Artificial Lure here with the Rio Grande, Texas fishing report for Saturday, September 13, 2025. It’s another beautiful morning down south, and locals are already out chasing that early bite.

Sunrise today came at 7:18 AM with sunset expected at 7:40 PM, so you’ve got a long window for plenty of casts. According to Weather.com and the NOAA, we’ve got mild temps this morning around 75°F, heading up to near 90°F by mid-afternoon. Light winds from the east make for excellent casting and manageable drift. Skies are mostly clear, with just a chance of a pop-up shower this afternoon—classic Lower Valley conditions.

Tides are moderate. The nearest coastal tide table at South Padre puts high tide mid-morning and low tide late afternoon, which means river flow’s steady and backwaters are holding pools—prime habitat for resident species.

Fish activity is solid. Over the past week, anglers are reporting steady action on Rio Grande cichlid and bluegill right up in the shallows, especially in the slower pools and side channels. Worm and crappie jigs have been the go-to. Down deeper, channel catfish and blue cats are still coming to cut bait and commercially prepared dough baits, especially after sundown.

Texas Parks & Wildlife recent records show common carp running big—Javier Padron landed a 28.35-pounder in January—and flathead cats up to 62 pounds caught in the last decade, so there are monsters lurking. Channel catfish near 20 pounds aren’t unheard of, especially near submerged brush on trotlines or with fresh liver.

The bass bite is picking up with the slightly cooler nights. Largemouth up to 6 pounds have been reported around Falcon Lake edges using standard Texas rigs and watermelon soft plastics. Early birds are getting bit on topwater poppers and chatterbaits. Smaller Guadalupe bass and their hybrids are active as well, keying in on crawfish imitations and hair jigs.

If you’re looking for a mixed bag, white bass and sunfish are still biting midday on small inline spinners, and crappie will take a minnow if you find a good laydown. For fly folks, a crawfish briminator or woolly bugger in olive or black has been dynamite for cichlids and sunfish; try it near riprap or root balls.

Best baits this week:
- **Live worms** and **nightcrawlers** for panfish and cichlids
- **Chicken liver** and **fresh cut shad** for catfish
- **Soft plastics** in pumpkinseed or watermelon for largemouth bass
- **Crappie jigs** and **roadrunners** for slabs
- **Small poppers or Clouser minnows** for fly anglers

Hot spots? Above Falcon Dam is always worth a look, especially rocky banks and flooded timber. The Roma Bluffs stretch is producing steady catches for shore anglers—look for deeper holes just off main channel drops. Also, check the mouth of Arroyo Morteros if water’s moving; that intersection’s notorious for surprising carp and cats.

Recent catches from a few regulars at local bait shops include:
- Several blue and channel catfish in the 3-10 pound range on cut perch
- Good messes of Rio Grande cichlid on worms and small spinnerbaits
- A 5-pound largemouth caught near Zapata on a chartreuse spinnerbait right at sundown

Birdlife’s heavy—keep your eyes up for hawks and even ospreys, which have been putting on a show during the morning bite. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is running its regular Hawk Watch and the birding at Estero Llano is always a treat after you wrap up on the banks.

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Mornin’ anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Friday, September 12th fishing report for the Rio Grande Valley. We’re stepping into the tail-end of summer, and you can feel it in the muggy air before sunrise—humidity’s up and the bite has been, too. Start was right around 7:15 am, with sunrise hitting at 7:20. Sunset tonight will be 7:46, so there’s plenty of time for after-work casts.

The north wind started out light, before heating up into the high 80s and climbing toward the low 90s by afternoon. Mostly sunny skies and moderate gusts—standard early September, nothing to spook the fish.

Tide predictions from NOAA and local tide charts show we had a medium low at 6:25 am and the incoming started to build late morning, heading to a modest high around 4:10 pm. Fish activity is picking up on that rising tide, especially in the brushy bends with cooler inlets.

Let’s talk catch reports. Down near Falcon Lake and out at historic hot spots like Santa Margarita and Chapote—anglers are filling coolers with **blue catfish and flatheads**, especially running cut shad and chicken liver. Flats below the weirs on the Rio Grande itself are still producing nice channel cats, with several reports of double-digit catches just yesterday. **Largemouth bass** are holding along the submerged structure and slow-rolling spinnerbaits near first light gets them riled up—local folks are favoring white/chartreuse or dark green plastics, rigged Texas-style.

