitions from high to low water according to the Port Aransas report on Tides4Fishing. For Port Aransas, for example, you’ll see the water peaking later tonight at about 2 feet, after a modest low this morning—so plan on working those structure points and creek mouths when the water’s got some movement.

Weatherwise, it’s a classic early fall morning—air is barely crisp, humidity is starting to back off, and temps are climbing through the low 80s by midday, with an easy southeast breeze around 8 to 10 mph. Cloud cover is light, so sunglasses and sun protection are still a must if you’re staying out through the afternoon.

Inshore, the bite’s been steady for speckled trout and slot reds along the grass flats and shallow reefs. Reports from Freeport down to Port Mansfield indicate solid action early with topwaters like the Spook Jr. or a bone-colored Skitter Walk before sunrise, then switching up to soft plastic paddle tails—Down South Lures in watermelon red or chartreuse sparkle have been the ticket this week. Gulp shrimp on a quarter ounce jighead is also pulling fish on channel edges and deeper potholes.

If you prefer live bait, live shrimp and croaker are getting hammered by both specks and reds around the jetties and drop-offs. Anglers around Matagorda and Galveston jetties are bringing in reds up to 30 inches and plenty of keeper trout at first light.

Flounder activity is picking up—GreatAnglers.com had a verified 12”er landed in the surf near Galveston last week using live minnow, and gigging has been productive on falling tides. Freeport backlakes and mudflats are classic spots for late September flounder. Drifting a mullet strip or bouncing a chartreuse Gulp mullet can land you a stringer if you hit the right drain.

Offshore, the kings are still active chasing sardine balls past the third bar. If you can get out there, slow-trolled ribbonfish and cigar minnows are the best presentation. Snapper action on structure in 70-90’ of water is steady, especially on cut squid. A few cobia sightings have come in around Port O’Connor rigs, mostly on live eels or big bucktail jigs fished deep.

A heads-up for you surf fishers: several “pink meanie” jellyfish—a new species with tentacles reportedly up to 70 feet—have been spotted along Corpus Christi and North Padre Island this week per Texas A&M’s Harte Research Institute, so mind where you wade.

Hot spots to mark on your GPS today:

- **East Matagorda Bay**: Marsh drains on an outgoing tide for reds and flounder.

- **Port Aransas South Jetty**: Great for sunrise trout and jack crevalle runs.

- Bonus: **Galveston beachfron

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Artificial Lure here with your Gulf of Mexico Texas fishing report for Saturday, September 27, 2025, and we’re getting right into it.

Sunrise hit at 7:10 am, sunset will wrap up at 7:08 pm. Over in Texas City, the tides today are moderate: we had a 1.7 ft high at 2:17 am, another at 4:14 am, then a lower tide of 0.4 ft at 2:53 pm. Tidal current is mellow with a tidal coefficient sitting at 49, which means we’re fishing in average conditions but expect the bite to pick up as we move through the morning and into early afternoon according to TIDES4FISHING.

Weather-wise, we’re looking at pleasant early fall action, light winds and consistent warmth. Water temps are running right in the Goldilocks zone for most local species. Skies staying partly cloudy with just a touch of humidity, giving us a comfortable backdrop for a day on the water.

Fish activity this last week has been lively. Out deep, folks are wrapping up the federal Red Snapper season, which closed September 15. But state waters in Texas are still open year-round, so keep hauling those snappers—bag limit is four per person, minimum length 15 inches, per RodnReelGirls. Nearshore and back bays are producing solid catches of speckled trout and redfish; reports from Galveston to Corpus Christi detail nice keeper reds mixed in with slot-sized specks.

Galveston Beachfront and the Ship Channel have seen decent runs of black drum—mostly in the 16 to 24-inch range, but a few brutes over 30 inches bent rods this week. Flounder action is steady with a handful of good flatfish showing up around jetties and tidal flats. Guys are landing a few keeper sheepshead mixed in around structure and bridge pilings.

Anglers have seen a couple of wild cards: rare pink meanie jellyfish washed up on local beaches according to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Harte Research Institute, so watch where you wade. They're flashy, but with only a mild sting—they’ve been following the moon jellies up the coast.