**Rio Grande cichlids** and big bluegill are stacked in the shallows on worms, especially late afternoon. If you want something more “exotic,” reports of tilapia are getting better as the rivers warm, especially on small spoons and worms. Word is, a couple of bow anglers nabbed tilapia pushing 3-4 pounds near Zapata this week.

Don’t overlook sunfish and crappie—smaller Mepps Aglia in gold or black on ultralight, or just a plain red worm, kept rods bent for folks bank-fishing around boat ramps and tree lines.

Best baits right now:
- Cut shad and chicken liver for cats.
- Live worms and nightcrawlers for panfish and cichlids.
- Top-water frogs early, dark plastics or spinnerbaits for bass.
- Beetle Spins and spoons for tilapia and white bass.

Locals are still loyal to some trusty artificials—Black Goober Bug for bluegill, briminators for cichlids, and wooly buggers or clousers if you’re slinging flies.

Top two hot spots:
- The **San Ygnacio boat ramp area:** easy bank access, lots of submerged timber—morning bite is best here.
- The **Zapata County Park cove:** edges are loaded with structure and baitfish. Great for families and the evening bite really lights up with the outgoing tide.

If you’re after lunkers, drift-fish the deeper runs and channel edges late afternoon as the sun drops—the transition triggers those bigger cats and bass to roam.

Water level’s holding steady and clarity is decent, but if you get a little storm runoff, expect those cats to move up shallow fast.

Stay hydrated, bring plenty of sunblock, and watch for quick storms—they surface up fast this time of year.

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Fishing conditions around Rio Grande, Texas this morning are starting off humid after a wild night—last night’s storms tore through the Valley with strong winds, heavy rain, and plenty of street flooding, especially near Brownsville and Los Fresnos, where rainfall topped out at over four inches according to KRGV News. Today’s skies are clearing, but anglers might still contend with a bit of runoff and stained water from the fresh rain. Winds are expected to calm down through midday, so it’ll be safe and manageable to get out on the water, just keep an eye on any debris or floating obstacles from those overnight storms.

For those heading to the coast or down to South Padre, the tide’s working in our favor for morning and evening fishing. According to Tide-Forecast.com, high tide hit at 4:00 AM and will rise again at 7:08 PM, with a low at 11:03 AM today. Sunrise was at 7:12 AM and sunset’s coming up at 7:37 PM—those are your prime windows for topwater action and sight fishing along the flats.

Fish activity should be solid this morning, especially with that post-storm cool down and high oxygen flow. Reports from Today We Fish Charter and Adventures out of South Padre Island say Speckled Trout have been biting well on the grass flats using live croaker and shrimp, with solid numbers coming in by drifting or anchoring along drop-offs in the Laguna Madre bay system. Redfish are roaming a bit deeper, often staging up near spoil islands and channels, so target them with gold spoons, soft plastics on quarter-ounce jig heads, or cut mullet if you’re soaking bait.

Recent charters in the area have had customers “limiting out” on trout quickly—Logan H. shared on Captain Experiences that they filled the box and still found time to tangle with a “bully red,” all inside of a couple hours. The key was moving with the bait schools and staying patient during tide transitions. Captain Raymond is getting high marks for putting anglers right on the fish and having tackle ready for all experience levels.

For locals hitting the river proper, look for catfish tight to structure on cut shad or stink bait, especially with the river stirred up after the storms. Early risers have been rewarded with channel cats and the odd blue working the deeper holes close to Falcon Dam and up by the confluence with Arroyo Colorado.

If you’re chasing numbers and quality, two hotspots worth hitting today are:
- The Salinity Barrier flats, just east of Port Isabel—great for morning trout and redfish on topwaters like the Super Spook Jr. in bone color, plus soft plastics in new penny or chartreuse, especially as the sun gets higher.
- South Bay Channel edges and the shallows outside Boca Chica—redfish and the occasional snook have been caught here lately, especially using paddle tail swimbaits and live finger mullet drifted along grassy drop-offs.

Those venturing to South Padre should keep their eyes open for clear water pockets after the tides settle and try free-lining live shrimp or casting DOA C.A.L. jigs.

In short: the bite’s still on if you adjust for the storm water and focus your efforts around moving water and structure. Mornings and evenings around the tides will be your best bet. Be mindful of high water and floating debris, fish with confidence, and you’ll likely put together a great box today.

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Good morning, this is Artificial Lure with your September 7th, 2025 fishing report for the Rio Grande Valley and nearby South Texas coastal waters.

Today’s forecast is a sweet one for anglers across the region. According to the National Weather Service in Brownsville, we’re expecting light winds out of the southwest at 5 knots early, swinging around southeast as we move into the afternoon. The bay will have a gentle chop—just enough to keep things interesting—and out in the Gulf, seas are running an easy 1 to 2 feet, perfect for bay boats and flats skiffs alike. The weather is classic late-summer coastal Texas: warm and humid, with a light breeze and only a slight chance of a passing thunderstorm late in the day. Sunrise was at 7:14 AM this morning, and you’ll get your last casts in until just past 7:45 PM tonight.

Tides are moderate with a low just before dawn and the incoming pushing through the morning hours—prime time for redfish and speckled trout around the spoil banks and creek mouths. Hot, humid, and a little water movement means the fish should be moving up onto the flats to hunt.

In recent days, anglers working the shrimp boats and nearshore rigs have reported good numbers of slot reds and speckled trout, especially around the South Bay and Boca Chica flats. Some solid flounder are starting to show in the deep cuts as they transition for the fall run. Those drifting the Laguna Madre are also reporting limits of trout in the early morning on bone and chartreuse soft plastics. Folks hitting the Rio Grande itself have landed some nice channel cats on cut shad and stinkbait, plus a few gar for those looking to tangle with something toothy.

As for lures, patterns have held steady this week. Your best bet is going to be a quarter-ounce jighead rigged with a soft plastic in chartreuse with red flake, or a shrimp imitation under a popping cork if you’re targeting pockets of deeper water or working the grass edges. For topwater action, especially in the low light of dawn, chrome or bone-colored walking baits like the classic Super Spook are drawing solid blowups from trout and redfish alike. Cut mullet and live finger mullet have been the ticket for the bigger slot reds along the deeper drop-offs.

Bay fishermen are also seeing success with live shrimp, especially under a popping cork near the spoil islands and along the deeper grass beds. Those looking for a mixed bag in the river itself should stick with chicken livers or cut bait for catfish, and inline spinners or crankbaits if you’re after bass or gar.

If you’re looking for hot spots, make a run out to South Bay just north of Boca Chica or slide over to the Port Isabel side, working the flats near the causeway or even trying your luck at Pirate’s Landing Fishing Pier in Port Isabel—the longest pier in Texas and a local favorite for a reason. Closer to the river, just downstream of the Zapata boat ramp has been good for steady catfish action, and folks working the bends northeast of Falcon Lake have picked up some quality gar and even a few schoolie bass.

A reminder to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and keep an eye out for afternoon pop-up storms. That incoming morning tide should set you up for a memorable day, whether it’s trout and reds on the flats or cats and gar in the river. The fish are biting, and early September is tough to beat down here in the Valley!

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Artificial Lure coming to you with the Rio Grande fishing report for Saturday, September 6, 2025, bright and early for all you anglers ready to wet a line in the southern tip of Texas.

**Weather’s set for a classic September start:** Clear skies and comfortable temperatures through the morning—expect a light chop on the bay as winds shift southwest to southeast, generally hovering at 5 knots and picking up gently as the day rolls on. No small craft advisories needed, with Gulf wave heights only 1 to 2 feet, perfect for kayak and skiff fishing according to National Weather Service Brownsville. Keep an eye out for a slight chance of pop-up showers later in the evening, especially if you stick around after sunset.

**Tides around South Padre Island** run out and back today: High tide hit at 4:51 AM, and you’ll get an outgoing tide pushing through mid-morning. Low tide drops around 11:03 AM, with another peak rolling in at 7:08 PM. Plan to target the deeper cuts and current edges during those moving water windows, particularly on the outgoing.