As for lures, you can’t miss with natural and scented soft plastics for reds and trout. Gulp shrimp and paddle tails have been putting fish in the box. For bigger trout, topwater lures like Skitter Walks and Heddon Super Spooks in bone or chrome colors are producing, especially early and late. Red and white-tailed soft plastics have been the ticket for trout around Packery Flats and up the Colorado River mouth, per Airial Travel. If you’re working deeper structure or moving water, try a medium diving crawfish crankbait like the Rebel Deep Wee Craw, especially around rocky bottoms or near oyster reefs—this one runs about 8 to 10 feet and the pulsating action is hard for inshore species to ignore, according to Discount Tackle.

Live shrimp and mullet remain top baits for almost everything inshore. If you’re soaking bait off the piers or channels, cut bait (menhaden or skipjack) is money for drum and bigger reds.

Now for the hotspots:

- **Texas City Dike:** Always a strong call for trout, reds, and drum—especially wi

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Artificial Lure bringing you the latest from the Texas Gulf Coast for Friday, September 26, 2025. We kicked off the day under clear skies, warm temps sitting in the low to mid-80s, and a light offshore breeze—the kind of weather that just sings “get on the salt.” Sunrise was at 7:10 AM, sunset’s coming at 7:10 PM, so you’ll get a good stretch for that after-work wade or paddle run according to Tide-Forecast.com. Tides for Texas City show a high at 4:48 AM, a low around 2:00 PM, and another big push with a high near 11:11 PM—classic for stirring up some strong activity at both ends of the day.

In East Galveston Bay the bite’s been reliably good. Captain Jeff Brandon with Get the Net Guide Service says the **redfish** are stacked up shallow, especially along grass lines and drain cuts in just a foot or two of water. Find active bait and you’ll find reds—if the bait’s scarce, don’t burn precious time, just move onto the next drain or patch of shell. Mornings and evenings are strongest. Key lures here are imitation shrimp and paddletail soft plastics under a popping cork, 1–2 foot leader; Monkey Milk and pink tint have been hot colors. For folks who love the topwater game, those walking baits—Skitter Walks or Zara Spooks—are drawing some aggressive strikes early and late.

**Speckled trout** are showing on mid-bay reefs and over shell in 3–4 feet of water. You’ll catch a mess of smalls, but there are pockets of solid keepers, especially over shell pockets near current. Use soft plastics on light 1/8 oz. heads, and if the water’s slick calm, drop to a 1/16 oz. for a natural fall. Late summer crowds are thinning—those who know are sneaking out during the week and putting together great boxes.

Still seeing some **flounder** around the grass and on shallow shell beds near structure, especially where you get good current flow. Gulp! swimming mullets or white curly tails on light jigheads have been reliable when bounced right along the bottom.

If you’re venturing further south towards Corpus, the surf bite has picked up in the early hours. Bob Hall Pier made headlines a few days ago with a 10-foot-8 hammerhead landed by a local guide—sharks are still prowling in close, especially at dawn and dusk, so steer clear if you’re wading deep, but do break out the heavy gear if you want a real rodeo. According to MySanAntonio.com, sharks and bull reds are moving through the cuts and around piers, so throw large cut mullet or fresh whiting for your shot at a true drag-screamer.

For bait, live shrimp is catching everything, but if the croaker or menhaden are thick, freelined live bait is best for pulling bigger specks and slot reds. Cut bait—especially mullet—is irresistible for reds and bigger predators. If you’re sticking artificial, scented soft plastics will help in murky conditions and can cover water faster than popping corks.

Hot spots to try:

- **East Galveston Bay:** Fish grass drains and shell on the north shoreline at first light for reds, or try Hann

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Artificial Lure here bringing you the on-the-water scoop for Texas Gulf coast fishing this Wednesday, September 24th, 2025.

We kicked off the morning with sunrise at 7:08 AM and expect sunset at 7:12 PM tonight. For those planning your set, we’re riding a solid tidal swing today: high tide just before dawn at 4:30 AM, a midday low at 11:21 AM, and another strong high at 6:46 PM, which lines up great with that golden hour bite. Sabine Pass and West Galveston Bay are reporting decent tidal flow, with Sabine showing healthy current and a tidal coefficient of 91—so expect active water and moving bait.

Weather’s seasonable with light winds out of the southeast and ambient temps starting in the upper 70s and climbing into the mid-80s by afternoon. Water clarity is fair to good along the beachfront, especially where there’s less surf churn, which should get the bite up especially around clearer grass flats and channel edges.

Now onto what everybody cares about: What’s biting and on what? The last few days have seen great numbers of speckled trout coming off shell and grass flats at sunrise. According to *The Texas Insider* and the word around the launches, the action on keeper-size specks has really heated up thanks to these falling late September temps. Local anglers using soft-plastic shrimp imitations under popping corks are pulling limits—just be sure you’re up to date on the new regs, with a daily bag limit now at 3 per person and a slot of 15 to 20 inches, but you can tag a trophy if you’re lucky enough to latch into a stud over 28.

Redfish are also schooling up heavy along deeper grass lines and cuts, ready to slam gold spoons, soft plastic jerkbaits, and of course, live mullet or cut bait if you can net some before daylight. If you’re after a Texas slam, keep a sharp eye near structure—flounder reports have picked up on live mud minnows near Bernard and San Luis Pass.

Nothing beats freelined live shrimp for finicky trout when conditions go slack, but when the drift picks up, switch to a weedless soft jerkbait with a bit of flash. For deeper water, smaller metal spoons will get their attention with aggressive strikes on the drop.

Best action has been reported in these hot spots:

- The grass flats between Green’s Cut and the mouth of Chocolate Bayou: excellent clarity, lots of bait, and steady speck action at daybreak.

- The deep oyster edges near Pelican Island Bridge: running popping cork rigs early, then free-lining live bait or bouncing Gulp! shrimp as the tide falls back and trout slide deeper.

Don’t ignore West Matagorda’s back lakes or the shallow entrances to Christmas Bay—reds have been cruising the mud and shell, often tailing in less than two feet at first light.

Whether you’re chasing numbers or looking for that wall-hanger, remember: play the tides, hunt the cleanest water you can find, and mimic the shrimp and mullet these predators are gorging on as autumn sets in. Last tip—keep your drags light and hooks sharp, especially o

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Good mornin’ folks, this is Artificial Lure with your Saturday, September 20th Gulf of Mexico, Texas fishing report. We’re looking at a solid fall pattern shaping up along the coast and offshore, so let’s get right to the bite.

Sunrise came at 7:07 a.m. and we’ll see sunset at 7:17 this evening. Tides are running high, with the first high tide swinging in at 5:34 a.m. and another push coming at 4:11 p.m. between lows at 11:10 a.m. and 11:15 p.m., according to Tide-Forecast and Tides4Fishing. Tidal coefficient is running high too, so expect strong water movement most of the day—prime feeding windows, especially around those tide switches.

Weatherwise, we’ve got light southeast winds, mid-70s at sunrise, climbing into the mid-80s by afternoon. The humidity’s still Texas-thick, but the breeze should keep it tolerable for y’all working the flats or heading offshore. These are the kind of early fall conditions where a morning session can land you a box full of fillets before lunch.

Now, let’s talk fishing. Inshore, the fall migration is heating up. According to local podcasts like the Gulf of Mexico Texas Fishing Report and reports posted Friday, trout and redfish are piling along grasslines and shell points. Trout have been strong on moving water, especially with a few days of stable weather backing them up. Most keepers are in the 15–20 inch class, but there are some thick slot reds mixed in—especially toward the mouths of marsh creeks and the deeper channels near Galveston and Bolivar.

Live shrimp under popping corks have been hot, but I’m telling you, the topwater plug first light—think bone or chrome Spook Jr’s and MirrOlures—is hard to beat for explosive hits. As the sun climbs, switch over to soft plastics like purple chartreuse or root beer paddle tails on a light jighead. If you’re working deeper or around structure, croaker and finger mullet are still money.

Nearshore, Spanish mackerel have been thick around the jetties, with a few big jack crevalle crashing pods of mullet. Chrome spoons and fast-moving Got-Cha plugs will draw strikes, especially if you don’t mind burning your arm between hookups. Navarre’s recent report had lookdowns and ladyfish mixed in, and that same mixed-bag action is rolling along Texas, too.

Now for you offshore diehards: tuna are still biting well along the outer shelf when you can pick your window between fronts. The chunk bite—using butterfish, cut menhaden, or squid—is producing, especially at night or low light. Recent party boat trips have yielded 20 to 40 yellowfin per haul and some big blackfin in the mix. Live and vertical jigs are strong bets; pick up heavy 200-300 gram jigs for best results if you’re working deeper.