**Sunrise was at 7:12 AM and sunset comes in at 7:37 PM.** Early risers and late evening prowlers should see optimal fish movement near those changes. Around these parts, the daylight transitions get the bait popping and predators on the move.

**The bite has been hot for late summer.** Local catch reports this week say trout and redfish are showing up strong in the flats and channels, with a few slot snook sighted near brackish outflows. Plenty of schoolie speckled trout are being reeled in at daybreak using live shrimp under popping corks and soft plastics—something like a white paddletail or chartreuse grub. Redfish are staging near sand pockets and grass lines; gold spoons, live mullet, or crab chunks have fooled a handful of upper-slot reds, especially as they nose around getting ready for fall.

**Inshore, the drum are tailing in the shallows, mostly caught on fresh dead shrimp or cracked crab.** Evening sessions have landed flounder for lucky anglers working slow-rolled curly tails close to structure. Out at the jetties, Spanish mackerel are zipping through—silver spoons and flashy sabiki rigs do best if you want fast action. If you’re chasing the elusive snook, try a live finger mullet or a rootbeer soft jerkbait on a Texas rig, worked around the pilings and mangroves.

**Bait shops in Brownsville and Port Isabel report steady sales of live shrimp, mullet, and mud minnows.** For lures, locals favor plum/chartreuse and cocaho minnow colors for plastics. Topwater fans: early morning is your window for walk-the-dog style plugs—bone or chrome colors imitate the local baitfish and trigger explosive strikes in calm water.

**Hot spots today:**
- The mouth of Arroyo Colorado is turning over quality trout and redfish during the early tide swing.
- Boca Chica Beach flats, especially near deeper potholes and grass beds, are prime for redfish and drum, with good action reported near SpaceX Starbase access edges.
- Ship Channel near Port Isabel—consistent trout and flounder action, especially at dawn and dusk on moving tides.

Whether you’re boat, kayak, or wading, today promises consistent action if you time it right and keep your tackle simple.

That’s it for the September 6th Rio Grande fishing report. Thank you for tuning in—remember to subscribe for your daily line on local waters, tips, and hot bites! This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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This is Artificial Lure reporting in from Rio Grande, Texas, on this fine Friday, September 5th, 2025. If you’re grabbing your rods and rigs today, you’re in for classic end-of-summer South Texas fishing—let’s get right to it.

We saw sunrise at 7:12 AM, with sunset lining up at 7:42 PM—giving anglers a prime, long window for both morning and evening bites. Tidal action today mimics patterns in the Arroyo Colorado region, with a low tide expected late morning and the high rolling in late tonight. These shifting tides are perfect for working the shallow flats and inlets, especially as the water moves—timing your casts around these swings usually brings more strikes according to Tide-Forecast.com.

Weather-wise, National Weather Service Brownsville is calling for light winds out of the southeast, picking up just a notch by the afternoon and making for small, manageable chop on Laguna Madre and the lower Gulf. If you’re drifting the bay, you’ll see easy conditions, though the evening may usher in a few isolated thunderstorms. Don’t let the chance of scattered showers chase you off but keep an eye on the horizon.

Fish activity is amping up with the stable pressure and warm water. Locals are reporting good numbers on the inshore red drum and speckled trout. Plenty of slot reds have been coming in at the docks this week—most caught on live mullet or mud minnows, with a healthy share falling for paddle-tail soft plastics in root beer or chartreuse. Trout action has stayed strong at first light and just before dusk, especially over grass and potholes near the Port Isabel and Holly Beach grass beds.

If you’re looking for the best chance, here are a couple of hot spots:
- The flats at South Bay are firing, especially on the falling tide—schooling reds and the odd flounder tucked in along the drop-offs.
- The spoil banks near the Rio Grande river mouth are holding plenty of feeding specks, and folks tossing croaker or glow shrimp under popping corks are having a field day.

For lures, go with gold spoons or topwater plugs like a bone Super Spook early when the water is calm. Once the wind and boat noise pick up, switch to soft plastics on a ⅛ oz jighead or work a paddle-tail along the current edges. Cut bait works near the jetties for bull reds, but artificials are stealing the show with active fish.