Snapper season is always a Texas favorite and there have been good reports of limits coming from state waters, especially around submerged structure and rig legs. Cut squid or cigar minnows will get the job done, but a live pinfish or menhaden rarely fails to tempt bigger fish.

As for h

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Artificial Lure here with your Friday, September 19th fishing report, live from the Texas Gulf Coast. We're rolling into the back half of September, and the action in and around our bays and surf lines is heating up as we get those early signs of a fall migration. Let’s cut right to what you'll want to know before heading out today.

First up, weather—according to the National Weather Service, we've got gentle to moderate east to southeasterly breezes working the coast, with seas holding steady. There’s a 30-60% chance of showers through the day and into the weekend, so you may get damp but shouldn’t get blown off the water. Bring your rain gear if you’re planning on sticking it out for the day. Water temps are still holding in the upper 80s by most reports.

Looking at tide action, Texas City and surrounding bay areas saw a high tide at 5:14 this morning, dropping to a low at 10:39 a.m. and rising for the afternoon high at 3:06 p.m.—so get your lines wet early or time your bay trips for that afternoon swing. Sunrise was at 7:06 this morning, and you’ll get daylight until sunset at 7:19 p.m., giving you a full day to chase a bite.

Let’s talk fish. Bastrop and Christmas Bays, along with the west end of Galveston Bay, are producing solid catches in the morning for waders and drifters who are working live shrimp under popping corks or freelining croaker. Freeport harbor's still holding good numbers of redfish, trout, mangrove snapper, and a few sheepshead and flounder, especially when using live shrimp or mullet. According to Flattie Daddy Fishing Adventures, three-foot guts in the bays have been sweet spots for trout and redfish, with flounder mixed in when you’re close to structure.

If you’re headed for the surf or jetties, early risers found ladyfish, Spanish mackerel, and the occasional black drum. Reports from earlier in the week had a few sizeable bull reds coming through on cut mullet. No huge runs yet, but with these water temps, action should improve by next week.

On the lure front, soft plastics remain your best friend. The BaitFuel Saltwater GO2 Grub has been getting attention for snook, reds, and trout along grassy edges and guts. Natural colors or chartreuse tails have been productive given the clearer water. In the shallows or near grass beds, Texas-rigged Strike King Rage Craws have been catching legal reds and the occasional flattie—just toss those right up to pockets in shallow marsh. For topwater, the Baby PopX is a winner at dawn, especially if you’re targeting early morning trout around shell or deeper grass. And don't overlook live shrimp or mullet, especially freelined—those have been closing the deal on bigger slot reds and trout this week.

If you’re looking for a couple of hotspots, Christmas Bay has quietly been giving up consistent stringers of trout and redfish for those willing to drift with live bait or plastics. Freeport harbor is drawing plenty of early-morning traffic—freelined mullet near structure is your ticket

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Artificial Lure here with your Gulf of Mexico Texas fishing report for Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

We’re coming up on the end of federal Red Snapper season—remember, federal waters closed on the 15th, but Texas state waters are open year-round for those snapper fans. Texas regs let you keep four a day at a minimum of 15 inches, so if you hug that nine-mile line, there’s still snapper up for grabs. Galveston is the perennial hotspot; charter captains continue to report solid catches on live pinfish, cigar minnows, and big jigs bounced on the reefs. Freeport also delivered limits this past weekend, and there’s talk of some chunky snapper mixed in with mangroves on the deeper state-chartered spots according to rodnreelgirls.com.

Let’s talk tides. Moveable water means active fish, and today’s charts for Eagle Point in Galveston Bay show a minor high at 3:50 AM, a low at 6:10 AM, then back up to a 0.76 ft high tide at 10:54 AM and a slacky low just after sundown, 7:35 PM. Sunrise is right around 6:31 AM with sunset at 8:20 PM—plenty of daylight for a solid morning and evening bite. Tidal amplitude is low today—tides4fishing.com clocks the coefficient at just 46 this morning, rising only slightly by sunset, so anticipate weaker currents and fish relating tighter to structure and depth changes.

Weather’s stable—light winds and clear skies predominate, making for pleasant outings up and down the middle and upper Texas coast.