Offshore, snapper are still hanging around structure in 60-80’ of water, and smaller kingfish have been showing on ribbon fish trolled just south of the jetties. Live shrimp is still the MVP at the pier for mixed bags—sheepshead, black drum, and even a few late-summer snook.

Be mindful of the ongoing drought conditions—some water levels are still low upstream, but the estuary and bays around Rio Grande remain flush and healthy, keeping the backwater bite active. The crowds will thin as school starts back up, so it’s a perfect time to explore shallow structures or drift the lesser-pressured mangrove islands.

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September 3rd out here on the Lower Rio Grande has been another scorcher, locals waking up to a warm, muggy sunrise around 7:14 a.m. and expecting sunset right at 7:53 p.m. According to Texas Border Business, the heat’s just been hanging on, with mid-90s temps by noon, humidity lingering near 70%, and winds clipping along at 10 to 15 mph out of the southeast. No rain to shake things up—but that's good news for consistent fishing, with steady river levels and clearer water.

Tide-wise, the river’s not tidal this far upriver, but folks chasing action toward the Boca Chica mouth or in nearby Laguna Madre have seen low tides through the morning and a moderate push high mid-afternoon, according to Captain Experiences' guide network. That’s given waders and bank anglers a shot at the drop-offs and channel edges while boaters are sliding into skinny water just as things heat up.

The water’s running a little low this week as reported by Inside Climate News, with regional drought pressing flows and the ongoing legal wranglings over water rights in the news. Still, there’s enough moving current to stir up feeding activity—especially at dawn and dusk, when the heat eases and baitfish move into the shallows.

Fishing’s been mixed but plenty promising. Catfish have continued to bite along deeper holes and under the shade of old cypress stumps near Rio Grande City and Roma. Bigger blue cats and the occasional flathead are taking fresh-cut shad and small sunfish on heavy rigs, with nighttime soaking especially productive.

Bass anglers are finding largemouth still cooperative, especially early—best on watermelon or black soft plastics worked around submerged structure, and topwater frogs or buzzbaits thrown near the grassy banks. Some nice fish in the 2–3-pound class are being caught, with an occasional hawg over five stretching a line. Shoal Creek’s all-tackle records show there’s potential for even larger catches this time of year.

Those targeting the Rio Grande cichlid—the piña, a true local favorite—are having good luck on bits of worm or small Beetle Spins. These spirited little fish are crowding up in slackwater pools and seem to fire up once midday clouds drift in.

On the saltier side, reports from Captain Experiences guides down at Boca Chica and the mouth say redfish are running strong as they start pre-fall schooling. Several crews hit limits on slot reds using gold spoons and live mullet drifted over grass flats just inside the passes. If trout are your target, soft plastics in white or chartreuse have drawn steady strikes along South Bay edges, especially on a light southeast wind.

If you’re hunting for hotspots, don’t overlook:
- The old ferry crossing at Los Ebanos for big cats at dusk.
- Downstream bends near Hueco Chiquito for consistent bass action.
- The tidal flats just east of Brownsville, around Boca Chica, for redfish in the late afternoon push.

Best lures today have been:
- Whopper Plopper and Pop-R’s for those dawn topwater surges.
- Texas-rigged Senkos and creature baits, fished slow for pressured largemouth.
- Gold and silver spoons for redfish; they’ve been visible tailing in shallow grass early and late.
- Cut shad, chicken liver, or nightcrawler balls for soaking up cats.
- Beetle Spins (white/black) or live worm bits for cichlids and panfish.

Fish activity overall has been best at dawn and an hour before sunset, with a slowdown midday. Recent catches have been steady: blues into the teens, stringers of bass, and solid reds, along with the odd bonus flounder creeping in on live mud minnows.

That’s the wrap for this local check-in along the Rio Grande—stay hydrated, keep your hooks sharp, and don’t forget that early fall run is just about to start kicking. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to subscribe for your daily dose.

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Howdy from the banks of the Rio Grande, this is Artificial Lure coming at you with your boots-on-the-ground fishing report for August 31, 2025, straight out of deep South Texas!