Around the bays, Galveston’s jetties and Causeway bridge pilings have been loaded with speckled trout—most coming early around sunrise and late in the evening on live shrimp under popping corks or soft plastics in natural shad patterns. Surf-side, Redfish have started popping up in the guts and sloughs closer to the beach, especially on moving tides. Cut mullet or fresh shrimp on the bottom is producing, but artificial fanatics are doing well tossing paddle tails in new penny and chartreuse, especially on the incoming water. Fishgame.com emphasizes the importance of fishing around those moving tides; slack water often means slow action, so time your outings to those tide changes.

Matagorda and Freeport are both solid bets right now—Freeport’s surf is seeing whiting and some pompano, while the jetties are good for sheepshead on fiddler crabs or live shrimp. If you want something toothy, Spanish mackerel showed up around the Galveston beachfront mid-week, nailing silver spoons and flashy plugs.

Up in the marshes and back bays, flounder are still a bit scattered but are showing signs of staging for the first big push to the Gulf. Try Gulp! swimming mullet or live mud minnows on the bottom near grassy drains. For those sticking close to shore in local ponds, largemouth are hitting topwater frogs and soft plastic craws—Wired2Fish.com gives the nod to natural colors like watermelon and June bug for pressured fish.

A couple of hot spots for this week: head to the North Jetty at Bolivar for mixed bag action (trout, reds, Spanish),

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Artificial Lure here with your Gulf of Mexico Texas fishing report for Sunday, September 14, 2025.

We’ve had a steamy mid-September day on the upper Texas Coast, with the **sunrise at 7:03am and sunset at 7:25pm**. Anglers hit the water early to beat the midday heat, running lines from Galveston to Freeport.

**Tide conditions:** Texas City saw a **high tide at 3:30am, dropping all the way to a low at 5:26pm**. Tidal movement was strong with a coefficient above 70 per Tides4Fishing, which primed the bite on both the incoming and outgoing swings. Water clarity remained fair inshore, despite those big flows.

**Weather:** It’s been hot and humid, classic late summer on the Gulf, with southerly winds picking up to 10-15 knots by afternoon and a muggy high near 92°F. Skies started partly cloudy but gave way to a few scattered rain showers after lunch.

**Fish activity and catch report:** Captain Experiences confirms **redfish and speckled trout have been the top catches**. Early bite was best – trout took plastics and live shrimp drifting over shell or grass beds in 4-6 feet of water, while reds hammered cut mullet and crab tight to marsh drains. Flounder have started moving as fall approaches, coming around the passes and jetties. Offshore reports are solid, with snapper and kingfish fired up on reefs and rigs – large snapper continue to bend rods, though the season for red snapper is winding down.

**Amounts and types:** This week, several buster schools of slot reds showed up around Bolivar and West Bay, some limits taken by 9am. Trout runs have been scattered, with most boats reporting 6-10 good keepers for a morning effort. The jetty crowd has seen bull reds and the occasional jack crevalle chasing mullet. Deeper offshore, boats working the platforms landed kingfish to 25 pounds, plus lane snapper and a steady pick of mangrove snapper.

**Best baits and lures:**

- **Inshore:** Top live baits have been **shrimp and finger mullet**. Artificial crews are cleaning up with **soft plastics on 1/4 ounce jigheads**, working morning glory or chartreuse under popping corks. For reds, toss **gold spoons or paddle tails** tight to grass.

- **Offshore:** Cut bait or sardines are killing it on bottom setups for snapper and grouper. Trollers are doing best with **deep-diving plugs in blue/silver** for kings.

According to The Hook Up Tackle, Texas anglers are reaching for **Jackall Live Darters and Lucky Craft Pointers**—these realistic jerkbaits shine in clear water and trigger reaction strikes from finicky trout. Don’t sleep on classic **Gulp! shrimp** for consistent action when the bite is tough.

**Hot spots:**

- The mouth of **Dickinson Bayou** is red hot for slot reds on the outgoing tide.

- **San Luis Pass** is firing for flounder and the occasional big spec – use mud minnows, shrimp, or curly-tailed jigs.

- For offshore, the **Galveston 32-mile rigs** are producing on both live bait and vertical jigs, while Freeport’s closer reefs have held steady n

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