The sun popped over the horizon at 7:12 AM this morning and she’s looking to tuck in around 7:54 PM—plenty of daylight to get your lines wet. We’re seeing classic late summer weather down here: temperatures are warming quickly into the 90s, with a gentle to moderate southeast wind rolling at 10-15 knots. That breeze is keeping the humidity in check, but also putting a little extra ripple on the water—look for a moderate chop on Laguna Madre and along the bay edges, and seas running around 2 to 3 feet if you’re out near the jetties, according to the National Weather Service Brownsville[National Weather Service].

Tidal action today is timed just right: high tide hit at 7:53 AM at the Boca Chica/Rockport marker, coming in at around 0.56 feet, and it’ll drop to a low around 7:16 PM this evening at 0.16 feet, per NOAA predictions. Get out early to target that morning push, especially for those inshore bruisers[NOAA Tides & Currents].

Bite reports from the last few days have been steady. Captain Tommy up in Rockport knocked out a two-man limit of redfish in just three hours, even with some stiff wind and high water. The flats along the Laguna Madre have delivered redfish, black drum, and a few gator trout this week. Further upriver, flounder are stacking up in the back bay sloughs and drains, especially around first light, as shared by Captain Experiences. Down here in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, there’s been a good showing of keeper reds, slot black drum, and a handful of legal flounder—though you’ll want to work hard around the grass and deeper drop-offs[Captain Experiences].

The best producers lately have been gold spoons and root beer paddle tails for reds, with white/chartreuse soft plastics pulling in solid trout. Early topwater action has been worth the early rise: bone-colored Spooks and Skitter Walks are pushing up aggressive strikes from trout and even some big ladyfish. Folks drifting the intracoastal edges are getting drum and flatties on gulf shrimp and finger mullet, while cut mullet or menhaden has been best for targeting bigger reds after the tide falls out[Bassmaster].

If you’re into live bait, nothing’s beating a live croaker or piggy perch under a popping cork along the deeper grass lines this time of year. If you’re chunking artificial, scented baits like Gulp! shrimp are picking up everything from reds to snook.

For hot spots today, try these two:
- **South Bay flats just north of Boca Chica**: Exposed grass beds on a falling tide are drawing in skinny water reds and schools of trout. Wade out early, look for nervous mullet and tailing fish.
- **The old Brownsville Ship Channel edges**: Work the deeper drops during the last hour of incoming or start of the outgoing tide. Drum and slot reds have been tight to structure, with a few surprise snook in the mix.

Remember, action picks up with that tidal swing, so plan your trip to catch the last push of high tide this morning and get ready for another bite as it starts to trickle out before sunset.

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Good morning, anglers—this is Artificial Lure, and here’s your boots-on-the-bank fishing report for Rio Grande, Texas, Saturday August 30, 2025. Sunrise was at 7:10 AM and sunset’s rolling in at 8:01 PM. We’ve got steamy late summer weather—early hours are mid-70s, warming up quick into the high 90s by mid-afternoon, so pack ample hydration and sunscreen. Scattered clouds will drift in and out, winds are light from the southeast around 7 mph, making for classic Valley morning conditions before heat builds.

Today’s tides: NOAA shows a high tide peaking around 5:04 AM at 5.84 feet, tapering to low at 10:10 AM, then rising again toward another high at 4:34 PM. If you’re chasing reds or specks, take advantage of that early-morning flood until about 8 AM, then shift tactics as water drops out to expose the mud flats and mangroves.

Fish activity on the Rio this week has been above average. Out by the river mouth and near Boca Chica flats, anglers have landed good numbers of slot reds, some pushing 28 inches. Plenty of speckled trout are showing on the edge of drop-offs, with a mix of keeper sizes, averaging 16 to 19 inches. Catfishers upriver near Brownsville are hauling blues and channels averaging 2 to 5 pounds, mostly taken on cut shad and doughbait. Down by the Island, flounder bites picked up on sandy transitions with numbers running small but steady, so keep those Carolina rigs handy.

Lurewise, this heat calls for **soft plastics in root beer or chartreuse**—paddle tails like 2-inch Bass Assassins and 4-inch Saltwater Gulp Shrimp are top producers on slow retrieves just above the grass. If the tide’s pushing, switch to a 1/8 oz jig head for better control. Anglers working topwater early found success with **Super Spooks and Skitterwalks**—steady pops near reeds will draw strikes from trout and ambitious redfish. When it comes to bait, fresh-dead shrimp is king for numbers, and live mullet are a proven choice for targeting bigger reds and snook, especially during those rushes after sunrise.

Recent catches along the levee and near the main channel include black drum, with several bags going over a dozen fish each. Carp anglers report good action with bread balls upriver, noting multiple 10-pound-plus fish landed near the flood control gates. Night fishing on the lower Rio is yielding some solid gar action—anchored cut bait rigs are getting hit by four-foot longnose and spotted gar as dusk drops.

For hot spots, locals are swearing by the area around **Boca Chica Flats**, especially near the mangrove lines during outgoing tide, and the **Old Brownsville Weir** for consistent catfishing all week. For a multispecies bite, hit the confluence at **Las Palomas Wildlife Refuge**; lively bait and lures have produced mixed bags of reds, drum, and some decent trout on cooler mornings.

Don’t forget: with Labor Day looming, Texas Game Wardens will be out in force. Wear your life jacket, know the water safety rules, and make sure your registration tags are up to date if you’re boating. Stay safe and clean up after yourself—leave the water prettier than you found it.

That wraps up your Rio Grande field report for August 30. Thanks for tuning in—be sure to subscribe, and tight lines till next time. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Rio Grande, Texas fishing report for Friday, August 29, 2025. We’re off to a still and muggy start this morning along the lower Texas coast. Sun rose at 7:06 AM and you’ve got well over eleven hours of daylight—sunset at 7:54 PM gives you plenty of time to wet a line. Forecast from the National Weather Service out of Brownsville calls for mostly calm marine conditions, with seas running one to two feet and light variable winds—great for smaller boats and kayak anglers. We might see a shower roll through this afternoon, so keep an eye out for quickly building clouds, especially after lunch.

For those of you planning your bite, Solunar tables put today’s prime fishing windows around 1:13 PM to 3:13 PM, with a good minor bump this morning from 7:27 to 8:27. Fish are definitely active on the major and minor cycles, lining up just right with the dropping tides by late morning.

Let’s talk species—recent catches in and around the Rio Grande have been solid. Local guides report big numbers of speckled trout and redfish coming from both jetties and channel edges, with some slot-sized drum and the odd flounder thrown in as bycatch. Along the brackish stretches, folks are still getting into snook, especially in the early hours, and down near Brownsville, urban anglers are sight-casting to Rio Grande cichlids and the occasional gar. Just yesterday, Marcus Rodriguez with Laguna Rio Outdoors posted photos from a morning session—steady action on cichlids using small jigs and light line upriver from the city.

For those headed out, here’s your bait box: live shrimp is the staple for drum, trout, and flounder—freelined or under a popping cork, it’s hard to beat. Cut mullet’s getting good attention from reds along the edges, and fresh dead menhaden is putting the big cats on the chew up near Falcon Reservoir. If you’re throwing artificials, darker paddle-tail swimbaits are killing it when worked along grassy points, with Gulp! shrimp and small gold spoons also producing. Early topwater action is solid—Super Spooks and She Dogs in bone or chrome have been getting exploded by trout and even a few sneaky snook. Soft plastics in natural shades are taking the most bites for cichlids, especially around shallow snags and current seams.

Hot spots this week? Two spots worth trying: First, the Southmost Channel access, especially at sunrise for mixed bags of drum, reds, and cats—easy shore access and fish moving in tight to structure. Second, the mouth of Resaca de la Palma for fly and light-tackle cichlid fishing—perfect for anglers looking to sight-fish in clear, shallow water where action’s been nonstop all week.

A quick plug: September’s right around the bend, and that means tournament time with the annual Rio Grande Rumble—details up now from Catch Cormier, so pre-fish those cichlid holes if you’re feeling competitive.

That wraps it for today’s Rio Grande report. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for more tales and tips from the water. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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